Though already four years old, I still consider Full Metal Panic! a benchmark in Japanese animation. Combining fantastic mech designs and battles with the input of CGI development, the series is visually astounding. Clean-looking, colourful characters and environments, and fantastic music are just a small part of why Full Metal Panic! is such a truly entertaining series.
It’s a meshing of genres, from giant robots, comedy and romance, though the latter of which is only really hinted to in the first two volumes, and nothing much happens. Obviously the romantic qualities would be set upon young Mithril Sergeant Sousuke Sagara and Japanese school girl Kaname Chidori, yet even after the first eight episodes, it’s a distant relationship that only ever really shows any sort of emotion when Sousuke is struggling to save Kaname every few episodes. And yet, this relationship is one of Full Metal Panic!’s shining points, as their relationship isn’t a direct romance, but rather something that could (or could not) arise, being forestalled by Sousuke’s baffling ineptitude at settling into Japanese society, and time and again causing one to smile and laugh. And for that reason alone, I love how their romance can’t even begin, instead making one giggle at just how opposite the two are.
Even in Volume 1 it was clearly evident Sousuke had no idea what he was doing unless he was in the cockpit of a giant robot, and the same stays true in Volume 2. During this outing, however, things heat up as the terrorists are still on Kaname’s trail, hoping to kidnap her and learn more about her special “abilities” (which at this point are still unknown to the viewer). Sousuke, assigned by Mithril to protect Kaname and her abilities from the terrorists, once again finds him waist deep in trouble as the terrorists make another move.
Audio is one of my favourite parts of Full Metal Panic!, from the opening credits, through the intense fights and their sound effects, right down to the soft, closing melody. Voiceovers are still some of my favourite in any anime, featuring the voices of talented actors such as one of my favourites, Allison Keith (Melissa Mao), best known for her work as Asuka in Evangelion. Vic Mignogna voices Kurz Weber perfectly as the womanizing, perverted comedy-relief character he is, Kyle Hebert portrays Sousuke Sagara well as the uptight soldier, and Luci Christian as the cute high school girl, Kaname Chidori. To be frank, few people ever prefer the English voiceovers to the Japanese, but in this case, I do.
Visuals, I’ve already said it, but, they’re fantastic, and some of the most eye-appealing and colourful I’ve seen in years. The character designs, the robots, the battle damage and explosions are all fantastic. Really, there’s little else to say. Full Metal Panic! is a treat for the eyes.
Full Metal Panic! provides enough laughs, explosions and close-romantic-encounters to satisfy pretty much anybody through the duration of only four episodes. Makes one antsy with anticipation to continue on with Volume 3.
Rating:
Plot: 4/5
Art Direction: 5/5
Sound: 5/5
Overall: 4.8/5
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