Zone of the Enders Dolores, i

Publisher
ADV
Director
Tetsuya Watanabe
Production
Sunrise, TV Tokyo, VAP
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes
Year
2001

Zone of the Enders Dolores, i vol 3: A Prelude to War

By John Huxley
23rd May 04

Episode Summary

WARNING: may contain spoilers

Episode 11: Tight Rope

Finally, Dolores and the Links family have arrived at Mars! But how do they get down there? Their spaceship can't land on the planet and using Dolores would arouse too much suspicion. James, being the resourceful type, spots a junkyard full of scrap metal they could use to build a makeshift landing pod. This is where Noel's construction skills come in handy...

Episode 12: Die Hard

A slight miscalculation has left James and co. stranded in the middle of an ocean, their only choice to seek help from a nearby refinery. The crew of the refinery do all they can to improve the atmosphere on Mars, but there are those who feel the dusty red planet should be left the way nature intended it. When one such group of activists arrives brandishing guns, it's up to James to save the day. And impress his children in the process, of course!

Episode 13: Red Desert

Back on dry land, our heroes make their way to a colony James remembers from his time on Mars. When they arrive, James is surprised to discover that the colony has been abandoned save for two farmers who are none to happy to see the strangers. And with good cause, too. Hunted down by three mysterious orbital frames, Dolores is forced in to a fire fight that destroys the poor farmer's crops and their livelihood with it.

Episode 14: Rebecca

The last of the orbital frames defeated, its pilot attempts to self destruct in an effort to keep the robot from falling in to 'enemy' hands. The kind hearted Dolores comes to the rescue of the young pilot, a grey haired girl of no more than 14 or 15. James, concerned, takes her to an unmanned power plant to house her and treat her wounds. Ungrateful for the aid, the girl that calls herself Rebecca locks James in the toilet and tries to blackmail Dolores. But will Dolores abandon the man she calls 'uncle' for someone who insists on calling her Isis?

Volume Review

About time for a new character, don't you think? Within the space of four episodes ZOE Dolores introduces not one, not two but three new characters. Not all of these have more than a few minutes screen time, but it is clear that things are changing in the world of girly pink robots.

The first episode, Tight Rope, is really making something of nothing. It contains little to no story progression (they could have just let their spaceship have a landing pod of its own) and even less action. I'd say that this episode is a waste of twenty five minutes of animation, but it's hard not to enjoy watching the Links family bumble their way through seemingly impossible situations like this. And when Dolores makes a giant steel rose for her true love James, it's even harder not to smile. Once again the strong characters succeed for ZOE Dolores.

The second episode, as its title suggests, is a take on the Die Hard films. You know the score; Bruce - I mean James - must single handedly bring down a bunch of terrorists posing as eco warriors. It's amusing because he's really doing it to impress his kids, and he's not quite as good as Bruce Willis, either. One of the better episodes, even if it doesn't do much for the plot.

The third and fourth episodes, on the other hand, do plenty to help the plot along. Not only do you have more of the shady characters in black limos talking politics, you've got three new characters, too. These appear to be connected to a Martian faction, although exactly who they are and who they work for is unclear at this point. What we do know is that one of them, under the care of James and Dolores reveals herself to be Rebecca. She doesn't stay around for tea and biscuits, however, as she's trying to escape with Dolores, who she insists on calling 'Isis'. This isn't the first time we've heard the name Isis, and I'd be surprised if there wasn't some explanation for this coming up in the very near future,

But that's where the volume ends. No fifth episode here. Even one episode down, ZOE Dolores represents true value for money with some great entertainment.

R2 DVD Notes

Features: English & Japanese Audio, English Subtitles, ADR Session with Hoko Kuwashima (Dolores) & Tesshou Gendo (James), James' Diary, Map of Mars, Clean Opening & Closing Animation, Karioke Opening & Close, Production Sketches & Conceptual Artwork

Release information: UK release date: 18th August 2003, ADV

Notes: It may have one less episode, but this DVD makes up for it with the best extras of the series yet. As insightful as ever, the ADR sessions are back, this time with the Japanese voice actors of Dolores and James. James' Diary is very similar to the Dolores Diary seen in volume two, only slightly funnier. The Map of Mars is a neat interactive feature that lets you check up on the place names and country names of Mars. Its usefulness may be negligible, but it's certainly a welcome addition. As is the regular clean opening and close and production sketches and concept artwork. You even get a Karioke version of the openings to sing along to! Easily one of the best discs ADV have produced. For the record, the image and sound quality were as crisp and clean as ever.

-- John Huxley 23rd May 04

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