Super
Dimension Century Orguss 2
Review
by
: Matt
McConnel
Without
a doubt the finest sequel to bad 80s Macross knock offs ever
made. It's odd that the follow up series would be better made
and better loved, than the original, but oh well. You really
can forget the original 35 episodes of Orguss, and just enjoy
the 6 of Orguss 2 now available at a nice price on one DVD
from Manga.
Imagine
a cold war that begins, not when someone invents something,
but when someone finds something. Zafran and Rivillia have
been locked in just such a dilemma since the discovery of
anthropomorphic weapons known as 'Decimators.' They are found
as ruins and wrecks, rebuilt and used as both weapon and deterrent
against the other side. A young man, Lene, finds himself caught
up in the politics suddenly as the clouds of war begin to
gather. But as is so often the case, there is a hitch, a curve
ball, and a woman yet to come from the wings. The connection
and it is there, between Orguss and Orguss 2 is not revealed
until late in the series, and honestly, it is for the better.
A voice over would just ruin the mystery and sense of harried
conspiracy that pervades the show. One man should not be able
to change the world, but a handful of people might.
Orguss
2 is a marvelous example, and probably one of the best from
the period, of what Japan was putting out in the mid-90s.
It was at this time you had the Macross Plus series, Ghost
in the Shell, and others that are now mainstays. The animation
is clean and crisp, though not always smooth. The voice acting
is honestly a little better in English, though the guy who
does the voice for Manning is just so deliciously greasy that
you could cook friend chicken on your television.
This was
the first series that sent me back to the store. To get more.
The characters captivated me, and they are compelling in their
own ways. And that is the real strength of the series, is
the strength of the characters. The animation, while good,
is secondary to the story and the characters in it. Seriously,
if this is not one you have seen yet, you need to go out and
take a look at it.
Matt
was our first full-time anime scholar. Pontificate with him
here.
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