Sky Girls

To those of you who have yet to see this anime, please allow me to make one thing clear: Sky Girls is not a mecha fighting anime. Yes, there are mecha, and yes, there is fighting; but those things are not the primary focus.

STRENGTHS:
1. Sky Girls is a character-driven anime. If you don't find the characters interesting, then you should consider dropping it. I say this because the first half of the series is focused on character development, which can be quite excruciating if you find the characters annoying or uninteresting. I, personally, found the girls cute enough to keep ... watching.

2. The second half of the series focuses on furthering the plot, which is well worth seeing.

3. Fan service. Crotch shots and bath scenes where only the area above the nipples are exposed. Very minimal, but adds a bit of spice (especially to male viewers).

WEAKNESSES:
1. You might find the girls a bit annoying or stereotypical. The way they act does tend get old in the latter half of the series.

2. Filler episodes. It's sad when a 26-episode anime has fillers. I recommend fast-forwarding through them. They really don't add much to the experience.

3. It drags at times, especially in the first 12 episodes. The only thing that got me through the first half of the anime was the fact that I was strangely intrigued by the girls.

CONCLUSION:
Try it out and see if you like the girls; because that's really the only way you can enjoy this series. Otherwise, don't bother.

I expected Sky Girls to be a sort of Strike Witches-esque show with fan service and a lackluster plot. However, it surprised me in how interesting of a series it turned out to be.

Plotwise, Sky Girls became very interesting as time went on. The first five or six episodes were relatively boring, but over time, little plot twists and small details made the series worth watching.

Artwise, it wasn't fantastic, but certainly wasn't bad. Some CG things were really awkward, but they were few and far between. Otherwise, the animation was smooth and the Sonic Divers were made well. Although this isn't related to art, I ... should mention that while this show does contain mechs, the show doesn't really focus on them. They're moreso just tools used than real plot foci.

Musicwise, there wasn't a whole lot to comment on. The opening is one of the dopiest songs I've ever heard. ("Oh, prerry radies, Sky Girls. Fate understood. Innocent red. Last arms. Haaaaaaaaa.") However, after listening to it far too much, it's kind of catchy. That might just be because I find it kind of deplorable from a musical standpoint, though. The endings were uninteresting and forgettable, in my opinion. The soundtrack is decent but not too notable.

Characterwise, the characters were very well fleshed out and given necessary attention. The interactions between characters were realistic and even very heartwarming at times.

Overallwise (and who needs words anyway?), Sky Girls was surprisingly enjoyable. I give it a seven overall because, while it was a great show, it wasn't that great, and the shortcomings that it did have prevented it from being fantastic as a whole. While there wasn't a whole lot of fanservice, there was a little more than was necessary. Could the show have been better? Yes, and it had a lot of potential. Was it a complete waste of potential? No, definitely not.

Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes.

Every now and then I take a chance to watch a show, with little if any expectations. The synopsis I read before adding it to my list really paled in comparison to what the show turned out into. It has its ups, and downs, but overall it is an enjoyable Anime.

Before I mention some of its strengths, I'd like to start by mentioning a few weaknesses. The art of the Sonic Divers, are a little bland. Each one is a bit different than the others, but they really give you the feel of a military air frame that is somewhat mass ... produced, and feels stale. However, the environments, and animation of the battle sequences are filled with eye candy. Later in the show when they are aboard the ship, I marveled at some of the detail of the walls and control systems on the ship, a detail that is easy to over look.

The story, is solid, but the episodes for most of the series may seem a bit formulaic. This may hinder some folks enjoyment, but the star of this show is the characters. Little is said about some of the subtle characteristics of the Sonic Divers, which may startle some viewers when they show up later in the show. For me, the best part of the story, was how it hid it's main theme for much of the show. When I finally saw the backstory for their enemy the WORMs, is when I understood why the story is as likable as it is. The optimism, even in somewhat difficult situations is somewhat contagious.

Very rarely, have I found a show that gives enough screen time to the many support characters to give them enough depth to be loved, and this show is one of them. This lends to a bit of slow pacing at times in the show, but knowing these characters, the Sky Girls in particular, gives the audience a sense of stake in the outcome of their battles. Despite that, there were a couple of things I felt needed closure that went forgotten in the seasons final episode.

Still, I like how the show built up over it's length, and gave us just enough of a taste at the ending to satisfy most fans. Honestly, this show isn't about the tech, the mecha, or their powers, It's about the characters, and how they grow in the midst of this strange time in which they are found.

I endorse watching this series if you enjoy shows where the characters are the stars, and their equipment trimmings on the cake. I think if you come into this show as I did, with lower expectations, that you may find yourself pleasantly surprised at its outcome.