ANGEL LINKS
Outlaw Star's cute younger sister
Review by: Craig "Spin(off) Doctor" Norris
Length: 13 episodes
Genre: Action, sci-fi
Watched: All, subbed
Spinoff series have traditionally left a bad taste in my mouth. One need look no further than the progressively butchered Tenchi Muyo franchise to find out why. More often than not, they come off looking like nothing more than an amateurish fanfic with above-average grammar. Apparently, however, once in a while a spinoff series comes along that is actually very good (much as it is with fanfics). So it was with Angel Links, a story of self-discovery, spaceships, and a cat-bat thing that turns into a sword.
Plot synopsis: To fulfill the last wishes of her grandfather, 16 year-old Meifon Li becomes the CEO of his corporation, and starts a private security firm that provides services free of charge. With her reputation spreading and her services in high demand, things seem to be going well for Meifon. But when she attracts the interest of the mysterious philanthropist Leon Lau, something within her slowly begins to awaken; a terrible truth that makes her question her very existence.
Artwork: Pretty much identical to Outlaw Star. The only major difference is that this series incorporates a noticeable amount of CG, whereas Outlaw Star was almost entirely cell and ink. Characters are distinguishable without being outlandish, and ship and vehicle designs are appropriately futuristic, but not overly ornate. Action sequences are pretty sharp, and the only place where footage is recycled is during the ship launch sequences, which take entirely too long after the first run-through.
Music: Though the setting is recycled, the soundtrack is all original. The opening and closing themes are pretty solid and seem to fit well. A couple of the in-episode tracks are noticeable, but on the whole they blend in to complement the action. While the soundtrack is slightly above average, there is nothing about it that makes it particularly noteworthy.
Characters: The main difference I see in this series and its predecessor is the amount of character emotions. Where Outlaw Star got by on wit and style, Angel Links carves its niche by developing likeable characters with some hard-hitting problems. First and foremost is Meifon, who is introduced as a mature but girlish teenager. However, as the series progresses, more and more is revealed about her, and totally transforms her as a character and also influences the other characters. She has a pet that looks like a small cat with bat wings named Taffei. Taffei has the enviable distinction of lounging between Meifon's breasts, and the puzzling ability to turn into a sword. Anyone who is familiar with Episode 19 of Outlaw Star would invariably recognize Duuz and Valeria, who have been hired as crewmembers of Meifon's security team. Duuz is a Saurian, a race of lizard-looking people with tremendous pride and a warrior spirit. Sort of like Klingons with tails. He serves as the platoon commander, and is predominantly in charge of the hands-on ass-kicking department. Valeria is a former military officer, retained by Meifon as the tactical officer for the ship. She has a very objective attitude, and rarely shows emotion when implementing battle strategies. Kosei is the second in command aboard the ship, and sees Meifon as more of a friend than a captain, but also appears to have romantic interest in her. Leon Lau is, by all appearances, a gold-plated bachelor. After Meifon saved him and his adopted daughter from pirates, Leon tries to start a relationship with her. However, the more they see of each other, the more it seems like neither of them are who they claim to be. The character dynamics in this series were much better than in Outlaw Star, and if Gene Starwind was given the same amount of backstory as Meifon, Outlaw Star would have been about as close to perfect as an anime can get.
Plot: The plot progresses in a typical fashion for 13-episode series; the first half are self-contained adventures that elaborate on characters and settings, and the second half deals with the main conflict. Both halves of the series are very entertaining, and incorporate an effective mix of action and emotion. The plot is not terribly ingenious, but it is ripe with potential for drama and sentiment. The overall mood is very bittersweet, so expect a few depressing plot twists.
CHICKS!: Sixteen is indeed sweet in Meifon's case. She has a petite figure with an ample rack, and is mature beyond her years while still being chipper and girlish. Being the CEO of a large corporation means she has more than a handful of admirers, and with excellent reason. For those who like women who are a bit more mysterious, Valeria is a pretty good catch. Her respect is very difficult to earn, but once achieved, her loyalty is unwavering. And she has a pretty nice ass. The hidden gem of the series is definitely Aihara, one of the navigators. She follows the typical glasses + pigtails + shyness = teh cuteness formula that I simply cannot resist. Unfortunately the series is light on numbers of chicks, so if none of the mentioned girls seem to be to your liking, you probably won't find much eye candy here.
Overall: Angel Links is one of the few spinoff series that actually works. Not only that, it works independently of the series that spawned it, with only a few previously explained nuances that get passed over. Overall it is an excellent series that may recycle a universe, but doesn't try to play off its initial success, unlike some other sub-par spinoff series we all know. *coughonegaitwinscough.* *coughhack/duskcough.* *coughtenchiintokyocough.* Sorry. I must be allergic to failure.
IN A NUTSHELL
+ An excellent spinoff
+ Better character dynamic than Outlaw Star
- Less style than Outlaw Star
Rating: 8.5/10
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