MUGEN NO RYVIUS/INFINITE RYVIUS

Abstract: In the year 2225, Kouji Aiba goes to an astronaut training center for teeny-boppers named Liebe Delta to learn how to boldly go where no man has gone before. Also coming along for the ride are his estranged ototto Yuki and KoujiÕs friend/antagonist/romantic interest Aoi. However, things quickly take a turn for the worse as saboteurs aboard the Liebe Delta cause it to sink into the Geduld Phenomenon, an area of heavy gravity that was a result of solar flares. Anywhoo, as it all goes to pot the kids from the training center seek escape aboard the Ryvius, a ship that was hidden aboard the training center. From there, the wayward youths meander their way through the solar system, seeking someone to take them in while fighting off 2 things: The conspiracy that destroyed the Liebe Delta as well as the biggest enemy of them all: Themselves.

At first, I looked towards this title with a fair degree of anticipation and curiosity, but that didnÕt last too long. Why? Well, how do inconsistent art, questionable character depth and sloppy handling of the plot threads sound? IÕll give the title points for originality, but for failing to live up to its potential (Which was pretty substantial) Mugen no Ryvius fares no better than a Bronze.

Background: In the year 2137, unusually strong solar flare activity caused something called the Geduld Phenomenon to form. And what is the Geduld Phenomenon? Think about an ocean of intense pressure and gravity in space thatÕll crush most everything that enters into it. Anywhoo, fast forward to 2225 where, floating above this galactic soup is the Liebe Delta training center, where teenage astronaut hopefuls go to pick up the skills necessary to work and live in the great beyond. And the newest recruit is one Kouji Aiba, the prototypical anti-hero in that heÕs quiet, puny, cynical and utterly wishy-washy.

Sounds like someone youÕd really want to base a series around doesnÕt he?

Be that as it may, weÕre stuck with him in the lead. However, even though Kouji wants to basically escape from his home life into space, home follows him in the form of his younger brother Yuki and a cute little thing called Aoi. YukiÕs just a jerk, period. He hates his older brother with a holy passion (And beats Kouji up regularly) while carrying a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas for no apparent reason. Aoi, though, is a bit more reasonable. Spunky and a perpetual optimist, AoiÕs known both boys forever and a day and keeps the 2 brothers from tearing each other limb from bloody limb. Or rather, Yuki tearing Kouji limb from bloody limb.

Astute fanboys and fanboys will now note that fact that we already have a romantic triangle developing in the first episode. And it only gets better. Er, thicker, that is. Uh yeah, thatÕs what I meantÉ

*Coughs* Moving right along, what was planned as a light training mission by taking the Liebe Delta a teeny-tiny bit into the Geduld quickly becomes SO much more. Seems like operatives for a shadowy, faceless conspiracy *Cue evil music* kill the adult teachers and operators onboard the training center while programming it to descend deeper into the Geduld, thereby crushing it and everyone onboard.

Fear not faithful watchers, as once the now-adult-less kids figure out whatÕs going on, they all escape on the Ryvius, a warship that for no apparent reason was hidden inside the Liebe Delta.

Now though, the real fight begins. Aside from the obvious problems of trying to run a society and warship with people in charge who arenÕt even old enough to drive as well as being continually attacked, the kids have to deal with their own insecurities, fears and despair when facing a seemingly hopeless future. And all the while hanging above their heads are the 2 questions that, if answered, just might show them a way out of this mess: Why was the Ryvius built and whoÕs that girl running around in the funky pink outfit?

Materials and Methods: Produced by Sunrise and Bandai, youÕd believe that this series would have high-caliber production values all the way through. And unfortunately, youÕd be wrong. First off, the quality of the character art can vary widely from 1 episode to the next. So much so I blinked in surprise a couple of times.

Secondly, the writing was less than ideal. With a full 26 episodes to work with, you wouldnÕt think that developing a character correctly would be a problem. Again, youÕd be wrong. Even when they tried to portray deep internal turmoil the emotions just seemed too shallow, ready to go back to your standard anime genki state at the drop of a hat. Most people donÕt suddenly go from euthymic (Pysch speak for standard good mood) to abject depression overnight. You normally see a slow slide down the emotional slope, but here the slopeÕs gone. Neither did they budget their time wisely, so by the end of the series theyÕre trying to tie up loose plotlines at 100 miles per hour, leaving you with mental whiplash.

Thirdly and probably related to the writing level, the performance of the seiyuu felt a little lacking. Like I mentioned earlier, I couldnÕt really believe in their emotional performances, which in a title like this is everything. Tetsu Shiratori (Kain Fuery from Full Metal Alchemist) takes up the mantle as Kouji, while Houka Kuwashima (Kirika from Noir, Sango from Inu Yasha) adds to her substantial resume as Aoi. Fan fave Yuu Horie (Naru from Love Hina) also chips in every now and then as Michelle, a relatively minor character.

Musically though, it wasnÕt that bad. Most of the soundtrack had a heavy hip-hop influence, which was apparent in the opening theme ÒdisÓ with its strong drum beat. Surprisingly enough, the closing theme ÒYume wo SugitemoÓ ran with a very ethereal, mysterious feel which stood out against the rest of the music.

Results: If this production had followed a fairly simple, logical progression, I wouldnÕt have had nearly the objections to it as I did. YouÕve got 26 episodes to work with. Build the tension and anxiety in the first 13 while slowly adding plot threads to weave a complex, living, breathing community aboard the Ryvius. In the last 13 show the slow breakdown of everyone both socially and personally as the tensions mount and start tying up loose plot threads. And then you build to a dramatic conclusion. Instead, the rhythm of the show was completely thrown off. Some elements of the story that wouldÕve been best used early were used late, some best used late were used early, and there werenÕt quite enough answers for the number the questions that the story raised. For instance, youÕre eventually told why the Ryvius was constructed, but youÕre never told why the heck it was hidden in the Liebe Delta in the first place. A second example involves the conspiracy and its antagonistic counter-conspiracy. What role did the counter-conspiracy have play in events and what did they have to gain/lose? None of that is explored. It felt like the production team had a lot of ideas that they wanted to try force into the series without making sure everything jelled.

I would be remiss; however, if I failed to give credit to the one plot point they did well. And whatÕs that you ask? Well, that would be that in each characterÕs mind, what actions they perform are the right choices to ensure the survival of everyone on the Ryvius. Basically, ÒIÕm trying to survive the best way I know how, and if that means stepping on someone elseÕsÕ toes (Figuratively OR literally) because IÕm right and theyÕre wrong, well, so be it.Ó

On that individual level, the story worked. But when youÕve got about 12 main characters and numerous supporting characters trying to get their own way, you canÕt see the forest for the trees. Meaning, the writing got so caught up in showing each characterÕs point of view that the production team was unable to weave all those points of view together into a cohesive storyline.

As for the DVD itself, IÕve no complaints at all. No problems with hung-up screens or long load times, and there were extras aplenty to catch your attention. Aside from the requisite trailers and credits, over the course of the series all the opening and closing animation sequences were shown in clean format. Granted, sequences may not have changed significantly one from another, but itÕs still a nice touch. They also included all the audio drama/promotional sequences the seiyuu recorded to plug the series when it was originally released. There was also a brief exposition from the original manga creator.

But by far, the most enjoyable extras were the Internet animation shorts that they included with the DVDÕs called ÒIllusionÓ. In the shorts, super-deformed versions of the characters go through a bunch of wacky and bizarre adventures that have no bearing whatsoever on the real show.

Conclusions: While undertaken with epic potential, the writing just didnÕt flesh out the showÕs universe well enough, nor was the writing able to pull everything together into a coherent big picture. Just too many loose threads left hanging that werenÕt snipped off in time. A valiant effort, but Mugen no Ryvius gets handed a disappointing Bronze.