Gonzo, one of the best recent times producers of anime, with the likes of Hellsing and Zaion: I wish you were here, under their belt, bring forward another series containing their second to none ability at creating great characters.
Kiddy Grade is a surprisingly sprightly series that follows the exploits of 2 members of a galactic law enforcement group far off in the future. Éclair and Lumiere are G-Class ES members of the Global Union's Planetary Mediator group, the Galactic Organization of Trade and Tariffs or the G.O.T.T as the series follows the lives, experiences and various missions of them and their fellow ES members.
Whilst both appear to be young girls, this exterior hides a strange G.O.T.T secret. (ES members re-new their souls in to new bodies, making them much older in mind than in appearance!) Both Éclair and Lumiere possess incredible powers and knowledge beyond their teen years. Using these attributes to solve cases and protect the civilians of the now mass populated Galaxy. With Éclair possessing incredible human strength and agility and her tiny partner being able to control any machine with her mind, they are a fearsome duo in cute wrapping. But the story focuses on Éclair's switching of body and how she looses her mind in the process. She struggles to cope with her troubled total recall and the inner politics with in the huge array of populated planets. Along the way, we are introduced to some wonderfully bright and imaginative characters. Including the mysterious Armblast. An auditor brought in by the G.U to assess the ES members in their day-to-day work. (Or is it something else?? There is more than meets the eye here.)
The series is a wonderfully colourful and imaginative effort. Boasting a memorable array of characters throughout the story. (The ES members are a strange but enjoyable bunch of mismatches, e.g. Un-no and A-no, Viola and Cesario) Which as a whole is this series strength, since the show isn't as spectacular in its animation as the previously mentioned Gonzo shows. All the major characters are a joy to behold with even some of the more serious ES members coming across as interesting and in no way 2 dimensional. (Like Alv and Dverger or Dextera and Sinistra)
For that I have to congratulate Gonzo. They have created a character driven anime that really does make you care about not only the 2 main characters but also the welfare of even the lesser ones. However, Kiddy Grade does have its problems. The script at times is quite horrible. Even laughable. Sometimes leaving you a little embarrassed for the writers. It's not that the content isn't worth listening to, but it is how a few of the lines are presented. Also, there are the plot lines. Which at times, throughout the series tries just too hard to be complex and mysterious. Which instead of leaving you asking some questions, which is always good for a show. This leaves you confused and asking too many questions and ending up just plain puzzled.
With equally strange and quirky (or as I prefer to call them Japanese!) elements such as continuous crouch shots, misplaced soundtrack music or ES members with nothing but pure odd weapons. E.g. Éclair using a Lipstick whip?? Or Lumiere with exploding wine bottles!! It does add to an overall feel of a series that could be a cult classic like the likes of Bubblegum Crisis/Crash or Dirty Pair.(Fans of those shows will love this!) If the stranger elements can be forgiven that is!
Kiddy Grade is well worth a viewing as an entertainment show. Showing off wonderful characters and some wacky ideas over a serious backdrop of Politics and class struggles. Whilst it doesn't work completely, constantly leaving you thinking there should have been more to this series or that it could have been handled better with more quality and realism, to make it a true classic, it does have huge appeal to younger viewers for it's characters and their bizarre powers. Plus it is a good addition to any anime fan's collection. But it doesn't have mass 'mainstreamed' appeal, the pity here being, that all of the elements for a great show are present. 7/10 Very Good.
Kiddy Grade is a surprisingly sprightly series that follows the exploits of 2 members of a galactic law enforcement group far off in the future. Éclair and Lumiere are G-Class ES members of the Global Union's Planetary Mediator group, the Galactic Organization of Trade and Tariffs or the G.O.T.T as the series follows the lives, experiences and various missions of them and their fellow ES members.
Whilst both appear to be young girls, this exterior hides a strange G.O.T.T secret. (ES members re-new their souls in to new bodies, making them much older in mind than in appearance!) Both Éclair and Lumiere possess incredible powers and knowledge beyond their teen years. Using these attributes to solve cases and protect the civilians of the now mass populated Galaxy. With Éclair possessing incredible human strength and agility and her tiny partner being able to control any machine with her mind, they are a fearsome duo in cute wrapping. But the story focuses on Éclair's switching of body and how she looses her mind in the process. She struggles to cope with her troubled total recall and the inner politics with in the huge array of populated planets. Along the way, we are introduced to some wonderfully bright and imaginative characters. Including the mysterious Armblast. An auditor brought in by the G.U to assess the ES members in their day-to-day work. (Or is it something else?? There is more than meets the eye here.)
The series is a wonderfully colourful and imaginative effort. Boasting a memorable array of characters throughout the story. (The ES members are a strange but enjoyable bunch of mismatches, e.g. Un-no and A-no, Viola and Cesario) Which as a whole is this series strength, since the show isn't as spectacular in its animation as the previously mentioned Gonzo shows. All the major characters are a joy to behold with even some of the more serious ES members coming across as interesting and in no way 2 dimensional. (Like Alv and Dverger or Dextera and Sinistra)
For that I have to congratulate Gonzo. They have created a character driven anime that really does make you care about not only the 2 main characters but also the welfare of even the lesser ones. However, Kiddy Grade does have its problems. The script at times is quite horrible. Even laughable. Sometimes leaving you a little embarrassed for the writers. It's not that the content isn't worth listening to, but it is how a few of the lines are presented. Also, there are the plot lines. Which at times, throughout the series tries just too hard to be complex and mysterious. Which instead of leaving you asking some questions, which is always good for a show. This leaves you confused and asking too many questions and ending up just plain puzzled.
With equally strange and quirky (or as I prefer to call them Japanese!) elements such as continuous crouch shots, misplaced soundtrack music or ES members with nothing but pure odd weapons. E.g. Éclair using a Lipstick whip?? Or Lumiere with exploding wine bottles!! It does add to an overall feel of a series that could be a cult classic like the likes of Bubblegum Crisis/Crash or Dirty Pair.(Fans of those shows will love this!) If the stranger elements can be forgiven that is!
Kiddy Grade is well worth a viewing as an entertainment show. Showing off wonderful characters and some wacky ideas over a serious backdrop of Politics and class struggles. Whilst it doesn't work completely, constantly leaving you thinking there should have been more to this series or that it could have been handled better with more quality and realism, to make it a true classic, it does have huge appeal to younger viewers for it's characters and their bizarre powers. Plus it is a good addition to any anime fan's collection. But it doesn't have mass 'mainstreamed' appeal, the pity here being, that all of the elements for a great show are present. 7/10 Very Good.
