Just finished watching this anime.
Got to it after re-watching “Tokyo Magnitude 8.0”, while writing my rant about it.
Went to one of the anime listing websites looking for the name of one of the side characters in TM8.0 and noticed Yomigaeru Sora on the recommended list.
So I read the synopsis.
Sounded good.
It had helicopters, helicopters are good.
No sign of unexpected “magical girls”. Very good.
“Well, it’s only 12 episodes…” (13 with the OVA)
So…I’ve watched it slowly.
Pretty decent anime.
I’m almost ashamed that I had never crossed paths with it in over ten years.
Criminally unappreciated.
It uses a unit that exists, on a town that exists, in a base that exists (afaik the “alien base” doesn’t exist, pity) and puts said unit in situations that could exist.
Sure, it looks like a really well disguised ad for the JASDF, but I say…so what if it is?
Hell, if it was an anime about garbage men I would be OK with it, it’s nice that sometimes mass media can bring up professions that we only remember when they aren’t there.
Easily one of the best realistic drama anime ever.
Then again, there aren’t many, anime is traditionally a media of fantastical escapism.
That means he cares.
And that’s another thing Yomigaeru Sora -Rescue Wings- does great: showing how limited anime is as a medium when it tries to be realistic.
There’s no pink hair or gravity denying spiked hair .
Nor are there aquamarine or red eyes.
It’s in Japan, so chances are people have black hair and dark brown eyes.
In fact that is one of my (if not the) biggest criticisms of Rescue Wings: Character design. Everyone looks alike. And it doesn’t help that it’s a military setting where haircuts are regulated.
As I said, I believe the guys behind it did their best, but it’s a problem anime has when it tries not to be cartoonish. (well, budget limitations might have something to do with it too)
The depictions of the rescues are fairly realistic, which is great. So are the characters.
(sorry, this post stayed in the drafts folder for over 2 months, I’ve since forgotten the points I wanted to address, so…)
A fairly good anime, I’ll give it 7/10, not because it has some sort of outstanding technical points going for it, but because it’s a fairly realistic anime, could almost be boring at times although it’s decently paced.
7/10, watch if you like fairly realistic drama within a realistic universe.
And helicopters.
See you next time.