Martian Successor Nadesico the Motion Picture: Prince of Darkness
Publisher
ADV
Director
Tatsuo Sato
Production
King Records, TV Tokyo, XEBEC
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Film
Running time
90 mins
Year
1998
Martian Successor Nadesico the Motion Picture: Prince of Darkness
By John Huxley
20th May 04  I love anime movies. That's not to say I don't love full-length 26 part anime series such as Nadesico; I simply adore the ambience and quality of a high budget anime feature film. They're widescreen, they look gorgeous with a score to match and they're easily digestible at around 90 minutes a pop. What's more, they're relatively thin on the ground when compared to the plethora of series and OVA's available - true anime cinema releases are few and far between. Film adaptations of series are only usually gifted to the best and most popular animations that can justify the kind of astronomical budget they require - Fist of the North Star, Lupin III, Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop. Martian Successor Nadesico certainly numbers amongst their ranks and undoubtedly deserves the red carpet treatment. Lavish though it may be, this does not guarantee that the movie edition of Nadesico will be a complete success... The first thing you might notice, even from taking a peek at a movie poster or the box art, is that everything is not as it once was in the world of Nadesico. The Prince of Darkness takes place two years after the Jovian war, during a period of peace and collaboration between the once rival factions. Akito and Yurika, having been killed in a tragic accident, have left centre stage for none other than child prodigy Ruri who now captains the Nadesico B under a new crew. The majority of the original cast left to pursue their dreams back on Earth, content in the knowledge that they each played a significant role in bringing an end to a senseless war. But not everyone is agreed that the universally famous crew of the original Nadesico were heroes - a Martian splinter group is intent on rekindling the flames of war for one reason or another, and only Ruri and her old friends and allies can put a stop to this madness. Although my description may be a little brief, this is a good, solid story that helps lay to rest some of the questions left unanswered at the end of the series. Most pleasingly for fans, we're given the opportunity to catch up with our favourite characters several years down the line, as they cope with life after the Nadesico. Many have continued to work in some aspect of the military or the arms industry, while others have perused more mundane occupations, such as Hikaru's overworked, underpaid efforts as a manga artist. The most devastating development to take place during the two-year hiatus is without doubt the loss of Akito and Yurika. While the mere mention of this will have many a fan up in arms, the decision to axe two of the central characters is not as scandalous as it may first appear. Firstly, the lack of Akito and Yurika gives a whole host of characters such as Ruri a chance in the limelight. Secondly, their deaths play an important role in the story, providing much of the momentum towards the latter half of the movie. It's a brave decision that really paid off. A good number of the crew have been subject to slight alterations in character design, none more so than Ruri herself. As adorable as ever, Ruri is now sporting a totally new version of her famous trippin' hairstyle (see: Ruri's Trippin' Hair page) plus a new uniform and she looks considerably older to boot. But don't worry, while they may look a little different, they're the same old screwball characters. There are also a couple of new characters added to the sizeable roster that (as far as I'm aware) never made an appearance during the series. Although they don't particularly stand out from the crowd, they're perfectly suited to the tone of the show and blend in well with the rest of the crew (even if they don't want to!). The mechanical designs have also been given a complete overhaul, with several new Nergal spaceships making their debut and the Aestivalis mechs looking more menacing than ever. These new designs are showcased during some pretty spectacular space-borne action that's light-years ahead of anything the series' modest budget could produce. The tight direction of the action sequences keeps things clear and concise despite the lightning pace, while the grand scale of the battles helps create a convincing impression of military warfare. This is thanks in part to the high quality animation that makes good use of some pretty CGI effects; everything moves swiftly and smoothly and looks suitably glossy. Likewise, the backgrounds and artwork, while remaining true to the series, are also considerably more detailed. In short, Nadesico's visuals have benefited greatly from the increased budget of this movie outing. Perhaps in an effort to compensate for lacklustre action of the original series, the movie is markedly more action orientated, with the various space battles and dogfights taking up a good portion of the 90 minutes. Thankfully there's plenty of puns and one-liners even during the height of battle, so there's no shortage of light relief in amongst the action and drama. So, we've got a solid story, likeable characters, exciting action, and some fine animation...what's not to like? As with the series, my only gripes are piddling to say the least. Probably the most damaging, and the reason I've been forced to knock a point off that lovely score down there, is the pacing of the movie - it's simply too crowded. The vast cast of characters have been imported over from the series, plus a couple of new entries, many of whom are given no more than few seconds of screen time. Attempting to fit them all in to around 90 minutes of animation has resulted in what feels like a slightly rushed, hectic experience that's over before it's even begun. This is not helped by an ending that comes all too suddenly, an anti-climax that yet again leaves us pondering so many unanswered questions. And with no smart closing monologue from Ruri, this really is a very disappointing way to end the Nadesico saga. Another gripe, at least personally, was the absence of Gekiganger. With Akito out of the picture and the Jovians no longer playing a central role, there are very few characters left who remain obsessive about this fictional anime, relegating the Mazinger like robot to a handful of cameo appearances. Disappointing though the omission of Gekiganger is, the absence isn't as detrimental as it might have been - the film moves at such a pace you shouldn't even have time to notice. But don't let these niggling flaws dissuade you from watching Martian Successor Nadesico the Motion Picture: Prince of Darkness (to give its absurdly long full title). Coming from the same creative staff that produced one of the greatest series in recent years, this movie version displays all the same qualities that made that series so great in the first place. It's difficult to recommend this to Nadesico newcomers - the movie continues where the series left off and assumes much of the viewer, leaving those with little or no knowledge of Boson jumping in the dark. However, if you are lucky enough to be familiar with the series, Nadesico the Motion Picture is essential viewing.
R2 DVD Notes
Features: English 5.1 audio, Japanese 2.0 audio, English subtitles, presented in original widescreen, reversible cover, ADV previews
Release information: UK release date: 16th February 2004, ADV
Notes: Along with the usual audio and subtitle options we've got...not a lot. There's a reversible cover which shows off two slightly different designs, both featuring Ruri as the most prominent figure. The film itself is presented in the original 16:9 widescreen format and looks all the better for it. There's also a single page leaflet inside the box with some colour artwork and a chapter listing on the other side. It's a neatly presented package but one sadly lacking any substantial extras.
-- John Huxley 20th May 04
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