Ozma - Reviews

Just finished the first episode, and I'm not convinced that I like the animation style. It appears reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop, crossed with late 80's animation, maybe with a hint of  Astroboy. 

The story has potential, but will have to be executed well to win me over.

A solid 6 for me at this point.

For too long, anime fans were without a Leiji Matsumoto series airing weekly – nearly 30 years in fact. So Gonzo and LandQ studios have come together to create an oddly short and semi-entertaining series set on a desolate, deserted Earth.

Ozma tells the story of Sam Coyne and others aboard the Bardanos as they rescue a young girl by the name of Maya from the approaching Theseus army. What unfolds is fairly typical, but a couple of battles within offer some of best tactical, and most tense battles I’ve seen since Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team!

Neither side is ever stupidly making a move without considering every possible outcome. Each captain must consider everything and think five steps ahead to determine what the other will do. Episode 2 really shows shining examples of this.

Unfortunately, with the series only spanning six episodes, your concern for the characters never hits maximum potential. There’s hardly any development in the crew, and aside from a PAINFULLY obvious twist near the end, no one really grows from their encounters. Sam still foolhardily runs into any situation, his female companion Mimay will follow him without question, and the warring factions never truly get understood.

I’d love to know why the Bardanos is on Earth, aside from scouring the deserts for parts. Are there NOT other places to explore in space? Are they incapable? These questions could have been answered with a lot more time and devotion to the world.

Matsumoto’s character designs however, truly stand out and emote far more than most series currently running. It’s just a shame that this was how they were used. With thick lines and heavy shading, Matsumoto has always been able to show so much with just the slightest alteration to a character. With beautiful locales and terrific attention to detail, the art itself is a splendor, but with such a limited length, it goes to waste.

If they took a cue from the Gundam Unicorn OVAs currently running and made them an hour long (thus creating an essentially 12 episode series) this could have been so much more than the end result.

Ozma is a nice series for a quick view during a weekend when there’s absolutely nothing else to view, but I for one will not be adding this to my shelf.