Shelf Life

Step Up 2 Da Shelf

The strangely cute Step Up Love Story aside, Media Blasters has kind of been hit or miss with me lately, with their servings of relatively unknown series and their oftentimes frilly releases. However, I definitely give them props for releasing Simoun, an underrated show that deserves more attention than it's been getting. Although it's part of their “Yuri Fan” collection, that really shouldn't factor into anyone's purchasing decision at all—simply put, it's a great show. The first episode was a little confusing, especially with the large cast of characters, but once you get into it, you'll be really glad they stuck six episodes on the first disc.

Visually, the series is quite nice. The character designs are gorgeous, and I could see the girls' outfits being prime cosplay targets. The mecha designs are really inventive, too, and if the designer was trying to go for something ethereal and mysterious, he totally landed the bull's eye.

To understand Simoun, the world in which it takes place needs to be explained briefly. Everyone in the nation is initially born as a female; once she turns 17, she makes a pilgrimage to the “Spring” where she is then permanently assigned a gender of her choosing. Their country had the good fortune of discovering an ancient technology that they believe was bestowed upon them by the heavens—helical engines that can be controlled and piloted in pairs. Representing “time” and “space,” these “Simouns” can only be piloted by those who have yet to be assigned a gender. By tracing intricate patterns of light in the sky, these machines can cause immense damage. Typically used to become closer to their faith, these Simouns now have to be used in battle against a neighboring country, which keeps launching daily attacks in an attempt to uncover the secret behind these contraptions.

Although the Simouns play a big part, the show is far from being a typical mecha show. Most of the focus is on the characters, most of whom don't even want to be in battle. Their worries lie in other things, like their impending gender assignments, and their relationships with one another.

What makes this series really fascinating is the contrast between the protagonists and the enemies, and the subtleties within their cultures. The enemies rely on science and technology to survive (in contrast, they are assigned their genders at birth via medical treatments and drugs), and as a result, the pollution is eating away at their bodies. Whether this is a commentary on science/man-made technology versus faith/nature is unknown, but it's interesting to think about. There's also the implication that only pure children can pilot the Simouns, before they are given the burden of gender—though one observes that becoming a man can be beneficial because most of the job opportunities are for men.

Social commentary or not, this show really provides fuel for thought. Even if you're just in it for the unique battle system, there's plenty here to entertain you. It's definitely one of the more interesting shows that Media Blasters has released of late. I wouldn't even really classify it as yuri—true, the girls kiss each other and fall in love, but that's really not the central focus of the show. The fact that they can opt to become male throws an interesting twist in that, too. Either way, this is a really creative series. There's a good chance you've never even heard of it before, but I highly recommend checking it out.[TOP]

If you're just looking for something relaxing, though, my vote goes towards the third and fourth volumes of Mushi-shi. As is common with all the discs preceding it, the episodes follow Gingko as he wanders to different villages, noting all the phenomena that occur, and revealing the mushi inhabiting the area. There's also a particularly eye-opening episode on the third disc that talks about Gingko's childhood, and reveals why it is we only ever get to see his right eye.

As quaint as these episodes are, I sometimes wonder what would happen if he went to a bustling city either in Japan or overseas. Those tiny villages are ripe for life energy, but a stroll through East LA would probably be more ready for an episode of Moyashimon than anything spiritual.

If you have the patience for slow, idyllic shows, then Mushi-shi will please you in a million different ways. The artwork is easy on the eyes, and the different mushi are fun to watch out for. They're sometimes beautiful, sometimes creepy, and sometimes both, but they always provide something to look forward to in each episode. I had a personal fondness for a certain glowing bamboo, though probably not to the same extent that the first female character did.

As much as I like this series, though, I'll be the first to admit that it's not for everyone. It doesn't have any intense action or any quippy dialogue, and there's not a lot of flesh to be seen everywhere, so if those are the kinds of traits you look for, I suggest going elsewhere. This is more like sitting down and watching a History channel special about the invention of the toothpick—a bit slow, but surprisingly fascinating in the breadth that it encompasses. I'm a big fan.[TOP]