This series holds a very special place in my heart, as not only was it basically my first hyper-obsession back in middle school, it also was the very first anime i went out of my way to watch on my own. This is also the show that brought Nana Mizuki to my attention, and many of her songs on this show are some of her greatest hits (ex. Synchrogazer, TESTAMENT). As of the time of writing, my respect of this show has gone on to be even higher, with so much of it's achievements being so novel, and unique even among the most popular shows out there. Every leading voice actresse in this show is capable of singing in an amazingly powerful yet unique voice, and every main character has a minimum of 2 unique songs, which is an unimaginable investment on the parts of the composers and the talents. Speaking of composition, the Music is also an amazing fusion of classic J-pop, synthwave, and rock, which occasionally combines with traditional instrumentality to create a wonderful tone that few other discographies have matched. Aesthetically, this show is also extremely ambitious and unique. The show takes the tried-and-tested formula of the classic Magical girl, and turns it on it's head by combining it with the two volatile ingredients of Sci-fi and mecha, resulting in the most Imaginative Costume designs i have seen, and will probably ever see. The sharp chrome edges combined with the glowing technostrips, as well as the frills generated in beautiful holography by the Ex-Drives are so memorable that even to this day, i have never forgotten any of the designs, and characters are so wonderfully accentuated by their Symphogears that they are engraved into my memory all the same. The Music still rings in my ears to this day, with the entire OST being warranted their own playlist within my daily listens.
Alright. I've complimented the show enough, the following is to really drive home the score, as well as to address skeptic ideas. Symphogear is extremely generic when it comes to theming. All of its lessons boil down to essentially the following: Even as we struggle to understand one another, even as we hurt each other, we should continue to fight to reach each other with not only our words, but our actions. This lesson may seem mild and bland after all these years, but Now more than ever, with the internet's rise of Hatred and Social deconstruction, this lesson rings out more than ever before, that despite everything, no matter what, we should, and we must reach out to everyone. Secondarily, a bland story with many plot holes does not warrant disrespect against the show at all. Even with all of its contrivance, inconsistency, and unsolved plot threads, The things this show did to make it unique, as well as all the work put into the show to make its risks bring reward, should be respected, and with all the recent shows that simply recycle ideas, the unexpected fusion and production of new, out-of-nowhere ideas should be revered and looked up to.
Ultimately, as this show says, we cannot understand each other, but I will still do my best to hope that my thoughts and feelings will reach those who read this, and will help them understand this show's merits, as well as to give this show a chance to capture their hearts as it has mine.
