LizzyCat

Bodacious Space Pirates: Anime Review
Originally a Light Novel by: Yūichi Sasamoto
26 Episodes and a Movie (Completed)

I could not get enough of this anime, probably didn’t help that most episodes end on a cliffhanger. The Japanese translation was originally, “Miniskirt Space Pirates.” Which to me is a better translation. When you hear the word bodacious you typically thing big boobies! Yes, I said that like a silly kindergartner and yes for clarification I am a woman. Anyway… the story is not a boob anime or full of gratuitous fan service. It’s actually a very well written drama/comedy with a lot of plot and character development.

Overall Rating:   ★★★★★

Plot: ★★★★★
Humanity has expanded to the far reaches of the galaxy, 100 years prior to our story several outer colonies banded together to gain independence from their overlords, the “Stellar Alliance Colony Federation.”  One of the outer colonies, Sea of the Morningstar in the Tau Ceti system, recruited Space Pirates to bolster its fighting forces, legalizing their actions by issuing them letters of marque.

In the midst of this conflict, a Galactic Empire arose and absorbed both the Stellar Alliance and the border worlds. However, they allowed the colonies to run on an independent government. With peace being achieved, the Space Pirates remained respected figures in society, though now they were hired for milder activities like transports and entertainment.

Fast forward 100 years and the Space Pirates, while still very much around and active tend to be more of a legend than anything else. Our story begins with the death of the captain of the Bentenmaru, a very respected pirate ship. In this universe the ship and letters of marque are inherited by the next of kin to the captain, which happens to be the first-year high schooler Marika Kato, whom must decide if she wants to continue being a normal high school student or the captain of the Bentenmaru.

Characters: ★★★★
Not going to lie the main character Marika Kato starts off as this slightly annoying, ditsy, can’t see the forest for the trees if they slapped her in the face, character. With that being said, she undergoes a lot of character development and becomes a very respected captain, who can easily make fast paced decisions under extreme pressure. The only other annoying character to me was Marika’s friend and co-worker Mami. She is the type of character who tries to be helpful, thinks she is helpful, but is not really helpful at all. There are several other dynamic characters in this story, the author does a really good job at developing secondary characters.

History/Lore/ World Building: ★★★★★
The history is honestly explained in the opening sequence, so you are not left scratching your head as to why things are the way they are. In addition, the author goes on to add small details as time goes on giving you an even clearer picture of the world in which the story takes place.

Overall thoughts:
Seriously! I could not get enough of this anime, I could have binged it in one sitting. I didn’t, but I could have. I highly recommend it.

Bonuses:

History: Letter if marque.

A letter of marque and reprisal (French: lettre de marque; lettre de course) was a government license in the Age of Sail that authorized a private person, known as a privateer or corsair, to attack and capture vessels of a nation at war with the issuer. Once captured, the privateer could then bring the case of that prize before their own admiralty court for condemnation and transfer of ownership to the privateer. A letter of marque and reprisal would include permission to cross an international border to effect a reprisal (take some action against an attack or injury) and was authorized by an issuing jurisdiction to conduct reprisal operations outside its borders.
Popular among Europeans from the late Middle Ages up to the 19th century, cruising for enemy prizes with a letter of marque was considered an honorable calling that combined patriotism and profit.