In the distant future, Earth is being invaded by a mysterious alien race known as the JAM. Though suffering heavy casualties, mankind unites and repels their advance, pushing them back to their homeworld of Fairy. As to not take any chances of another attack, an expeditionary force is formed to pursue and eradicate any who managed to flee. The campaign is successful, with all but a few small pockets of JAM completely destroyed, and preparations are made for the fleet to return to home. Enter Leiutenant Rei Fukai, the pilot of a reconnaissance fighter jet known as the Yukikaze. With victory close at hand, he is assigned to do one final sweep of Fairy to put an end of the threat for good. However, during the flight, he is attacked by an unknown jet that appears to one of mankind's own, and barely manages to escape. Though the JAM are all but gone, it seems a new, more deadly threat has emerged, fiercely determined to stop the fleet from returning home alive...
When Lieutenant Shin Kudou of the UN air force is shot down over the Pacific by the Anti-UN Alliance, he awakens on a lush island called Mayan, whose natives live by some very strange rules. Their spiritual leader, Sara, intends to keep their lives separate from the rest of civilization to prevent the rise of the ‘birdman’ who will destroy the world. Unfortunately for the natives of Mayan, both sides of the conflict have taken an interest in their island, and all too soon, the outsiders' interference spells a disaster as terrible as any myth.
Both series contains brathstealing amazing fights-in-the-sky. Super aces of piloting airfighters confront each over. Amazingly beautiful views.
If you liked one, you'd like the other.... they have some of the most beautifully animated scenes which are simply breathtaking and both deal with futuristic fighter jets and lot's of dog fights.... and haunting music (Macross Zero).....a definite must if u are a fan of aviation!
In the year 1945, the most terrible creatures in existence visited the earth: bug-like entities soon to be known as Phantom Beasts. In that time of peril, mankind joined together to expel the threat, only to find that conventional weapons were useless and further damaged the earth. It is now 1999, and the student-wide draft has changed the lives of thousands of teenagers across Japan. While unwillingly fighting in an endless war that started before their births, one group of friends will experience the tragedy of death and the bittersweet joy of love as they struggle to survive.
Once again the world is in a crisis and only humanity has the power to stop alien forces from abolishing life from the face of the earth; and what better way to stop them than using mankind's best feature, technology! If you liked the butt-kicking battles with aliens in Yukikaze, you'll also like Gunparade March. If you're looking for a post-apocalyptic mecha battle with a touch of romance, then this anime is for you.
Kazama Shin was once in training to become an airline pilot, until his jealous friend Kanzaki Satoru tricked him into signing a 3 year contract whose reward is $1,500,000, and whose escape is unthinkable. His mission since that day has been to work for a hidden base of mercenaries known as Area 88, with the skies as his new home, soaring into deadly battles and fighting to survive. Determined not to die, this ace pilot of Area 88 battles hard daily to one day leave the hell of being a fighter pilot. Will he ever return to his fiance Ryoko, or is he doomed to die in the skies?
At the end of World War II, Japan was split and a great tower was erected that reached the skies. For three friends, Hiroki, Takuya, and Sayuri, memories of their summer spent together would stay with them forever. During that precious time, the three promised to one day travel to the tower in the skies on the wings of a white plane -- to finally see its brilliance and the surrounding land of Ezo -- but when Sayuri suddenly disappeared from their lives, the promise that once was made was broken. Though time continues to pass, will the three ever meet again some day?
It's highly likely that if you watched (and enjoyed) Yukikaze, it was due to its visual splendor. Likewise, Beyond the Clouds boasts some absolutely gorgeous graphics, most especially scenery. Elements such as detailed reflected surfaces pervade both. Not only this, Beyond the Clouds has much better characterization, story premise, and musical score, so you're in for a real treat.
Unbeknownst to humans, demons from an overlapping dimension walk amongst them in the streets of Tokyo. The balance between the worlds is kept by the crow guardian Karas and Yurine, its master and voice of the living city. However, the time of harmony nears the end as the once-Karas Lord Eko returns. Seeking to purge humanity for its evils, he terrorizes the city with his minions that feast on human blood. The ultimate battle between good and evil awaits; can Yurine and her newly initiated Karas prevail against Lord Eko and protect their city against his monstrous horde?