TO (Elliptical Orbit and Symbiotic Planet)...
Sometime ago, I saw previews for TO and it looked really impressive…
The first segment in the TO feature, Elliptical Orbit, set in the future, tells the story of a terrorist incident on a space station in orbit around the Earth. The feature, at about 40 minutes, is fairly short, but the ubiquitous shower scene is present and there are a couple of bare breasts without nipples. However, there are no actual naughty bits. Once the terrorists make their move, there’s plenty of action and although there is some violence, there is no actual bloodshed. The story is concise, but, manages to build to a wonderful climax.
The second segment in the TO feature, Symbiotic Planet, set a bit further in the future than the first segment, follows the exploits of two colonists on a distant alien world as they deal with a potential biological disaster amid rising tensions between human factions within the colony. Although the story is ostensibly about a biological crisis, at the heart of the story are feelings of distrust and hated between rival human factions. Like the first segment, this segment is fairly short at about 40 minutes, but, is still able to build to a wonderful climax. In addition, there is a bit of a surprise at the end.
Both segments in the TO feature are fast paced, engaging and fairly short, but, the stories are well formed and well executed. I’m not a fan of the style of animation where the characters look less real than the worlds in which they live, but, overall, I was entertained and pleased with stories. In my humble opinion, I didn’t see anything truly objectionable, for the younger anime fans among us, but I must admit, the youngest anime fans might find these two stories to be a bit cerebral for casual enjoyment. I would give TO a 4 out of 5.
TO is a double feature of two relatively short movies, both set in the future and both featuring CG animation. The CG animation in TO, particularly with regard to the mecha animation, is quite impressive, while the character animation is decidedly less so. The character animation has that under processed look where the characters look less realistic than the world they inhabit. The faces have an almost plastic appearance and the colors and general lighting of characters often reveals hard edges that place an uncomfortable spotlight on the deficiencies in the animation. As a general rule, I do not like this style of animation.Elliptical Orbit
Fifteen years after its last contact with our world, a space freighter known as the Flying Dutchman requests permission to dock at a remote moon base. This mysterious ship carries liquid protons: a power source essential to the survival of Earth's population. But before the precious cargo can be delivered, the base is ambushed by galactic terrorists who seek to destroy the new form of energy and issue a death sentence to all of humanity.
Symbiotic Planet
Against a backdrop of peculiar alien life forms, Aon and Elena - star-crossed lovers from rival countries - struggle to build a life together despite the objections of their superiors. Their budding romance is thwarted by an outbreak of potent alien fungus and the interference of a cutthroat militaristic madman. To survive, the young couple must maintain their faith in each other... and learn to trust the unique creatures which inhabit this strange and wondrous planet.
The first segment in the TO feature, Elliptical Orbit, set in the future, tells the story of a terrorist incident on a space station in orbit around the Earth. The feature, at about 40 minutes, is fairly short, but the ubiquitous shower scene is present and there are a couple of bare breasts without nipples. However, there are no actual naughty bits. Once the terrorists make their move, there’s plenty of action and although there is some violence, there is no actual bloodshed. The story is concise, but, manages to build to a wonderful climax.
The second segment in the TO feature, Symbiotic Planet, set a bit further in the future than the first segment, follows the exploits of two colonists on a distant alien world as they deal with a potential biological disaster amid rising tensions between human factions within the colony. Although the story is ostensibly about a biological crisis, at the heart of the story are feelings of distrust and hated between rival human factions. Like the first segment, this segment is fairly short at about 40 minutes, but, is still able to build to a wonderful climax. In addition, there is a bit of a surprise at the end.
Both segments in the TO feature are fast paced, engaging and fairly short, but, the stories are well formed and well executed. I’m not a fan of the style of animation where the characters look less real than the worlds in which they live, but, overall, I was entertained and pleased with stories. In my humble opinion, I didn’t see anything truly objectionable, for the younger anime fans among us, but I must admit, the youngest anime fans might find these two stories to be a bit cerebral for casual enjoyment. I would give TO a 4 out of 5.
