content material warning: Gun violence, mass demise, militarism
What’s it about? Lewis Smith and Ao Isami discover themselves on reverse sides of the world and its militarized forces: Lewis, an American pilot, and Isami, Japan’s ace. Collectively they type pleasant, but commanding troopers from two influential nations. However one seemingly peaceable day, unknown invaders come to Earth, forcing Lewis and Isami to take up arms and take cost, altering their lives endlessly…
I really feel like the belief on the web is that you simply both like mechs or you do not, however I am proper in the course of it: fascinated by their practicality, fascinated by their fictional, fantastical makes use of, and quietly inquisitive about every part. I believe that is type of why I selected it Courageous Bang Bravern! Or…that is what I would prefer to say. I will be sincere, I did not know this was a mecha anime till proper earlier than the late premiere; however I can let you know that this is likely to be the very best discovery of this season.
Episode 1 opens within the midst of battle: the sky is cloudy, the ocean is uneven, and the sound of mechanics fills the air as Lewis Smith prompts his mech and fees into the fierce salvo of warfare. It is all arms on deck and the weapons are blaring because the US engages Japan, activating a collection of missiles, anti-aircraft weapons and extra. Clearly there may be some degree of competitors between Japan and the US… or is there?
Seems that is all a apply session between different G7 nations, merely practising with the world’s latest warfare machines in Waikiki. Peace appears to largely prevail, at the least for the second: Japan and the US nonetheless have pleasant relations. However then the plot begins and the unknown arrives, slaughtering thousands and thousands around the globe with their alien strategy. Worse nonetheless, these alien invaders have their very own mechs, stylized by natural shapes solid in poisonous pink and stark white. It appears prefer it’s as much as two of the G7 to avoid wasting the day…
It could be a disservice to not speak in regards to the massive machine within the room, that’s BBB’s mechs. They’re fairly good little guys, and whereas I am not a fan of weapons, I’ve to confess I like them loads. They remind me a variety of the mecha typically proven Sakura Wars in form and development. There’s undoubtedly stylization right here:BBB!’The mechs have a really clear, angular fashion – and truthfully, that appears fairly good of their CG fashion. Briefly, two thumbs up from me. However that is probably not probably the most attention-grabbing factor right here, neither is the actually cool alien geometry of Earth’s latest invaders.
It is the truth that Japan has navy capabilities for me.
One factor I discovered attention-grabbing is that this isn’t a brand new department of the navy for Japan; as an alternative, it’s the actual self-defense pressure, and they seem like performing on the degree of a completely militarized nation. I’m wondering if the politics and penalties of getting lively weapons – presently, as of 2024, Japan has a selected type (reasonably: lack of) militarization on account of Article 9 of the Japanese Structure – shall be explored . I am undecided if that would be the case, although it could actually discover a place right here since mecha anime has all the time been political and all the time has one thing to say in regards to the nature of warfare. I would actually prefer to see it BBB! Look into that, however I am anxious as a result of it simply… will not occur. I am involved in regards to the alien plot, which sounds a bit comparable independence Daywill overtake any dialog in regards to the present’s politics.
Courageous Bang Bravern! is an attention-grabbing premiere: it feels extra intentional than most, and whereas we get the inciting incident, it additionally has a really light vibe till the shit hits the fan. That silence makes issues really feel sluggish in a method, although there’s a variety of motion. Nonetheless, this episode’s twist ending is sufficient to make me handwave away among the silence in change for some dynamic sound and transformation scenes with completely rocking music. (Together with the truth that one of many mechs has its personal theme music, which YES!)
Episode 2 is already out there, and I believe it will likely be value diving into. It is going to possible transcend the huge quantity of setup finished within the premiere and hopefully begin exploring the whys of an alien invasion: why is that this an assault versus a gathering of the celebrities; Why now, and why the earth? These are all questions I hope this present solutions throughout its run. At the moment, so far as I do know, that is deliberate for twelve episodes: time will inform if that size can match a dynamic, satisfying story.
For now I will add Courageous Bang Bravern! added to my roster this season. I would like to see it observe within the canon of mecha anime earlier than it, exploring the character of warfare and in addition displaying us some actually cool machines.
