Weapons more deadly than atomic bombs have terminated half the world. From the ashes a new world is created. Not the same as it was before and not the future people envisioned but life will always find a way.
Based on a novel, The Incredible Tide, this reviewer will be looking for in the near future.
On an island a boy named Conan and his grandfather live peacefully until something out of the ordinary happens.
26 episodes of smiles, tears, ingenuity, ruthlessness, telepathy, hunting, rescuing, fighting, and friendship.
Set in a 2008 AD this anime features some quality entertainment.
The main character is a likable goof with super strength. He loves his grandfather, his home, good food, and anything that brings him joy.
<div>From his first encounter with a girl, his dexterity with hands and feet, disregard for adults, inability to navigate moving floors, and zest for life, he is lovable.</div>
The story might be about a search for solar power and the beings who can make it possible in this half destroyed Earth but there's no shortage of cartoony goodness that's sure to bring a smile to the faces of children of all ages.
There's an aesthetic beauty to the character designs (Conan in particular) that leaves viewers wanting more. When Conan grins the viewer's impression of a Cheshire is instantaneous.
Lana heavily resembles Sheeta from Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and viewers who've seen that Studio Ghibli film may wonder what she's doing in this series. Suffice it to say Lana is not Sheeta and vice-versa but the physical appearance isn't the only connection between the two. Watch for yourself to see just how similar the two are.
Timsy is a non-chibi chibi character who doesn't exactly have an over-sized head or disproportionate body, but does have short legs.
His shortness is brought up more than once and is often comical.
The klackety-clack of the intermissions between part A and part B of each episode are comical. The tiles flip over and over changing what was there, creating mismatched images with three body parts from various characters. A moment to giggle between heavy material is a moment to let the breath out.
It's also a great way to keep people motivated as well as a way to provide hints as to when the commercial break is starting and ending. Something that most shows, anime and other, don't do anymore.
The dependence some adults have as the anime progresses upon children {Conan, Lana, Timsy} speaks to those who may feel they don't get enough attention or that adults always seem to be the ones who deal with problems. While the adults often settle their differences with violence (guns, bombs, threats and promises) the children only use violence when their words fail. Additionally the justification they provide each time operates as a reminder to both their opponent(s) and the viewer. they do not use explosive weaponry. Rather they rely upon their body and the occasional club. The way in which they disarm, immobilize, and otherwise deal with their opponent is not graphic or too offensive and should be appropriate for viewers with soft hearts.
The lyrics are jazzy and the melody accompaniment is a treat for the ears. Skipping the first 2 minutes and 40 seconds would be a shame as would the last minute and 12 seconds.
"Life is blooming on the land."
<div style="text-align: center;">"Because the Earth is spinning 'round!"</div>
This anime could have been longer or a second season continuing with a new story about these characters or even picking up where the 26th episode ended would have kept the viewer coming back for more. Because it deals with post-apocalyptic events that are not only possible but also plausible. And the main characters are likeable, entertaining, and teach valuable lessons.
The current children have two generational ancestral lines as part of their upbringing, their parents and their grandparents - with the later relationship being a major component of the story. Being born into such a familial setting provides great opportunity for a plethora of stories from basic survival needs to religious, spiritual, and personal concerns.
From the time-sensitive need and drive to procreate {who's available?} to considerations for familial in-breeding {how close is too close?}. Exploring why politics, slavery, weapons, and were reintroduced so quickly/kept.
Conan, Lana, and Jimsy may continue to wonder why some people survived. Why they felt the need or wanted to stay alive, perpetuate the species and why they didn't just give-up after the smoke cleared.
Curiosity about why some people survived more or were more successful in repopulating in some parts on the planet than others could have been further explored.
The trio could have continued to laugh together and fans would have stayed with them in a world built from ashes.
These are also topics that make this an exceptionally good anime for the family to watch and discuss in addition to the entertainment provided by Conan, Lana & and Jimsy.
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That being said there are some not so enjoyable things potential viewers might want to know.
The Earth's sole human inhabitants might be Conan and his grandfather. Until what should happen? A girl washes up on their island. While taking the year this anime was released into account, {1978} having watched it after many other titles following such a similar set-up, this may come off as bland - as it did for this reviewer.
Mustached gunman, high-and-mighty preaching from a hotsy-totsy woman, gorilla henchman, and a square head-honcho. Who doesn't want to shoot these characters?
While they work as villains on one level they are so cartoon evil that every time they're on screen viewers can't wait for their termination. Their entire objective is to be an obstacle for the protagonists but all they really do is whine, fling their guns around, play politics, bully children for ridiculous reasons, and basically take up space.
Grandfathers are a large part of the current youths' upbringing, Conan and Lana specifically, and the respect and love they hold for their G-pas leaves viewers wondering why grandmothers are hardly mentioned.
Lana constantly gets captured, attempts escape, is recaptured and the cycle seems never ending. The "damsel in distress" plot-line has a similar effect as the cookie-cutter villains and the girl-boy meeting: viewers want her to get away and episode after episode she's back in the nefarious clutches of Monsley, Dyce, or Lepka.
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