In the next few months, FWS will be premiering a new serial here on the blog devoted to exploring and explaining a special realm of the genre of military sci-fi: anime. For some months, I've been thinking about creating an serial just devoted to the vast array of military sci-fi works from Japan due to the impact that foundational anime MSF works like
Space Cruiser Yamato,
Mobile Suit Gundam, and ROBOTECH had on me as wee little one in the very late 1970's and 1980's. This new blog serial called "Future War Stories from the East" will detail an military sci-fi anime in the depth you've come to expect from FWS. It will be difficult to watch every single episodes of some of these animes, but I will give it a shot. If you have any military sci-fi animes you would like to see profiled and researched for the new serial, comment below and let me know!
Awesome! Please profile the STARSHIP TROOPERS anime (1988)!
ReplyDeleteAwesome to look forward to, I wonder if Aldnoah Zero will have made the list
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting, can't wait
ReplyDeleteI have some of the SST anime from 1988 already written, it will be number two or three in the series. I will research what the hell "Aldnoah Zero" is as well
ReplyDeleteVOTOMs! :D
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing what you write.
ReplyDeleteMobile Suit Gundam, Fang of the Sun Dougram, and VOTOMs are of course a must as between the three they defined real-robo. After that there is of course Macross and the Americanized version: Robotech.
I'm not sure if Attack on Titan really counts as military sci-fi, but I'd say it's worth a look. The story arc of season 1 reminded me a lot of Starship Troopers.
ReplyDeleteWould love to see your impressions and reviews of this segment of Military SF, especially in some of the more "newer" series such as SRW OG, Argevollen, Majestic Prince, Gundam Unicorn and Origin. Would also like to see your thoughts on more aged anime such as the Gal Force series and Gunbuster.
ReplyDeleteThough I would strongly advise you to at least be wary of Valvrave the Liberator. It's....weird. Not Evangelion weird, but pretty up there.
Venus Wars! And the one where kids fight out endless "wars" so nations no longer have to, they do it in prop planes.....The Sky Crawlers. Appleseed of course, though none of the movies really capture the military element like the manga. This is going to be a really large undertaking, thanks for doing it!
ReplyDeleteNo one has mentioned Ghost in the Shell yet? Wow!
ReplyDeleteFun fact for those who haven't read the manga, the original is more of a series of short stories and it's full of notes from the creator regarding how he believes cybernetics will work, his understanding of tactics and special op as well as other thoughts relating to the stories.
For Appleseed, the Appleseed Databook contains one short story, the rest of the book is sketches, story notes and artwork. It gives you allot of info if you don't have the time and/or money to go through the entire manga series.
Strictly speaking, Ghost in the Shell is more like a sci-fi noir than military sci-fi.
DeleteI agree, Appleseed is true military sci-fi and I am shamed for not remembering it.
Robotech was the single most inspiring series as a teenager surrounded by all of those silly cartoons like Transformers, GI Joe, etc. The idea that people died in war, and not just that but it explored so many emotions and relationships that no other series came close to even today.
ReplyDeleteThe closest thing I've seen was Cowboy Bebop.
Thank you for all of the suggestions! Going to try to cover all of these mentioned. Oh, and don't worry, I've got something special for WC: Academy. Man, we have of the Wing Commander video games have been more mistreated than the victims of the Reavers!
ReplyDelete-Legend of Galactic Heroes is a must.Thou,its a huge commitment.
ReplyDelete-MSG The 8th MS team
-MSG Stardust Memory
-Space Battleship Yamato 2199
Im probably going to remember something else later...
Banner of the Stars (3 seasons + 1 OVA)
ReplyDeleteGasaraki
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
Last Exile
Kikou Royhey Mellowlink (Votoms Universe)
Knights of Sidonia (Its on NETFLIX)
Kurogane no Linebarrels
Macross (NOT ROBOTECH!!)
Macross Frontier
Mobile Suit Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam the Origin
Mobile Suite Gundam: The 08th MS Team
Venus Wars
Irresponsible Captain Taylor (For a good laugh)
Susei no Gargantia (Crunchy Roll)
Tytania
Yukikaze (more contemporary but still good military sci-fi)
Crusher Joe
Planetes (not strictly military but hard sci-fi)
Mobile Police Patlabor
Yes, that's a big list already! I'm really excited to read all this!
ReplyDeleteBe sure that I'll stick close to your blog waiting for an update (well, as always so that doesn't make a big change for me hehe)
See you and take care,
VOTOMS MY MAN! VOTOMS!
ReplyDeleteWhile we are listing individual Gundams, 0080: War in the Pocket was the first series that made me take notice of the franchise and has been my measuring stick for other MSG series.
ReplyDeleteNot all Gundams are equal. I think the ones listed are among the best.
DeleteBanner of the Stars (3 seasons + 1 OVA)
ReplyDeleteStarship operators
Exosqud
Vandred
Gasaraki
Read eye (Manga)