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ptptn's Lost Universe Tv Review

Lost Universe tv Review

Story & Characters

Lost Universe is a sister universe (pun intended) to the better known Slayers universe. In fact, five characters (non-human ones) showed up in the various Slayers series, although only the names remain (and Dark Stars desire for destruction). Unlike in Slayers, the action takes place in space.

Kain Blueriver is a Trouble consultant, something of a cross between a mercenary, a detective, and a private security officer. He flies in Swordbreaker, a so-called Lost Ship ('Lost' because the secrets of building them are lost), with a holographic AI and mysterious technology that draws power from his mental strength. Over the course of the series, he gains allies, and of course enemies, the latter often flying Lost Ships of their own.

The characters show that they were drawn by the same writer who wrote Slayers. There is Kain, a tall guy with the glowing sword; Canal Volfeed, eccentric AI (well, perhaps no parallel there ...); Millie Farrier, short girl with a temper; and supporting characters such as the klutzy girl, and the mysterious sometimes ally sometimes friend. There are differences though, this is not Slayers in space. Kain is not as stupid as Gourry Gabriev, and sentient ship Canal with tagalong Milly are not the main focus of the story that Lina Inverse is.

There are the gods and demons of this universe, doing what they do without too much regard for human life. Here manifest as Lost Ships that can throw most of the laws of physics out the airlock if they feel like it. The demon ships actually eat their pilots. They do not know this when they get into the ships of course.

The storyline has a main plot, padded with filler episodes. The main plotline (to save the universe from demon lord Dark Star and his idea of what it should look like) is gripping, there is lots of character development, and a resolution. It is in the filler episodes that Lost Universe does not deliver a consistently good performance. Some, such as the two-parter where Kain meets an old friend of his -who of course buys the farm minutes later- are pretty good and exciting. Most other filler not so.

In all, a 9 with two points off for the dud filler episodes.

Rating: 7

Art

The art is a mix of CGI (many space scenes) and traditional animation. It is a series from when CGI was not as developed as it is today, and it shows. It is not bad, but it is very noticeable when the show switches from CGI to normal and vice versa, and this transfer can be a bit jarring.

Character designs show the relationship with Slayers. If you like those designs, you like these too. The spaceship designs are good for the sentient vessels. Bad ships (Nezzerd, Ragud Mezegis, Gorun Nova) have insectile appearances and darkish colors, the Good Guys fly (of course) in virginal white vessels (Sword Breaker) that look menacing and harmless at the same time. There are also generic craft out there that get generically blown up. In fact it seems the main reason for their existance.

In all, it is very watchable, if you do not forget that when Lost Universe was made, they could not reach the standards of today yet. It is an 8 with 1 point off for the switches.

Rating: 7

Sound

I always listen to the sub, and the Japanese voice actors do a splendid job (better than the dub IMO).
The background music fits the mood and fades in the background of my mind when I watched the series. I guess that is what it was supposed to do.

An 8. If the soundtrack had been Morricone or Williams quality, a 9, but it was not.

Rating: 8

Presentation

I mentioned the filler episodes that do not always work well. If those had been deleted, the series would have been shorter, but would have had better pacing.

Work around the duds, and Lost Universe can proudly stand with its sister shows, and even beat them if you want a more serious storyline. You could say Lost Universe has the same amount of seriousness and humor as Slayers. Only where Slayers strikes a balance in episodes, Lost Universe has or/or episodes: serious ones, or silly ones.

In all, this is one of my favorite series. But I also know that while there are episodes (the main plot) which I rewatch again and again, there are also episodes which I have watched only once and probably will nott watch again.

A 7. It would have been an 8, but no matter how much I like it I must admit it is not as perfect as I would want it.

Rating: 7

Final Verdict

7.1667 (above average)

Reviewed by ptptn, Nov 05, 2005

Comments

  1. tareren Nov 06, 2005

    Ummm, I do not think the soundtrack has anything to do with japanese voice actors... voice actors 'acted out' or filling in the voice for the character, not necessarily singing the soundtrack >_<
    Umm, for each part of the review, I do not think it is necessary to state what rating you give (cos it would be stated again XD)
    And maybe you would wanna edit the story part a bit, cos the way it is now, the only thing I understand about the plot is that they are trying to save the world, and that Kain is one of the main chara, and that he has a lightsaber of some sort... Umm, doesnt really entice me to watch this series >_>
    Thanks for sharing your view :)

  2. ptptn Nov 06, 2005

    Quote by tarerenUmmm, I do not think the soundtrack has anything to do with japanese voice actors... voice actors 'acted out' or filling in the voice for the character, not necessarily singing the soundtrack >_<


    Oops. You're right.

    Quote by tarerenUmm, for each part of the review, I do not think it is necessary to state what rating you give (cos it would be stated again XD)


    I want to show how I got that specific rating, not just a few paragraphs and then a number.

    Quote by tarerenAnd maybe you would wanna edit the story part a bit, cos the way it is now, the only thing I understand about the plot is that they are trying to save the world, and that Kain is one of the main chara, and that he has a lightsaber of some sort


    Point taken. Can't find the review edit button in a hurry, though ^_^'.

    Edit: found it.

  3. renki Nov 16, 2005

    I like this animation.

  4. Countess-D May 29, 2006

    Too bad about the 7 but I can't argue. My country sucks and it broadcasted the series in am order that can only make me believe they were on crack. That aside, its a shame but they even went as far as not airing some of the good episodes, including the last one =_=...

    Still, if I could I would rewacth this as it was meant. Its similarities with slyaers adds a nostalgia I appreciate very much ^^

  5. 2820965 May 03, 2007

    ????

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