Lately, I've stumbled across a patch of anime that I'd describe as 'flawed but good' and 'definitely good'. Burst Angel really fell between those two markers for me, partly due to what feels like missed opportunity.
On that note and above all, I'd have loved to see more of a streamlined, central plot in in Burst Angel, along with a more cohesive ending (and also the absence of the loli shit).
Nevertheless, I'll set the issue of its ending to one side for a bit – and that part of the review will have spoilers, of course.
First, if you've never come across Burst Angel I think if I mentioned the studio Gonzo, you might get an overview right away.
Here, it's sci-fi, action, (girls with guns), creatures and a bit of mecha and the kind of costume fan-service that often goes beyond silly. There's also some 'found family' stuff going on and a slow-reveal-plot that gets spread across episodic adventures, the kind of classic structure that I really like.
What about the premise? Well, this anime follows a small team of fighters with mysterious financial backing as they take on a corrupt, shadow-organisation, using their guns, brains and Django, the slick-looking mecha.
In terms of the main cast, I won't mention everyone, but will say that while Jo fulfills the badass role quite nicely, and chef Kyohei starts out as the audience's path into the world and characters (before being abandoned by the narrative), Meg seems to mainly exist in the show as a mix of eye-candy/damsel in distress/comic relief.
She absolutely can occasionally save the day, but after the tenth time being captured/held hostage, it grows predictably thin.
It isn't until nearer the end of the anime that Meg shows some extra agency, or that her relationship with Jo is openly acknowledged by the narrative... and even those glimpses of agency are soon squashed in the finale... and then maybe even subverted by the odd ending. But again, I'm saving that for further below.
Elsewhere, the world-building was a real highlight for me.
Some episodes gave that aspect more space than others, but I bought into the level of technology and rearranged society fairly quickly. (The fascist, militarised police-force combined with high-tech killing machines seemed about right too). It was also interesting to see Osaka contrasted with Tokyo, the famous rivalry between them firmly in place.
Getting back to some specifics now, I think that the opening sequence to episode one, where Jo takes on the zombie/skeleton/mech/monster really captured my attention... yet only a few moments thereafter matched it for me.
Well, maybe the ghost/samurai plot.
Or perhaps Meg's highlight episode – the creepy boarding school story, since it had some interesting things that never quite appear again.
Actually, there was also Meg's flashback section of the series and I certainly enjoyed the narrative featuring the brothers early on... and so suddenly I have four other matching moments!
Still, I could argue that such a number is not a whole heap when counted across 20-something episodes... but again, I'm not saying I hated the rest of Burst Angel.
Which brings me (sort of) finally to the conclusion.
Aside from my desire for some storyline-streamlining at times, the finale is what ended up being actually disappointing. Or at least confusing. Maybe both. I'm fairly sure I didn't like it very much at all – but I wouldn't say I loathed it or anything that dramatic like that either 😀
For one, I'm not convinced Jo would abandon Meg, even via her gesture of 'I have to leave you to keep you safe'. After all, at each and every single point of danger prior to the end, she drops everything to rescue Meg. Easy to argue that Jo's choice functions to show that she changed as a person, but I don't know. Anyone else seen this series, and has an opinion?
It also seems possible that a spin-off was planned for Meg... or maybe that scene at the end was just slapped down into the closing minute or two of Burst Angel, just in case. No idea. Either way, it seemed a bit 'from out of no-where' and even if I can easily accept Meg wanting very much to follow in Jo's footsteps... I didn't buy her having the ability.
The choice also seemed to detract from what could have been a bittersweet ending, or even an ending that raised some fun 'what if' questions. (In a way, there is a super-short OVA/music video that seems to answer some of those questions).
Either way, I'd certainly check out a sequel in the unlikely event that one were to happen in the future.
3 Stars
No comments:
Post a Comment