The Chronicle:
Curt W Benefield'sAnime Review: Detonator Orgun
This may be coming late to those who are diehard fans of this magazine and for that I can only apologize. There have been many changes in my life and it became necessary to address those problems. Writing was a definite secondary notion for me. I stated before that this section would devote itself to everything in the manga and anime market. I fulfill that promise now and hopefully in every single issue after this. Today, we turn our attention to a little known release by the company US Manga Corps. Detonator Orgun.
It was released in 1991 as a three part series. It is a Sentai (action/mecha) adventure based on Earth in and about the 23rd century. Earth is well on its way to repairing the environmental damage caused in the late 20th century. Major cities have been moved to the equator, for some undisclosed reason, and rotate along the Earth's axis. The story takes place on one of those cities. City 5 to be exact. Mankind (sorry ladies, but it is the accepted term) has moved out from the cradle of Earth to populate the near planets. Society is relatively peaceful and sublime. To me a very boring place. No small wonder the EDF, Earth Defense Force, is so large. The military would be very appealing to someone having to live in this era. Enter our flawed hero even tough the actual video opens with a mech traveling and fighting through space to arrive at our moon. The pursuing forces destroy the Mech but not before it makes a suitably dramatic gesture toward the Earth. Of course, its impressive destruction takes out its killers.
The hero is Tomoru Shindo. He is a disillusioned young man close to graduation from the local university. He is revealed as a little of a loner and rebel in that he wears his hair long styled like the 80's and a Luftwaffe pilot's jacket. (NOTE: These just happen to be two of the Japanese's favorite affectations and obsessions) Tomoru reveals in a discussion with one of his friends that his life is not what he wished. We later discover that he craves adventure in his life, reflected by his use of a virtual reality gaming device that links with the subconscious and plays the gaming scenario during the wearer's period of REM sleep. He dreams of running from the Nazi's, saving the girl and of course winning the day as well as the affections of the girl. Remember, he is the main character and is thus flawed to the extreme. In his dream game he keeps getting killed. Not the normal death either. Rather, he keeps falling off the building clutching the girl to avoid bullets and explosions. Messy, messy. Later his dreams take on a more sinister tone as something keeps trying to communicate to him through the dreams.
That something turns out to be the same Mech, Solid Armor Evoluder Orgun, destroyed on the surface of the moon. Orgun's pursuers were his own people staging from the Evoluder Battle Planet which is three month's from attacking the Earth. Orgun is a rebel to his people and their plans to conquer the galaxy, system by system, planet by planet. Orgun was the premier warrior of his people but he began to plagued by a severe disease. He gained a conscience. He discovered that the Earth was the next civilization on the Evoluder hit list and he went AWOL. He was smarter than most of course because he did not expect to make it to Earth before his pursuers destroyed him. He began beaming a message to Earth from many light years out with the encrypted information to build another Solid Armor unit. It was this unit which was completed shortly before his death that he beamed his intelligence and programming.
When the Evoluder advance forces attack the earth-built Orgun seeks out the only pilot capable of linking with it to fight Evil. That person is Tomoru who is less than pleased. Actually, he tries constantly to get away from any of his responsibilities let alone fighting.
That would be the synopsis of the first OVA entitled Detonator Orgun 1: Escape. This Mecha Sentai is not a humorous piece nor is it Otaku (cute, with giggly girls or insane jokes and actions). It is serious and dark. I find it to be refreshing change in a world of Sailor Moon zombies. It's characters are full fleshed and realistic and the Mecha designs are fresh. The very visual differences between the forces of the EDF and the Evoluder are distinct. The Orgun unit even comes across as a distinct melding of the two.
The story is top notch with surprises amongst a plot that seems cliché'ed. I give it top marks and recommend you see it this weekend. Try to view the entire video series in one sitting if possible. But of course that's just my opinion.
If anyone would feel like getting in touch with me for any reason, I can be E-mailed at roninstudios@mindspring.com. I look forward to any and all feedback. Until next time, keep your powder dry and your weapons handy.
[Curt W. Benefield]
Please E-Mail me with any suggestions, comments, and complaints!
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