Aquarion Evol – 04

What the hell did I just watch?

In any case, in terms of soundtracks, there are quite a few good ones this season. There is of course the usual Natsume dreamy soundtrack. Rinne no Lagrange is also quite intense and well timed. By far the best though, is Aquarion Evol. This is pretty much the best thing that Yoko Kanno has done in a really long while. I really realized that once that piano guy started playing: that is some really complex music. And on top of that, the soundtrack is just huge.There were so many different epic tracks in just this episode, and it doesn’t look like the creators are running out anytime soon. A lot of effort really has gone into this thing.

Now, going back to the infinity punch: wut?

I must say, I did not expect things like that from this series. I thought it was just a regular mecha series that would show a bunch of normal battles between a bunch of giant robots. The battle in this episode however, really was something else. I mean, a show like Star Driver used the concept of using one’s libito to power a mecha before, but this really took the cake with that punch that circled the earth several times, only to break down the Berlin Wall. that separates the males from the females. Um, symbolism anyone?

I also love that at the end, that infinity punch didn’t disappear or something. So right now the entire world is now polluted by this gigantic arm that is wrapped around it twice. That must be one bitch to clean up in the end. Speaking of the end of the episode, it promised total chaos next week. Knowing the creators, I have no idea what to expect. It’s especially unlike Shoji Kawamori to pull twists like this this early in the game already?

Also, what was up with that flamboyant headmaster? On hindsight it just seems so surreal what he had been doing. He knew about Mikono, so he dressed up like this drifter, and got into the boat she was supposed to take away from the island, only to drive her back again. Again, this feels like some weird satire on Star Driver of all things.
Rating: ** (Excellent)

14 thoughts on “Aquarion Evol – 04

  1. I do believe you said you didn’t watch the first one, am I right? Fudo is a regular in that one, and you get to know him better so he doesn’t surprise as much. :)) Also when I saw the infinity punch I jumped out of my chair since in Sousei no Aquarion Apollo used almost the same move to punch a crater in the moon.
    The episode was indeed excellent. I can’t help re-watching “the fall” of Berlin also not get all fluttery in side every time I hear the background music. <3
    I really hope though you will watch the first one too. It sheds more light concerning EVOL, or at least it gets you in the mood to play Sherlock and try to find the connections. ^_^

  2. “I must say, I did not expect things like that from this series.” :DDDDD Watch the first series. It might prepare you for things to come. :DDD

    Seriously, though, you’d probably like Sousei no Aquarion. Just like Evol (or even more so) it walks that very fine line where it’s not a satire but not serious either, being very self-aware and a bit tongue-in-cheek, and still keeping a straight face. (Mostly.) Which is I think the main reason why it gets so much bad rep. It essentially does what Gurren Lagann did – later, might I add – but with much more flair and romance and Kawamori being Kawamori on drugs or I don’t even know anymore. It’s hard to put my finger on why it worked so much for me, but it did. And aside of the general silliness and melodrama, there’s real charm and creativity.

    1. Btw, the music, I wonder to what extent Kanno contributed to the new instrumental pieces. Much of Evol’s soundtrack is actually recycled from the two soundtracks of first series that Kanno co-wrote with some other guy (and which is REALLY, REALLY AWESOME). I think these pieces, and the songs are Kanno’s contribution to Evol’s OST – the new pieces, including the piano pieces, just don’t really sound Kanno-ish…

  3. The funny thing about this is that I actually wasnt sure if I had watched the first or not… Because I thought this was a sequel for Aquarian Age… LOL since they sound so similar I thought they were related

    Of course, when I saw the whole apollo stuff and the mecha merging where it looks like the characters are having a collective orgasm, I knew it was the other one… So yeah, when I saw the infinity punch it was like the 100% confirmation, I DID watch the first series

    It was decent I guess, but I think I got bored at some point and started skipping lots of stuff just to get to the end… hopefully that wont happen here

    I dont think youre missing out on anything though, since story wise this is typical 2 sides battling each other stuff

    1. Yea I thought around ep. 12-20 was the weak point in the original aquarion series. But I do appreciate them spending a little more time to flesh out the world in this series. So far I find the characters more like-able, and each episode has been more epic than last season (and I just finished marathoning last season before watching the last 4 episodes). We’ll see how it goes, but it’s off to a running start.

  4. I felt like I was watching Utapri! XD
    I really laugh when they used those funnt terms LOL “snow melting union” etc

  5. Told you the attacks will be awesome ^^ 00 Raiser’s giant sword, eat your heart out. That punch is longer than your space elevator, has better music to accompany it too(just can’t help myself there XD)

    Anyways this is what I mean, the battles have very nifty ideas behind them, so much that you’ll force yourself to bear and wince through even the not so good parts.

  6. Prepare for trouble PSGEL! For “ZEN” Fuudo and his antics of sheer craziness will once again rain down-

  7. A satire of Star Driver? Oh no! This is what Aquarion is all about! Loved the first series, Loving the second one 😀

  8. No wonder your reaction if you did not watch the first season. Aquarion is always like that :

    – the hero + at least 1 girl fight
    – orgasmic gattai
    – Kanno music
    – wtf powerful attack from nowhere
    – wtf story plot from nowhere
    – but no Yui Makino ending this time 🙁

    1. The *cough* climax gattai was between three guys. And it was pretty much always the very male hero + 1 girl + 1 guy. Most often said guy and girl were siblings too! (Yes, I totally loved that series.)

      And that last point – that’s just you 😀 I still watch the Omna Magni ED after each episode.

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