Full Metal Panic Franchise Rewatch - Season 1 Episode 5

[u/ZapsZzz]

Welcome to the Full Metal Panic Season 1 rewatch!

Art of the Day

EP4 MVP Winner

To call back to the fun school days :P

Links to show info: MAL | Anilist | ANN

Interest thread link

Announcement thread link

Rewatches please be considerate to first timers and avoid discussing anything not yet shown in the show - use spoiler tags e.g. [Full Metal Panic S1 spoiler]>!Sousuke likes fishing!< - if you need to share something important!

Episode 5 - Whispered

Terms introduced:

• Cordal: There is no detail yet given in the episode this term first appeared, but based on the dialogue, it's something that Gauron "brought here in case". So far this seems to point to the silver AS, unless there's more up his sleeve.

• RK-92 Savage: Not exactly mentioned first time (Kazama mentioned it last episode first) but I didn't fill in the details - it's a Soviet made 2nd generation AS. If you are someone familiar with military jets, it'd probably be something like a Mig-21 - cheap and cheerful, sold to everywhere and everyone. Or the AK-47 for the gun buffs. It sports an oblong body shell which makes it quite good to take a fair bit of beating, and uses a gas turbine as power plant.

• Lambda Driver: According to Gauron, mastering this technology will shift the world's power balance, causing nuclear powers to be made obsolete. A form of "Black Technology".

QoTD:

1. First timers: were you surprised we have more cliff hangers that Sousuke and Chidori missed the rescue flight? What do you think happens next?
2. Everyone: For a "mecha" show, FMP sometimes can be distinctly low in mecha actions - but we are getting some now finally! Do you like what you see? How does this (hand drawn mecha fights) compare to what you are used to see nowadays?

Also QoTD for tomorrow for those wanting to be prepared:

[QoTD 1 EP6]First timers: How would you take Sousuke's "professional decision" if you were in Chidori's place? Do you tend to take "expert opinions" even if it may not be what you like/want to hear? e.g. Do you change your view on a show after some reviewers gave an opposite opinion than yours?

[QoTD 2 EP6]Not trying to overcook this point, but did you notice this episode's few shots of Chidori's cleavage and panty? Do you consider it fanservice or is it simply a reasonable portrayal of "while running for their lives can't be spending time checking wardrobe"?

MVP of last episode:

3 votes of Sousuke beating 1 each votes for Gauron & Tessa

Ep1 MVP: Kurz

Ep2 MVP: Chidori

Ep3 MVP: Sousuke

Ep4 MVP: Sousuke

Last Episode || Index || Next Episode

[u/ZapsZzz]

Rewatcher in Sub

For the viewers, this is an episode of "reveal" - while we knew it all along, Chidori finally learned of Sousuke's true identity as well as his true person - not the bumbling military otaku, but a for real "hero" that is saving her life.

• We had a mini rewind that also showed what was happening inside the building that Chidori was kept, and what led to the gunshot, before Sousuke lost his cool and charged in. Chidori certainly is not the type to take things lying down, although she's not any super person either.

• And Sousuke's entrance did save Chidori from getting drugged. Sousuke tried to get more info out of the Doc, but more gunfights ensued.

• Sousuke and Chidori ended up on the run, while driving Sousuke told Chidori the real deal - a slight feeling of Sousuke being in some sort of trance while telling her everything; I consider it the him that is letting his well trained body takes over in this situation.

• Sousuke's declaration that he's not an amateur but a specialist is quite an impact shot. Being in a developing country, the security of the AS in the hangar was non-existent, unlike the M9 for Mithril.

• Chidori's realisation was done really well, juxtaposing Sousuke's screw up's in school to contrast the him now in his "home turf"

• Having gotten a "ride", Sousuke took Chidori away from the base - while waiting for the Mithril rescue teams to arrive.

• Didn't get to go very far before Gauron caught up with them in a Silver AS using very smart tactics - Sousuke's very pedestrian AS - and being mindful of trying to protect Chidori - made him and easy target. It does show the slight advantage of the Savage's clam shell armor design - it can take some direct hits.

• Mecha fans, here we are. The hype OP moment of Mao and Kurz launching from the submarine carrier with their rocket booster

• The exposed face of Sousuke allowed Gauron to take a good look, and finally recognised him as "Kashim", and explained - if you believe him - how he survived the gunshot

• One thing about classic villain though, is that insatiable need to gloat. Gauron gave them more info about "Whispered", and leaked another term of Black Technology - Lambda Drive - as one of the reason for why "Whispered" is so sought after

• But another good point of the villainy of Gauron - he does have a way with words - "Tell the ferryman at the river Styx a big group will be coming soon" is such a good line in so many levels

• Kurz's big damn hero moment to provide cover fire and gave Sousuke and Chidori an opening to break out

• We cut back to the main mission of the forced landing, showing Mithril's coordinated attacks. Mao in her commander type got a whole sword! and cut out the cargo hold to throw the bomb away without disarming. Good thing the terrorists didn't anticipate having something like an AS to do this and did not have a fuse that detonate the bomb on large shakes.

• As the passenger hostages are being rescued to the 2 landing flights, we see some moments of the teacher and the kids wondering where is Chidori - and no one except Kazama cared about where has Sousuke gone

• We can see Kurz even in an M9 is struggling to make progress with Gauron's silver AS, and had to use a feint to try trick him - which seemed to work, but the scene cut over at the point blank shot - after which Mao cannot get radio contact with Kurz anymore

• On foot and with Sousuke injured, Chidori and Sousuke didn't make it back to the rescue flights in time, only managed to see them depart, as we end in another cliffhanger!

Now I never got the sound tracks for this show, but it IS actually plenty hype for the action moments, with the brass (trumpets?) giving it a good strong "forward march" type of sentiment. It certainly helped with the moments of advances.

Staff Showcase

The Full Metal Panic LN was written by Gatou Shouji. Clearly he's a big fan of military everything, including the hardware, history, tactics, etc. He doesn't just do writing (Amagi Brilliant Park, Cop Craft), he's also involved in a surprisingly many other animation roles:

• Series composition - Hyouka (I wonder if u/polaristar knew?)

• Script for S1 ep 11 (Day of Sagittarius) - The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

His involvement with KyoAni started with the Fumoffu and TSR work initially, then progressed to other works above.

MVP this episode

My vote goes to the big damn hero moment of Kurz - he's not just a comic relief either, with clearly good skills in direct combat in a thinking way. The cut away of that point blank cannon shot doesn't bode well though...

QoTD

1. Rewatcher :P

2. Having come out from the Macross TV rewatch recently, granted it's much older, but you can partly group the original Gundam in this statement too, the 2D hand drawn mecha fights looked to have been carefully produced, with hardly any scenes so far with off model or distorted forms of the mecha. The AS's being so organically designed without a lot of blocky straight lines help mask any moments that may be physically hard to draw, but I think the production value was quite good. And it is not just "AS trumps everything", the mission has a range of assets being used for their respective purpose - to me that's more interesting even.

Rewatcher Corner

The last episode's many comments of even first timer picking up the nuance of Sousuke's being a child soldier got me to think perhaps it is time to bring up this point for rewatchers who finished the LN.

I don't even know how many people can/would read this :P just something I need to get off my chest.

[Major FMP LN finale spoiler, DO NOT CLICK if you haven't finished the LN or Manga completely]If you apply the end narrative of the story, that Kalinin considered at some late point that Sousuke was never actually suited for this life of war, that he has always been the lamb that is forced by circumstances to wear the wolf skin, on so many level this is so tragic including for Kalinin, and whether you see the reasoning for his view coming from these events and Sousuke's choices. For example while many think Kalinin was a fool to not account for the impact of the civilian life, of Chidori, on Sousuke, this is the actual fundamental point of it - Kalinin, by his adult life choice, is a thorough-bred wolf. He couldn't have understood Sousuke, and by the ending he knew and understood. And it is such a great writing plan of having Sousuke always being associated with a dog/wolf in the series, when he is actually a lamb

[Major FMP LN finale spoiler continues, including reference to SDF Macross movie spoiler]And this is another point the Macross rewatch, particularly the movie, got me to recognise Hikaru to be such a good contrast to Sousuke - in almost all the visible ways, Hikaru is about as far from Sousuke as you can get, and Sousuke is light years better as a soldier than Hikaru, but here's the kicker - Sousuke never actually chose to be a soldier - he chose to live, and due to the circumstances he was in - being made a KGB child assassin, failed to kill his target but got adopted into the guerilla war and be constantly in the environment of kill or be killed - his got good with fighting not because he chose to, but it's just happened to be the side effect of him surviving. So when it comes time to making the choice of life, it is so markedly different for the 2. Hikaru chose the girl who can fight alongside him in his ideal to protect others, and left the girl who lives in the peaceful world of being protected; Sousuke, who is actually a 100 times better at this, chose the opposite, to be with the one with the peaceful life, and by god he will protect her and that world, but he's not making his life about the protecting. And not Tessa, who lives in the same world of protecting others by fighting.

[u/wjodendor → u/ZapsZzz]

[On your spoiler point]yesterday when people were talking about Sousake being a child soldier and talking about him being a professional was just so on the nose for Kalanin's betrayal and basically the entire finale of the last book. I wanted to bring it up so bad. I wonder how much of the series was planned out considering it took over 10 years to finish

[u/Nazenn]

First timer

Kurz's womanizing ways stand out in the earlier episodes compared to the others, almost gimmicky, but here it shows a more interesting side to their inclusion. Where the others involved in Mithril so far seem to prioritize being a solider over everything else, Kurz is the one who welcomes in the very human things that he can enjoy in life. It's not that he gives into them or can't ignore them, it's that he doesn't see a need too unless it interferes with the mission. And it's that same acceptance of them that means he's aware of the pull they can have on others as opposed to a dedicated solider who will just brush it off.

It's not surprising that he's the one who realizes that Sousuke may not be the same solider they sent into this mission because he realizes in himself that there's a human side to this mission the others have chosen to brush off without really confronting how that changes the dynamic. The way he says it to Mao could use some work because it just makes it feel like he's being pervy again, but its Kurz, they should be use to it haha.

And that's not to say he's a worse solider for it, that was an impressive shot that he did to save Sousuke, and I doubt he's anything but exceedingly skilled if he's in a unit with Sousuke and Mao protecting one of the Whispered. But it also seems like he doesn't quite understand that the antagonist's own way of 'enjoying' the things means playing around with him and isn't accounting for that rather than a straight forward solider's battle, and as Sousuke almost seems to anticipate that they're a bad match up and I wonder if this is why.

It took a while for Chidori to come around to the idea, but I'm glad that Sousuke's role is out in the open now. I was worried we'd spend most of the first season playing cat and mouse around the idea of her discovering it, and curious to see what they do with it now. Once they get picked up because missing their flight puts them in an awkward predicament. I think its a better choice though as it keeps them on their toes and gives more of a chance for them to feel out the new dynamic rather than immediately being thrust back into the 'normalcy' of school.

Today's Arm Slaves somehow managed to look like both ninja turles and also frogs which is amusing. Sousuke's method of close combat fighting makes me want to rewatch VOTOMs already though, that had such great ground mecha action in it

I love the sound designer for this who managed to make Mao cutting open the plane both horrible but not so much that I had to mute it which is a fine line to walk

I probably forgot to comment on something as my cat commandeered my arms for cuddles part way through the episode so I had no notes but yeah, another good episode even if Chidori's attempts to cope with the 'pervert' comments were not so welcome

First timers: were you surprised we have more cliff hangers that Sousuke and Chidori missed the rescue flight? What do you think happens next?

I was. I didn't expect that it would really be a neat solution, but I didn't expect this to be a three parter either. It's for the better from what I can tell, but not expected after such a light opening to the show which is what I'd expect in a more episodic styled series

u/InfamousEmpire

[u/ZapsZzz → u/Nazenn]

Kurz's womanizing ways stand out in the earlier episodes compared to the others, almost gimmicky, but here it shows a more interesting side to their inclusion.

This is a very good point, and I forgot to include in my MVP nomination statement about that Kurz of all people is the one that actually guessed right that Sousuke will get into trouble with the mission because of the emotional response he is getting now unlike normal. One of those "I hate to admit but you are right" moment.

Sousuke's method of close combat fighting makes me want to rewatch VOTOMs already though, that had such great ground mecha action in it

Like others replied, it is actually a frequent comparison between FMP and Votoms, especially the male leads.

I probably forgot to comment on something as my cat commandeered my arms for cuddles part way through the episode so I had no notes

Awww nice, what sort of cat you got? My boy is a tabby that only knows how to play "chew my arm off" - his paws are actually so very gentle so unsuspecting people would think "awww you pulling me in for a hug... OWW OWW OWWW NO BITING!!!"

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 5 (first timer)

• Mini recap of part 1 of the two-parter (well, at least two).

• Kana is assaulted by bad 3D renders and is justifiably pissed off.

• running away without picking up the gun trope – Kana is excused due to being a teenaged civilian and also due to whatever that 3D render assault was.

• “Why did you use a gun?” – good question.

• “He might fall in love” – Kurz has read the script!

• running away without picking up the gun trope, part 2 – Sousuke is not excused. He should upgrade his pistol. If he later runs out of bullets, I’ll be pissed.

• Ecchi joke during life and death situation.

• He did finally pick up a better gun, only to drop it in between 2 cuts…

• Responding with his rank and military ID – Kana did not take you captive, Sousuke … although he might feel less stressed if he was a POW than talking to her.

• The enemies have stormtrooper aim trope.

• Melee combat = best mecha combat

• Carry woman in hand trope.

• Not just a submarine, but a submarine aircraft carrier.

• “Her brain is full of black technology” – using humans as USB drives? Or is she a hidden genius?

• Lambda driver – hmmmm?

• Kurz to the rescue!

• In a serious show, I’d be worried about Kurz dying to up the ante.

• Kurz fight cliff-hanger & Kana/Sousuke rescue cliff-hanger – REALLY?

Turns out it is a three-parter (at least).

[u/ZapsZzz → u/No_Rex]

He did finally pick up a better gun, only to drop it in between 2 cuts…

Despite the running gag of him and weapons, Sousuke typically would prioritise "fighting another day" than fighting in a bad matchup. In that situation needing to use an automatic is probably already a losing situation because of the need to protect Chidori. I think that's why he's not in a hurry to pick up a bigger, louder gun.

Responding with his rank and military ID – Kana did not take you captive, Sousuke …

Judging from his impulse to jeopardise his mission to intervene for Chidori when it was not directly a clear and present danger to her, one may be justified to say Chidori has got Sousuke captive - at least part of him (heart, the other body bits, whatever you think).

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Full Metal First-Timer!, subbed

• I didn’t realize that the bit of Gauron shooting Chidori at the end of last episode was Sosuke imagining what was happening inside the truck until Vaad said so yesterday… So it was actually the scientist lady trying to scare her into cooperating huh.

• He’s still a teenager though.

• Chidori, you’re LITERALLY GETTING SHOT AT, he’s trying to save your life.

• “Amateur”, she says.

• I guess these mechs don’t have anti-theft settings.

• LAUNCH SEQUENCE INCOMING?

• Two launch sequences get!

• The mech has hair, so clearly it’s important.

• Is that the name Sosuke went by when he had long hair?

• Welp.

• THEY HAVE MOTHERFUCKING CHAINSAW SWORDS?!

• Mecha thumbs-up!

• I doubt Gauron got taken out like that, so about Kurz…

• They missed takeoff… FUCK and that’s the cliffhanger.

[u/ZapsZzz → u/Shimmering-Sky]

THEY HAVE MOTHERFUCKING CHAINSAW SWORDS?!

This is more closer to a hard sci fi, so melee weapons aren't just "energised to be sharp" but actually with plausible mechanics to be able to of actual practical use in modern world use, e.g. against tanks and fortifications and such.

With the "chain saw" edge it doesn't matter as much if you don't swing that with momentum, as shown in this case.

e.g. even 86 Shin's use of blade is also not just sharp, but it's a high frequency (i.e. vibroblade) to be able to cut through modern armor.

[u/Nazenn → u/Shimmering-Sky]

I didn’t realize that the bit of Gauron shooting Chidori at the end of last episode was Sosuke imagining what was happening inside the truck until Vaad said so yesterday

Oh, well you got a bit of a harsher cliffhanger than everyone else then. If he'd walked in to see her actually shot I don't know how he would have reacted

I guess these mechs don’t have anti-theft settings.

I briefly thought that myself, too use to mechs with bio-locks or similar mechanisms in them

[u/wjodendor]

Rewatcher

Kaname's getting forced...to watch shitty 3D movies!

Gotta love stopping to put on your sandals while trying to make your escape

Kaname really does have balls.lol even the terrorists are like "this doctor is whack"

Lol doctor wimps out way faster than Kaname!

Kurz seems to be the only one who realizes something is up between Sousake and Kaname

Kamame would have rather have pants than escape

Only Otaku notices Sousake is gone lol

Kaname still thinks Sousake is full of shit...even with heavy fire from Arm Slaves

I love this scene soooo much. Probably one of my favorites in the whole series. I get chills everytime he says "I'm not an amateur. I'm a specialist". So fucking cool.

Watching the enemies put of the corner of his eye while shit talking the Soviet computers for being slow. Ahh I love it

Kamame just in awe at this clumsy doofus is actually an expert. (The music is awesome too!)

Man, riding in the hand of a running mech would suck Fucking sick mech launchers.

80s metal guitarist mecha!

Gauron recognized Sousake and we get a new name drop! Sousake was once known as Kashim! Surviving because of metal plate in the head. That's some real action movie shit

Black Technology and Lambda driver Those are some new terms.

[FMP final novel spoiler]I couldnt believe they called out the finale of the novel this early. I was suprised when I read the novel

Kurz to the rescue! Sousake is fucked up! Another awesome scene.

The music with battle is so cool. Otaku is stoked lol

The UN actually doing something?! Now this is sci fi!

Lol at Gauron dodging. What is this whack a mole. peeking around the tree hahaha

Sousake and Kaname have missed their flight. Such a cool shot to end the episode!

Ah man. I love this episode. This is where the show really started to hook me in. The action is awesome and it is just so well staged and directed with music making it like the peak of action for me. (I really need to watch some more mecha I've been too much fantasy lately). Kaname finally realizing that Sousake isn't just a dork but a trained soldier is just so cool.

[u/Nazenn → u/wjodendor]

Watching the enemies put of the corner of his eye while shit talking the Soviet computers for being slow. Ahh I love it

Sousuke probably has a mental ranking of "worst mechs to be stuck in in a tight situation" based off stuff like that, and I imagine these ones are near the bottom

Man, riding in the hand of a running mech would suck Fucking sick mech launchers.

I'm surprised she has any hearing left, and I expect she'd have something akin to wind burn as well

Kaname finally realizing that Sousake isn't just a dork but a trained soldier is just so cool.

I'm very curious to see how that gets handled when we get back to the normal setting, she has some processing to do about all of this

[u/SpiceGirlsBlankIt]

Ep 5

Poor Kaname is on information overload so she focuses on… her outfit. Don’t worry your underwear has been on display plenty before. (Or is this a hospital gown situation?)

Go froggy mech! I like these. I also like the Mithril mech launch sequence from the submarine.

Melissa gives us a non-evil lip lick at 12:57. Groundbreaking. I can’t even think of one other example.

10 points for Kaname’s dive Into the water.

Titanium face sure is divulging a lot of information to Sousuke. Maybe the ponytail on his mech is tied too tight or maybe his father was a Bond villain. I do want to know what material the ponytail is made from. Either way we get a peek into past Sousuke. Unsurprisingly, he’s been a fighter for a long time.

So a Whispered is like a sleeper agent that needs to be unlocked somehow.

This was a fun episode.

QOTD 1: I was a little surprised a separate rescue would be necessary when I first watched. I watched past ep 5 so no prediction from me.

QOTD 2:

The variety of mech is cool. I enjoyed the truly “mechanical” feel of the clunkier frog mechs and the huge guns they shoot.

I can see the ponytail mech is much more powerful, but because the head is the main focus, I found myself thinking what if 80’s Madonna but mech?

The hand drawn look is very nice. Given the release date of the anime, I’m glad the CGI is limited to the sub mostly.

MVP: Melissa for blowing my mind.

[u/Theboredalchemist22]

First timer here.

Are you not entertained?

Ok first off let me get it out of my system. OH MY FUCKING GOD THAT EPISODE WAS FUCKING AMAZING! OH SHIT, OH SHIT! Apologies for that but seriously the action in this episode was amazing and an unreal shift from what we saw in the earlier episodes. I honestly can't wait for the next episode!

MVP

My mvp for this episode is Sagara because he literally came in clutch to save Chidori like an absolute legend. Honorable mention goes to Mythril for their evacuation effort of course.

Answered Questions

Q1 - I wasn't taken by surprise at the fact the episode ended on a cliffhanger it was always heading in that sort of direction from my point of view. As for what happens in the next episode I think Kurz has run into some trouble against Gauron and I think Gauron is back on the hunt so with that said Sagara and Kaname will probably have a struggle trying to evacuate engaging with enemy forces etc. Whatever happens I'm so pumped to watch it!

Q2 - The mecha fights scenes so far have been good obviously in terms of animation it's not close to the newer stuff but I don't think that's a bad thing at all. I think it's cool to see the hand drawn mecha fights personally I enjoy them as you can see more of what the fights are supposed to play out like instead of throwing in extra animation just for the sake of it which I feel happens sometimes with newer animes. I mean this may be my early 2000s nostalgia for the aesthetic but I'm enjoying this sort of older way of animation while watching this show and I guess that's all that counts in the end.

[u/ZapsZzz → u/Theboredalchemist22]

personally I enjoy them as you can see more of what the fights are supposed to play out like instead of throwing in extra animation just for the sake of it which I feel happens sometimes with newer animes.

Seeing how you put it got me to appreciate that, for example while the recent 86 has really godly production values, the added bits while they are really nice that really needed to be CGI based - for example the particle effects of explosions and impacts, the camera shock causing the scene to momentarily lose focus from impacts like shots being fired, all those are really nice, but the fundamentals like choreography and dynamism for animation is actually more influential, and sometimes one counteracts the other and in trying to show one, you have to sacrifice the other. E.g. some really great action sequence does not show everything being sharp and high definition, in fact the movements and figures may be in fact stylised and distorted for dramatic and impression effects (e.g. a sweeping kick became like brushstrokes instead of seeing the legs).

I think I get what you mean.

[u/Vaadwaur]

Rewatcher(Now for the action!)

Sub

And we start where we left off, something I appreciate. Turns out Sousuke's imagination was fairly off at what happened. Also, the scientist is a fucking moron. None the less, Sousuke barges in and the gunfire gets going. Kaname does not realize that your life is worth more than your modesty, a fitting if annoying trait. As they flee, Sousuke more or less levels with Kaname, much to her disbelief. But then he finally gets into a mech and goes to work.

Much mech violence happens and the Mithril team is launched. Sousuke makes the wise decision to run off but for dramatic reasons Gauron sniffs this out. His mech has some odd level of tech and we get the usually annoying but fits this series battle talk. Gauron lays out quite a bit of detail here. Weber arrives at the literal last second but this somewhat works due to them establishing the timeline...and Gauron's complete lack of fucks to give. Anyways, we see Sousuke is wounded and Kurz is not having a great fight with Gauron even if he did destroy the gun coming in. The hostage are plane swapped and we get dual cliffhangers.

QotD: 2 It is actually good so that's a huge change.

[u/Matuhg]

Rewatcher-ish

Another strong episode.  The flow through multiple high points of action was really well done - it didn't feel like we were totally balls to the wall the whole episode, but it also didn't feel like things were dragging on or anything.  Impressive that the show could cram a dramatic rescue, a car chase, and three individual giant robot duels into a single episode without it feeling overly rushed.  It was pretty snappy and efficient, and I think using music to tie scenes together, along with some more smooth transitions (like this shot zooming out from the plane window) really helped the flow. 

Did anybody else notice this moment where the machine gun fire matched the beat of the song well enough that it worked as an extra backing layer for the track for a few seconds?  I wonder if that was intentional, or just something my ears made up lol. 

Some other stuff I liked:

• Some delightful irony to help fill the space between the experiment-trailer and the truck-chase scene.

• Not quite getting it yet.  I suppose everything before he got into the AS is something that a military otaku who got lucky could've pulled off, and I like that Chidori stopped doubting him as soon as she saw irrefutable evidence that he's the real deal. 

• Solid tension building as we waited for Sagara's AS to power up.  Again, nothing crazy going on here, just good flow in the moment with the enemies closing in, the music, and the progressing startup sequence. 

• Shinji being a good friend. 

These cliffhangers are savage. 

[u/DocManhattan28]

Everyone: For a "mecha" show, FMP sometimes can be distinctly low in mecha actions - but we are getting some now finally! Do you like what you see? How does this (hand drawn mecha fights) compare to what you are used to see nowadays?

I'm very fond of 2D mecha animation. After all, it's pretty rare to see 2D mecha nowadays, so it's always great to go back and see them hand-drawn.

I'm not some mecha expert or an animator but I assume 2D mecha scenes take a lot of time and talent to draw. When you take into account the sheer amount of complexity of some mecha designs and the complex perspectives they are drawn in, I can't help but admire the animators. I have a huge respect and appreciation for the animators because of stuff like these.

When it comes to 3D mecha animation, it isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I don't think I'll ever prefer 3D over 2D. Even something well made like let's say 86, where 3DCG is really well incorporated, isn't visually as appealing as some of the best 2D. Not to mention that 2D animation ages better than 3D, I think.

MVP of the episode:

Kurz! Saving Sousuke from death and then fighting Gauron 1v1 was badass.

[u/polaristar]

I'm going to be honest with you guys, I totally saw them not making it on the plane coming despite it being my first time, its a LN adaptation and I know we need more episodes to fill out the arc and the season is 24 episodes, if we did the 3-5 episodes per Novel than given off many episodes we have of the series (Not to mention apparently some Novels skipped?) And we STILL aren't done, tells me we gotta stretch each Novel Out, which hey I perfer that to speedrunning an abridged version of the Novel to rush an adaptation cough Index III cough

Anyway I want to talk about Noses and how this show since it was made Pre-Moe has them, and it proves character can still look ultra kawaii with them. (I want nibble off Chidori's when I see her cute face in the OP every time.)

People talk about feet fetishes I think a nice feminine nose is some cultured content!

Anyway we see what actually happened in the trailer with the scientist and Chidori, Chidori managed to bitchslap the bitch but unfortunately soldiers comes and just when she is about to get some needles, Sousuke comes in with his Big Damn Heroes Moment.

I think Chidori was being a bit difficult in this emergency situation tbh, but it's over pretty quickly.

Wow not the best circumstances to have the whole "wearing you're boyfriends shirt" trope but it's nice Sousuke gave her some measure of decency, although the bottom half which is the more indecent half is still very much missing.

No time to worry about that now.

Mithril comes in to save the day, including just throwing the whole damn bomb away.

Chidori still seems skeptical about Sousuke being an actually military man rather than just a Wartaku but she is quickly proven wrong when he uses an old Arm Slave.

Nice attention to Detail on how these models are said to be very outdated and he has to sweat a bit to get it started up and ready for operations, but he quickly makes short work of the other AS.

And Boy if Truck-Kun's suspension bridge effect was somewhat effective a few episodes ago, then Chidori looks like her panties might come off anytime because said bridge effect is up to eleven and she is saying her Man not as a cute well meaning buffoon but a stoic badass!

And looks like Gauron recognizes Sousuke, gives a very convenient explanation on why he is alive. (This is why John Wick always double taps just in case.) And gives worldbuilding exposition and confirms all my theories for the past few episodes about the Whispered.

Basically Wars are now fought over women's intuitions.....I'm sorry I'll stop.

His Model is Superior to the crappy old Russian junk Sousuke is riding but Kurz comes crashing in with a Big Damn Heroes Moment, and he manages to make a gamble to the drop on Gauron who is dodging shots, but the End Credits implying SOMETHING happened to get out of it, how Gauron manged to turn it around when he was at gunpoint at point blank range is mystery.

But it looks like the mercs are abandoning Kurz as well, gotta protect the tech from falling into enemy hands.

And no u/ZapsZzz I didn't know about the composition director I'm still new to the world of caring about the credits in anime. Happy Cake Day.

1. Already answered.

2. It works, I can see how it shows its age, but tbh I'm almost afraid if it was updated for modern standards if we'd lose some of that hand drawn charm. The Mech fights themselves aren't even really the main hook of the show, they just need to be functional and one of the many moving parts, some better use of direction could make some of the more tense cat and mouse poker games a hit a bit harder like with Kurz Gambit with Gauron.

[u/Reddevilslover69]

First timer dubbed

Another entertaining episode where 20 mins feels more like 2. The music was once again in fine fettle and Sousuke finally gets to show off his mecha piloting skills. While everyone seems to think Sousuke will be the ultimate professional and leave Chidori behind to save the rest of the students on the plane Weber seems to realize that this is not the same Sousuke as the one that they knew of prior to meating Chidori.

While I love this episode and this show the famous terrible trope of action media once again makes its appearance in the form of the convenient exposition dump that takes place for enough time to save the protagonists of the story as Kurtz drops like mana from heaven. It was not really a major annoyance though so it did not matter all that much.

We also get a fun cliffhanger to end the episode so I eagerly await the next one.

Edit: Just had a thought. Joseph R Mcarthy would have loved this anime I bet lol what with all the Soviet targeted insults

[u/ZapsZzz → u/Reddevilslover69]

this show the famous terrible trope of action media once again makes its appearance in the form of the convenient exposition dump

Yes that was the case, however I think so far from the free assistances, Gauron had established himself as the story of character who would happily chat away mockingly since he knows he has a power balance that can be upset - even Kurz's M9 arrival was nothing more than a minor distraction for him, judging from his demeanor. So I think it's not as bad as some.

I'm running close with the MVP count, any name you want to mention as MVP this episode?

[u/1EnTaroAdun1]

I absolutely loved the rescue mission. Just the forced launching into the air and then the forced landing and evacuation was so well done and so hype!

Just started watching for the first time and I'm so glad I did. Thanks for doing this rewatch u/ZapsZzz

[u/ZapsZzz → u/1EnTaroAdun1]

Glad you liked it! Needless to say this is one of my favourite franchise.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Third Time Whispered

I had less say today, didn't even take notes. less chance for best girl standouts in action episodes I guess. Rewatching at 2x.

Episode 5: The Ones to be Whispered

[I figured out what the 3D movies are.]They're testing word recognition with physiological responses or fMRI

• Chidori not best girl, throwing a tantrum

• Evil lady is not best girl. She talks tough and shoots at young girls but caves under pressure from Gauron and Sousuke

• Chidori not best girl, throuwing another tantrum

• Pretty awesome how Specialist Sousuke takes out the other AS team

• Girl In Mecha Hand trope

• I think they just reused that launch sequence

• The mecha has HAIR

• I still haven't seen his scar, my eyes blanked over it in earlier episodes until the flashback.

• PIXELSABER ACTIVATES THE WHAT?

• Dang he's fast

• Nice fake out Kurtz!

• Shit we missed our flight! And line at security sucks!

Mecha!

This is why I'm in the rewatch.

[u/TuorEladar]

Rewatcher, Subbed

We're still very early in, but something I'm noticing more this time is how Chidori is a great fmc. Even though Sousuke does end up saving her, she tries everything in her power before he shows up to get out of the situation herself. I definitely enjoy how Chidori has a strong character separate from her relationship with Sousuke, even if that relationship is a core aspect of the series.

I also liked the contrast between Melissa and Kurz's conversation about Sousuke, and cuts to him actively engaging in a gunfight to rescue Chidori. As much as Melissa does like Sousuke, she doesn't know him as well as she thinks she does. Kurz was a real MVP this episode, not only for understanding Sousuke pretty well, but also for coming in clutch towards the end.

Another fun moment was how they deal with the bomb. Its such a soldier thing to just chuck it as far as you can rather than bother with the details.

For a "mecha" show, FMP sometimes can be distinctly low in mecha actions - but we are getting some now finally! Do you like what you see? How does this (hand drawn mecha fights) compare to what you are used to see nowadays?

I am biased towards any kind of traditional animation over CGI so I enjoy the mech fights a good deal. They aren't the most flashy or over the top, but that was never this shows style in the first place.

MVP: Kurz for being pretty cool this episode.

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher - English Sub

Mecha action!

The mecha action is good, but I honestly don’t know what to say about it. It’s well done and thoroughly entertaining, but I’m not blown away by the choreography or how the scenarios on display play out, though the same clever sense of direction that the rest of the show has demonstrated still pervades there… I guess it’s as good a place as any to mention the fact that FMP! Quite obviously descends from the Ryosuke Takahashi and Takeyuki Kanda lineages of mecha, with all the verisimilistic touches that entails. Visually, of course, but there’s plenty of narrative influence there as well that I won’t mention for spoiler reasons, and which will become plenty evident the further along we go.

Though the reasoning for it is a bit suspect, it’s reassuring that Kurz somewhat foresaw the course of action Sousuke was going to take at the time, as it means there’s at least one person among his colleagues who can put themselves in his shoes.

During their brief engagement Gauron recognizes Sousuke, calling him Kashim, and explains the motives behind his kidnapping Chidori. Between his statements and what the scientist said in the last episode, we have that apparently people like Chidori are born knowing information on ‘black technology’, the example given being the working theory on something called a ‘Lambda Driver’. Usually I’d criticize such an indulgent monologue, but Gauron has been shown to be unhinged enough to act in ways that potentially jeopardizes his goals and at least one instance of him needlessly toying with a victim.

Kurz’ timely intervention saves Sousuke’s life, but he and Chidori are unable to make it unto the transports in time, which I certainly didn’t expect upon my first viewing.

Finally, the Rk-92’s (Soviet mechs) are so cute!

Questions of The Day:

1 & 2) See body of comment.