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| OTHERWORLDLY |
As a life long fan of Japanese animation or as it is more commonly
called, anime, I have watched many types of films and shows that have
ranged from the absurd like
Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, to Hitchcock inspired
thrillers like
Perfect Blue, that would go on to inspire Hollywood
directors like Darren Aronofsky in films like
Requiem for a Dream and
Black Swan. So for my first official review here with Simplistic
Reviews, I decided to give you my critique of a currently on-going
series that even those new to anime will enjoy,
Space Brothers.
Created by Chuya Koyama in 2008 originally as a
manga (which is
essentially a comic. In Japan, people regardless of age read manga
and they have various categories just like books in your local
library {people still go to those right?}) is published in the
magazine Weekly Morning. The manga was nominated twice for a Manga
Taisho award in 2008 and 2010, and would win the Shogakukan Manga
Award for best general anime and in 2011 the Kodansha Manga Award in
the same category. I don't need to tell you how big that is, I mean
these are like the
Eisner's of Japan, (ok you don't know what the
Eisner's are, sorry didn't mean to alienate you any more than I
already have. The Eisner Awards are given for excellence in cook
books, kinda like a Golden Globe or Oscars. Yes, I could've just use
that analogy to begin with but I'm talking a completely different
medium here folks!) So to put this in perspective, Space Brothers in
prose shared award winning company with titles such as
Bleach,
Inuyasha,
Golgo 13,
Galaxy Express 999,
Salior Moon and
Akira! This
manga is no slouch. So, in 2012 it was adapted into an anime and is
still going strong with 91 episodes under it's belt (and counting)
and even boasts a full lengthened live action feature film to boot.
Now, still skeptical of anime; or maybe you just haven't watched a
series since Ash was try to catch the original 150
Pokemon, but just
chill for a second before you write off this series and review.
This was a show that I began on a whim, probably after looking at
something on my Tumblr wall in a moment of boredom and/or depression.
I was, broke, unemployed and pretty much feelign as low as I possibly
could at that moment. So, with no expectations for this show, I took
a chance and started the series. After the first episode I was
hooked. Not in the way that an action show can grab you but in an
emotional way, like the first time I saw
Bridge to Terabithia (the
original and not the remake which I shudder to think about). The
series characters paralleled so much of my life at the time and was
so compelling, that before I knew it I was 10+ episodes in. Now this
isn't me getting on a soap box and saying that an anime changed my
life or anything like that, but I am saying that this amine is one
that people can relate to on many levels for a multitude of reasons.
The story follows Mutta Nanba, (in Japan last names come first, so
when you watch you will see the surname come first, i.e. Nanba
Mutta), he's just been fired from his rather sweet job as automotive
engineer, because his verbally abusive boss was disrespecting his
brother Hibito whom is going to become the first Japanese astronaut
on to walk on the moon, so, quick to defend of his brother, Mutta
headbutted his boss in the face! Freaking. Awesome. However as art
imitates life and Mutta's actions come at a cost. He soon finds
himself black listed and unable to find a job. Untriumphantly he
returns home to live with his parents and is forced to take any
menial job he can find, that is until his past actions eventually
bite him in the rear, then it's back to square one again. All the
while, Mutta is trying to remain the staunch older brother, telling
his parents not to inform his younger brother what happened. Of
course as parents usually do, they don't adhere to the request and
his mother tells Hibito. What ensues from that results in Mutta
remembering a promise that he made years ago as a child and the
opportunity to make that promise become a reality, when his mother
submits his resume to
JAXA (the Japanese version of NASA). We get to
experience the lives of the Nanba brothers as one is venturing off
into space and the other is making his way to catch up to his younger
brother.
Filled with a cast of memorable characters like Ozzy - the senior
citizen that lives in Houston near Hibito, who has a penchant for
gambling (but in a good way), Kenji Makabe – Mutta's fast friend
that he meets during the astronaut candidate processing phase, Serika
Itou – Mutt's love interest with an insatiable appetite, and the
person who steals the show whenever he's on,
Apo – Hibito's pet pug
that Mutta ends up watching once Hibito goes to space, (and no Apo
doesn't talk, it's not that type of anime). Each character has their
own motivations for being in the place that they're in and are each
developed so well. Their reasons are as real as you, or me if we were
trying to get a job. At the heart of the series, space is the
backdrop for every single one these characters hopes and dreams. If
as a child you were ever enthralled with all things outer space, than
you too can relate. The reason why is because space, and space
exploration represents what we can do as human beings. We can
colonize new worlds or even the moon if we want to. We can dare to
dream again like we did when we were young and it's okay. Space
represents hope in the face of all that's not, and sometimes that all
we ever really ever need. So I highly recommend Space Brothers for
that reason alone. Oh, and did I mention that the hallmark of every
anime, Space Brothers included, is the kick ass opening and closing
themes. The theme for the first 13 episodes in a awesome J-Rock
(Japanese rock) song by a band named Unicorn called “
Feels SoMoon”, that really sets the tone for the series. The themes never
let up, and you will enjoy them every time that they are on.
Inversely, the ending themes are just catchy and enjoyable and are
like a kiss goodnight after a great date (get it together Hollywood,
you don't need that much freaking ad time). Bonus, you get exposed to
a different type of music that you may never have heard before, so
thank in advance for broadening you musical pallet.
I could go on but I think you get my drift. Watch Space Brothers.
But of course;
you don't have to take my word for it.
