Last Exile
Publisher
ADV
Director
Koichi Chigira
Production
GONZO, TV Tokyo
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes
Year
2003
Last Exile volume 1
By otaku_kei
4th Jan 05  Steampunk fiction has been around for many s year, its retro-futurist iconography has become ingrained in the popular subconscious through the work of authors such as Jules Verne, and continues to spawn books and movies to this day (e.g. Otomo’s Steamboy). Last Exile comes from this same stable of sci-fi tales that look to the past for the technology, to create a vision of clockwork, cogs, steam-driven engines and a veritable kaleidoscope of other imagery. Claus and Lavie are two young, headstrong pilots who take on dangerous assignments delivering mail, and dispatches across this world that is populated by armadas of airships, a guild that governs all international relations and then the prosecution of any wars. This ethereal world of clouds, with small human lands dotted across the landscape, is a beauty to behold and the excitement and exhilaration of our two protagonists as they soar through the clouds can be felt by everyone, but never are the forbidding dangers of the sky left far behind. The central characters not only have to contend with the dangers of the sky but also with the systemic deprivations on the homefront caused by almost unceasing wars. But the action does not stop there. As our intrepid couriers are also competing in the racing league, but a chance encounter with an injured member of their league of messengers sees Claus pledge upon his honour to finish delivering this doomed pilots package – a package sealed with a 7 danger star rating, a rating unheard of by this brave pair. And what id this package but a young girl who mysterious forces have marked for death. GONZO studios have delivered a tight little package once again with Last Exile, everything from the quality of the animation, the great casting for both sub and dub, the soundtrack etc etc. Sounds like I’m gushing doesn’t it? Well this series is worth it! I know that there will people who will probably complain about the dub actress for Lavie as she does have that whiny nasal American voice that can really grate, but seeing as I can happily sit through the dubs of Tenchi it gets no complaints for me. The CG work is also great, an almost seamless blend into the cel work that really does present this ethereal world in all its glory where giant fleets of steam-powered airships can just rip through the cloudbank to attack another fleet, or where care free birds float on peaceful updrafts. So is it worth shelling out your hard-earned cash? Yes, most certainly yes! With 4 episodes on this disc these episodes give the show enough space to really set up the world and characters, leaving enough room to divulge some history and character development, pack in all the action and truly make us care about what happens in this world. The action keeps everything buzzing along at a steady tempo so at no point are you ever left feeling that any scenes are wasted in any way. So go and spend some time soaring through the skies with Claus and Lavie! 8.5/10
-- otaku_kei 4th Jan 05
Last Exile Images  
|
