First Impressions – Aldnoah.Zero
Let Justice Be Done, Though the Heavens Fall
Aldnoah.Zero is one of those shows that its hype has been charged by name recognition (Urobuchi Gen, Hiroyuki Sawano, etc.) as much as anything, and as we at Meta have learned in the past – gotta be careful with boarding that train. So what are our first impressions on Aldnoah? That’s exactly what Fosh, Sumairii Skylion and I mini.talk about. Hope you listen and like our convo!
—————————————
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:35 — 28.3MB)
Extra Castle Drops
Nakai Kazuya does some nice work as Marito, a very Kaji Ryouji-type character
Cruhteo may not be the worst, but he certainly isn’t likable smackin’ Slaine down
Inaho’s stoicism is incredible, to say the least
If this season of 24:LAD taught us anything, it’s that this scene could be BS
The Americas look really thinned after the Moon’s destruction, kinda like Nami’s waistline
N’awlins just got nuked and Mika Kobayashi sung them to their makers
Preview
Thanks for not killing the children at the end
About Tag Team
We live, laugh, enjoy and strictly believe on "more the merrier". When together, we usually come up with very chatty, conversation-based episodics and interesting posts.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Happy Independence Day New Orleans!!
\(｀ω´*)/
Ps.Shame, I’ve always wanted to try the local food there.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Damn! RIP New Orleans T_____T
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Goodbye, Cajun foods.
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 386 comments
For a first impression episode it was impressive, totally pulled me in and kept my attention for the most part but well see how long that last, currently this one took my #1 spot on my top 10. However yesterday’s anime is still soaking in, there are too many great first episode impressions to pick this summer and usually it’s rare for me to react to the first episodes, Summer doing something right.
anyways that ending bit where the princess was in the car, I had a feeling something was going to happen, code:gease/ Gundam like. Even that ending insert song at New Orleans added a nice touch, the OST is already off to a great start, lets hope we get the same reaction for the next episode haha.
POWUH: 1000-1099 and Pirate King with 1048 comments
This was a favorite of mine also. Space Dandy’s return and Sabagebu are right there with A.Z for me, of course in very different ways.
As big of a second half of the ep that A.Z had, I’m looking forward to what ep. 2 will do.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
You guys, just scarred me with that Boku no Pico reference. I won’t be able to take this seriously! But naah joking. Our own Urobutcher has a long BL history behind him after all.
I was too sleepy from the GER vs BRA match to join this time but hopefully will do next week. I see a good start to this anime even when Urobutcher is not solely responsible for this himself. Too busy with Psycho-Pass S2 hopefully. Also, let’s hope that there is no Shinji in this one, neither Padme!
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
7!!! 1 😛
I thought you would like Pico?
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
It was an awesome match! And I saw Pico on a dare but goddamn, no way in hell I liked it! ><
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
It was an awesome match in a sense that a crappy team got taken apart. Goals 1 and 6 were classic. The rest was very sloppy defending.
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 39 comments
Nooooooo we lost to germany, and what a loss it was, i mean UAU 7×1 jesus, everyone here in Brazil is still a litle shoked LOL
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
I can feel the pain. It was UGU to watch. Good thing, world cup being held there and the overall business that it will hopefully bring in.
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 39 comments
Yes, it’s actualy really nice! I see people of all around the world, and since i live in one of Brazil most visited metropolis (i live in são paulo!) I iven got to work on the cup! And man they pay you nice!
I don’t really like footbal but iven I could fell the pain LOL
It was the worst loss of our selection!
But all in all it was pretty fun fpr me! So that’s great
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Hahah well Boku no Pico is the troll answer to use when looking at that list of shows that guy worked on! Wait the Urobutcher has ties with BL? I had no idea…
I don’t think we will get any Shinji characters in this series but you never know.
POWUH: 1000-1099 and Pirate King with 1048 comments
The odd thing about Psycho-Pass 2 is the news of him handing the scripts to Tow Ubukata, so how busy is he really on P-P 2? I dunno…
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 39 comments
Oh yeah, i forgot to ask, what is boku no pico? I actualy was going to google it but i got a litle scared, so… what is it?
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
It’s shota hentaii. It got buzz for being controversial for a while. Not well animated, mediocre writing, and characterization that is all set up for sex. You are not missing anything by not watching it…
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
don’t watch it
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I haven’t seen it, nor do I intend to but that’s strange coming from Metanorn’s resident Yaoi Fangirl.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
It’s the same reason why Yuri is acceptable but LOLi Yuri is not. Yaoi = acceptable, SHOta yaoi = questionable.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
Well if you want to see a working man screwing
Show ▼
sure go ahead. You’ve been warned though
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I don’t know what it was, but this opening episode didn’t do much of anything for me. Nothing pulled me in: not the technology, not the two-dimensionally war-desiring martians, not the group of ordinary earth kids watching the parade and training for a future.
I especially felt like everything about the Martian guys was insincere. Cruhteo’s “My failure was being unable to convince her to not go” sounded like he was half kinda sorry that the princess was killed, and half thankful that now he has an excuse to go whomp some earthling butt. The whole plot to kill the princess felt like it was just going to turn out to be Martian agent provocateurs because they want a war.
Maybe I’ll like this better if (when) it turns out that the Princess didn’t die, and is a major character for the rest of the show. Other than that, tho, it’s gonna take some hook for this to be interesting.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Too early to hate this HWY 😛
Also, pretty sure that Princess-chan is alive. If not, she is going to just haunt the hell out of our heroes through some martian logic.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Probably not the mecha you are looking for if this one failed to grab your attention, but who knows maybe after you give it the three episode rule your mind will change? Course you never know! I think it has some interesting stuff thrown in.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 167 comments
Highway such a hype show hater.
To quote barakobamamon, “have you tried scaling the walls of mediocrity of yours.”
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
By the way, this show has been confirmed to be a split-cour 24-episode series. Also, Gen Urobuchi did script the first 3 episodes, so he will be setting the tone of the series.
Anyway…
Wow, I really loved this. There were some usual mecha tropes such as Princess Pacifist and the blond Char-clone, and it looks like even a version of Zeon showed up as well, but other than that, this was a really nice breath of fresh air.
We have two main characters, one who has heart but is pretty much enslaved to the Vers yet is in love with the Princess. Slaine seems like a nice, strong, smart guy and you both like him and feel sorry for him which is great for a main character.
As for Nao, i really like him too despite his dispassion for pretty much everything and his over analytic mind. Both Nao and Slaine seem a little over analytic, but Slaine shows a lot more emotions than his Japanese co-MC.
I like the supporting characters of the schoolmates, the elder sister, and the lieutenant. The attack on Princess Pacifist was rather obvious and telegraphed, including the fact that it would be her own people who were the cause. However, we all know she isn’t dead so we’ll just have to wait and see when she pops up again. All the other counts are basically going to be fighting for the throne while using the Earth as a battleground. Neither MC has gotten their own mech yet (which is surprising and refreshing for a mech show) but it’s only a matter of time.
This had all the spectacle and freshness than Argevollen didn’t and I’m excited for what is to come. The music is excellent, the visuals are awesome, and the story looks good so far. I’m liking this all around.
Also, really Japan? The moon gets destroyed, causing massive destruction and literally changing the shape of the Earth, and somehow your little archipelago that has some of the worst geological risk on the planet, is somehow still in one piece?
http://i.4cdn.org/a/1404856825662.jpg
My city is totally gone after Heaven’s Fall. What about you guys?
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Heh heh heh, comparing this comment and the one above it. Just as expected.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Between the The Throne of Roses and The Crown of Thorns arcs of Trinity Blood (eps 20-24), the Pope was summoned to help name the next heir to kingdom of Albion which became necessary after its queen passed away and her son had already predeceased her. Before Esther Blanchett was revealed as the hidden legitimate granddaughter of the queen of Albion, the The Rosenkreuz Order laid siege. During the chaos, the Pope’s corrupt bastard (As in, he’s a bastard son) Brother Francesco di Medici, if not for Caterina Sforza’s intervention, was about to sacrifice him for his own cause and use his death as an excuse to wage war with the Methuselah.
What happened in Aldnoah.Zero after the princess’ supposed “assassination” is close to what I imagined would’ve happened had the situation went in the same direction.
Side note: Slaine was called a “Terran”. Odd coincidence.
POWUH: 1000-1099 and Pirate King with 1048 comments
First things first… don’t hotlink to 4chan. Secondly, that map is in this post. Third, it looks NC is just about completely gone for me; maybe a smidge of OH is there also.
Good to know about split-cour. I personally feel A1 original works are a mixed bag; some good, some end badly. However, I think all of those series since 2010 have been single-cour, so maybe more episodes allows flexibility to craft a better story. More doesn’t mean it’ll be better, but it could help if handled properly.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Oh, sorry. I just found the image and used it. I’ll send all my images through imgur next time. It was just an easier map for me to see what was there and what was gone.
What I’ve heard through the forum mills is that they are actually trying to make this the start of a new franchise that can actually rival Gundam. I’m not sure if they can do that with a franchise that already has such a head start, but that’s a pretty bold goal, so I’ll be interested in seeing what they got.
POWUH: 1000-1099 and Pirate King with 1048 comments
I’ve long felt like we need a WP plugin or something here on Metanorn where you can click on images to view them in their full res (typically 1280×720). That might’ve helped in this situation.
The Gundam thing will need to be revisited at earliest after this season. Whatever Urobuchi has worked on has gained some level of popularity or acclaim like Madoka, Psycho-Pass is getting a sequel, etc. Maybe, but too early to tell, of course.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
FL looks CRAZY! Nooooooooooo!!
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Also, for those who want a peek at the alternate history, here’s a translation of the timeline that is on the official website.
Show ▼
As for the Vers Empire, I think they maybe a little more indoctrinated than you think. For instance, the knights in the 37 castles, can go to Mars anytime, and they do have communication with the Emperor and government there, as seen by the the fact that Cruhteo came from Mars itself in his castle while escorting the princess. Everyone seems to think of the royal family as the descendants of the gods, however, I wouldn’t put it past them to try to take out the princess in order to put their plan into motion. I wouldn’t put too much stock in the other 18 who stayed in space, it’s probably all just part of their plan. I think they called it Operation Earthfall. So, they do have a plan together of what their doing, so we’ll have to see what will come of it.
Also, with Heaven’s Fall having destroyed the most populated places on Earth, and the castle drops, seeming to continue that job, how much of the Earth’s population would you say has been obliterated?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Simply put, this was epic. My attention was paid from start to finish. The tension was felt immediately upon the start that it became anxious to see the events unfold. And I was not disappointed. Kind of shoots up the universal perception on Martians. You’d immediately think these butt ugly creatures from space but no… They’re like you, in every aspect possible. Wow…
Inaho is a bit like Yoshino from Zetsuen no Tempest. Quiet, stoic, doesn’t talk unless he feels it necessary and appears numb. So I’m wondering if he has trouble coming to terms with something. Maybe a possible loss? I mean, so far, it’s just him and his sister. I’m thinking orphans.
I’m not counting the princess out yet. Because it’s her first appearance, there’s no impact if she really is dead. That’s not Urobuchi’s style as far as I know. He waits until the character grows on you beforehand. Naïve as she may seem, surely she was astute enough to consider they’d be trouble the moment she set foot on the planet. It was too opportunistic a moment for the opposition to pass up. In the end, no side won’t stop until the other’s been stamped out.
POWUH: 1000-1099 and Pirate King with 1048 comments
That part about the Martians is interesting too. Not another lifeform altogether, but descendants of Earth who live on a colonized Mars.
Maybe he’s like Yoshino, but he’s yet to display the aura that Yoshino had in Tempest where everybody wondered if he was The Guy or something. The Kaizuka siblings having lost their parents in Heaven’s Fall is a possibility.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
Well, there is one thing about this that is disturbing. If she did fake her death, then she knew the ramifications beforehand, and probably that the Vers would strike in retaliation. So…Princess is somewhat responsible for how much death now?
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
The Empire started a war that they thought they could easily win if not for someone sabotaging the hypergate. Which tactically makes sense on the defender’s part. However, they should have continued chucking parts of the moon on the Earth until they beat the Earthlings into submission. Complete tactical error. Unless, they know that there is something valuable on the planet likes say… another hypergate or the like.
The key to this would be why Emperor Palpatine defected from the Corrupt Earth Republic in the first place. Please do continue blurbing, will watch once things makes more sense. ^^
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 39 comments
did anyone got the references to world wars that appeared all around the first episode?
The tension between humans and Vers- the cold war between USA and the Sovietic Union
The murder of princess Asylum that triggered the begining of the war- The murder of archduke Ferdinand that triggered the beginning of World War 1
And of course the end of he chapter were there is nuclear mass destruction in the city of New Orleans was a big reference to the almost annihilation of Nagasaki and Hiroshima at the end of World War 2 as retaliation for the destruction of pearl harbor in USA, actually if you put both nuke pictures side bi side you may even see the resemblance.
I don’t even have to say how incredible that is right? is every thing I like in Anime it’s intelligent. it’s powerful it’s beautiful, and oh that scene at the end of the episode whit the two little children, Jesus that just ripped my heart out of my chest, so sad!
The destruction scene actually got me on surprise not because “oh wow big explosion!” but because I did not waited for the explosion to affect people that where so far away from it, it actually showed us some of the true effects of an atomic explosion, I say some because it only showed us the trigger chaos but not the chain chaos, as an example, all the cars in that bridge would immediately explode and completely destroy the bridge itself, more than that no and I say NO building would stay up after an nuclear blow like that, but it actually was pretty realistic for anime
About what you guys said of the moon, I thought the exact same thing! if the Moon was destroyed today not only it’s pieces would fall to earth but the sea would completely burst out of control as the moon control the mentions of ocean waves on earth, but oh well again it’s anime it will only be as accurate as it’s plot and considering everything I think aldonoah actually did an excellent job!
I just loved princess asylum character bi the way, she is amazing, and I don’ t think there’s no way she’s dead, well at least not yet (this is urubotcher we are talking about after all) but why for god sake did the humans do that? IF we did it *bum bum buuuuuuum* I mean everybody knows that the Vers never wanted peace anyway, beside that not all of them bieleved that the princess plan would work, and just from what I saw on the first episode they kinda dispise humans so they just needed a reason for mass killing us right?
well I really enjoyed the first episode was the best opening of summer season until now, yes, surpassing even. Tokyo ghowul witch was kind of wonderful on it’s on way but that destruction scene OH GOD was so full of impact e so real and vivid and stunning! AND THAT FREAKING BGM!!!!!! well you can say I really loved aldonoah zero for now
as a big urubotcher fan I think part of my love for this episode might be considered a little bit of bias here but I really think this episode was genuinely incredible
On a side note: Kalafina my favorite Japanese band did the ed song for this episode!!!! is there anything not to love about aldonoah?
POWUH: 1000-1099 and Pirate King with 1048 comments
It does make sense that, if A.Z is to be thought of as an alternate reality that there’d be some similarities to other events that happened prior in reality. The setup for the story seems very well crafted to me for many reasons. I guess the main thing to focus on with A.Z is execution.
About the Kalafina theme song, I did like it, but I think they’re going to use that as the OP theme starting next week. Some anime debuts like to not use an OP theme/animation at the beginning until ep. 2, but still use the song and sometimes even the animation at the end of the debut ep.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
I think I’m one of the very few here who finds this episode to be boring. Great allegories, references, and animation (RIP New Orleans, I didn’t get to visit you last time), but the story didn’t catch my attention. It has a mediocre start, and the explanation ended up making me sleepy. It feels as if I’ve watched the basic concept of this episode many times before from different series. I think this episode is better served as a prequel or episode 00 to the main story that’s going to happen in the 2nd episode.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
If anyone wants to see the preview for the next episode, Aniplex just released it. However, its not available for those in the US, so for anyone who can’t get it, I also found it here.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’ll ignore the preview just so my anticipation can build. There’s doubt there’ll be any disappointment.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
You know, I finally took a good look at that map. Northern Hemisphere centrism strikes again!
POWUH: Beginner (20-35) with 33 comments
“maybe the princess is the super mech!”
RIDE THE PRINCESS!!