Anime [David Anime] Macross Zero 5

After nearly two full years, this entire OVA has been aired in its entirety. Truth be said, the five-episode format of this series doesn't bear well for complex plot development or strong character growth, but without a doubt, there's no denying that the level of polish here is simply *outstanding*.

From one point of view, it's possible for detractors to rightly claim that we've all seen this before -- mecha dogfights in the stratosphere are all-to-common in titles like Gundam Seed Destiny, while the underlying environmental theme here has been going strong for ages, most notably in 1997's Princess Mononoke. However, with this being said, Macross Zero mixes all these rather trite concepts and bakes it to a delicious whole using superb cinematic angles, drop-dead 3D imagery, and an outstanding score.

Although one really can't convey the strength of this series in still pictures, it's amazing to see how much sheer vertigo this title can evoke. Although the on-screen action can be nearly Gradius-esque in it's sheer cacophony (from the scuttling mechas, madly whirring cockpit controls, and the swarm of wasp-like projectiles), none of it seems superfluous, and indeed, one gets the impression that if one looks away for the slightest moment, the world will end in the background. Needless to say, it's physiologically tiring to maintain this adrenaline for the whole duration of this final episode, but it does make a *very* cathartic conclusion, and just as our protagonists have saved the world, it's somewhat profound to finally return to our normal, slightly-chilled state.

When all is said and done, this series delivers everything in spades. While the 'epic/environmental' storyline might be a little too heavy-handed for some, this title definitely stands out as a hallmark study of its genre.

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