Three Episodes In - Aldnoah.Zero

 

Aldnoah.Zero is a new mecha anime series from studio A-1 Pictures. Gen Urobuchi is credited with creating the concept while Ei Aoki is directing and Hiroyuki Sawano composing music.

 

Synopsis

Aldnoah.Zero is set in an alternate universe where Apollo 17 astronauts, while exploring the moon (in AZ 1972), found some mysterious alien technology. The tech turned out to be hypergate to Mars, and before you know it, folks started to colonize the planet. The colonists eventually stumbled on more alien technology and decided to separate themselves from Earth, calling themselves the Vers Empire. They would later declare war on the Earth. During this war a large battle was waged on the Earth's moon (in AZ 1999) resulting in the destruction of the hypergate in an explosion that blew apart a large chunk of the moon. The Vers Empire folks, stranded around Earth, would go on to build space castles amongst the floating moon debris. A tentative cease fire existing between the Empire and Earth.

The series starts in AZ 2014 and centers around Japanese high school student Inaho Kaizuka, his sister, and various other schoolmates following a return of hostilities from the Vers Empire. Also featured is Slaine Troyard, an Earthling stuck living under the Vers Empire, and Asseylum Vers Allusia, a royal princess of the Vers Empire.

 

 

 

Alternate Synopsis

Urobuchi and Aoki wanted to create another series with "Zero" in the title. Plus CGI mecha and teenaged pilots.

 

Initial Thoughts (Potential Spoilers)

Three episodes in and there's not a lot of substance to write home about. The first two episodes left a bad taste, pretty generic and boring, but the third manages to provide a glimmer of hope.

Let's take start with the setting. I can't think of any series I've enjoyed that didn't take their time revealing the general structure of the show's universe, whether that be over the first few episodes or over the course of the entire series. Aldnoah.Zero laid the entire history of the show's setting, flat out, in the first episode. It might as well have been a PowerPoint presentation on all the significant events in the past forty years. They were even hard pressed to stop going on about the past while other folks were talking, running exposition in the background in a non-subtle way.

So why did they shove it down our throats in the first episode? My guess is that they just wanted to get it all out of the way so we wouldn't have to deal with it again. Not in a "Here's a giant red herring so we can mix things up to everyone's surprise later," way but a "We came up with the plot to the series before realizing that it needed a setting, so we just made one up. Can we forget about it now?" way. At this point it's so derivative, generic, and uninteresting to have any real importance. Just a poorly constructed vehicle to drive the actions and development of the cast.

The big question is what sort of characters and development are we going to see. Granted, it's still early, and interesting arcs are still a distant hope. The lead character Inaho, who may be autistic, will likely spend the series defeating various Martian enemies through trial & error and shrewd tactics. Slaine will have to overcome his oppression at the hands of the Vers Empire to help save Earth. The Princess will have to deal with being a secret princess caught between two waring sides. I'm guessing Rayet will have to come to terms with the responsibility placed upon her by her parent's actions. Sure, basic predictions after three episodes, but heading down these simple paths looks far too easy.

 

 

At the very least, in the third episode, we see some competently coordinated action. For the most part the characters are capable and defined, even if they are standard single dimension archetypes. Traumatized vet who drinks to relieve the pressure of the past. Strictly loyal members of the Vers Empire and those who have secret ulterior motives. Overly confident and cocky pilots who stereotypically fuck up as a result of their over confidence. Protective yet supporting sister, tactical genious, etc...

I think what most defines Aldnoah.Zero thus far is the bland and boring artwork. The generic themes continue with the backgrounds. They look okay but are largely uninspired and far too typical of the current era. If in 1999, the moon blew up, showering the Earth with debris as super advanced enemies floated around in orbit, pretty much everything we know today would be different. At the very least New Orleans wouldn't look exactly the same. Nor should AZ's 2014 feature folks flying around standard F-22 fighters. It would've been two years old when we had the tech for a great battle on the moon.

At the very least AZ's humanity has been developing battle mech of their own, even if they're laughably horrible in every way imaginable. I'm not sure if their clunky movement is just due to their poor design or the downright awful CGI. We're talking bad, out of place Gargantia quality CGI. It doesn't even have the added benefit of interesting or charming designs.

I will say though that the character designs, even if nothing memorable and oddly animated at times, look really good.

 

 

 

Where's Aldnoah.Zero Headed?

When we look at the two figures running the show and see it's a coin flip in either direction. Histories include Fate/Zero, Psycho-Pass and Gargantia which have a reputation for good character arcs. Comparatively, AH is a lot more generic than the setting of their previous works. It doesn't mean that there isn't a possibility that these characters could mature and develop important story-conveying relationships. It just means that they have a tougher job to keep from the many, all too familair, pitfalls.

 

Should I give Aldnoah.Zero a try?

Did you like Psycho Pass or Guilty Crown? Then yes, you might as well hop in right now. Everyone else should wait to see whether general opinion approved beyond the blind approval garnered by the aforementioned shows. Give it another two or three weeks and check the buzz. It might be something worth sitting on until the series is done and the reviews are in before giving it ago.

 

 


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