"What Lies Beyond the Furthest Reaches of the Sky?"-Arc Words for Last Exile
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So, You're an Anime Fan, Huh?!
So, you're an anime fan huh?! Well, didja ever watch Last Exile?
Welcome back, Young and Young-at-Heart Otakus to So You're an Anime Fan Huh?! The show here on Something Niche where we take a peek within the pantheon of anime, animated television/streaming shows and movies from Japan! A once niche area of popular culture that has gotten much more mainstream in recent years, but still has a legion of underutilized IPs that rival even the most lasting pop culture phenomena of the Western world!
Today, we will be taking a look at Last Exile, a little hidden gem brought to us by the prolific Gonzo. And this retrospective will be one I've been particularly excited to share with you, as this show is part of one of my favorite genres of speculative fiction; Steampunk!
Indeed, Last Exile is a steampunk war story set within a steam-powered universe where two nations have become locked in chivalrous aerial warfare. Two teenaged pilots from a small village take to the skies one day, only to find themselves right in the middle of the action! As a result, after coming across an allied warship, our two protagonists find themselves involved in not only intense aerial conflict, but also a mission to find a mysterious contraption that holds secrets that could be used to end the conflict for good. The two of them-and many others-end up going through a journey of self-discovery, political intrigue, and perseverance in the face of turmoil along the way.
In what can be described as a Star Trek-esque Space Opera set on a steampunk Earth, Last Exile combines a whimsical and well-crafted mise-en-scene with a story filled with twists and turns, complex characters, and well-choreographed aerial dogfights across 26 edge-of-your-seat episodes. And while it may have its flaws, it's certainly an anime that's a worthy find for the boldest of adventurers to add to their watchlists!
So, be sure to keep your hands and feet in the vehicle at all times, as we take off into the world of Last Exile!
Beggin' You to Touch and Go
Last Exile takes place in the vaguely-European world of Prester, which houses the two major nations of Anatoray and Disith. These two nations are separated by turbulent region in the sky known as the Grand Stream and have been locked in chivalric conflict for years. This is where war is used as an opportunity for sustainable development, though, like war in general, it does ultimately have horrific consequences, and is mostly used for spreading propaganda that keeps different social classes under the control of the governments.
The shows' two primary protagonists are Claus Valca (pictured above, to the center, and voiced by Mayumi Asano in Japanese and the prolific Johnny Yong Bosch in English) and Lavie Head (pictured above, to the right, and voiced in Japanese by Chiwa Saito and by the also-prolific Kari Wahlgren in the English dub), two teens from a low-income village in Anatoray who work as couriers that pilot the show's main mode of steampunk transportation; a series of small, rocket-like planes called "Vanships".
One day, Claus and Lavie are met by a dying fellow courier, who pleads with them to take on his unfinished mission to protect a young girl named Alvis Hamilton (pictured above, to the right, and voiced by Anna Shiraki in Japanese and Michelle Ruff in the English dub) and bring her to the Silvana, a strange airship captained by the emotionally-distant Alexander Row (Toshiyuki Morikawa/Crispin Freeman). Despite their fears, Claus and Lavie accept the dying man's request.
After reaching the Silvana, Claus and Lavie end up embroiled in the politics and conflict of the ongoing war. Wanting to keep Alvis safe, they decide to stay on board the Silvana, where they start out as intruders, but soon become easily acquainted with the members of its crew, including pilot Tatiana Wisla (Eri Kitamura/Michelle Ruff) and first officer and vice-captain Sophia Forrester (Wakana Yamazaki/Julie Ann Taylor), who is also secretly the daughter of Anatory's emperor.
As the series progresses, we find that the conflict is being used for benefit by a group known simply as "The Guild", who serve as an arbitrator between Prester's two nations. Led by Maestro Delphine Eraclea (Michiko Neya/Karen Strassmen), The Guild has plans to capture Alvis, though one of its members, Dio Eraclea (Junko Noda/Joshua Seth) defects from the group after taking interest in Claus' dogfighting abilities, eventually sharing secrets that can lead to the discovery of the mysterious Exile.
The Flight Plan
Last Exile was one of many notable works by the legendary production company Gonzo. This group of self-described "ruffians" (hence their name, which literally means "ruffian" in Italian) originally formed as a rather small group of former employees from fellow legendary company Gainax in 1992, before merging with fellow company Digimation in 1999. Since then, the company has made it big in the anime production space, with their talents being called upon for various other notable works (and potential future topics for this show), such as Gantz, Chrono Crusade, Rosario to Vampire, and the 2001 version of Hellsing (not to be confused with the more well-known Hellsing Ultimate) just to name a few. They've even worked on projects outside of film and television, such as cutscenes for Street Fighter IV and its updates, and even the anime-inspired music video for Linkin Park's "Breaking the Habit."
Last Exile was one of several projects that the company had greenlit in celebration of the 10th anniversary of its initial founding, and its production-which, unlike a lot of well-known anime, was based on an original teleplay rather than a pre-existing manga-was helmed by three people in particular. Koichi Chigara served as series director, while Mahiro Maeda served as production designer. However, much of the show's charming design can be credited to character designer Range Murata! These three masters of their craft were already close colleagues by the time they were enlisted for Last Exile's production, having worked together on Blue Submarine No.6, an early CGI-anime, and an apparent influence on the show.
One of the most particular of the show's mise-en-scene that was given a lot of focus on during production was the steam-powered "Vanships" that provided much of the series' thrilling action sequences. When designing the main vehicles of the show's universe, Murata and company wanted to create a more distinctive design for them, and their main influence wasn't even something that had the power of flight!
"The staff originally thought about putting wings on them," Murata described in an interview "but then we felt it would just be like a typical airplane. Personally, I don't like airplanes too much; I prefer cars. I tried to incorporate the design of the automobile, which is a more common everyday sight than an airplane. I didn't want to be constrained by the plane model. Anything was an option, as long as it maintained that liberating feeling of flying."
Murata particularly stated that the design of the Vanships were influenced by the old vintage formula racers of the early 20th century, which becomes quite apparent in their design once you notice! Their design also well-accentuated the aesthetic and setting of the show that the crew had ultimately decided on after initially suggesting a space-opera setting.
"It's not based on Earth," Murata described "but if you were to think of a historical time, it would probably be in the early 20th century; maybe the 1920s. If you were to take Europe at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and the advent of mass production, you have two things going one: the Industrial Revolution-when things are starting to get mechanized-and also, the remnants of old aristocracy and tradition. To me, it's a very interesting time in history."
But that wasn't the only time and place in history that the team brushed up on while producing the show. No, much of the airships in the series took inspiration from Japan's own dreadnoughts from around the same time. The uniforms of the Anatoray empire were directly modeled after the uniforms of Napoleon Bonaparte's army, as well as taking a few bells and whistles from American Civil War soldiers. The Disith Empire's ensemble, meanwhile, took inspiration from the uniforms of the Soviet Red Army. A silent film of the now-infamous Hindenburg zeppelin provided further inspiration for the airships' designs. A few of the characters were even named after famous emperors from Ancient Rome!
A lot of detail was put into the character animations, particularly their costume designs and details such as hair. The character of Alex Row proved to be a particular challenge for the design team, particularly his hair. Murata even expressed slight regret with the character's design, saying that the character's all-black ensemble served as a major difficulty for the animation team.
The series also relied heavily on 3D Animation, which also had to be combined with 2D shading so as to not come off as jarring. This technique was informally dubbed "Toon Rendering" by Murata, which was relatively new at the time. As many has 200 shots of "Toon Rendering" had to be used for each episode in order to bring the show's distinctive dogfights to life, and these shots also had to incorporate flourishes from the Victorian era in order to bring its steampunk aesthetics into focus.
The Maiden Voyage
Last Exile began its maiden voyage in Japan on April 8th, 2003, where it aired it's entire 26-episode run on the channel TV Tokyo. The series then booked it's flight to America the following March, where it aired on the now sadly defunct G4, then called TechTV, as part of a programming block of English-dubbed Anime.
The series was originally licensed in America by Geneon Entertainment, who produced the English dub, with Funimation later obtaining the rights for future home media releases after the downsizing of Geneon in 2009. The series has since been available to stream on Crunchyroll in recent years.
Upon its release, the series received generally favorable reviews from critics, and garnished a large cult fanbase, particularly in the United States. The show received compliments for its visuals, action sequences, multi-faceted characters, voice cast (in both Japanese and English) and then-revolutionary animation techniques, with some calling the series one of Gonzo's best achievements. The series also received favorable comparisons to the works of Hayao Miyazaki.
In another reverse of the usual situation with most famous anime, the series would receive two manga spin-offs in Japan. A series of art books were also released, though one notably failed to be localized outside of Japan.
The series also proved to be popular enough to get a sequel series in 2011, dubbed Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing. This show focused on a new set of protagonists two years after the events of the first series.
A live-action film was even rumored to have been in the works during the mid-2000s, allegedly set to be produced by New Line Cinema with The Matrix producer Joel Silver. However, the only information pertaining to these rumors came from an anime blog, which also reported that Silver was also considering an adaptation of fellow Gonzo project Burst Angel, and nothing was ever formally confirmed by the studio or any other film industry professionals. However, alleged concept art was leaked online a few years later before being taken down.
Lost in the Clouds(?)
Sadly, it would seem that Last Exile's initial popularity proved to be short-lived, as I feel that it has become something of a forgotten hidden gem in recent years. Especially as progressively more and more popular titles have come out in its wake. Some retrospective reviews have also become more critical as the years have gone on, with several considering the then-revolutionary CGI to have aged rather poorly, as well as criticizing several character arcs as becoming unfinished, particularly Lavie, who seemingly starts to become less actively involved with Claus' dogfights as the series progresses.
However, while I will admit that the show does have its occasional flaws, I ultimately still consider Last Exile to be a rather well-oiled machine of an anime. Much of the initial critical acclaim the series got was well-deserved in my opinion, as the story is definitely well-crafted and has a lot of twists and turns.
There are also quite a few characters who stand out with gusto, with their own moments to shine in the spotlight. And the show's now relative obscurity makes these characters just as underappreciated and unknown as the show itself, consequently.
The general public was (and still are) also right to call the animation and aesthetics unique and beautiful. Even though a lot of the world appears to be rather dusty at times, this ironically still adds a glossy finish to the show's mise-en-scene that helps it to stand out from the crowd.
It also perfectly combines steampunk with another similar genre of retrofuturistic aesthetics that has also caught my eye; dieselpunk! This is a cousin to steampunk that basically focuses on the technology of the Interwar Period; the same era Murata and company looked to for inspiration for this show! And the visuals and sets of these works create some of the most distinctive and fun settings I've seen, almost looking like a living theme park attraction!
However, perhaps the best part of this show is the action sequences. And these particular action sequences manage to particularly stand out as well-made because they manage to capture a form of combat that's been rarely done well on-screen; the aerial dogfight!
Indeed, all of the aerial combat scenes in this anime manage to be both fast-paced while still being competently shot in order to perfectly combine style and substance. As a result, these scenes provide some of the biggest rushes of adrenaline you will ever feel without leaving your couch; the type of adrenaline rushes that only Japan and other Asian countries could ever truly provide! And it helps that all of the aircraft involved look distinctive too (some of the Disith machines even look like mechanical starfish!)
But most importantly, Last Exile is ultimately a show that's engaging, and just plain fun! It's the exact type of entertainment that you consume in order to escape the mundane tedium of reality, without trying to patronize you or hold your hand thanks to its themes and narrative twists and turns! And shouldn't every anime-no, every WORK OF FICTION-strive to be exactly that?!
Rose McGowan Award for Leading Lady
Tatiana Wisla
Now comes the time where we present our two awards for my personal favorite characters in the anime that we will be focusing on for this particular article.
First off, ladies first! It's the Rose McGowan Award for Leading Lady; where we award the best of the lovely ladies of the show, be they the most likeable, most well-developed, or just the most entertaining of the bunch, though not necessarily the most pretty (though that is a nice bonus).
For Last Exile, our award goes to Tatiana Wisla, one of the major supporting characters of the show, and a pilot on the Silvana!
The only child of a wealthy aristocratic family in Anatoray, Tatiana joins the county's "Military Vanship Corps" and quickly becomes a legendary pilot in during the war. She eventually finds her way to the Silvana, where she forms a friendship with navigator Alister Agrew, becoming one of the vessel's most vital fighting forces. All the while, she tries to make her family proud with her piloting skills, and tries to support her ailing father from afar with the extra money she makes as an ace pilot.
Although Lavie is certainly a cute and likeable enough protagonist, her sidelining towards the anime's conclusion ends up hurting her character in the long run. Tatiana, meanwhile, manages to become more involved with the show's action as it progresses, with her skills as a pilot allowing her to take part in some of the show's excellent dogfights.
But that's not what really pushes Tatiana to the ranks, no. While she is a total badass, the anime isn't afraid to allow her to show some moments of genuine humanity (unlike SOME forms of entertainment these days!) While she comes off as cold towards the beginning, as the anime progresses, she becomes one of the members of the Silvana's crew who respects Claus and Lavie the most. And her relationship with Alister also has some charm of its own.
And as an added bonus, she's actually one of the few female characters who makes short hair actually look like a nice part of a character design!
Bruce Campbell Award for Best Bro
Claus Valca
On the opposite end of the gender spectrum, we have the Bruce Cambell Award for Best Bro. This award will go out to the male cast member of any given anime who I'd gladly enjoy a nice hangout session with, be they the coolest, funniest, or most well-written brother in the bunch.
For Last Exile, our award goes to the actual main protagonist of the show for once; Claus Valca!
As I mentioned at the start of this retrospective, Claus is a young Vanship courier from a small village in Anatoray. After he and Lavie accept a mission from a dying fellow courier, they journey off to find the Silvana and protect they young Alvis from harm. Although he is initially looked upon as a trespasser, the ship's crew slowly grows to respect him as he uses his piloting skills to get them out of multiple battles intact.
In spite of his younger age (compared to a lot of anime protagonists, at least), Claus still manages to come off as a relatable enough protagonist throughout the entirety of the show's run. Not only does Claus get plenty of moments to shine, but we get to see him come of age throughout his journey as well. We see him become a big brother figure to Alvis as he continues to try to protect her from Disith forces, and we also see his relationship with Lavie grow.
His arc ultimately reminds us that Last Exile is ultimately a story about growing up underneath all the retrofuturistic tech and flashy dogfights. And best of all, he's a kid protagonist who doesn't come off as obnoxious! He's practically the boy I wish I was like growing up, and he'd be a welcome addition to my group of Goonies any day of the week!
Taking Flight Once Again
So, in the end, Last Exile is definitely a forgotten gem of an anime that's definitely worth your time. While it may have a couple of scratches on it, this old boy is still an overall well-oiled machine that still has plenty of mileage on it-metaphorically speaking, of course!
It's retrofutristic mise-en-scene gives off an atmosphere that only a niche group of films, games, and shows have dabbled in, and even fewer have managed to master! Luckily, this anime is one of those few that I can say has mastered the storytelling potential of both steampunk and dieselpunk with flying colors (no pun intended)!
Why? Because not only does this show have unique visuals and dazzling action sequences worthy of the pulp fiction of yore, but it also manages to combine those with a genuinely intriguing story with enough twists and turns to keep you invested until the very end. And it also manages to utilize a generally well-rounded and multi-layered cast that goes through their own genuine arcs that causes them to grow on us, just like any great story should!
Overall, Last Exile is a show that perfectly combines style AND substance, and its works like these that I hold close to my heart. And it's a real shame that this old relic has become buried in the sands of time, as I'd argue it deserves to stand among the timeless greats of the industry like Cowboy Bebop and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood! I'd even argue it'd make a great video game in the vein of Star Fox or Ace Combat with its thrilling dogfights and well-crafted storylines!
But what about you? Have you ever seen Last Exile? Are you interested in checking it out after hearing me gush about it for pages on end? Would you like to return to the world of Prester in one form or another in the near future? Share your thoughts in the comment section down below and share this article with your friends on social media! And always remember to keep reaching for new heights!
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