Kidou Senkan Nadesico

When 90's classics come to mind, I think this is the first one that I will always mention. Filled with a cast of characters that seem cliche when you think about it, the Ditzy female Captain, Bombshell communication officer, the kid who is smarter than the entire cast combined and who automatically became a fan favorite and the reluctant male-hero who pilots a mecha, etc.

But this show is so much more. Deep down this whole show is a critque on Anime and Giant Robot shows, its show within a show (Gekiganger) that is referenced becomes hugely important as the plot continues.

The characters are ... funny without being too annoying the plot is very interesting and there is this sense that it wanted to be different yet provide enough for fans of the genre to enjoy.

If you have a chance check it out because its a classic that should be watched. 8/10

Opened this up for a rewatch this week, it's a classic that I saw years ago in part and later fully watched a borrowed copy. I added the complete collection (this time with a dubbed movie and previously unseen OVA) and bumped it to watch instead of this week's election chaos. So how's it hold up? Still makes me smile.

It looks like your average mecha versus alien monster scifi series at first. Then you notice a few things are off. Like, these people are nuts, off. From there on it's Spaceballs if Mel Brooks liked poking fun at classic ... giant robot anime (which I think he would). You have mystery, tragedy, comedy, all mixed together with Macross-like combat sequences. I love it.

That go to 90s art style is the perfect backdrop for this series. If you haven't seen Nadesico, you need to. If you haven't seen it in a while, it's about time for a binge. Have fun!

Do I recommend Nadesico? Yes, but kinda.

Nadesico is a classic mecha anima based a lot on other even more classic mecha anime, but it doesn't stand up to those inspirations, it traies to do too much at the same time and in the end it doesn't do any of those things really right, it has charming aspects but overall it feels like a jumbled mix of a lot of ideas that don't function that well together.

When the series tries to do it's story seriously it's actually great, but every time it pivots to something else it crumbles imensely.

So overall, Nadesico is great at a few ... points, but it loses itself on so many other that is difficult to praise it more.

- Will Neot