The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 12:22 AM PDT

The anime, Lastexile – Fam, The Silver Wing, promises aerial battles, great animation and an exciting storyline.

ANIME fans will remember Lastexile, the groundbreaking 2003 animated TV series by Japanese anime studio Gonzo which featured awesome aerial fights between space ships.

Its sequel, Lastexile – Fam, The Silver Wing, promises new flying machines, magnificent air battles and powerful armies, all in the rich and memorable Lastexile universe.

The Silver Wing revolves around 15-year-old pilot Fam Fan Fan, a member of the Sky Pirates who uses a compact "Vespa" flying machine to hunt for battleships that they can resell.

Trouble arrives when the Ades Federation declares war on the Turan Kingdom. Fam and her best friend Giselle end up being caught in the middle of the conflict. But they may actually profit from this misfortune.

The two girls manage to strike a deal with the Turan Kingdom to save the nation's princesses from the Ades Federation in exchange for Turan's flagship.

Lastexile – Fam, The Silver Wing is the fifth and latest anime TV series "simulcast" (simultaneous broadcast) by Animax in the last two years. (When anime are "simulcast", they are usually broadcast in the same week of the shows' premieres in Japan. This is significant as it often takes months or even years for an anime to be released outside Japan.)

In 2009, Animax aired Tears To Tiara, making it the first TV network in the world to air an anime TV series the same day as Japan. The network followed this with three other anime series – Inuyasha: The Final Act (2009), Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2010) and Maid Sama! (2010).

"Anime simulcasts are still such a rarity in television due to the huge investments, the large amount of preparations required for broadcast, as well as the great trust needed by business partners in Japan," said Ricky Ow, general manager and senior vice president, Networks, Asia, Sony Pictures Television.

"I feel that the reason we are able to realise the dream of having a simulcast is because anime fans all over the world are taking an interest in the new series and are looking forward to it," said The Silver Wing producer Hiroyuki Birukawa in an e-mail.

The Silver Wing marks Gonzo's 20th anniversary, and Gonzo has reunited key crew members of the first Lastexile to produce the anime.

Koichi Chigira (Full Metal Panic! and The Tower Of Druaga series) returns to direct, while artist and designer Range Murata (Blue Submarine No.6 and Shangri-La) and Makoto Kobayashi (Mobile Suit Gundam Z, Samurai 7) returned to recreate the anime's unique visual style.

After working on Lastexile, Birukawa and Chigira began talking about making a sequel. In fact, Chigira had already conceptualised a story for the proposed series.

"Three years after that, director Chigira, producers at anime studio Gozo and I met up on some days each month to discuss the content of the new anime series. And that went on for about two years before we went into full-scale production sometime in the beginning of 2009," Birukawa said.

He said that The Silver Wing will have a completely new story with new characters, so fans can enjoy the anime whether they have watched the previous series or not.

"In fact, for those who have watched the previous series, apart from familiar characters appearing, there will also be some scenes here and there that will make them grin, so I am sure fans will enjoy the show," he said.

Popular Lastexile characters like Dio and Tatiana will make an appearance in The Silver Wing, he added.

In the first anime, the characters had left the world known as Prester to return to their mother planet. In The Silver Wing, the story takes place on that mother planet.

Birukawa describes Fam Fan Fan as a simple, innocent girl who is also a naturally talented van-ship pilot. Her friend Giselle is calm and composed compared to the reckless Fam, and she provides steady support to Fam. There is also Millia, princess of the Turan Kingdom. She is strong-willed and immensely determined.

Birukawa said that the story and characters evolved as they created the anime.

"For example, the protagonist was initially male, but because his personality and actions became so similar to Claus', protagonist of the first Lastexile series, we thought, 'Let's change him into a female then!'," he said.

Like in the first Lastexile series, Makoto Kobayashi is in charge of the vessel designs.

"The designs brilliantly depict an even more life-like texture as well as the weight of the metal build of the craft. From the gigantic battleship to the small van-ship known as the Vespa, the designs are very elaborate up to the minutest details," Birukawa said.

Fans can expect the "exhilarating feeling of flying in the sky" when these ships take to the air, he added.

While there have been advancements in 3D CG technology, it is the "artistic passion" of the staff that he finds commendable.

"Like in the previous Lastexile series, as well as this upcoming series, I feel the use of new animation capabilities is reflected in the deeper layout and the invigorating movements in the show," Birukawa concluded.

n Lastexile – Fam, The Silver Wing, airs on Saturdays at 8pm on Animax (Astro Ch 715). For details visit www.animax-asia.com/shows/lastexile.

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Ahad, 30 Oktober 2011