Stellvia...
Recently, I took the opportunity to watch Stellvia...
Stellvia is a slice of life drama set in the future, behind the scenes at the space academy, Stellvia. The animation is highly polished and very slick looking and the overall quality is very good. There are some CG effects - mostly for mecha. The CG elements are blended a bit better than in other productions like Divergence Eve, but, not quite well enough that I couldn't tell there were CG effects.
The story is a bit weak. Following the students around is fun for about an hour. After that, it gets boring real fast. The animation is very nice to look at, but, nothing interesting happens during the first volume. While researching the series, I learned that there might be something to look forward to later in the series, but, the glacial pace and the size of the series (8 volumes) didn't really inspire me to want to find out. I gave Stellvia a 2 out of 5.
Foundation 1
In the year 2167, Mankind suffered from a cataclysmic disaster as a massive wave of electromagnetic radiation from a nearby supernova washed over the Earth. Yet, Mankind was able to survive by pulling together to support each other in this time of crisis.
The year is now 2326 and the new generation of people are preparing for the second wave to hit. One young girl, Shima Katase, is going off to Stellvia, a space pilot academy, where she will learn how to protect the Earth and the family she loves.
Foundation 2
Feel it. Feel as though you are the center of the universe. The coordinates reported by the data are nothing more than a relative value. Place yourself in the absolute coordinate. -- Kouta Otoyama
A project that took 189 years to prepare, to create a barrier in the outer space with a gigantic generator and surround the whole solar system. This was the strategy to protect human beings from the Second Wave. This was The Great Mission.
Foundation Field day, a festival that comes around once a year, has returned and Shima is a candidate to participate in the great Astro-ball Event! But has her piloting skills really improved enough to be able to play side by side with the Big Four? If so, then expect to see her go head to head against Ayaka in the Lightning Joust event.
Foundation 3
A new student arrives from Ultima and proclaims herself to be Shima's rival. Shima who had been excelling in her studies is no match for her. Tensions rise even more as the Second Wave approaches increasing the responsibility placed on Shima's shoulders. Will she be able to withstand the pressure or will she...
Foundation 4
I didn't want to lose. Not to Yayoi, you, or anybody! Because... how can I lose? I am Ayaka Machida !
The Second Wave has passed replacing our green universe with a red one. The threat of extinction has been narrowly averted. Consequently, a mysterious flying object has started to appear near the Ultima Foundation?
The new DLS control systems are a bit difficult to master. Some students never do get the hang of it. However, Shima seems to have no trouble at all and scores the highest record. It's no wonder that Ayaka seems a bit irritated. An irritation that can bring about unthinkable actions? Then it's off to Earth for Christmas vacation. Shima and Kouta visit their families for the first time since school started. But it's a short trip...
Foundation 5
The UFO activity has increased and sightings have been reported around the El Santo near Jupiter and the Akapusu near Venus. To be safe, the Ultima prepares for evacuation.
Foundation 6
I can understand that although we are together, everybody is different. It feels like I'm in a world that is on the opposite side of a mirror. -- Yayoi Kuzuhara
The plan to rescue the officers trapped inside Ultima has failed and the unidentified flying objects have continued their siege of the foundation. With few choices left, Jinrai declares war. Meanwhile, the commanding officers of Ultima are starting to realize their opponent's true intentions.
Everyone's nerves are on edge as the notion of war with the UFOs sweep over the students. Kouta and Shima are chosen to pilot the Infi in preparation for this war. So as time ticks away friendships collapse and internal strife begins even as a new threat appears on the horizon.
Foundation 7
The true identity of the Cosmic Fracture has become clear! It's a sixth dimension opening also known as the crack in the space-time continuum. Whatever touches it will be primitively decomposed. All the foundations are called up in order to take emergency measures?
Shima and Kouta's relationship worsens as their friends find ways to help. Meanwhile, the Foundation commanders continue their research of how to avert the impending doom presented by the Cosmic Fracture. They develop the Genesis Mission strategy using Infi as the key. However, Shima is struggling with Infi's new DLS system.
Foundation 8
The Genesis Mission is put into action! It is the first and last battle for the people who live in the present to protect themselves and their children's future.
The Cosmic Fracture is upon us! Shima has been chosen to pilot the Halcyon, a similar machine to the Infinity while Kouta controls Infinity. However, Shima has still been having problems with the new DLS and time has run out. Now survival of the entire human race depends on the abilities of these two remarkable students, their friends, and the faculty of the foundation known as Stellvia.
Stellvia is a slice of life drama set in the future, behind the scenes at the space academy, Stellvia. The animation is highly polished and very slick looking and the overall quality is very good. There are some CG effects - mostly for mecha. The CG elements are blended a bit better than in other productions like Divergence Eve, but, not quite well enough that I couldn't tell there were CG effects.The story is a bit weak. Following the students around is fun for about an hour. After that, it gets boring real fast. The animation is very nice to look at, but, nothing interesting happens during the first volume. While researching the series, I learned that there might be something to look forward to later in the series, but, the glacial pace and the size of the series (8 volumes) didn't really inspire me to want to find out. I gave Stellvia a 2 out of 5.
