It seems every new series and its brother getting released or going to be in the UK at the moment is from the animation powerhouse Gonzo.
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Menus are laid out like one of the many computer readouts found in the show, lots of turquoise semi-transparent colouring, the only thing looking out of place is the cursor which looks more like an afterthought than anything else.
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Japanese 2.0 and English 5.1, the usual from ADV, no problems with the Japanese track which I only spot-checked to confirm my fears of that while the Gravion dub is well made with a wide cast and nobody sounding out of place, 5.1 downmixing issues again plagued the FX track on my 2.0 set-up.
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- Clean Opening
- Clean Closing
- Design Sketches
- Japanese Trailer
- ADV Previews
- Fold-Out Insert Feat’ Extra Gravion Story
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I’m not the biggest Gonzo fan in the world, it’s almost like I’m determined to not like what they make but there are exceptions of course, Last Exile continues to wow me and Kiddy Grade pushed all the right buttons but for the most part Gonzo are style over substance so much so in fact that series’ can start off well and loose it mid way through because the premise that was supposed to carry them was never thought through thoroughly enough, FMP and Hellsing to name two that I found followed this theory.
For Gravion we have mysterious eccentric multi-billionaire Klein Sandman, he has gathered all the influential powers of the world together to show them that the world is under threat from alien forces unknown and that he and the God-like weapon developed (in secret) by him will be the Earth’s only saviour.
A team of cute girls in various fancy designed costume styles and all shapes and sizes of figure have been trained to pilot said giant mecha to conquer the oncoming evil. There are the two token male pilots who bizarrely get the “lead” roles and are the glue that hold much of these episodes together, Eiji Shigure – the one with the attitude towards authority and occasionally walks in on the girls showering and Toga - the quiet well adjusted one who can beat Eiji at every turn.
Some say Gonzo have created a parody in Gravion, taking on the heavy-weight mantle of taking the piss out of 80’s giant robot anime, and in some regardsthey get it to a “T”. When everybody pilots their individual vehicles into battle they combine with their own 80’s sounding rockin’ theme tune to create the god like mecha “Grand Kaiser” right down to the way all the weapons in Gravion have to be fired by simultaneous voice activation and button pressing.
The episodes then also follow a similar rout to many of the 80’s giant robot shows Gravion is allegedly parodying by starting out with some emotional or domestic issue the team has to overcome in order to evolve in the character development front, (pick an episode) a picnic has Luna, Ena and Mizuki all trying to help quiet emotionally scarred new girl Leela out of her shell while Eiji puts his foot in his mouth at the first possible occasion before the second act starts and the aliens show up for the action quota.
80’s giant robot anime and its subsequent micky-takers aren’t my bag, and excuse me but “parody” and “Gonzo” is a bit of an oxymoron? To create a parody you usually have to be slightly inferior or at least cheaper looking than what you are parodying, but in Gravion the visuals just shine so in my book it misses the parody mark in that regard. All the characters, costumes and designs are very detailed and attractive appealing to that a-typical anime style that drew me into anime in the first place, big eye’s ski-jump noses small mouths with brightly coloured big hairstyles. In that regard Gravion Devine Steel appeals to me immensely, the mecha designs on the other hand while equally detailed… All I can say is “ack!?”. This has to be the part that’s the real parody surely?
Seriously Gravion: Divine Steel for all its devices appeals to the most basic of Shonen anime fandom drives, it’s about showing cute girls with plenty of fanservice and giant robot battles. So far there isn’t much more to it than that, there are a few budding plot elements Eiji’s quest to find his missing sister and the unfolding mystery of what the aliens are? But those take up barely a few minutes of airtime as to not distract from fanservice and drooling at the highly detailed character artwork. Predicable light hearted good fun, fluff.
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I’ve taken a rather cynical approach to reviewing Graviton: Divine Steel, perhaps more than I should as lord knows this was an entertaining DVD, if only for the most superficial of reasons. "
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The best volume for a while hitting a new high pace for the narrative and revealing a lot more truths about the series so far, good stuff.
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