Break Blade 01
I kind of got too far behind on Strike Witches 2, and I became uninterested, so after reading about this on /m/(Mecha Board on 4chan sue me) I decided to review this Ova. I have to say this is one of the better Mecha series’s I’ve seen so far. This is also called Broken Blade, which is the name of the manga so enjoy!
- This Ladies and Nerd I mean Gentlemen is Break Blade!
Synopsis: In the continent of Cruzon, an impending war between the Kingdom of Krisna and the nation of Athens is brimming. The people of this land are able to use quartz for whatever purpose they desire. Yet one person, Rygart Arrow, is not. He is an “un-sorcerer,” a person unable to use quartz. But this characteristic will enable him to pilot an ancient Golem, one strong enough to put up a fight against the invading army of Athens.
The series is centered around Rygart Arrow, an “un-sorcerer” born into a world of people who can use magic. These people can make quartz do many things, but Rygart is one of the few exceptions; he cannot use quartz, making many aspects of life difficult for him. Yet despite this, at Assam military school, he manages to become best friends with Hodr and Sigyn, the future King and Queen of the Krisna Kingdom and Zess, the younger brother of the Secretary of War of the Athens Commonwealth.
Thoughts: After reading a little about this, I noticed that it’s licensed in America as Broken Blade, the manga was published by CMX, but as they shut down, I don’t know the status of it currently. What really has caught my eye with this, is the crisp and clean animation, which is done thanks to Production I.G. This is also OVA(Movie? I’m not exactly sure 2 different sources, both say something different) 1 of I think, 6 so this shall be fun.I would love to know who the Mech Designer for this series is, and if he’s done any other mech designs because these look pretty good.
- Better designs, then other series’s I’ve seen by far.
The one thing striking me as odd thus far is, the location it doesn’t seem like it belongs in a mecha anime, the town itself looks like it might of been built out of Stone which is interesting. Although I do like the premise, very much and think I will enjoy watching the sequel, when it’s subbed. And I don’t believe this is another case of “Keys Left in the Ignition” but I’m not yet sure. The way the cockpits are styled though, interest me, it’s actually in the head, and from what I can tell either a 360 Degrees Monitor or just something clear, but I think the former more so.
- The one on the left looks better, then the Zeta Gundam, with a Zaku’s Head.
As I said before, this place looks like it was built out of stone, even the computers look that way, but still it differs from the usual mecha series. Our main Character, so far I’m enjoying him and think that when he becomes the pilot of his own mech, he won’t be angsty and emo(See Shinji Ikari). And it turns out he doesn’t have any power to really do anything like turn on a lamp or fire a gun, so that’s the reason he became a farmer. We get into the usual details about how War is about to break out, and the like, so it’s not that different. He see’s the new(Or old Mech in this case that was found) and must become the pilot of it to save the world, and must fight his best friend.
- TIMBERRRRRRRRR!
Closing Thoughts: Overall I loved this, and cannot wait for the 2nd one to be subbed(Any day now). I still would like to know who designed these mechs, so I may see if they did anything else, I might be interested in. I’m liking this better then some of the other stuff I’m watching at the Moment(I’m looking at you Gundam Seed, and all your constant damned flashbacks). And, I believe in September we shall be receiving OVA(Movie?) #3, along with the Gundam 00 Movie(I shall be watching a Camrip), The Fall season looks like it’s really shaping up to be something even better.
Rating: Overall, I would have to give this a 7 out of 10, I wasn’t really getting into the plot at first, and although the Mech Designs were lovely those alone can’t hold this up though. Although I still do recommend you watch this, if you want an anime to enjoy, this is the one it has a good sense of fantasy, mixed with Mecha while still following the usual having to fight your best friend syndrome. Also, as this is only movie 1 of a 6 movie series there are more to come(When #2 is subbed that is), so if you haven’t checked it out yet, do it before more movies are out, and you have to play catch up, like me with K-On!! and Strike Witches 2.
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The mechanical design credit I found on ANN's encyclopaedia is Takayuki Yanase, who also did mecha design for Gundam 00, Zegapain and To Terra, and has some sort of design involvement with Eureka Seven, Linebarrels and the Gundam X manga . . . though I don't know how much about the mecha goes back to the Break Blade manga too, of course. But, whoever's responsible for them, I agree, the mecha designs are delicious!