Sentou Yousei Yukikaze (Battle Fairy Yukiaze or simply Yukikaze in the english dub).
Paranoia in the skies! Although a very short OAV series, at only five episodes long, it manages to squeeze into them a sense of completion and character development that is much more reminiscent of a full one-season, 24-25 episode series. Another plus is that the guys behind this one is Studio Gonzo, the very same ones who brought us Blue Sub 6, Kaleido Star and Welcome to the NHK.
Set sometime in the near future, Yukikaze tells the story of a war between humans and a mysterious alien race known as the Jam. Apparently, sometime in the mid-21st century, Earth came under surprise attack by these extraterrestials. The conflict mostly took place in the air, with aircraft from each side hunting each other in the skies. It took a massive coordinated effort by most of the world's military forces to push the Jam through an immense interdimensional rift located in Antarctica back to their alien homeworld of Fairy. Wary of any further incursions, the Earth Forces left a sizable garrison on Fairy to watch over the gate and keep an eye on the Jam's activities. Convinced of their victory, the world at large then proceeded to forget these events.
Fast-forward thirty-odd years later to the main story. The Earth Forces stationed there have adapted to the relatively-Earth like conditions on Fairy and have established a foothold on the alien world. Unknown to the general public back on Earth, the war still boils on between the Jam and the humans, now known as the Fairy Air Force. In the time that the FAF have been on Fairy, they have developed technology and war machines even more advanced than those found on Earth, including a line of hyper-futuristic fighter planes such the Sylphs and the Pixies.
An entire generation has grown up on Fairy, with many of these young men and women opting to join the defense forces. Among these warriors is 2Lt. Rei Fukai (later promoted to 1Lt.), a quiet, emotionally-reserved pilot with anti-social tendencies and a rather cold personality. Also among the principal characters is the gregarious Maj. James Bukhar, Rei's CO and Capt. Foss, a military psychiatrist assigned to observe Rei's emotional problems (not surprising that she seems to take a liking to the taciturn pilot). Not all events in the series take place on Fairy though, as focus is also given to Lyn Jackson, a journalist on Earth who developed an obsession with the Jam as she grew up during the first war and has now written a book about the efforts of the FAF and the existence of the Jam. Her publication of the events on Fairy has drawn fire from the public and other members of the press. Other supporting characters round out the cast as well, with the near-sentient Yukikaze fighter craft itself becoming an integral part of the story.
The story can best be described as a cross between the X-Files and Top Gun. Between the eyeball-burning air battles, a sinister alien conspiracy is uncovered by the protagonists - how is it that the FAF's newest developments are countered so easily by the Jam and why are downed pilots, who have been missing for a few days but then turn up alive and well, behaving so strangely? The pacing and plot development of the series is done well, spread across five episodes. Between all the aerial mayhem and alien paranioa, focus is also given to the main character's and their individual raisons d'etre, with emphasis on the relationship between Rei and Jack. The music quite fits the atmosphere of the series, with a techno-electronica feel to it that's a bit reminiscent of the tunes in the Mega Man games.
This one became an instant favorite once i finished it. Visually mesmerizing and intricately compelling story-wise, the only dissapointing thing about this one is the shortness. Other than that little irritant, i give this one both thumbs up!
Rating -![[Image: 4halfrating.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/thirdfox/Model%20kits/ratings/4halfrating.jpg)
4 and 1/2 Micro-Missiles
Paranoia in the skies! Although a very short OAV series, at only five episodes long, it manages to squeeze into them a sense of completion and character development that is much more reminiscent of a full one-season, 24-25 episode series. Another plus is that the guys behind this one is Studio Gonzo, the very same ones who brought us Blue Sub 6, Kaleido Star and Welcome to the NHK.
Set sometime in the near future, Yukikaze tells the story of a war between humans and a mysterious alien race known as the Jam. Apparently, sometime in the mid-21st century, Earth came under surprise attack by these extraterrestials. The conflict mostly took place in the air, with aircraft from each side hunting each other in the skies. It took a massive coordinated effort by most of the world's military forces to push the Jam through an immense interdimensional rift located in Antarctica back to their alien homeworld of Fairy. Wary of any further incursions, the Earth Forces left a sizable garrison on Fairy to watch over the gate and keep an eye on the Jam's activities. Convinced of their victory, the world at large then proceeded to forget these events.
Fast-forward thirty-odd years later to the main story. The Earth Forces stationed there have adapted to the relatively-Earth like conditions on Fairy and have established a foothold on the alien world. Unknown to the general public back on Earth, the war still boils on between the Jam and the humans, now known as the Fairy Air Force. In the time that the FAF have been on Fairy, they have developed technology and war machines even more advanced than those found on Earth, including a line of hyper-futuristic fighter planes such the Sylphs and the Pixies.
An entire generation has grown up on Fairy, with many of these young men and women opting to join the defense forces. Among these warriors is 2Lt. Rei Fukai (later promoted to 1Lt.), a quiet, emotionally-reserved pilot with anti-social tendencies and a rather cold personality. Also among the principal characters is the gregarious Maj. James Bukhar, Rei's CO and Capt. Foss, a military psychiatrist assigned to observe Rei's emotional problems (not surprising that she seems to take a liking to the taciturn pilot). Not all events in the series take place on Fairy though, as focus is also given to Lyn Jackson, a journalist on Earth who developed an obsession with the Jam as she grew up during the first war and has now written a book about the efforts of the FAF and the existence of the Jam. Her publication of the events on Fairy has drawn fire from the public and other members of the press. Other supporting characters round out the cast as well, with the near-sentient Yukikaze fighter craft itself becoming an integral part of the story.
The story can best be described as a cross between the X-Files and Top Gun. Between the eyeball-burning air battles, a sinister alien conspiracy is uncovered by the protagonists - how is it that the FAF's newest developments are countered so easily by the Jam and why are downed pilots, who have been missing for a few days but then turn up alive and well, behaving so strangely? The pacing and plot development of the series is done well, spread across five episodes. Between all the aerial mayhem and alien paranioa, focus is also given to the main character's and their individual raisons d'etre, with emphasis on the relationship between Rei and Jack. The music quite fits the atmosphere of the series, with a techno-electronica feel to it that's a bit reminiscent of the tunes in the Mega Man games.
This one became an instant favorite once i finished it. Visually mesmerizing and intricately compelling story-wise, the only dissapointing thing about this one is the shortness. Other than that little irritant, i give this one both thumbs up!
Rating -
4 and 1/2 Micro-Missiles
"May those who accept their fate find happiness. May those who defy their fate find glory."
