I don't own a PS3 so I wouldn't pick up this title on any other day. But, as luck would have it, one day I was bored waiting for new episodes from my watchlist, and this title caught my attention. Did I mention that I don't particularly like mecha? The art of this show, however, was enough to keep me interested. Naturally since it's by BONES.
More Screencaps from Xam'd: Lost Memories 01
OP: Shut Up and Explode (Boom Boom Satellites) [4shared]
ED: Vacancy (Kylee) [4shared]
The story is set against the backdrop of an ongoing war between the Northern and Southern Country. Because of the high number of casualties from both countries, both governments decided to declare a "Free Zone" area, which includes among others Sentan Island near the Northeastern Yudei Sea.
On this Island lives Akiyuki, a fifteen-year old boy whose parents, Fusa and Ryuuzou, the town doctor, are separated. Even so, it seems that both Akiyuki and Fusa still maintain a close relationship with Ryuuzou, as shown by how Fusa still prepares him lunch and Akiyuki drops by his house occasionally to clean up and take care of his laundry.
Haru and FuruichiThe conflict begins when a postal airship flying over the Northeastern Yudei Sea notices a large group of Government inquiry ships, being deployed above Sentan Island. Realizing that these ships are but enemy ships from the North in disguise, the captain of this postal airship immediately sends out a scout ship, piloted by Nakiami, a red-haired girl with blue markings under her eyes, to investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, on Sentan Island, Akiyuki, with his friends, Haru and Furuichi, is waiting in line to get inside the school bus, when he notices a white-haired girl who does not have the required arm band. To save her from getting into trouble with the inspector, he drops his own arm band near her feet and then tries to distract the inspector as she picks it up and puts it on.
However, it turns out that the white-haired girl, without Akiyuki's knowledge, is carrying a powerful explosive device with her. Once the school bus arrives in front of the school, she detonates the bomb, causing a huge explosion that injures a lot of students, including Akiyuki, Haru and Furuichi.
Meanwhile, the Southern defense forces are alerted to the presence of the Northern ships heading towards the Free Zone.
After the explosion, Akiyuki then sees a flash of light, which enters his body through his right arm. This causes him great pain. The white-haired girl never got off the bus and as Akiyuki approaches her, he realizes that she is dying. She then introduces herself as Nazuna and presses something to Akiyuki's forehead, saying that he now has the "lost memories of Xam'd." As soon as she does, a white mask suddenly appears over Akiyuki's face.
Meanwhile, Nakiami has noticed the smoke from the explosion in Akiyuki's school. Deciding to check the place out, she goes against orders of her captain and flies over to Sentan Island.
Furuichi is the first to see Akiyuki fully transformed into a white creature with orange markings over its body. Without recognizing him, Furuichi warns Haru not to come near. Despite the warning, she steps closer and sees the creature. An inspector also arrives at the scene, and upon seeing the creature, he starts shooting.
The creature is hit and as he is lying on the ground, Haru hears Akiyuki's voice, saying that he wants to live. Outside, the inspectors, who were sent in to secure the area of explosion, notice the enemy ships in the airspace above them.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
A very good first episode.
First, the art. I like the old-school, hand-drawn style used by the animators. The effect is that the show looks like one of those classic mecha animes that we all love. Even the ships have that retro, steam-punk look to them with devices like the voice tube used by the airship captain and the plotting table -- all nonexistent in this time and day with the advent of digital technology.
The overall design, however, is quite modern, so you can't really say that Xam'd: Lost Memories belongs in the old era. The details put into every scene actually remind me of many Studio Ghibli films, most notably Laputa: Castle in the Sky and Porco Rosso.
Other bloggers have said that Xam'd is like a combination of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Eureka Seven. Maybe so, but I think that the similarity between Nausicaa and Xam'd is that the character Nausicaa and Nakiami kind of look alike, both having red hair and piloting an aircraft.
I haven't really seen Eureka Seven so I can't make an honest comparison. What I do know is that the sleek look of Xam'd is vaguely reminiscent of the Boomers from the cyber-punk, mecha-heavy anime, Bubblegum Crisis.
Next is the music. Perhaps as a testament to the marketing efforts put to this show, the OP and ED songs are extremely catchy, their appeal augmented by the fact that the lyrics are entirely in English. But aside from the theme songs, Xam'd: Lost Memories also has an excellent soundtrack whether of the acoustic, exuberant country kind or the drumbeat onslaught of danger looming ahead.
As for the story, I can't really say much about it. From the premise, it sounds like the generic boy hero stops a war and saves the world plot. But there's nothing wrong with that scenario really. And if the production holds and plot logic is maintained, I'll keep this show on my watchlist. :)
MORE INFO:
OFFICIAL (Japanese)
Anime News Network
Wikipedia
Watch "Xam'd: Lost Memories" Trailer
Watch "Xam'd: Lost Memories" OP Clip
Watch "Xam'd: Lost Memories" ED Clip
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