RahXephon Recommended

Publisher
ADV
Director
Yutaka Izubuchi
Production
BONES, Fuji TV, Project Rahxephon
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Year
2001

RahXephon Orchestration 3: Harmonic Convergence

By John Huxley
21st May 04

There's no shortage of decent mech based titles vying for your attention on the store shelves right now; the question is, which one do you buy? Although anime review sites such as Boredom can offer a rough buying guide, it really boils down to your personal preference. Some shows offer plenty of action, others spice things up with a little comedy while a few are brave enough to move away from the traditional sci-fi setting. RahXephon's strong suit is most certainly the intricately woven story that lends the show an air of mystery and keeps you wanting more.

That said, this third volume kicks off with a strangely staid and unexciting episode with very little in the way of significant plot developments. To compensate for this we are treated to some intriguing background information on commander Jin, while Ayato and Megumi's relationship is given more attention as they interfere with the commander's personal affairs. These character building exercises help keep you interested until the credits role, though it's really no substitute for the more dramatic or action-packed storylines we've come to expect from RahXephon.

The second episode on this disc is a whole different kettle of fish. Starting rather abruptly, Ayato and his giant mech the RahXephon are thrust into the middle of a battlefield, wrestling with a bird-like enemy Dolem that soon overpowers the inexperienced pilot and engulfs his mech in a strange light. While his friends back at Terra HQ try desperately to rescue their most valuable employee, Ayato wakes up to find himself in familiar territory - Tokyo. Still aware of the reality outside of Tokyo Jupiter, the invasion of the Mu and everything that has happened since, the bewildered Ayato is subjected to a string of bizarre and contradictory imagery conjured from the mind of the Dolem that holds him hostage. Sound confusing? It is! These dream-like fantasy sequences can be likened to those in Evangelion in which Shinji goes through a process of soul searching, asking and answering questions he is unable to confront in reality. In spite of feeling overly familiar (there's even a hint of Twin Peaks in there somewhere) these sequences are no less entertaining, giving us an insight into Ayato's fragile mind as he battles his wants and fears, unable to discern between reality and fantasy and undecided which is the better. This is easily one of the better episodes of RahXephon.

If all that weren't confusing enough, the next episode (and sadly the last on this disc) will more than make up for it. Still reeling from events during the previous episode, Ayato learns that the softly spoken, fragile Quon has been hospitalised for reasons unknown. It is later revealed the pair are under observation by a strange new organisation who are only briefly introduced during this volume, their objectives unclear. The atmosphere surrounding this organisation suggest that they're up to no good - some new badguys would certainly be a welcome addition after the creepy Mu made their impromptu exit during the first few episodes - although it's really too early to draw any conclusions about these characters.

Despite a weak first episode, this volume manages to interject some new life into the admittedly perplexing series. It was never in any real danger of becoming stale, though recent events have paved the way for some potentially entertaining developments. Whether or not these will come to fruition remains to be seen - attempting to predict RahXephon is an almost impossible task. Whatever the future holds for RahXephon, it's sure to be worth the wait.

R2 DVD Notes

Features: English 5.1 audio, Japanese 2.0 audio, English subtitles, production sketches, clean open/close, early production promo

Release information: UK release date: 20th October 2003, ADV

Notes: The cover design, featuring a montage of Ayato, Reika and the RahXephon itself, is as pretty as expected and should sit happily alongside the rest of your collection. The cute booklet from the last two volumes is back and as lush as ever, with a neat transparent, lightly textured cover revealing a full colour image below. Inside is the usual mix of character and mech profiles, colour artwork and interviews with Japanese cast & crew. It's a really excellent inclusion that adds a touch of class to a series that wholly deserves the treatment. The extras on the DVD are more typical, with the only new addition being the production promo. This is an early trailer for the series, showcasing some pre-production artwork and animation. Along with the production sketches and the lovely booklet, this is a great little package and certainly one of the best available right now.

-- John Huxley 21st May 04

RahXephon Images