The appeal and evaluation of Argento Soma: New possibilities for mecha anime

Argento Soma: A tale of revenge and rebirth

The TV anime series "Argento Soma," which aired from 2000 to 2001, was an original anime work produced by Sunrise and was loved by many viewers. This work is a fusion of deep human drama and spectacular mecha action with the theme of revenge and rebirth. Below, we will introduce detailed information and the appeal of "Argento Soma."

Overview

"Argento Soma" aired on TV Tokyo from October 5, 2000 to March 29, 2001, with a total of 25 episodes. Each episode is 30 minutes long, directed by Kazuyoshi Katayama, produced by Sunrise, and written by Sunrise and Victor Entertainment.

story

The story of "Argento Soma" begins with the journey of Takuto, a young man who chooses revenge over oblivion. After losing his lover and his future due to the rampage of the regenerated alien "Frank," Takuto takes on a new name, "Liu Soma," and joins Funeral to exact revenge on Frank. The story depicts Liu's inner conflict and growth as he wavers between revenge and rebirth, while also depicting his bond with his comrades and his pursuit of the truth that is revealed in the course of battle.

cast

The main characters are voiced by:

• Liu Soma: Soichiro Hoshi
• Harriet Bartholomew: Houko Kuwashima
• Frank: Yuji Takada
• Guinevere Green: Kikuko Inoue
• Dan Simmons: Takehito Koyasu
• Sue Harris: Yui Horie
• Lana Innes: Sayuri
• Michael Hartland: Jouji Nakata
• Mr.X: Taku Takemura

Main Staff

The following people are involved in the production of "Argento Soma":

• Series Composition: Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Kazuyoshi Katayama
• Character design: Shuko Murase
• Mechanical design: Kimitoshi Yamane
• Set design: Hajime Sato
• Music: Katsuhisa Hattori, DJ K.HASEGAWA (KH-R)
• Director: Kazuyoshi Katayama
• Planning: Sunrise
• Produced by: Victor Entertainment, Sunrise

Main Characters

The main characters of "Argento Soma" are:

• Liu Soma: A young man who joined the Funeral Corps with a desire for revenge.
• Harriet Bartholomew: Liu's companion and key supporting character
• Frank: An alien reanimate and the target of Liu's revenge.
• Guinevere Green: Riou's companion who grows through battle.
• Dan Simmons: Liu's buddy and strategic thinker
• Sue Harris: Liu's friend, a bright girl
• Lana Innes: Liu's friend and a mysterious character
• Michael Hartland: Liu's friend and leader
• Mr. X: A mysterious figure operating behind the scenes of the story

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of "Argento Soma" are as follows:

• Phase: 01/Rebirth and Death
• Phase: 02 / Death and the Girl
• Phase: 03 / Meeting a girl
• Phase: 04/Encounter and Hatred
• Phase: 05/Hatred and Conflict
• Phase: 06/Conflict and Escape
• Phase: 07/Escape and Reminiscence
• Phase: 08 / Memories and Solitude
• Phase: 09/Loneliness and Sorrow
• Phase: 10 / Sorrow and Murder
• Phase: 11/Murderous intent and betrayal
• Phase: 12/Betrayal and despair
• Phase: 13/Despair and Hope
• Phase: 14/Hope and Chaos
• Phase: 15/Chaos and Conflict
• Phase: 16/Conflict and Determination
• Phase: 17/Determination and the past
• Phase: 18 / Past and Deadly Sins
• Phase: 19/Deadly Sins and Commandments
• Phase: 20/Commandments and Awakening
• Phase: 21/Awakening and Truth
• Phase: 22/Truth and Ruin
• Phase: 23/Ruin and Courage
• Phase: 24 / Courage and Love
• Phase: 25/Love and Rebirth...

Related Titles

There are also unaired episodes of "Argento Soma." These episodes delve deeper into the background of the story and details of the characters.

Theme songs and music

The theme songs for "Argento Soma" are as follows:

• OP1: Silent Wind
• Lyricist: Keiko Kitagawa
• Composer: Katsuhisa Hattori
• Arrangement: Katsuhisa Hattori
• Vocals: Eri Sugai
• ED1「Horizon」
• Lyricist: Keiko Kitagawa
• Composer: Katsuhisa Hattori
• Arrangement: Katsuhisa Hattori
• Sung by: Sphere (Naoki Takao, Motoyoshi Iwasaki, Kumi Sasaki, Taeko Saito)

Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Argento Soma" is a work that depicts the profound themes of revenge and rebirth, while also carefully depicting mecha action and character growth. In particular, the inner conflict of Liu Soma and the bonds with his friends are at the heart of the story, deeply moving viewers. In addition, the mecha design and battle scenes unique to Sunrise are also one of the highlights, making it a visually enjoyable work.

The voice actors for the characters are also impressive, including Soichiro Hoshi, Houko Kuwashima, and Yuji Takada, who express the emotions of each character realistically. The music, by Katsuhisa Hattori and DJ K. HASEGAWA, is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story.

"Argento Soma" is recommended not only for fans of mecha anime, but also for viewers who are looking for a deep human drama. It will be a heartwarming story, especially for those who can relate to the themes of revenge and rebirth.

Recommendation

Here are some recommendations for enjoying Argento Soma:

• Viewing order: We recommend watching all 25 episodes in order. As the subtitles of each episode indicate, the story unfolds in a coherent way, so watching in order will help you understand it better.
• Related Programs: You can learn more about the background of the story and the details of the characters by watching unaired episodes.
• Music: The opening and ending songs are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the story. By listening to these songs after watching the video, you can enjoy the afterglow of the story.
• Character Analysis: By following the inner workings and growth of each character, with a focus on Liu Soma, you can feel the depth of the story. Pay particular attention to Liu's desire for revenge and his path to recovery.
• Mecha Design: Sunrise's mecha designs are one of the highlights. Checking out the battle scenes and the details of the mechas is a visual treat.

"Argento Soma" is a work that combines deep human drama and spectacular mecha action, depicting the universal theme of revenge and rebirth. Please feel the journey of Liu Soma and the bond with his friends through this work.