Apr 24, 2014
TL;DR REVIEW: A really fun and original show with a focus on character. CGI and quirky character design may be a turn-off to some, but its worth a try for those who desire a grounded and unconventional story.
Hey! Just a few quick things before I begin. Surely you know by now that its difficult to reliably put numbers to anime, so take my ratings with a grain of salt. They should give you a general idea though. Also, I have no experience with the source material, so I can't judge this as an adaptation. Lets dive right in.
STORY 8/10: The first and most important thing
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to note about RideBack is that it is a blend of several genres which, though strange, are integrated pretty seamlessly. A story about a ballerina riding robot motorcycles in a distopian near-future may sound silly on paper, but in action it is extremely enjoyable. The pacing is consistent throughout and the story has a fairly satisfying conclusion, despite the many turns the story takes which can at times be mildly jarring if you are expecting a straightforward sport anime, mecha anime, or any single thing. Frequently were my expectations about where the plot would go proven wrong, yet always made sense when I thought back on it.
It also avoids many anime tropes and gags which would normally be standard which was something I just recently realized looking back. No boke/tsukkomi, no "umi-da" or "hentaiiiiii~~~" or boob grabs or anything of that sort. And to top it off, there is not a highschool in sight. Thank god.
Another point for those interested, is that I found the world to be incredibly grounded. Everything felt very real. Events that should have weight did so, and when people should have been seriously injured they were. The "mechas" (ridebacks, basically robot/motorcycle hybrids and the anime's namesake) in particular seemed believable enough that it really enhanced the concept immensely.
ART 8/10: Here's where some people might jump off the wagon. Almost all vehicles in RideBack are entirely CG. At first it was uncomfortable, but I warmed up to everything pretty fast since the ridebacks look great; in motion especially. The CGI is a fair trade off for more fluid vehicle scenes. Some might also be turned off by the quirky character designs, but I found them brilliant. There is an immense variation in facial structures and body types, which makes it easy to identify characters by something other than their hair. In the same vein, there is no fanservice in this. It was honestly surprising since its about a girl riding a motorcycle robot in a dress. There was not one panty shot, and it was only for a second at a realistic time. No attention was drawn to it either, which was refreshing.
The backgrounds were pretty good and there was little to no "QUALITY" scenes. This anime managed its budget well apparently.
SOUND 6/10: Not much to say here. The music was appropriate and pretty good, the voice acting was also good. Nothing bothered me during my watch, but not much stood out either.
CHARACTER 9/10: At its core, RideBack is a character driven (vroom vroom) anime. The main character in particular is exceptional, and the supporting cast is endearing and believable as well. I could have done with some more exposition on some of the side characters, but honestly the story is fine without it. If you're looking for a goof female protagonist in particular, this is fantastic.
ENJOYMENT YES/10: I don't know what more you'd need there.
Overall, this a seriously good anime and one of my favorites. Its a really splendid experience that constantly had me in the zone enjoying every minute of it. Although quirky, RideBack is seriously unique. You might not feel the same if you aren't into the possible hangups I listed above. But hey, its seriously something you should try if any of this sounds interesting at all. If you're ready for a wild ride, give RideBack a try.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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