Otaku Review

Chrome Shelled Regios – Ep 2
Studio: ZEXCS
Air Date: 1/17/09
Genre: Fantasy Action

You know, they try so hard to be deep. It’s hard not to feel for them

The Story

In the second episode of this action series, it’s time for Layfon to join the 17^th platoon just in time to join in the first battle. In this world, the platoons are put into battle against each other. Their choice of battlefields are winner take all capture the flag games. Before that can take place though, Layfon will get to establish some new relationships with the platoon’s psychic, Felli and the captain, Nina.

Good and the Bad

Most people likely had the opinion cemented in their head after episode one that this series was going to thrive on its action sequences. And those people would be right. The second episode opens with one of the capture the flag sequences and the action in these games gets quite fierce. While not the most intense or the best choreographed, the sequences really do their job of getting your blood pumping for a few seconds. Add in the fact that it really cements in Nina’s status and you have a very well put together opening scene.

Once you get away from the action sequences however, it becomes very easy to see all the things that the writing just can’t match. In this episode, ‘Chrome Shelled Regios’ really begins to push the relationship angle between the characters. In consecutive sequences, Layfon will get to have some time alone with both Felli and Nina learning secrets about both of them.

The writing in these scenes really tried hard. Everyone watching these scenes will be able to see exactly what the series is trying to do with these scenes with creating the emotional conflict hook. Unfortunately they just never quite make it. It’s difficult to say if it’s the performance or the writing that is the really culprit of the crime. More than likely you might be able to call them co-conspirators in the crime.

Despite never quite making it though, the series still has a nice pull to it. While it’s not perfect it’s easy to push aside any real doubts you have about the story. There are little things that ‘Chrome Shelled Regios’ is able to do with their writing. Every scene seemed to end on some kind of side note that tied in to something we saw in episode one. Late in the episode after Meicchi has her moment, ending on the captains shiver is just a hard scene not to give a little laugh to.

Speaking of Meicchi, am I the only one who really enjoyed her very short little insert into this series? She’s an easily missible character right now but the fact that she acts so differently from other characters in her role makes her stand out. Usually when you have the ‘secret crush’ character, they’re always acting so shy and distant. When was the last time you saw one who not only makes a boxed lunch for her crush but then gets all giddy about it by herself later? It’s just kind of fun to see a character act so brazen for once and actually take some initiative.

The animation in this episode looked fairly decent going through. The colors were a bit duller this time around but overall quality really didn’t suffer much. The sequences that include Layfon working at his part time job actually look fairly nice. Though in a little side note, didn’t Layfon receive a major scholarship upgrade during the first episode? Did he refuse that and I just didn’t notice?

Music

Once again, it seems that with so much attention paid to the battle scenes everything else just seems to suffer that much more. The capture the flag sequences has great driving guitar themes. The pace moves at a very strong pace and the music easily plays a very large role in how much your adrenaline starts pumping. During the more serious scenes however, the piano themes just don’t have nearly the same effect. The cascading chords during Felli’s scene were good but not overly moving. When Nina is telling her story, the simple melody behind her doesn’t help push her emotions out nearly as much as they needed to.

Cast

As previously mentioned, part of the reason why the serious scenes didn’t go over nearly as strongly as they probably should have is the cast. The presentation and writing didn’t give Ayahi Takagaki (Nina) or Mai Nakahara (Felli) to work with but there could have been much more to it than this.

Overall

It’s certainly an action series at least. ‘Chrome Shelled Regios’ has proven so far that despite leaning heavily on its action sequences, it really wants to at least try to tell a serious story as well. It may not succeed in the long run but they’re going at least give it an effort. The establishment of these two relationships really goes a long way towards making something interesting to watch. It’s not going to move anyone to tears but Felli’s especially drops more than enough foreshadowing to make one curious about the future. It’s average so far but I wouldn’t call it skippable yet either.

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