Story:
Through the past millennium, robots and humans have evolved to a point of separation, and have eventually declared war on each other because they can no longer coexist. In the middle of this battle is the Tempest Tower, essentially a robotic Tower of Babyl, where the great robot duchess Drossel Von Flugel and her servant, Gedächtnis reside, weathering the ongoing war and attempting to uncover the past through ancient pieces of human and robot technology. The best part? This all plays the background to a much simpler and lighter comedy. Essentially, you get slice of life comedy with 2 clueless robots and the occasional guest. Some people may be turned off by this decision, but it works amazingly, it manages to be deep yet superficial at the same time. An air of absurdity accompanies every joke, the feeling that greater things are at stake, but then you realize, these are robots, which live forever and have no need for a sense of urgency.
Art:
It’s CGI Anime. Take of it what you will, but while the original Fireball was mediocre even at the time of its release, Fireball Charming is a vast improvement. Visual flourishes are everywhere and the environment of the Tempest Tower has a serene beauty accomplished only from its massive size and repetitive nature.
Sound:
Because each episode is less than 2 minutes long, you won’t ever be hearing more than the main 10 second theme. But it’s a nice short tune and actually surprisingly memorable. The robotic sounds are a bit stock-effect sounding but they work. The voices are great, but the superior part is the way that the voice actors speak in a nonstop, fast stream of words. Robots like Drossel and Gedächtnis do not need to spend the time a human would analyzing each other’s speech and considering a reply, they talk immediately after each other, as quickly as a computer can process. Absolutely perfect.
Character:
Here is where Fireball Charming excels the most. Despite having only 2 main characters, and a small cast of random visitors, each character is memorable and enjoyable. Somehow, these robots are just as lifelike as humans. Drossel seems to be your typical snooty 14 year old anime princess, yet she’s got an entire range of unexpected personalities and emotions that are surprisingly consistent for her character. Gedächtnis, who acts as her loyal and often abused elderly servant, is the ground for Drossel’s sanity and the one who explains the outside world. Both are immensely charming(no pun intended) and truly great.
Enjoyment:
The comedy in Fireball Charming is top notch. The original Fireball had excellent puns, wordplay and irony that made it an intellectual comedy that could still make one laugh out loud. Fireball Charming has added a range of slapstick to the mixture, without lowering the overall level of intelligence. The polar opposite ends of comedy go hand in hand in a way you’ll never have thought possible. The banters between Gedächtnis and Drossel are easily the most memorable duo lines made in anime and every word has been painstakingly arranged for maximum comedic relief. Make sure you get good subs, because they will make a major difference if you don’t speak Japanese.
Overall:
A true masterpiece. Don’t let the Disney production tag, short run time or CGI aspects fool you. This series is a wonderful gem of comedy that everyone should watch. And with the small episode lengths, you’ll only be wasting 30 minutes of your life for a whole season instead of 12 hours. Each bite sized episode is small but brimming with flavor and personality, one can only hope Disney will treat us to another season sometime soon.
