The Big Smoke

Holy shit.

I don' even know where to start on this one. This mini-series is Anime at it's best, and it's even a bit better. I'd reckon there isn't anyone who wouldn't like this one, because there's something for everyone. And it's all mixed in so casually, and skillfully, it really let's you get into the story. I haven't been so excited watching a TV show since I was a little kid.

I think what speaks for this story the most is the characters. God, there must be a good thirty some characters in this, and they're all strong. You get to know them all, and like them. They're incredibly believable for such a far-out steampunk, and their motivation makes the (sometimes overly) complex story all the more natural and entertaining. In the middle of the bizarre, anime universe they've created, you can still suspend your imagination, precisely because the characters are so convincing.

And the story itself? It's fucking fantastic, and the whole series is dedicated to it. There's no filler, which tends to always suck in Anime. There's a very clear beginning, middle and end to Last Exile. Every episode has to be watched in order, because the whole thing builds up to an amazing finale that lives up to the rest of the series. There are a lot of great mini-series and movies out there, but it's pretty rare to see a great ending like this. It's god damned satisfying.

The only real problem with the storyline, though, is that it's so detailed, it's kind of hard to write a spoiler-free outline that actually makes sense. I'll give it a shot though:

There's a massive war between two poverty-stricken kingdoms which lie on opposite sides of a massive, steam-filled, windy chasm that can only be crossed in large, sturdy airships. The two nations know nothing about each other, due to the physical divide, and are only fighting to steal each other's clean water and farmland, which are always in short supply. Both sides are really classy and gentlemanly about the war, though. Possibly because the whole thing is being mediated by a technologically advanced and mysterious Guild, which, unknown to either nation, manipulates the war to its own advantage.

The story follows Lavie and Claus (pictured), two poor, lowly orphans *cough* who work as couriers in a wicked little plane-thing (pictured). Their fathers, also couriers, died ten years beforehand while trying to deliver a peace treaty. It's their (impossible) dream to one day complete their fathers' mission, and help end the war.

After being given a mission to transport a little girl (pictured) to a large warship, the Silvana (pictured), they decide to stay aboard under the pretext of helping to protect the girl. In reality, Claus becomes caught up in the drama of the war and wants to fight, something which Lavie detests. The series follows the warship, and how the long and increasingly pointless war effects the crew, from the mechanics on the lower decks to the bridge.

One last word: The visuals are absolutely incredible, as is the music. With most anime series', you come to expect cheap ass animation, and lots of repeated footage. Not here. There some serious high-quality stuff here, including plenty of expensive-looking and artfully handled CGI, which blends comfortably with the beautiful hand-drawn stuff. That mixed with great acting (in the Japanese, of course) and a great soundtrack means atmosphere ahoy.

If I was going to recommend an Anime series to anyone, it would be this. It's an epic fucking masterpiece. Five Fucking Stars:

/ five