Planetes Recommended

Publisher
Bandai
Director
Goro Taniguchi
Production
Bandai, NHK, Sunrise
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes
Year
2003

Planetes V. 2

By David Rasmussen
12th Feb 06

Space for everyone is coming, but are we ready?
As the F.A.A. attempts to set up rules for space travel, and basically make sure we don’t have passenger liners filled with screaming passengers falling out of the skies every two weeks, we take a look at a series that should make the F.A.A. even more concerned about space travel than they are now. Planetes.
Space debris is a menace. A danger that looms overhead and threatens to nip the soon to be born space travel industry in the butt before It begins, and a threat that must be resolved soon.
In this series, in this time, people who work for Debris Section work hard to take a bite out of debris, and give a hoot by working hard against the many people and so forth who pollute.
As the first DVD started we were introduced to the gang of Half Section (who were named that because of their particular “predictiment” with having only half the staff and resources necessary to do the job that has to be done) and their newest member, Tanabe. She has come with many ideals, and an assignment putting her in the “care” of a new “sensei” who works hard to grind all her ideals to dust.
As DVD Volume 1 ended the gang took time off and vacationed on the moon, but the trip there was marred with run-ins with a crazed gunman, a suicidal family, and a rogue film crew filming an “illegal” production. Hopefully the stay on the moon is not so filled with dysfunctional people and events, but somehow I have a feeling that’s going to be wishful thinking… right?

Planetes DVD V. 2
Episode 6 - The Lunar Flying Squirrels
Looks like Hachimaki, Tanabe and Fee have finally arrived on the moon, and considering the events of last episode you should be surprised they actually made it! But the events of last episode pale to what is about to transpire, for as Tanabe becomes one with a decorative plant while aspiring for angelic status, and Hachi teases her, little do they know the madness that awaits then on the lower levels of this Moon colony!
It seems Hachimaki has a job to do for his chief, he has to deliver something to a hotel for somebody, and it just so happens that Tanabe’s hotel is on the way so he decides to drop her off while headed to his destination… bad move. Turns out Tanabe’s hotel is run by a gang of demented ninjas who promptly give chase and pursue the two about the lower levels, pulling off Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon slash Prince of Persia moves thanks to the 1/6th G gravity. Well, they ARE in some sort of lunarian slum area that looks like a set piece of the game Condemned, and everyone in said slum seems to be dysfunctional or crazy or psychotic so go figure that Tanabe would end up rooming in a hotel full of half crazed ninja!
Oh, and Hachimaki gets caught up in it all… if only at first to make their would be ninja pursuers go away so he can make his meeting, which leads to some weird moments.

Anyway in short in turns out things are not what anyone expected.
The ninjas turn out to be out of work people who were conned into going to the moon by a shady businessman. The meeting at the hotel turns out to be a set-up to try and get Hachimaki “married”… but that’s OK because it turns out the leader of the ninja and the woman Hachimaki is “hitched” to are meant to be together, and a dramatic rescue of said woman from the burning hotel (partially Hachimaki’s ingenuity and brief McGyver style skills and partially dramatic ninja rescue finale) will bring them back together… looks that way since the father who once hated him seems to can’t stop cheering about his new favorite ninjas after they rescue his daughter… go figure. Oh, and in the rescue Hachimaki screws up his leg.

Episode 7 - Extraterrestrial Girl
If you remember my review of Planetes V. 1 (TOKYOPOP) you probably remember me talking about this story a little bit in that review. But since this is a somewhat different beast let’s go into it here.
After the psychotic heroics of last episode, where Hachimaki screws his leg up after his ninja antics of last episode (which ended in a dramatic escape from a burning building), our cynical hero finds himself grounded in the hospital where he’ll have to mend from his injury.
It is here that he runs into a strange girl who seems to catch his attention and get him talking, and eventually makes Tanabe jealous since she’s been visiting Hachi in the hospital a lot lately bringing him stuff… is Tanabe falling for the not so user friendly Hachimaki?
Oh, and Hachimaki’s old roommate at the hospital offs and runs off to commit suicide when he decides he doesn’t want a “divorce” from his wife, outer space… cheery, huh?

Episode 8 - A Place To Cling To
In every life it seems a little adversity must fall. For the staff of Half Section it seems that adversity has come in a misunderstanding concerning Fee. It seems she met somebody in Episode 6 and is delivering an old photo given to her to one of the higher ups who she and the person she met knew forever and ever. Obviously this is the perfect chance for misinterpretation and confusion, which first leads everyone to thinking Fee and the guy in question are having hot sex, then for them to believe he’s headhunting her for a higher position and working her out of Half Section. Chaos, confusion and potential disaster follows.
On a bright point we find out that the usually low key blonde secretary of Half Section is actually hot when she’s not on duty… or wearing her usual clothes… though her personality still ranks at a zero point zero.

Episode 9 - Regrets
Remember that guy Hachi flashed back to way back in Episode 2, the guy who was his mentor? Apparently he’s going to drop in on Half Section to update their security training, which gives the gang a chance to get in touch with the old member of Half Section which brings lots of warm scenes… but it seems he’s also coming back to Half Section with regrets, but what regrets is something you’ll find out on your own.
Oh, and it looks like he and Hachi will be back in the saddle again as they team up to take out waste dumpers who illegally dump trash in space… whee!

Episode 10 - A Sky of Stardust
Another story from the first Planetes GN from TOKYOPOP.
Several years ago a piece of space debris punched a hole into a passenger liner and caused death, which brought the dangers of space debris to the forefront and set in motion the need for Debris Section (Half Section). But it was also several years ago (during this very event) that the life of a future member of Half Section was changed profoundly because of said incident. Now, if you haven’t read Planetes V. 1 yet, this is as good a time as any to find out the specifics of the incident and whose life was changed by it.

Oh, and this time out (unlike the original story) it intersects with Tanabe’s story. It seems Tanabe is rather bummed out after the closure of Episode 9, which has begun to affect her work performance greatly (hence the “regrets” which is now felt by her, but for different reasons than the regrets of Episode 9).
Let’s spin over to breakdown now.

Planetes Breakdown the 2nd
What’s Hot?
I don’t think my overall opinion of the series has changed, so second verse same as the first.
Planetes is highly recommended, in either Region 1 or 2 format it’s worth your time and effort to check out. If you haven’t had the chance to see this series yet now is a good time. Thinking of a Valentine’s gift and chocolate is so 20th Century? Here’s something. How about a good gift to a fan of sci-fi anime? Try this. Just try it, really, nuff said.

What’s Not?
I really can’t think of a flaw I have with this series, so I won’t bother trying.

Moments to Remember?
Hmmm… moments to remember… it’s all memorable. Really. Very good solid series all about (once again). Kudos to BANDAI for making this available to us.

What to Ignore?
Nothing.

Overall?
Think Planetes basically speaks for itself, don’t you think. One of the best of 2005, Planetes once again delivers solid performance and is once again a recommended view from me to you. This series doesn’t disappoint, and once you check it out you should be as pleased with it as I was. Nuff said.

-- David Rasmussen 12th Feb 06

Planetes Images