The appeal and reviews of Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet: A fusion of grand adventure and deep human drama

Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet: The Journey to the Far Side - Review and Recommendation

Overview

Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet: The Journey to the Far Side is an OVA work, the first part of which was released on September 27, 2014, and the second part on April 4, 2015, as a limited edition in theaters. The first part was released on November 21, 2014, and the second part on May 27, 2015. It is made up of two episodes, each 50 minutes long, and was released by Bandai Visual. Animation was handled by Production IG, directed by Murata Kazuya, and based on the original work by Oceanus. This work is an original anime, and Urobuchi Gen (Nitroplus) participated in story supervision.

■ Story

"Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet: The Journey to the Far Side" depicts Red's new adventure six months after parting ways with his beloved robot, Chamber. Working as a member of the salvage team on the Gargantia fleet, Red spends his days searching for traces of the old Earth civilization. One day, he meets Reema, a girl from his former superior, Kugel's fleet. Reema is Amy's junior and is learning the messenger business. Meeting her forces Red to face his past and reexamine his life in the present. With his bond with Chamber in his heart, Red faces further difficulties and crises.

■ Characters

The protagonist of this work, Redo, becomes a member of Gargantia again after parting ways with Chamber, and works as a salvage yard pilot for a submarine Yunboro. At 16 years old, he begins a new path in life after meeting Reema. Reema is a 13-year-old rookie messenger from the fleet controlled by Kugel, and Amy's junior. Amy is a 15-year-old girl who works as a messenger for Gargantia, and is characterized by her curious and active personality. Characters with unique personalities, such as Saya, Melty, Bellows, Rigid, and Pinion, color the story.

■Mechanics and worldview

The mechanics of this work are diverse, including the Chamber that Redo rides on, large yunboro, submersible yunboro, medium-sized yunboro, small yunboro, pirate yunboro, rackage yunboro, and striker. In addition, a space lifeform called the Hideaze appears, adding tension to the story. The world is set in a fleet formed by connecting various ships, such as general industrial ships, the Kurulkis, the Svarogia, the farm ship, the Stymphali, the Gargantia, the salvage ship, the Oceanus, the Baikorun, the Phaistos, and the hull repair ship. Natural phenomena such as galactic roads and lightning ups also add depth to the story.

■ Evaluation

"Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet: The Journey to the Far Side" is an appealing work with a grand worldview and detailed depictions of mechanics. The story, which depicts Redo's growth and the changes in his relationships, deeply moves viewers. In particular, Redo's new journey, which begins with his separation from Chamber, evokes empathy from viewers. Additionally, the construction of new relationships that begins with his meeting with Reema breathes fresh air into the story. The depictions of mechanics are extremely realistic and have the power to draw the viewer in. This is a work that shows the high quality of Production IG.

The characters are also rich in personality, with each character's unique characteristics clearly depicted, particularly Amy's inquisitive personality, Saya's glamorous style, and Melty's mischievous expression. Ledo's companions who support his growth also have a strong presence. Viewers can empathize with Ledo as he works as a member of the salvage team. Furthermore, the building of new relationships that begins with his meeting with Reema breathes fresh air into the story.

The worldview is also very fascinating, depicting the unique living environment of the fleet. The depiction of the fleet, which is formed by connecting various ships such as general industrial ships, farm ships, and salvage ships, has the power to draw the viewer in. In addition, natural phenomena such as galactic roads and lightning surges also add depth to the story. In particular, the depiction of the galactic roads is beautiful and leaves a deep impression on the viewer.

Overall, "Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet: The Journey to the Far Side" is an appealing work with a magnificent world view, detailed mechanical depictions, unique characters, and a moving story. It is a work that will deeply move the viewer, and I highly recommend that you watch it at least once.

■Recommendation

"Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet: The Journey to the Far Side" is a work recommended for those who like a grand worldview and detailed depiction of mechanics. It is also recommended for those who like stories that depict character growth and changes in human relationships. In particular, the story of Redo's growth and his bond with Chamber will deeply move viewers. Furthermore, the building of new human relationships that begins with his meeting with Reema is not to be missed. This is a work that shows the high quality of Production IG, so be sure to give it a watch.

This work is in the form of an OVA, with two episodes, each 50 minutes long. Since the story unfolds densely in a short time, even those who are short on time can watch it casually. Furthermore, the theater-limited edition and special limited edition are also available, so it is recommended for collectors. Please watch "Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet: The Journey to the Far Side" and experience its charm.