Kari’s Anime Corner: First Impressions of ‘Starship Operators’
Hi! My name is Kari Lane, and I’ve been an anime lover since I was just a little girl. Those good old days when classics like Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z, Card Captor Sakura, Digimon and Monster Rancher were on the most basic of cable.
Over the years, I have expanded my anime repertoire and have attended numerous anime conventions. I’m currently a host on AX Live, a web-based news program produced by theSociety for the Promotion of Japanese Animation. Recently, I’ve been watching the first discs of various anime series’, and thought it an excellent idea to write reviews based on my “first impressions”. Of course, you’ll have many unanswered questions after viewing just 4, 5, or 6 episodes, but you can get a feel for the show and decide if you want to pick up the second disc! I hope my reviews will help introduce you to some awesome anime, or help you avoid the more mediocre junk that’s out there!
First Impressions! – Starship Operators (Disc 1, Episodes 1-4)
Starship Operators is a sci-fi series that follows the 73rd class of the Defense University. These untried cadets journey on their ship’s maiden voyage when they learn that their home planet Kibi has surrendered to the Henrietta Alliance of Planetary Nations. This “Alliance” is similar to the Empire in Star Wars; an oppressive super power that few can resist. The ship’s operators disembark as ordered, but the young crew surprises everyone by remaining aboard and taking a fighting stance against the Alliance.
Matters are further complicated when the young cadets agree to let the Galaxy Network fund their campaign against the Alliance in exchange for letting the network broadcast live from the ship (except during some battles when the broadcast of their plans may need to be delayed a little) as a new reality TV show. Sinon, the main protagonist, is not in favor of rebellion, but she does her duty to her crew and becomes an invaluable strategist as the ship’s executive officer. The show features a few strong female characters and the core group of “conspirators” (as labeled by the Alliance) is almost half women.
The art style is on the simple side and not overly detailed; the eyes are just dot pupils instead of the overly expressive eyes in shows like Rune Soldier (also created by Ryo Mizuno, the creator of Starship Operators). There is some computer animation for the ship and battles, but not so much that it becomes disjointed.
The show is a sci-fi action with strategic military battles, but it also focuses on the friendships and loyalties among the crew. There is some romance and one public declaration of love that has a rather unpredictable outcome. Will these “kids” be able to continue defeating the best ships that the “Alliance” can send? Will the pressure of life and death battles break the crew? Will anyone else come to their aid? I am definitely curious to see where this show will go, and have definitely enjoyed these first four episodes!
