Acquaintance with meha anime had to start with a fashionable hit – “Knights of Sidonia”. What did I get out of it?
A huge "ship of generations" Sidonia is moving in space. This is one of the last strongholds of mankind, saved from the captured race Gauna Solar system. What about the other ships is unknown. For the residents of Sidonia, it is the only Motherland they are ready to defend to the last drop of blood.
From the depths of the labyrinths of intricate technical tunnels of the hold to people comes a young guy Tanikadze Nagate - a pupil of the hermit, his grandfather. Grandfather died, and now the guy had to get out to civilization to steal food. The attack was not successful and ended in the hospital. With this curious incident and begins the battle path of the heroic pilot Tanikadze, the main character of the Knights of Sidonia. After all, immediately after its appearance, the gaunas that long ago disappeared from the field of view of mankind began to attack Sidonia again.
What distinguishes Knights of Sidonia is the high mortality rate among significant characters. The pilots of the "Guardians" (the very OBCR, because of which, in fact, and fur) die at first literally whole units, and in the future the fate of most of them is sad. What adds to the drama is not the story of superheroes rising from the ashes after any mistake. Involuntarily, the viewer periodically begins to doubt the need to destroy the gaunas - the price of each victory is too high. Maybe you can negotiate with them?
There are many characters and they are original. What is only the talking bear Hiyama (to whom the character seems strange - in the manga there is an explanation of where she is from and who), the hermaphrodite Izana, the Chimera Tsumugi, the arrogant aristocrat Kunato... Given the above circumstances, the characters have to worry, because from death or serious changes in fate, none of them is immune.
Except for Tanikaze. What to do - he is a classic anime hero, Ordinary Japanese ... no, not a schoolboy, but a Cadet, but in this case it does not matter. However, his usuality is played very interestingly: Tanikadze is the only ordinary guy on Sidonia. The fact is that in attempts to survive in endless space travel, scientists have made serious changes to the “design” of people. Among the population of the ship are hermaphrodites; “precocious” clones, growing to adulthood in five years; finally, members of the Council of the Immortals. And, to top it off, absolutely all residents of Sidonia can eat photosynthesis, and the unfortunate Tanikadze has to consume much more food than they do, which often leads to comic situations.
But at the same time, he is still a typical Marty Su - any battle develops according to the scenario: 1) gaunas attack / gaun attack, 2) the first pilots die, all in shock and confusion, 3) Tanikadze HIGHS, 4) WIN! Even a lost battle is not dangerous for him - he will get away with light wounds. Of course, he is the main character, but still his unthinkable steepness looks strange and somewhat tiresome.
Another spoonful of tar is an excess of melodrama and fan service. Free from battles and political intrigue episodes are a real harem - for Tanikadze since its discovery chased almost all the girls of "Sidonia". And the photosynthetic theme seems to have been added mainly to show as many undressed girls as possible. What to do - the target audience requires ...
However, the rest of the time on the screen reigns harsh pathos. The characters are fighting a desperate battle with little-known opponents, the stake in which is the survival of “Sidonia”, and perhaps even man as a species. Gaunas are giant monsters with collective intelligence, living in outer space, in their logic has nothing to do with human, it is not even clear why they prey on people, who they are: playful predators, unreasonable cruel children, psychopathic maniacs? People are ready to do much for survival, even to intermarry with a terrible enemy, but there is no unity among them - and in such conditions a secret political struggle is being conducted. Who will win in this terrible confrontation?
Summary: a brutal war for the survival of mankind, heroism and exploits, love and friendship – all this can be found in the Knights of Sidonia. Futuristic fighting, despite all of the above, is shown quite realistically - blood is pouring down the river, and while someone crushes the enemy, another dies on his first flight, or remains maimed. The overall picture only spoils the excess of fan service. The Knights of Sidonia is definitely worth watching. We can only hope that the creators of the series will not be limited to two seasons - this segment of the plot is not exhausted. Well, in the meantime, you will have to read the original source, especially since it is already over. I would also like to see an animated version of the sequel.
8 out of 10
Original