So-Ra-No-Wo-To 3

Three episodes in and I’m starting to realize that I like this show NOT for the characters, but for the setting and background stuff. Funny from a show that was dubbed K-On part 2!

Kanata seems to be getting used to life on the base, although her trumpet skills need some work. On this particular day, Felicia gets word that they’re receiving supplies from the supply corps, so she, Kureha, and Noel go off to meet up with the corps while Kanata and Rio stay back to watch the base. While discussing their reasons for joining the army, Kanata suddenly falls ill and collapses. Rio, because of a past traumatic event, begins to panic, but eventually calms down and rushes into town to enlist the aide of a nun from the local church. However Rio seems to have a past history with the nun, but apologizes for whatever happened in the past and asks the nun for help.

Back at the base, the nun gives Kanata some medicine. She diagnoses the illness as Malaria(?), which Rio thought only children can contract, but the nun explains that it’s rare in teens and adults as well. She says that Kanata should be fine after some rest, much to the relief of Rio. Rio thanks the nun, who gives her name as Yumina.

Kanata has a dream about her past while passed out about the blonde haired soldier who saved her earlier in life, and awakens to Rio humming the same tune the blonde haired soldier played on her Trumpet. Kanata explains that she joined the military hopping to be able to learn how to play that certain piece of music, but is discourged because she feels that she is only dead-weight, and holding everyone back. Rio leads her to the hanger and hops into the tank. Rio uses the tank to play the same piece they were talking about earlier through it’s loud speakers, only this time it’s the full orchestra version. Rio then explains that its all of the instruments playing together that make the piece wonderful, much like it takes a full crew to pilot a tank effectively. Rio says that every part is important, and that Kanata shouldn’t feel like she isn’t. This cheers Kanata up and sparks up her resolve to keep trying.

Well, after watching three episodes, I’ve come to realize that I love this series MORE for it’s misterious setting, rather then the so-called MOE characters. While they diddnt drop a lot of hints this episode about the past, they were a few good tidbits. One I took great interest in is the tank, which Rio got in and booted up…

The first thing that jumps out at you about it is that it’s TOO friggen technologically advanced, even for our time! This to me is clear evidence that Sora no Woto takes place in a post nuclear-war torn Europe. Although if you notice, the tank interface is in English, which is unusual being as that the townspeople seem of French decent (even singing in it), and the town itself is based on a Spanish town. AND not to mention, the school where the girls are based seems to have taught in Japanese. And, I’ve been reading that all of the military stuff (the uniforms, weapons, vehicles) are German WWII era stuff. GAH, too much cultures! It really makes my head spin, but then again that’s what fascinates me about this anime’s setting. I really want to know what kind of event happened that forced all these cultures into one nation. My guess is that it’s something nuclear related, and I think that the town legend about the Maidens must tie into that as well…

I just had to include this quote from 2ch:  “Japanese girls wearing German uniforms exploring a Japanese music school in a Spanish town full of French people celebrating Chinese New Years in Switzerland, shooting South African owls with German rifles while piloting multi legged, talking, demon slaying, cloakable, AMAZING GRACE SINGING, 500mm coil gun firing “son of the god of fire” supertanks from the future.”

Setting aside, another thing that keeps me watching is the background art and music. Seriously, just look at this scene for example:

The background scenes are just beautiful pieces of art. I cant remember a series in a long time that had such great looking environments. Also, the soundtrack for the show fits it perfect. I particularly got goosebumps when they showed the scene of the blond haired soldier playing Amazing Grace on the trumpet, and then Rio playing the full orchestra version in the tank scene as well. The song combined with the scene, great! It’s rare for a “Type-B otaku” like me to get so excited by a show NOT because of the characters!

[Via http://joewii.wordpress.com]

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