One of history's defining features is the men and women who were willing to take a chance. Concepts such as traversing the Atlantic for colonization, migrating across the western half of North America, or scouting Europe for a new trade route sound fantastical. During the "Age of Discovery," embarking on an adventure was the norm, with riches and prospects the rewards. Nowadays, an "adventure" usually consists of driving the car to the local toy store. But suppose an opportunity presented itself. Would you shy away from what lie before you, or would you follow your destiny? As Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis shows, "it's not the destination that matters, but the journey."
STORY
Bahamut begins with the stoic Kaisar chasing after the carefree Favaro. One night, Favaro accidentally makes a deal with a woman named Amira. And from there, the story truly kicks off.
Something that Bahamut executes extremely well is in creating the atmosphere. Medieval towns, magical powers, bounty hunting, angels and demons, dragons, zombies, pirates, massive creatures, war; there is so much attached to the world, and it definitely comes off this way. It simply feels like an adventure. Watching Amira and Favaro dance in a pub or Kaisar and Rita crashing a boat generate an overall mood that is nothing short of wondrous. Dabbling into so many different areas may cause an anime to spread itself thin, but Bahamut's ability to handle any sort of fictional event that it creates gives it another edge. Examples such as a fog-filled town or dealing with the kidnap of a friend give the characters the scenarios to be themselves, have the plot progress, and allow the action to unfold. It's constant and clever situations the whole way through, making it never a dull moment.
Bahamut takes a small misstep when it transitions away from the action and the setting. And that is in the development of its characters. It diverts many resources into making the mood feel perfect at all times (and it does this job wonderfully), but it causes the cast to fall on the wayside. Much of the character development is done through intermittent flashbacks that give just enough information at the time to craft an idea behind how the characters came to be. And this is done for the big three -- Favaro, Kaisar, and Amira. Especially so in Amira's case; the reveals about her origin, and who she truly is, is done rather hastily, conflicting with the delicate and fine world-building that surrounds her. As the plot progresses, the characters subsequently settle issues among one another, but the only person who seems to change his core beliefs is Favaro. Given how unique the cast is, it's a shame that such a blunder was encountered.
Despite being all about adventure, Bahamut does instill a thematic presence. And it's present from the very beginning until the very end. And this is the idea that nothing can be done alone. Hearkening back to my small preview, there existed ordinary men and women who did extraordinary things. Abraham Lincoln uniting the North and the South, or Marie Curie winning Nobel Prizes comes to mind. While individually their achievements are phenomenal, they couldn't have done it alone. That is, not without the help of those around them. The same can be said for Favaro and the gang. As much as he or Jeanne de Arc wish to fulfill their tasks by themselves, it's just not possible. Furthermore, it doesn't matter who. Whether it is a close rival giving one the motivation to push onward or two conflicting sides making amends to thwart a third evil, events in life are never tackled alone. There is always someone there to bring the support, and Bahamut demonstrates this beautifully.
ANIMATION
Bahamut pulls out all the stops when it comes to art and animation.
The art style also contributes to the feeling of adventure that permeates the show. Mountainous backdrops, glistening forests, Gothic cities, and hazy torture chambers are a small sampling of the varying environments offered. Everything is packed with detail, of both the 2D and 3D variety. The show utilizes expert lighting and camera work, providing the show with an overall pretty shine.
The character designs are also varied and unique. Favaro's orange afro and scar, Kaisar's regal outfit, Amira's witch and commoner attire, and Rita's tiny hat with skull-based umbrella make the characters standout not only within their own show but among other anime titles. Their faces forego traditional trends of big eyes and flat faces, instead opting for a more mature, human look. This adds a sense of "realism" to the characters that makes them fit their roles and actions more believably.
As for actual animation, it is quite stellar. Characters move fluidly, and their expressions are not only visible but movable. The fight scenes incorporate nice choreography, giving the show even more reasons to tout its adventurous trait. From nuclear explosions to flying zombie arms, anything and everything is given a high amount of animation and detail, making all that is contained within rather energetic and alive.
CHARACTERS
For Bahamut, its characters are a rather interesting assortment of people.
The last to be added to the troupe, Rita is described as being an undead-necromancer-"loli" zombie. Hundreds of years old yet the height of a child, she hardly ever lets her emotions get the best of her. Having spent much time essentially alone, she finds solace in the fact that Kaisar and the rest bring her into the group. Wielding deathly powers and alchemical magic, Rita is the resident plot mover, giving Favaro and the gang the chances needed to escape or otherwise cheat death -- much like she's done herself. With a ton of wisdom and a strange amount of caring for her new friends, if the four of them were a family, she'd be the doting grandmother, watching from a distance but always ready to help.
As a one-winged fallen demon, Amira is a complex creature. Her childlike attitude, constant hunger, and gullibility make her out to be more kid than young woman. Willing to move forward as opposed to resting on her laurels, she accepts the help of Favaro and the others to bring about her dream of meeting her mother once more in the land of Helheim. Rather resilient and immensely powerful in combat, she is no pushover when it comes to taking on the people standing in her way. Following the family idea once more, she would easily be the grandchild, upon which the others must constantly watch over.
Kaisar is a knight of proud descent. Chivalrous, strong, and handsome, he personifies what it means to be a ladies' man. His feud with Favaro forces him to follow his flippant foe. And as he does, he encounters Amira, the lady he wants to protect, and Rita, the woman he is constantly chided by. Willing to do what is right regardless of what it means for his own safety, Kaisar's determination to see events through to their end propels him from everyday soldier to incredible commander. His role is easily that of the mother.
The fan-favorite (and mine, too) falls to Favaro. Rather crass and unruly, he prefers to have fun at all times, before, during, and after fighting. He starts the tale without a tail and without direction, not fully realizing the gravity of the situation he has found himself in. Overtime, he learns from the others what it means to be a better person. From Rita, he gains the confidence to be the kind of man he should have always been. From Kaisar, he sees what willful and prideful drive can accomplish. And from Amira, he learns that being selfish doesn't bring about change, but compassion for others that does. By the adventure's end, Favaro transitions from a narrow-minded buffoon to a legendary hero. Asking himself, "Which way does the wind blow," he easily represents the father for the four.
The interpretation of the main cast acting as a singular family -- Rita the grandmother, Amira the child, Kaisar the mother, and Favaro the father -- isn't a large extrapolation. Not only do their characterizations and developments paint them as such, but the core theme tying them all together does as well. This theme is, of course, the idea that family is more than just a relationship. Each of them does what they do and becomes who they are because of their family. Rita's first life was based on the love she had for her parents, and her second life was caused by it, too. Amira's sole purpose, her only reason for living is seeking out the one woman with whom she has the deepest of connections: her mother. Kaisar is motivated by the wrongdoings against his own father and besmirching of his family name. And Favaro saw what became of his own father, and therefore pushed away the ideals given to him; but eventually he took to heart the kind of person his old man had always embodied. Before anything else, family comes first. Friends come and go, work buddies are made and lost, and strangers are passed. But family is always there, both within and around everyone.
SOUND
The OP is one word: amazing. The hard guitar, tough drums, and coarse singing make it an adrenaline rush on every listen. The first half is epic and the second half is hopeful. It goes down as one of the top OPs of the year.
The ED completely contrasts the OP. It's soft, calming, and beautiful. The piano and violins give it a pretty arrangement, and the vocalist has an incredible range.
The soundtrack is filled with orchestral pieces and choir singing during the tensest of moments, and Spanish-like heroic tunes during the more triumphant ones. They further add onto the adventure-like quality of the anime.
Voice-acting sees above average work with most of the cast. A stand-out performance is had by Hiroyuki Yoshino as Favaro, perfectly capturing the fun-loving, crossbow-wielding bounty hunter.
ENJOYMENT
It's fascinating where this one started. When it was first announced, it was written off as nothing more than a silly card-game adaptation. But after the first episode, it truly became something more. It began proving what such out-of-left-field ideas can do. Crazy set-pieces, unique characters, and mythological happenings all in one place, and all done well, make it its own, rather rewarding product.
The show is actually quite funny at times, but the action and flashiness of it all makes it worthwhile. Watching a fast-paced duel between Favaro and Kaisar or seeing angels erect barriers to prevent a disaster provided many opportunities to just sit back and say, "Now that is cool."
As my final anime of Fall 2014, Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis goes out with a bang. Its adventure-filled story, familial characters, stunning animation, and killer music make it more than just a show based on a card game.
SUMMARY
Story: Good, perfect adventure, misguided character development, solid theme
Animation: Great, beautiful art, unique character designs, above average actual animation
Characters: Good, Rita, Amira, Kaisar, and Favaro are strongly tied to family
Sound: Great, great OP, good ED, good soundtrack, above average VA work
Enjoyment: Great, funny, eye-catching, and completely out of nowhere
Final Score: 9/10
