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ANIME REVIEWS

Copyright © Xebec / 1998 Nadesico Production Committee
Availability: in Japanese theaters Aug 1998
80 minutes










—by Ivevei Upatkoon

This summer, it seems everyone has gone Ruri-mad! Ruri goods were selling out in all anime stores, movie tie-ups were flying off the shelves, and a good number of NADESICO fans were resorting to breaking the locks on the glass cases at highway service stations to get at the promotion poster featuring 16 year old Captain Hoshino.
  What's all the fuss about? For those of you unfamiliar with this anime, MARTIAN SUCCESSOR NADESICO was a TV series that took Japan by storm last year. Featuring a decided unoriginal basic story (the Earth is under invasion) and a decided insane cast of characters (a young female captain with a screw loose, an ace pilot who wants nothing more than to be a cook), it had an intriguing plot and a never-ending supply of in-jokes that even the most ardent anime fan would be hard-pressed to catch.
  When the series ended, the inconclusive finale left more than a few fans hanging, and of course many of them just didn't want to see the characters they loved leave the screen. With the promise to reunite the old cast, the NADESICO movie has been one of the most eagerly awaited releases this year.
  NADESICO - THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS takes place three years after the end of the TV series. Following the delivery of the Remains of Mars, the crew of the Nadesico were detained for six months until the new government of the Jupiter Union, led by Genpachirou, reached a cease fire with United Earth. When they were allowed to return to civilian life, Ruri came under the guardianship of Akito and Yurika and the three of them lived peacefully as a family. In the meantime, Nergal was being attacked by other companies and lost a significant amount of power. Akito and Yurika married after a year and a half, but on their honeymoon trip, their shuttle exploded with no survivors. Soon after, Inez also died in an airplane episode. Ruri eventually became the captain of the Nadesico B, and this is where our story begins.
  Colonies built under the "Hisago Plan," a project in which Tulip gates scattered around the solar system would allow ships to Boson-jump, are being destroyed one after another by unknown attackers. Not only is the UE powerless to stop them, but the plot thickens with the appearance of what seems to be a Boson-jump capable mech. Amidst political bickering, the Nadesico B is sent to investigate these attacks. They arrive at the colony Amaterasu, and while Ruri is "treated" to a tour and explanation of the Hisago Plan, new crew member Harry is cracking the computer system.
  He discovers documents which are not covered in the official version of the Hisago Plan, including reports of fatal Boson-jump experiments on human beings, but suddenly the system goes haywire and the words OTIKA begin flashing on every monitor on the colony and on Nadesico. Ruri realizes that OTIKA is AKITO backwards and senses another impending attack. A battleship jumps in, as does the mystery mech, and all hell breaks loose. One of the defenders is Ryouko, now leader of an Aestivalis team, and she pursues the mech deep into bowels of the colony. The pilot of the mech ignores all attempts at communication, instead unlocking a final gate behind which lies... the Remains of Mars!
  The original TV series had a very interesting story that became lost among the overwhelming comedy and craziness of the direction. (Does anyone know what really went on during that non-sequential episode?) It is not to say that it was a bad thing, but I did feel that it was a pity that they did not have enough latitude to give the story the attention it deserved. With THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS, though, this one flaw has been addressed. Resoundingly.
  The comedy is still there, but when you come down to it, NADESICO - THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS is one excellent piece of hard-core sci-fi anime. The direction is tight and does not waste a single cel. The animation is top-grade, especially when compared with the coupled SLAYERS GORGEOUS movie, and the story itself grabs on to you and won't let go until the credits begin to scroll. The ending theme "Dearest" has a sad, lonely lilt that makes a fitting end to the movie. It has since become one of my favorite songs.
  Fans of the crew of the original Nadesico will be delighted to know that all of them make their appearance at one time or another. One of the great things about watching the movie was anticipating each character. Sometimes you have to burst out laughing at the kinds of lives they are leading after leaving the Nadesico. When they finally assemble, you can't help but cheer on the ragtag bunch of misfits.
  With a plenty of political intrigue, unsolved mysteries, suspense and action, this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat even if you do not particularly care for the TV series. The first part is admittedly quite confusing, and until the pieces begin to fall into place you will feel rather like you are being swept helplessly along, but everything is well worth it.
  In the end, there are still a lot of questions left unanswered, a lot of details left hidden, but one feels no resentment, only a little awe at the events that have unfolded in that short 80 minutes. It's one of the best sci-fi anime I've seen in a long while, period. We definitely need more like it.


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