Director: Itsuro Kawasaki
Starring: Ayahi Takagaki, Brina Palencia, Mai Nakahara, Monica Rial, Mikako Takahashi, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Todd Haberkorn
Running Time: 300 minutes
Certificate: 15
Chrome Shelled Regios sounds like a wonderful idea at first, but it isn’t long before your mind starts connecting the dots and realising that every aspect of this dystopian science-fiction has been taken from previous anime, films, TV series and novels. It’s a rough compilation of ideas thrown together resulting in the anime equivalent to a hurried out album of various artists which is released to cash in on an upcoming Holiday/event. That’s not to say it’s terrible. Like any compilation, there are loads of great “tracks”, but there is also a lot of filler, and ideas that have worked better elsewhere.
The main locale of the series is set in a city that resides in a huge dome. This dome is to protect the inhabitants from large bug like creatures that wish to destroy and kill everyone inside. The world outside the dome has also become desolate and uninhabitable while youthful warriors join the military in order to protect the human race. You’ve probably made your own links to previous material and the similarities are inescapable. Enjoyment of the series will come down to one’s own ability to embrace, ignore, or accept such ideas.
The anime side of the show is also littered with clichés, including needless boob references/jokes, powered up heroes, and complicated politics and character connections. These character connections are the most interesting element throughout the series. There are the usual confrontations, but we’re also shown a group of people in dire situations and improbably circumstances who react in understandable ways.
The animation is unfortunately bland, as is the character design, but never to the point of distraction. A desolate landscape is never going to allow for exciting settings, and at least the action sequences come alive with bright powerful weaponry. It should also be noted that, being the start of a series, this collection doesn’t get to anything too meaty and tries too hard to create its unoriginal world. A gripping arc to start with would have allowed the show to develop a personality of its own, but as it is Chrome Shelled Regios is a tiresome addition to a crowded marketplace.
[usr=2]Chrome Shelled Regios Part 1 is released on DVD on 21st April via MVM.
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