Sousei no Aquarion OVA

The OVA vs. the series

Even-though the premise is the same, the story has been re-vamped. This is what makes the OVA a better watch than the series. While watching the series, I experienced a bit like too much was going on. The revisions in the OVA fixed that for me. Yes, it's a post-apocalyptic that is similar to the likes of Evangelion, Escaflowne & RaXhephon, but there's a different fight here. Most have not seen this because they are too wrapped up in the fact that it resembles older titles. In a sense, I could even say it is ... similar to Voltron. This title like the others, has a specific fight. Like I don't give away the story (because others have already), I would recommend a watch of the OVA as it is only 2 episodes. If you are curious to know the difference of the series, see if this holds your attention well enough, then check out the series. Also, find the true battle in this story.

Although there are mecha elements in this OVA, I really wouldn't characterize it as a mecha. The focus in this anime is reincarnation and relationships.

Story: 8/10. The basic premise is a battle between angels and humans. The battle is based on the fact that the two races just don't see eye to eye: the angels want to eradicate the humans and the humans want to survive. Go figure. BTW, I refer to the angels as a race, because they are just jerks with wings that I wouldn't characterize as angels.

The setting is 12,000 years after an Angel of Massacre falls in love with a human ... warrior chic with big breasts. I mean with how many shots they dedicate to his eyes focusing on her chest, you don't have to even wonder what he really fell in love with her for.

Then their best friend kills him. Sorry, that's not a spoiler; that's a flashback. You get that information in the first five minutes of the movie. The real story doesn't even start until years later.

The plot then revolves around the reincarnation of these three individuals and how manipulative the angels are about trying to use their once friendship against them.

The story does have romance within it, in fact, the romance is the premise instead of the typical mecha theme. But this doesn't fit in the romance genre either. So it is what it is. A mecha movie with romance as a theme.

Characters: 8/10. I liked the characters for the most part. Apollo is great. Typical but great. He does have some development, even it is minor. But what do you expect from a two episode OVA? He's hot headed, but protective and loyal. The main girls Silvia and Reika are great too. But I won't go into details of their characters, because that would be dipping into the realm of spoiling... since the story revolves around his relationship with the two of them.
The side characters for the most part are a little bland, but not too bad. The commander is great though.

The end is mildly disappointing though. Not too bad, but not what I was hoping for. That's because my taste leans more towards the romance side of things.

Art: 6/10. I have to admit that I have never seen an anime pendulum swing back and forth between beautiful artistry and something off an afternoon comic. It is though the in-between artists had no idea what the main capture artists had in mind. One moment the art is fantastic and the next it looks shabby like two different studios were creating the artwork. In addition to that, there are elements of CG, which at moments outshine the regular animation.

There are some bishies for the bishie fans. And there is fan service for those type of fans.

Warning for people with children: there is a good amount of barbie doll nudity of both male and female characters. There are some minor sexual insinuations. Also there are a couple of bath scenes, one of a male character and the other of a female character. One more nude scene and I was going to deem this anime unwatchable.

Sound: 7/10. No complaints, but there was nothing grand about it either.

Overall: It wasn't half bad.

If you're a die hard mecha fan, this anime might not satisfy you. If you are a die hard romance fan, then this won't satisfy you either. But if you like both, then you will be satisfied.