IRRESPONSIBLE CAPTAIN TYLOR
To boldly screw up where no man has screwed up before
Review by: Craig "Lost In Space" Norris
Length: 26 episodes
Genre: Action, comedy
Watched: 1-26, subbed
This series helped me to re-learn a very true lesson: never judge a book by its cover. When I first started watching this series, I was put off by the noticeably dated animation. I thought that there was no way that an "old skool" series could possibly measure up anymore, after all the advances that have been made in anime in the past ten years. Before long, however, I was guffawing so hard that I barely had my eyes open long enough to notice the animation anymore.
Plot synopsis: Justy Ueki Tylor has joined the United Planets Space Force in the hopes of leading an easy life. Unfortunately, he joined just as tensions began to escalate between the UPSF and the Raalgon Empire. Now a full-scale war has broken out, and Tylor impresses just the right people to earn command over his own ship. Unfortunately, the leader of the UPSF, Admiral Mifune, completely has it in for Tylor, and places him on the Soyokaze, the most run-down, misfit-laden ship in the entire Federation. However, Tylor's irresponsible attitude may be just what his new crew needs to straighten up and fly right.
Artwork: As I said, it's dated. It's a throwback to such classics as Dirty Pair and Dominion Tank Police in a visual sense. As a result, it is very unimpressive to discerning eyes. However, it's not all that bad once you get used to it. It might be odd for some fans of newer anime to sit down and watch a series that doesn't have a single frame of CG in it (especially since it's set in space), but it only proves that a series doesn't have to have breathtaking visuals to be successful.
Music: It works in the episodes, and that's about it. The opening is catchy, but it really shows its age after repeated listening. The tracks during the episodes complement perfectly, but are very simple and really not worth listening to on their own. Since it is a comedy, and the dialogue more so than background music is supposed to receive the lion's share of viewer response, it wouldn't make sense to have a great soundtrack anyway.
Characters: Each character has a unique personality that makes it really easy to get to know them all. Their personalities are explored very thoroughly, focusing on who they are in the here and now as opposed to delving deeply into back story. Tylor is the anime equivalent of Ferris Bueller; those above him see him as a slacker, but he has a magic and magnetism about him that makes his innate greatness undeniable. He can inexplicably take command of any situation, using some sort of intangible karmic ju-jitsu to seemingly bend the very universe to his will. And to top it all off, he is completely devoid of any pretense, and totally unaware of just how much his mindset influences those around him. Lieutenant Commander Yuriko Star is the exact opposite of Tylor; she values discipline and regulation, and almost constantly contradicts and criticizes Tylor's style of command. She is constantly dumbfounded by how Tylor can time and again lead his crew out of the worst of situations. Lieutenant Commander Yamamoto was reassigned to the Soyokaze and made Tylor's second in command. Along with Yuriko, he attempts to talk sense into Tylor and his reckless behavior, but ultimately winds up with nothing but stress. First Lieutenant Katori is the navigator/pilot of the Soyokaze, and maintains his cool even when it looks like Tylor's decisions will surely kill them all. First Lieutenant Kim is the communications officer and has a far more relaxed attitude than her fellow sub-commanders. As a result, she doesn't always get along with her peers. Second 
Lieutenant Kojiro is the talented young leader of the Soyokaze's Federation pilots, whose fearlessness in battle is eclipsed only by his paralyzing terror of women. That does not bode well for him, considering the two newest pilots are the twins Emi and Yumi, the granddaughters of the now retired Admiral Hanner. These two have great respect for Tylor, and are brimming with girlish enthusiasm, injecting much needed spirit into the downtrodden crew. Dr. Kitaguchi is the chief medical officer of the Soyokaze, and enjoys being under the command of Tylor, who allows him to drink as much liquor as he wants. Harumi is transferred to the Soyokaze to act as head nurse, and once she arrives the male crew members all suddenly seem to become a lot more sickly. The main enemy of the Soyokaze and the UPSF is the Raalgon Empire, led by the 16 year-old Empress Azalyn. Despite her inexperience, she has a will of iron and values the advice of a few key advisors. Also, she develops a complete infatuation with Tylor. The picture of this largely dysfunctional crew is vividly painted during the course of the series, making it all the more amazing that Tylor is able to unite them all.
Plot: This series is split down the middle in terms of plot focus. Half of the episodes deal with the main plot of fighting the Raalgon Empire, and the other half is very entertaining filler about random happenings on the Soyokaze. All the episodes focus on Tylor's ability to resolve a situation, which is the real centerpiece of the series (if you didn't already realize that by looking at the title). Unfortunately, the ending is rather disappointing, as no real resolution comes to the war with the Raalgon Empire, or with Tylor's standing with the UPSF. Regardless, what is there is very entertaining, even though there are several space anime clichés present throughout.
CHICKS!: When half of the commanders are good-looking chicks, morale on any ship would have to be high. Yuriko is a bit strict, and might appeal to those who want their lives scheduled. She is awfully nice looking, though, so if you don't mind being nagged a bit now and then, she'd be a worthwhile catch. Kim is beauty and intelligence all wrapped up in an affable package. She likes to look good, and almost always succeeds in doing so, and is the free spirit of the ship (although not nearly as much as Tylor is). Harumi is the knockout nurse that everyone is dying to get treatment from. She has more of a tendency to use her sex appeal than the other female crewmembers, and the only way she could get any hotter was if she actually wore that little hat with the red cross on it. Emi and Yumi are cute twins filled with energy and innocence. They speak in unison many times, and almost every word out of their mouths is absolutely adorable. Azalyn is much more resolute than she may look, but her determination cannot undermine her sweetness and understanding. Plus, she has some exotic appeal, with long pink hair and pointy ears (elf ears are just too damn cute!!!). Just about every chick in this series is appealing on some level, and even though they were rendered in a very dated style I felt myself drawn to them nonetheless.
Overall: Not since "Spaceballs" have I laughed so hard at a comedy set in space. Not only does it offer up a whole battleship full of hilarity, it also puts equal emphasis on the plot and characters. Tylor is probably one of the most successful characters in anime history, as someone to envy, pity, and relate to all at the same time. Its focus on content make it much more successful than most other younger, flashier series. Sure, it's not perfect, but neither is Tylor, and that never stopped him before.
IN A NUTSHELL:
+ Fantastically portrayed, likeable characters
+ Absolutely hilarious
+ Equal focus on humor and plot
- Animation is a bit dated
- No resolution
Rating: 9/10
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