STORY 7: Aliens have invaded and are harboring themselves for a full scale invasion #2108 for a story premise. These seem to be the kinds of anime I've run into since 2001 with shows like Zaion, Blue Gender, Argentosoma, or any other given title where if the antagonists aren't a bunch of bored-looking shonen villain misfits sitting around a table, then it was just a bunch of insect aliens straight out of Starship Troopers. I will give credit where credit is due, these bugs I actually liked better than the aforementioned shows, as they evolved tactics as the battles waged on (mind you, only because the heroes are complete morons and fight with the same damn battle strategy EVERY single time), but the general feel for even a 13 episode show is "Creatures show up here. You guys go blow it up." Even towards the end, I never got the feeling it was building towards anything truly climactic. So with villains that offer nothing for the viewer to invest in and barely seem like a threat after the first two episodes, and a team of fighters that just hang around "a place", the plot was just coasting, hoping to substitute countless action sequences and unfunny comedy instead of writing something to sink my teeth into. Most of my props to towards the original idea of using historical figures as a source of power. It's a pretty ingenious idea that is grossly miscast with this setting. There could have been a great chance for some social commentary on the state of human affairs (look to your past to solve the problems of the future, or something. Anything other than bug monsters!!) over the selection of these abilities and why the choice of a renegade like Oda Nobunaga to be the leader.
ART & ANIMATION 6: It's about on par with anything else that's recently come out. Only during the many, many, many hack'n'slash gun battles does the scenary will switch into this negative filter when the AU balls are activated. It's never explained why, and I just found it to be distracting. Some of the CGI is used subtly and cleverly, like with Ghandi's barrier (which is what it is, you jackass! Stop throwing a fit when someone calls your barrier a "barrier". What do you prefer, Ice Cream Rain Dance?? Cotton Underpants!?!).
The character designs look dated to me. I've seen these comedic facials, hairstyles, and visual gags for eight years now. At least each character looks distinct enough and I can tell them apart when they are wearing their uniforms as opposed to 300 generic faces all wearing Soul Reaper garb. The AU Ball outfits, however, leave a little too much to be desired. Preferably, Jack The Ripper, who is bearing the essence of an infamous serial killer and is supposed to be the series' resident badass, but looks like he's dressed in Rini's Sailor Scout shirt with puffy shorts!! If you're dressed like that, you BETTER kill someone.
SOUND 4: That opening theme is horrendous! Sounds like some crappy, rejected Nu Metal that plagued the United States in the early 2000's. Ogura Sio spends all of her not-action scenes talking faster than Shia LaBeouf after snorting his own body weight in cocaine and then walking on the set of Revenge of the Fallen. Everyone else sounds bored.
CHARACTERS 4: Nearly the entire cast of Nobunagun is littered with everything that drives me crazy about anime (save Asao, she is a sweetheart, which is why she's kept out of the show)) None of these characters have a personality trait outside of their casted roles. While I think it's cool that a female is the lead and isn't a total moron, she has nothing else about her other than her knack to prattle on constantly about military arsenal! And that really is about it with her. Jack could've been a great comedic foil, but instead he just kind of stands there acting stoic. Jess has boobs and collagen lips, Ghandi is allegedly that soft-spoken one, but is a creep for no real reason, Galileo is the twerpy school girl, and Voldicq is the cold, Vulcan-like strategist who favors calculated results over human emotions. I just described the main cast in all the detail the series provided me with in two sentences. Outside of the fact that they are all one-dimensional cookie-cutter archetypes, I doubt they would hang out with each other if they weren't forced into close quarters. It's like someone paid them to act chummy. At least Asao is pleasant when she's present.
REWATCH VALUE 5: At 13 episodes, it's a breeze to watch, but I don't think there was a particular point that would make me want to revisit the show. It's an easy enough for viewing pleasure if episodes of another show you might be watching isn't available yet. Comes off as a good starter series for someone just getting their feet wet in anime.
OVERALL 6: As I have been trying to get back into the swing of watching newer anime on a regular basis after having a meltdown with the medium two years ago, an easy going action title like this one might have been what the doctor ordered. It has some missed potential with the concept behind the powers of prominent historical figures being used to thwart evil. Faceless alien invaders are just the wrong kind of villain for this and they should've battled someone(s) attempting to exploit these abilities. So while it may sound like I shredded this show completely, it isn't as bad as I initially thought, but it isn't as good as it could have been.
PROS: Nobunaga fighting aliens with a gatling gun.
CONS: Very underwhelming overall. Bland as all hell characters. That old lady is a terrible person.
