In a world of spaceships, Galactic Guardians and Lost Technology, Millie Nocturne is a woman with one goal- to become number one in the universe at everything she tries. In the midst of her adventures, however, she runs into two other talented people; psi-blade wielding swordsman and mercenary Kane Blueriver, and Canal, the AI of his ship, the Swordbreaker. Between them, Kane, Millie and Canal make a surprisingly good- if hot-headed- team, but will the three of them be enough to take on the might of the criminal organisation known only as Nightmare?

Those of us who enjoyed the old school charm of Slayers will know that tongue-in-cheek comedy, fantasy and a distinctive main character go a long way towards making something entertaining, but could a similar combination work in a sci-fi setting? Fortunately, although Lost Universe couldn’t quite match up to its better known and appreciated sister series, it still proved to be a solid experience.

Like Slayers, Lost Universe offers a mix of one-off light-hearted episodes and an increasingly important main arc that pits our leads against Nightmare and the power of the Lost Ships. If you can imagine a cross between Outlaw Star and Slayers, then you’ll know exactly what to expect; although to be honest it’s hit-and-miss throughout, with some amusing instalments (such as one in which a crystal rearranges the inside of the Swordbreaker, making the toilet impossible to find) and others that are just a slightly tiresome retread of jokes we’ve seen many times before. Think of it as the junk food of anime- tasty from time to time, but not recommended for living on.

When it comes to characters, Lost Universe’s line-up isn’t as appealing as Lina Inverse and her allies; instead, we have Millie, who is a little hot-headed and a surprisingly competent marksman and chef (even if she does blow up the kitchen in the process); Kane, the earnest swordsman with a pure heart and destined power and Canal, the strong-willed AI (voiced by Megumi Hayashibara). Naturally, there’s plenty of banter, rivalry and a strong hint of a love triangle, whilst supporting characters such as the cool Lieutenant Rail of the Galactic Guardians and his klutzy assistant Nina ensure that all the staple character types are present. You won’t find anything original or groundbreaking, but they’re a decent enough group overall.

At around a decade old, it isn’t surprising that Lost Universe is starting to look a bit rough around the edges animation-wise; the basic character designs are pleasant enough (if representative of their era), but it certainly can’t stand up to the latest and greatest in the visuals department. Similarly, background music does its job, but doesn’t stand out otherwise.

Final Thoughts

It may not be anything special, or even as memorable as its sister series Slayers, but when it comes to light entertainment in a sci-fi setting, Lost Universe fits the bill nicely. Consider it the latest in a long line of ‘easy watching’ titles recommended here at Azure Flame.

Tier: Bronze

Kawahira Keita isn’t your average high school student- he also happens to be an inukami tsukai, skilled in offensive spells and contracted with the inukami Youko, a supernatural dog-girl with more than few special abilities of her own. And unsurprisingly, the life of an inukami tsukai is anything but peaceful- for when Keita isn’t dealing with job requests, family members and their various inukami, he can’t even relax and enjoy the healthy pursuits of a red blooded male without invoking Youko’s wrath…

Back when it was first airing, I made a vow to stay away from Inukami- reports of scantily clad machos and a preponderance of “Mr Elephant” shots all seemed to indicate that I would be massively traumatised should I ever so much as take a glance at it. Nonetheless, the power of time to alter “I must never watch that” to “I might as well give it a try” must never be underestimated, and so it was that in due course I steeled myself for the worst and embarked upon Inukami’s twenty-six episode journey.

Having kept expectations distinctly low, it was a pleasant surprise to discover that, in actual fact, Inukami wasn’t as bad as it had been made out to be. Yes, the machos and ‘elephants’ were present, but fortunately they weren’t as omnipresent as I had feared, and when they did appear, it was all so ridiculous and overblown that it was more amusing than terrifying. And beyond that, the series actually offered a solid mix of action and comedy- it might never be more than light entertainment, but like Magipoka and Himawari before it, it succeeded very well in that department. Admittedly, the ending leaves a number of loose ends, but presumably these are tied up or at least addressed in the movie follow-up.

Alongside leads Keita and Youko, Inukami is packed with other recurring characters, most of them attractive female inukami themselves. Unsurprisingly, their personalities run towards the stereotypical rather than the complex, with every personality type from loli and meido to tsundere and tomboy catered for. That being said, the cast ranges from inoffensive to likable, with the biggest surprise being that Keita is actually a worthy male lead; for while he is a bit of a pervert and a player, he has a very human personality- a refreshing change from the ‘nice yet unremarkable’ class of generic harem leads.

As often happens with these light entertainment series, one of the greatest weapons in Inukami’s arsenal is the quality of its visuals. Although the sight of machos in loincloths is something to avoid rather than welcome, the majority of characters are very attractively designed, although furry lovers should notice that the dog girls don’t have ears and usually hide their tails as well. The animation is generally technically clean and worthy of the original designs, whilst background music is solid if not particularly memorable.

Final Thoughts
Inukami isn’t a good enough series to recommend to everyone, but in spite of the more perverted elements, at its core it is actually a rather enjoyable series. If you’re in need of some light entertainment to unwind with after a long day, put any easily offended sensibilities aside for a moment and give Inukami a try.
Tier: Bronze

According to legend, many years ago, a powerful god named Gestalt was banished to Earth and sealed in an island known only as ‘G’. Determined to find the truth behind these rumours, priest Father Olivier decides to leave his order and travel to G, but when he gains a travelling companion in the form of sorceress Ohri, it is only the first step in becoming embroiled in a more complicated adventure.

During my time with the Loveless manga, I happened to stumble upon an advert for another series by the same creator- Gestalt. Although said series was some twelve years old, I was immediately drawn in by the character designs, but there was just one tiny problem- no English version of the manga existed. In a strange turn of events, however, a two episode OVA based on the manga had somehow made it as far as a UK release, and so ultimately I had to settle for that instead.

As expected, a mere hour of content doesn’t really provide much opportunity for anything in the way of story and character development, so instead one has to settle for more of a brief diversion. Told in the style of a tongue-in-cheek RPG with more than a hint of harem, Gestalt starts out as Olivier and Ohri’s journey to G, but quickly gets distracted by the tale of an evil queen and sorcerer who are trying to usurp a kingdom (this would presumably have been the first arc of the manga). There are also hints of a larger plot involving a tournament between sorcerers and the truth behind Ohri’s magical powers, but with no time to do much with these elements, you just have to accept what’s presented to you and not worry too much about answers or explanations that are never going to arrive.

Despite being the centre of the plot and inexplicably attractive to the various women he meets, Olivier himself is not a particularly interesting character- like so many other leads, he has enough destined power to keep him safe throughout the story, but little in the way of personality. Sadly, the limited duration of this OVA means that the rest of the cast is similarly one-dimensional, with only Ohri bucking the trend. With her light-hearted exterior concealing her dangerous ‘true self’, it seems clear that there are mysteries in her past just waiting to be uncovered, but as mentioned above, you shouldn’t expect any answers other than the ones you deduce yourself from the evidence given.

Thanks to Yun Kouga’s talent for producing attractive character designs, Gestalt is in good hands visually, with OVA production values and good source material somewhat compensating for the fact that it was produced over a decade ago. In contrast, however, the music is largely forgettable.

Final Thoughts
Like so many similar OVAs and series, Gestalt was clearly meant to be a taster that hooked you into the original manga, but unfortunately for the English-speaking community, that manga isn’t available. Nonetheless, if you’re a Yun Kouga fan or just out for an amusing spin on fantasy RPG clichés, there are worse ways to spend an hour.

When I first heard of Magical Pokan, it didn’t sound like it would be to my tastes; if anything, it looked like the kind of fanservice-filled fluff that I had already wasted too many hours of my life on. Nonetheless, after receiving all twelve episodes courtesy of Necromancer, giving it a try was made infinitely easier, and to my surprise, the series was far more enjoyable than I had been expecting.

Although the misleading OP may lead you to believe that the series is going to be a mix of action and drama, Magipoka is actually a light-hearted comedy, and in this department, it proves to be one of the best of its kind. Each episode is divided into two ten minute segments, dealing with everything from everyday misunderstandings such as an attempt to get mail by building numerous post-boxes to more fantastic elements such as a mecha parody or Yuuma’s trip through different layers of hell. It would be an exaggeration to say that every single segment is laugh-out-loud hilarious, but nonetheless the series remains consistently amusing and entertaining- and with only twelve episodes to hand (plus an OVA), you’ll be wanting more rather than feeling that it outstayed its welcome.

As mentioned above, Magipoka is no stranger to fanservice- every time Yuuma casts a spell, for example, her skirt flies up to reveal her panties (something that impresses the audience far more than the results of her spell). Even if such things are not to your taste, however, the ecchi content is far tamer than the likes of Negima, and certainly should not detract from your overall enjoyment.

Of course, humour is nothing without some memorable characters to carry it off, and in this department, Magipoka is in good hands with its four leads. Each of the girls has their own likeable and distinctive personality, and it is through their interactions with each other and the outside world that the series truly comes to life. In contrast, recurring characters are somewhat minimal, although there is a rather bizarre inclusion in the form of Keimi, the girls’ invisible guardian and integrated narrator. Since she is never properly introduced and appears inconsistently throughout, she stands out as something of a convenient foil to speak the lines that wouldn’t fit anyone else, making her inclusion seem more than a little sloppy.

Visually, Magipoka is always easy on the eyes, with some beautiful character designs and no slip in animation quality throughout. The trade-off for such eye candy is that the series often has to rely on stills, looped frames and recycled animation, but given the nature of the show this is an acceptable price to pay. Background music is simple yet appropriate to the tone of the series, and whilst the serious OP and light ED are nothing special in the general run of things, they do become rather catchy after repeated listening.

Final Thoughts
I’ve watched many series in search of light and simple entertainment, and where most of them turned out to be mediocre and tiresome, Magipoka is the first one to keep me genuinely entertained and asking for more. Anyone looking for a comedic break from darker and more dramatic fare should prioritise this series immediately.

In the far flung reaches of space exists Watcher’s Nest, a space station built around the mysterious Quantum Core. The site of many dark and dangerous secrets and first line of defence against the alien Ghouls, Watcher’s Nest is under the command of Lieutenant Ertiana, but with her impending transfer, four new cadets have been summoned to start training as potential replacements.

Misaki Kureha is one of those four, and as a mere reserve, it seems as if she is destined to quickly fall behind the others. But even as Misaki questions her selection, it becomes apparent that she may well possess hidden talents of her own- talents that inextricably connect her to the mysteries at the heart of Watcher’s Nest…

Although the image most readily associated with Divergence Eve is usually that of a well endowed woman and her twin assets, this is actually a series that has more to offer than mere fanservice. The first episode may not make any sense on the initial viewing (chronologically, it takes place between episodes twelve and thirteen and is confusingly entitled ‘Mission 2’), and every female character may be in need of an H-cup bra, but beneath these initial concerns lies a surprisingly solid sci-fi series. Yes, it could have used more episodes with which to develop a clearer and more thorough story, but within the confines of its length, Divergence Eve offers an interesting mix of sci-fi elements with a slowly unfolding mystery. With each episode revealing a little bit more of the overall picture in terms of both back story and character motivations, it is easy to let oneself get carried along on the search for explanations. Everything from “what are the Ghouls?” to “who exactly is Misaki?” forms a mystery that ensures that no viewer can give up before discovering the answers.

As is the case with many shorter series, Divergence Eve never really gets the chance to fully explore its cast, but whilst they certainly can’t be said to be the most developed group of characters, they are at least generally likable (except, of course, for the villains of the piece). This is primarily meant to be Misaki’s story, but the personalities of the supporting cast are at least well defined if not thoroughly explored.

With the exception of some of the older male characters, Divergence Eve manages to deliver a range of brightly coloured and aesthetically pleasing character designs, but unfortunately, the visuals are let down by an over-reliance on simplistic CG. Whilst the Ghouls are all too reminiscent of the poorly designed monsters from the card game series Duel Masters, the Rampart Armour that fight them are ugly, clunky and downright hideous. In contrast, the background music is at least more consistent, delivering some eerie and atmospheric themes alongside lighter pieces such as the energetic ED.

Final Thoughts
Although it will attract many by virtue of its eye candy alone, Divergence Eve is a much maligned series which is a cut above the usual “high fanservice, low plot” light entertainment. It may not be anything special, but it is nonetheless an enjoyable mix of sci-fi and mystery that deserves to be appreciated for more than just its fleshier assets.

Those who recall my Stratos 4 TV review will know that I was none too impressed by the series; aside from the presence of fat cat the Admiral, I had few positive things to say to it. Nonetheless, with the spectre of completion looming over me, I decided that I may as well try my luck at the continuation of the series- ten episodes released across three OVAs. These episodes promised more fanservice, more fat cats, and a continuation of the various weak story threads that Stratos 4 is forced to call a plot.

To be fair, the OVAs are more enjoyable than the TV series that preceded them, and whilst this may not seem to saying much, it is the difference between falling asleep in front of the television and staying alert enough to watch the whole thing. In some ways, it feels as if the writers have realised the ridiculousness of their initial plot about alien parasites, and have done their best to drag it into more respectable and less paper-thin territory. Admittedly, it doesn’t always work, with some plot points (such as the shadowy motives of Headquarters) feeling more tiresome than interesting, but despite the sense that the story isn’t finished even now, there are still some interesting threads.

Perhaps surprisingly, however, the series is at its best when it isn’t bothering about the plot at all; not because of any fanservice, but simply due to a sense of nostalgia for the likes of Top Gun. Regardless of their reason for going up there, seeing the pilots undertake their missions is oddly addictive; I’d even go so far as to say that were it a standalone series about individual piloting missions, I might enjoy it even more.

One of my complaints after the original TV series was that there were too many characters to possibly develop over the course of thirteen episodes, and at first glance, it seems as if the OVAs only exacerbate this problem by introducing yet more additions to the cast. Fortunately, despite the lack of any overtly character-based stories, it is finally possible to get a handle on the supporting cast, to the extent of even remembering their names after the show has finished.

Visually, the OVAs retain the clean, bright but somewhat generic looking designs that characterised the TV series. Background music and the OP are also carried over- after all, it wouldn’t be Stratos 4 without Melocure singing ‘First Priority’ at the beginning.

Naturally, no review of anything Stratos 4 related would be complete without mention of chubby feline the Admiral and her continuing efforts to get taken into space. Veterans of the TV series will recall that the Admiral gained a kitten protégé named Shogun/General way back in episode six, and now a somewhat chubbier Shogun accompanies the Admiral on all her exploits. Of course, the fat cat content is not quite as high as it could be, but it is of course better than nothing.

Final Thoughts
Although it is hardly going to be remembered as anything particularly special, the Stratos 4 OVAs are at least an improvement on the original TV series, and as such just about fall into the category of light entertainment. Despite the disquieting feeling that there are going to have to be more episodes to continue the story, the OVAs do at least offer a low impact way of occupying some spare hours.

From top left: the childhood friends; the rich girls; the lolis; the lead; the shy meganekko; the tsundere and the sick girl; the older women.

When Futami Nozomu returns to his childhood hometown in order to attend high school, he is delighted to be reunited with his friends, the Ichijou twins. There is clearly a hint of romance in the air, but if Nozomu thought that choosing which of the twins he should go out with was difficult, he gets something of a rude awakening when he finds out that town is literally filled with many sets of twins- each of them interested in pursuing his heart! Who will Nozomu end up with, and how will the others react if he ever does make a choice?

Harem series are hardly uncommon in anime, and at first glance Futakoi seems to be just another example of the genre, with the somewhat obvious gimmick that all the girls just happen to be sets of identical twins. Admittedly, this can hardly be said to be the world’s most original and groundbreaking series, but nor is it as poor as prospective viewers might fear- in fact, Futakoi is a perfect example of light entertainment done right.

From summer vacation to shopping trips, everything in Futakoi has been done before, but somehow the series approaches its material with such a sweet simplicity that you cannot help but enjoy it. Where the likes of YoakeNa became increasing dull and uninspiring after the first few episodes, Futakoi somehow maintains viewers’ interest throughout its entire run.

Part of Futakoi’s strength lies with its cast- like the story, they are all fairly standard, but the way they are handled makes them entertaining nonetheless. Having whetted the curiosity by introducing all the twins in the OP sequence, Futakoi divides its cast into two groups; those who are introduced and developed from the start, and those who are introduced for an episode or two later on. In this way, the series avoids the usual “too many characters for too few episodes” curse of the thirteen episode series, by making it clear from the outset that the bulk of the spotlight will fall on the leads, whilst the others are just supporting acts included for a little variety. Of equal importance is the fact that Nozomu is not quite the standard harem lead- he may be an ordinary boy with an inexplicable attractiveness to girls, but at least he isn’t whiny and irritating along with it.

Visually, Futakoi uses a simple and bright style which perfectly complements the light atmosphere of the series. The OP is slightly catchy, but in general the music is forgettable.

Final Thoughts
Although it is not destined to win acclaim for being particularly outstanding in any one area, Futakoi is nonetheless a good example of how straightforward light entertainment should be made. If you just want a simple diversion, look no further than this series.

Mikaze Hanjyou is a trainee pilot for the Meteor Sweepers- part of the ground-based defence line for inbound comets set to impact with the surface of the Earth. At first, it isn’t a job that she particularly cares for, but a high altitude mission gives her a taste for the dizzying heights of space, she finally gains some enthusiasm for her work. Now determined to become one of the prestigious space-based Comet Blasters, Mikaze attacks her duties with a renewed commitment, but will that be enough to ensure she fulfils her ambition?

When I first heard about Stratos 4, my plan was to give it a miss; I hadn’t heard anything particularly in favour of the series, and it hardly seemed worth the effort. Everything changed, however, when I learned that Stratos 4 did indeed have one thing to its credit- a fat cat entitled The Admiral. Although the cat was not destined to save the day as I had initially hoped, her bulk was not to be overlooked, and so it was that I embarked on a journey to see more of her.

Unfortunately, aside from its immensely huggable flabby feline, Stratos 4 does not have much to recommend it. The paper thin plot seems to meander from one place to another, starting off as ‘Mikaze’s coming of age’ before travelling through a pointless midsection to a ridiculous final arc that takes a clichéd story and somehow makes it even worse. The characters are little better; not only are there far too many for a thirteen episode series, but hardly any of them receive anything in the way of development- in fact, even now I’m hard pressed to remember more than a couple of their names.

The sad result of all this is that Stratos 4 is an entirely average effort; a series so mediocre that it cannot even be said to offer some light fun. Unsurprisingly, the best moments of the show are indeed those which feature The Admiral, with the series’ best episode being one that tracks her adventures when she ends up on the base. Amusingly as this episode is, it is perhaps a little worrying that a side story about the adventures of a cat is vastly more appealing than the main storyline.

Visually, Stratos 4’s animation is always clean and bright, but is otherwise unremarkable; most character designs are as generic and simplistic as the personalities they correspond to. Background music is generally unremarkable, although one track seems to be a poorly disguised remix of Top Gun’s ‘Take My Breath Away’; this was presumably intentional given the series’ focus on aerial exploits.

Final Thoughts
Firsthand experience with Stratos 4 could only confirm what I already knew- aside from the cat, there was precious little else to make it noteworthy. Nonetheless, as generally drab as it turned out, I must move into the OVAs if I wish to see more of its starring attraction.

Girls with big guns and even bigger breasts- it’s a theme that’s not uncommon in anime, and one that brings a mixture of light entertainment and tedious dross, of guilty pleasure and outright pain. Sorting the good from the bad is often a case of trial and error, and in many cases- Burn Up Excess included- the series in question is a mixture of the two.

The star of the show is the buxom, energetic and eternally destitute Rio, who manages to be surprisingly likeable despite lacking much in the way of originality. Burn Up Excess seems to be at its best when Rio is squarely at the forefront, with an episode detailing her first days at Team Warrior, and another one in which she guards an AI-controlled tank standing out as some the series’ better moments.

Unfortunately, for every moment of entertainment, Burn Up Excess extracts an equal amount of pain, in the form of over-the-top villains and one-dimensional supporting characters. From a team of cross-dressers seeking to steal money from a sex-change operation to the obligatory obsessive panty thief, many of the antagonists are nothing short of excruciatingly dire, whilst character-based episodes for the likes of Maya and Nanvel are tedious rather than enlightening. Even the series’ attempt at a main plot falls flat, consisting of the machinations of a woman named Ruby, which later ties into Maki’s past in the most predictable of ways.

As to be expected from a series of this type, fanservice is never far from the screen- in fact, the sheer amount of bouncing bosoms featured onscreen caused ADV to include a now-trademarked Jiggle Counter on their DVDs to keep track of them all. That’s not all the ecchi content the series has to offer, however- shower scenes, intentionally suggestive undertones, and even omake sections following Yuji’s perverted fantasies are all included for your viewing (dis)pleasure.

Visually, the age of the series means that the animation is somewhat rough around the edges, with only the female character designs standing out as being at all noteworthy.

Final Thoughts
Although it has its entertaining moments, Burn Up Excess errs on the side of agonising tedium too often to be labelled as truly enjoyable. Unless you’re a devoted fan of high-fanservice action series, you’d be better of finding your light entertainment elsewhere.