WILD ARMS
Do they teach gunslinging in kindergarten?
Review by: Craig "Can't Even Shoot the Breeze" Norris
Length: 22 episodes
Genre: Action, sci-fi
Watched: 1-22, subbed
I'm a bit worried. I think anime might be falling into the same trap as American cinema; that is, not using any original ideas when making films. After all, there are a lot of sequel series/movies out there, as well as many based on manga and video games. This particular RPG-turned-anime contained a number of flaws, but was of a high enough quality that the prospect of more anime based on pre-existing media sounds okay. Well, better than "Battlefield Earth," at any rate.
Plot synopsis: Famous gunslinger of planet Fargaia Cheyenne Rainstorm awakens in a prison science facility to discover that his 25 year-old mind is now within a 5 year-old body. However, the transfer did not affect his ability to use ARMS, special weapons that use life energy as bullets. In order to find out who switched his body and where his old body currently resides, he teams up with Kiel Aronnax, the treasure hunters Loretta and Mirabelle, and the rodent-like Jerusha and Isaac. Together they search for clues that lead them in the direction of Cheyenne's body, as well as an ancient legend that may hold the key to the entire planet of Fargaia.
Artwork: About average, I suppose. Nothing about it was particularly bad, but at the same time it doesn't walk the cutting edge of visual production, either. As far as TV series go, the animation is decent, but once you put it next to an OAV or a movie, it would begin to look very weak. Character designs are diverse and colorful, which is rather refreshing to look at amid the stark and dusty landscape. As long as you bear in mind that there is nothing spectacular or new in regard to the artwork, it's not too much of a disappointment.
Music: Again, about average. The high point is the opening theme, which has a very epic tone to it. All of the other tracks stay in the background. I can't recall a single in-episode song that sparked my interest in the soundtrack. This is another one of those collections of cookie-cutter melodies that are meant to accompany the on-screen actions, and nothing more. At the same time, however, they are hardly grating to the eardrum.
Characters: Since this series is based on an RPG, an eclectic group of characters with different specialties is pretty much a given. Cheyenne is the main protagonist, and despite being much older in actuality, he sometimes acts the age of his younger body. He is selfish and headstrong, and often embarrasses himself by trying to pick up chicks, despite his appearance. And, of course, every rejection makes him remember out loud how handsome his old body was. Kiel's greatest asset, despite carrying the title of Doctor, seems to be his brute strength. He is an imposing figure, rising above nearly everyone in a crowd. He is the most serious and unemotional one of the group, but he gets annoyed very easily when people mistake Cheyenne for his son. Loretta and Mirabelle are sometimes rivals of Cheyenne and Kiel, but more often than not wind up helping them, whether it was their intent to or not. Loretta always keeps up with the latest treasure-hunting gossip, and is aided in her quest for riches by crest magic, which she channels through cards. Mirabelle is a Crimson Noble, a race that is similar to vampires, meaning that she can survive by drinking blood and she can turn into a bat-like creature (though she can't fly very well). She isn't nearly as materialistic as Loretta, and overall seems to be much more reasonable than her. Jerusha and Isaac are members of a race called the Popepi Pipepo (and I'll give my daisho set to whomever can say that three times fast). Their race is one of the longest-lived on the planet, and they are deeply connected with the spirit of Fargaia. Jerusha and Isaac used to be married, but they have since split up, and bicker constantly when they are together. The characters all exhibit some hallmark of typical RPG characters, not the least of which being that they don't seem to get along that well.
Plot: I didn't think the plot was organized all that well. Instead of gradually introducing the viewer to new plot elements as the series progresses, it is devoid of much plot through the first half only to get deluged with it in the second half. The plot itself is pretty interesting: a man finds out that his natural abilities are linked to an old legend that could threaten to destroy the planet, and he must find out exactly what's going on before everyone dies. However, pacing is the downfall of the plot's success, as the series starts off with a bunch of random adventures, and continues with important events that don't connect into a cohesive story very well. As far as a game-to-anime conversion the plot is decent, but it's got a few too many flaws to be considered really successful.
CHICKS!: Every successful RPG seems to have a respectable degree of eye candy, with a mix of hotness and cuteness seeming to be the standard formula; Final Fantasy X had Lulu and Rikku, Xenosaga had KOS-MOS and Shion, and Star Ocean 2 had Celine and Rena. And that tradition continues with the main ladies of Wild ARMS, Loretta and Mirabelle. Loretta wears tight clothes that showcase her well-developed figure, and on more than one occasion she puts her sultry charm to use to meet her own ends. Unfortunately she is very greedy, and probably wouldn't want to settle down unless she struck it rich. Really rich. Alex Rodriguez rich, at the very least. Next to Ceras Victoria, Mirabelle is about the cutest little bloodsucker around. When she is in her human form (which is most of the time) she has bright green hair, red eyes, pointy ears, and cute little fangs. She does look a bit young, unfortunately, but unlike real vampires, Crimson Nobles age, so a little patience might pay off if your idea of a romantic evening is donating a couple pints of blood. Aside from the traditional hot/cute tandem, the only other chick on display is the mysterious Laila, who has a quiet beauty and a major identity crisis. Not in that clearly defined split personality way, like Pai/Sanjiyan or Aya/Ceres, either. One moment she's a bundle of sobs, and the next she's a sadistic ice queen. This woman is so bipolar that she might as well be a walking refrigerator magnet. In that respect, however, I suppose she steps out of the realm of idealistic fantasy and more closely resembles real life women. Gee, and people wonder why I don't go out on dates.
Overall: It's amusing, to say the most. The series presents some rather intriguing story elements, but has an infinite amount of trouble trying to tie them all together. The plot and characters are okay, and evoke smiles from time to time, but not to a greater degree than a lot of other series, and even some other RPG-based series. If you're curious about the Wild ARMS RPGs (of which there are three at the moment), seeing the anime should give you a good idea of what the games are all about, but it won't impress you that much.
IN A NUTSHELL:
+ Some entertaining parts
+ Not a bad plot for a video game
- Cookie-cutter characters
- Plot organization is a mess
Rating: 6.5/10
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