ANGELIC LAYER

Also known as "Sony's Next Project"



Review by: Craig "I Want One!" Norris

Length: 26 episodes
Genre: A bit of everything
Watched: 1-26, subbed

I haven't reviewed a CLAMP anime in far too long. After being thoroughly impressed by Chobits, I baffled myself by not rushing out and watching more of their series immediately. When I finally decided to, I wasn't sure if I wanted to make the commitment of time to Magic Knight Rayearth or Card Captor Sakura. So, I decided to try the considerably shorter Angelic Layer. And now that I've seen two CLAMP series that really impressed me, a commitment of more time to any of their other series seems much more agreeable.

Plot synopsis: Angelic Layer, a game that allows small robots called angels to be remotely controlled by the owner's mind, is sweeping across the nation. Its popularity has spawned a series of leagues, where the angels are pitted against one another in combat, with the goal of becoming the national champion. Misaki Suzuhara, a 12 year-old girl recently sent to live with her aunt in Tokyo, becomes fascinated by the game, and immediately purchases and designs an angel of her own. With the help of her classmates, a five year-old Angelic Layer prodigy, and an eccentric programmer, Misaki begins her quest for the championship, where she hopes to take on Shuu, the legendary reigning champion.

Artwork: Typical CLAMP goodness, with simple character designs and vibrant colors. Actually, the "simple" comment applies only to the human characters, as the angels are very diverse and ornate in design. Misaki's angel, Hikaru, whose appearance is far from bland and unimaginative, seems dull in comparison to some of the others that she fights along the way. Some corners were cut on the action sequences, with a lot of still frames being used during the angel fights. However, since the angel fights are not the real focus of the anime, this is more than forgivable. Those who are fans of CLAMP's art style should have no reason to lower their expectations for this title.

Music: Despite being a bit generic, the soundtrack is actually decent. For the most part the in-episode music is bouncy and vibrant, which captures the youthful exuberance of the characters. The opening theme has an uplifting melody that captures the nature of the show very well. The music refrains from getting too intense for its own good, and avoids making the angel fights seem like more than just games. Except of course for the final battle, but that is to be expected during the main climactic scene.

Characters: Characters that are likable and easy to relate to are an important component of any good anime, and this series presents them in spades. Misaki is a cheerful girl who sees Angelic Layer as a way to express herself. Having not seen her mother for several years, she values companionship and likes to surround herself with as many friends as possible. She learns Angelic Layer very quickly, and in no time she becomes one of the favorites on the tournament trail. Kotaru is Misaki's classmate, and one of the first friends she makes when she moves to Tokyo. He is quiet and friendly, making him an easy target for his boisterous classmate, Tamoyo. Though Tamoyo likes Kotaru, she constantly teases him and practices her martial arts on him. Hatoko is Kotaru's sister, and despite being only five years old, is the regional Angelic Layer champion. She provides Misaki with technical and moral support as she advances through her tournament career. When Misaki first buys her angel, she receives the guidance of the flamboyant Ichiro Mihara, who insists on being called Icchan. He is responsible for many things on the Angelic Layer tournament trail, and takes personal interest in the development of Misaki and her angel. He tortures his assistant Ogata by playing strange "punishment games" when he screws up. Oujiro is Icchan's younger brother, and is a regional Angelic Layer champion, finishing second in the national tournament the past two years. He is regarded as one of the best players in the world, and has earned the unofficial title "Prince of the Layer." As such, he has a large fan base, dominated by screaming schoolgirls. Shoko is Misaki's aunt, whom Misaki lives with in Tokyo. Shoko is a news reporter, and is given the responsibility of covering the Angelic layer tournaments. Aside from Icchan, none of the characters seem over-the-top or inordinately remarkable, making them all very easy to care about. The down-to-earth characters help to dilute the remarkableness of the Angelic Layer game itself, making it all seem much more accessible and believable. The only problem with the characters is that some of them seem far too mature for their age. Hatoko, for example, sometimes takes on the role of "big sister," despite being a kindergartner. Sometimes the overabundance of maturity made me believe that the series would have worked better had Misaki and her friends been made a little older.

Plot: A fantastic balance was struck between the plots and sub-plots, with just enough focus being given to all. At first the series seems to be about Misaki learning how to play Angelic Layer and win matches, but the focus shifts as the series progresses, dealing more with Misaki coming to terms with the absence of her mother from her life, and her mother preparing herself emotionally for their eventual reunion. Also, the origins of Angelic Layer are explained, and its importance in the lives of Misaki and her mother is systematically revealed, answering almost every question beginning with "why" that I had. Add to that exploration into the lives of the other Angelic Layer competitors, and the development of romantic relationships, as well as a few "opponent-of-the-week" episodes, and the plot seems almost flawless in both organization and execution.

CHICKS!: Unfortunately, most of the main chicks are pre-teens, so there's not much to stare at in that respect. And the adult chicks that do show up don't get enough screen time so that we're constantly drooling over someone. However, there are a few notables, most prominent among them Ringo Seto, a teenage pop idol. She's happy, friendly, and blond, and seems more intelligent than one would believe a bubblegum pop princess to be. She takes Angelic Layer seriously, showing that she tries hard at everything she does. Of course, being a pop star means she's already got a huge fan base, so if you want to be her drooling fanboy, I'm afraid you'll have to take a number. Kaede Saitou and Sai Jounouchi are popular and successful Angelic Layer combatants. Kaede is one of the most polite competitors, and always gets the crowd on her side with her sweet smile. Her cute face, highlighted by her glasses, makes her a character that all eyes will immediately be drawn to. In stark contrast, Sai has an unfriendly and chilly countenance, which garnered her the nickname "The Ice Machine." Despite her apparent coldness, she has tremendous respect for Angelic Layer and her fellow combatants. Both Kaede and Sai have average high school figures, and aren't that impressive as straight eye candy, but their personalities are what make them worthy of mention. And that goes for all the characters in general, by the way.

Overall: Angelic Layer is an extremely well-executed series, incorporating all the elements that make an anime great. I like that the angel fights are only a small part of the story, as it is actually a story about friendship and maturity. Normally I don't fall for that sappy garbage, but I couldn't help but be totally absorbed by the fantastic character development. Plus, there's just enough fighting to tickle my testosterone. Since it has drama, humor, action, and romance, I would recommend this title to anyone, especially those who are just getting into anime.

IN A NUTSHELL:

+ Amazing character development
+ Excellent plot construction
+ Appeal for all ages
+ CLAMP artwork impresses again
- Some characters too mature
Rating: 9/10



Return to Index