|
|
Based on: Episode 1 (Previewed at MCM London Expo, May 2005)
UK Distributor: ADV Films (DVD Only) Sci-fi, action and gravity-defying breasts usually make for a popular series, so it is unsurprising that Divergence Eve - which contains generous helpings of all three - has been a popular show with fans in Japan and the US. ADV Films are hoping that it will prove popular here too, but this preview of the first episode left me wondering what the hell was going on. The plot (as far as I could make out) was vaguely reminiscent of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, with a remote outpost under attack from an unknown force who come through the nearby wormhole to assault humanity. Standing in their way is a group of buxom female cadets, and one of their number - the blue-haired Misaki - appears to have the ability to become a powerful robot which can fight the enemy on their own terms. I will point out (before anyone complains) that the above overview may not be accurate for two reasons, firstly a toilet break made me miss a chunk of the show, and secondly it was one of those first episodes that makes little sense from beginning to end. Like many modern anime Divergence Eve throws you in at the deep end, and gives very little information as to what is going on - episode 2 will no doubt explain - so it makes it pretty difficult to judge where the story is going from a single episode. What is clear about it though is that the animation and character design is good, and there do look to be some mysteries about the characters and the enemy to be explored as the series progresses. The characters are also quite likeable and the series does seem to be quite serious, but this first episode is let down by two things. First up is the aforementioned confusion, Divergence Eve really is difficult to follow and I really had no idea what was going on half the time (not helped by the fact I missed some of it), and secondly the pretty ropey CGI battle between Misaki's robot form and an alien. I was quite disappointed by the fight, it was a bit like watching a H R Giger inspired version of Transformers: Beast Wars and didn't carry the power or quality you have come to expect from anime. The sad thing is that these fights may be a frequent occurrence, which for me will be a major drawback. As far as I'm concerned the jury is still out after episode 1. The episode had its pluses - the animation and burgeoning plot elements for example - but at the moment it is too confusing and suffers from some pointless CGI. Sci-fi fans and those with a penchant for immense animated breasts will find it enjoyable, and this episode is probably not a fair reflection of the whole series, but I'd like to see more improvement on the potentially intriguing plot. Best Bit: The main character. |
