A very typical science fiction anime that just so happen to feature a creature resembling Godzilla
The Good: top notch cel shaded animation, near perfect voice acting, intricate artwork, thrilling action sequences, deconstructs the typical "civilians on a space colony mission" story
The Bad: generic science fiction anime story, bland characters, uninspired creature designs,
***********Review***********
In the far future, mankind has reached the stars. But this is not some hopeful Mission of seeking out brave new worlds to colonize. This is a bitter fight for survival. Giant monsters have ravaged the earth, systematically wiping out the human race. Not even the intervention of two alien races could avert the inevitable. Humanity and it’s alien allies, the elven looking Exif and the brute-like Bilusaldo, retreated into deep space.
Twenty years later, society on board the colony ship has degenerated into a utilitarian dystopia where the elderly are sent on suicide missions to conserve resources for the young, where there is no escape from the coldness of space, and where otherwise healthy young men and women slowly succumb the despair of loneliness. Into this world comes one Haruo Sakaki, a hot headed pilot who experienced the downfall of man first hand.
He obtains mysterious data on earth and the creatures that now inhabit it. With this data, humanity launches a last ditch attempt to reclaim the earth from the monsters. Oh and Godzilla is here too, in a whole new incarnation, but one would barely notice seeing as how little he affects the plot.
Rendered in a cel shaded CGI style, GODZILLA MONSTER PLANET is beautiful to look at. The computer animation captures the look and feel of traditional animation right down to the lower frame rate.
Lesser studios have tried this to varying degrees of success (see: DEAD SPACE AFTERMATH, BERSERK) but Polygon Pictures seems to have nailed it. The designs of the humans, mecha and technology all look good.
On the other hand some of the Creative decisions on the monsters may have been better in concept than in execution. The monsters all share the same monotone shade of dark metallic grey. Their features barely visible amidst this messy jagged design aesthetic. In motion, they look like a jumble of twisted thorns shaped like dragons or dinosaurs.
This uninspired aesthetic is a wasted opportunity to take advantage of the anime medium. Godzilla himself has a new design with new characteristics are this is more than welcome. But it has to be compelling, it has to stand out from the other creatures in the story.
Here, you could swap out Godzilla here for any massive menace and it would not make a difference to the story. He could be a giant robot, a sludge monster, an energy entity, anything, and you would still have the same anime story.
A most capable cast of voice actors give life to our characters. Both Japanese and English VAs fit their roles perfectly. On the Japanese side, the usual over acting that tends to plague many anime is not present here. Instead the performances are realistically restrained befitting the setting and story. Similarly, the English dub is among the best in recent years; filled with energy, nuance and without the uncomfortable inflections that do not match the animation.
It is the show’s generic script and characterisations that betray the otherwise fine acting. Haruo is your typical revenge driven hot headed hero, Accompanied by your typical overly concerned girl Friend, manipulated by your typical ambiguous ally with effeminate mannerisms. Literally everyone is less of a character and merely a series of “typical” archetypes in any science fiction anime.
There are some thrilling action sequences and I loved the first act which deconstructs the usual “civilians on a space colony mission” trope through a cynical lens. What is typically portrayed as a second chance for humanity in greener pastures is instead shown as a waking nightmare of mental isolation and degenerating social structure on a dark cold and depressing colony vessel; exactly what you would expect when civilians, not at all trained for the rigors of life in space, are forced on a journey to the stars. Sadly, that is not enough to detract from the underlying flaws.
“Typical”, “ generic” and other associated synonyms have peppered my review and that is sadly this movie’s weakest aspect. GODZILLA MONSTER PLANET is free of the limitations of rubber suits and miniatures, able to envision a larger than life hard sci fi setting and explore Godzilla through a medium of limitless possibilities. It is disappointing that the overall product turn out so bland. Not bad, but just bland. As if it could be any other run of the mill science fiction anime and it would not make a difference.
***********Review***********
Entertainment: B+
Art: B+
Animation: A-
Art: B+
Animation: A-
Story: C
Voice Acting (English): A-
Voice Acting (Japanese): A-
Voice Acting (English): A-
Voice Acting (Japanese): A-
Characters: C+
Music: C-
Replay value: B+
"Brains": B
"Brains": B
