Once we reach Earth a majority of the action is in the water and Gargantia suffers in comparison to the similarly water-based anime, Free!, released in the same year, who’s animation of the water is beautifully realised. The sense of scale is also absent, its bizarre because I’m not quite sure what’s wrong with it, but the depth of the Earth now covered in water, or the magnitude of battles between fleets is not felt. In terms of artwork, there are nice touches in the character details, one example being the tanned and slightly sunburned shoulders and cheeks of Amy.
Gargantia’s strength is in its concept, but is poorly explored after it is introduced in the first few episodes. In the spirit of great sci-fi, the anime speculates on interesting themes. But the questions raised are immediately answered by an A.I logic-based mecha, Chamber. Our fish out of water, Ledo, doesn’t learn anything, he accepts Chamber’s dictations and deductions. With themes undebated and efficiently dealt with, Gargantia sustains itself on periodically delivered twists, which make for a watchable but ultimately unsatisfying experience.
The variety in the ensemble cast makes up for the bland-by-design lead and supports the theme of team-work. The community is celebrated and frequently threatened but presented as a sort of charming, idealistic, ‘everyone does their bit!’ utopia.
Gargantia has a lot to offer in its concept, variety of themes and a genre-combo. Yet these things are only introduced and poorly executed with the show surviving on twists, an ensemble cast and attempts at speculative sci-fi.
