First Impression – Cross Ange: Tenshi to Ryuu no Rondo

Dragons versus mecha?! Lets do it!

 Wooooooooooooo Hooooooooooooo! Time for Cross Ange on Metanorn! So what will Sunrise do with this series after failing to impress with Valvrave and Buddy Complex? I have no idea what to expect besides dragons fighting robots and random fanservice shots being shoved in our faces.

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Being Ange is suffering

CROSS ANGE (3)

Ange-“Does this flight suit make my butt look big?!”

CROSS ANGE (4)

I like this design yo!

When I first booted up the episode of Cross Ange I was thinking boobs, boobs, giant robot action, butts, boobs, pew pew lasers and OH MY GOD ITS A DRAGON! Which we did get at the start of the episode, but the core of the episode felt like another Code Geass clone; however every time there is a new mecha series airing in any season it tends to get that comparison even though I hate to use that comparison personally, but it sort of fits Cross Ange thanks to the characters showing signs that they can use use some kind of “power” or “magic” along with that we also had some characters being called “norma” which is I can guess means you come from a lower class and there was a Feudal system in play because Ange starts off as a princess who looks a nice girl, but when she encounters a baby displaying signs of being a Norma that pushed the princes to order the guards to send that child away! So much for being a nice princess huh? That showed me that she has a cold heart towards the Norma. Besides that important moment there was also a birthday party planned and some kind of baptismal ceremony which was just a setup to reveal her as being a Norma herself and I don’t know how that was possible? I suspect that Julio Asuka Misurugi aka Ange’s brother screwed with the machine or did the king do it to protect her as in Ange was a norma all along? I think the king was altering the machine to hide the detection. but Julio went behind him and messed with it. So I don’t really know who to blame for that, but obviously it was used as a set up to remove the princess from the royal family and to make matters worse Ange’s little sister Sylvia is going to have the job of repopulating the royal family with him? Ewwwwwww forced incest!? DO NOT WANT! Oh and her mom also got killed while she tried to protect the princes. Yeah that was really screwed up or was it? I suppose the worst moment to happen was that whole prison “medical examination” on Ange, but like they say karma sucks! Maybe you shouldn’t have sent that baby away just for being a norma huh? Then again was it really karma or a mean brother that wanted to steal the spotlight? Either way I would not want to be Ange right about now.

FK YA Extra Mecha

CROSS ANGE (5)

He is not evil at all right guys?!

CROSS ANGE (6)

Police guy-“Sweet I just want a  always wanted a free baby.”

CROSS ANGE (7)

Good luck in the future little sister…

CROSS ANGE (1)

What a bad end for Ange.

End thoughts

Wow! Just WOW! What the hell was all that?! I thought it was a great setup episode to explain why Angie looks so different in the opening scenes and quickly shifted into lots of WTF moments! I guess that is something we will be getting a lot of in Cross Ange huh? If they can manage to top the WTF moments of Valvrave then by all means Sunrise do your best! Besides all that what did you like about this first episode and do you plan on watching more or was it way too intense for you? Trust me I wouldn’t be shocked if anyone found it to be way too over the top; however it surprised me and I definitely plan on watching more and I do love those Valvrave/Code Geass character designs, but I think it will be interesting to see Ange transform herself from betrayed princess to kick ass mecha pilot which should lead to her eventual revenge on Julio.

Preview

CROSS ANGE (2)

Nobody wants to be Ange’s friend?

About

Is huge anime fan from Florida! who loves to watch anime and also enjoys drawing and collecting pictures, my favorite genre of anime has to be Mecha, there is just something awesome about giant robots beating the crap out of each other! Other than that type of show, I love a good comedy or action series :D
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38 Responses to “First Impression – Cross Ange: Tenshi to Ryuu no Rondo”

  1. Di Gi Kazune says:

    This is Gundam with raep instead. Norma = Non-newtype.

    Also incest is wincest only when both parties are willing.

    Basically this is what happens when Homo Sapiens Superior takes over the world. Magneto would be proud.

  2. BlackBriar says:

    Whew, that was a lot to take in. The title “Fallen Princess” couldn’t be more aptly named for the opening because everything went downhill for our lead female… and quickly. Yep, no doubt this is Sunrise’s work as what transpired at the end reminded me of what happened in Valvrave’s 10th episode. Sure, it was well deserved karma turning out to be the very thing she discriminated but that “medical examination” was pushing it. A conceited brat she was, yes, yet the suffering she got wasn’t warranted so while the one who violated her is feeling high and mighty now, hopefully later on, Ange will put her in her place.

    I guess that is something we will be getting a lot of in Cross Ange huh? If they can manage to top the WTF moments of Valvrave then by all means Sunrise do your best!

    If that’s what they’re aiming for, then they’re off to a good start because that was rattling to an unbelievable degree. No beating around the bush was made either.

    Yeah, it was intense but I pressed on and want some assholes in this opening to get some divine comeuppance so I’ll be watching more. Anyone sticking with this should be ready for the long haul. It’s a confirmed 25 episode series.

    • Foshizzel says:

      Agreed it certainly was a far step from dragons vs mechs huh? I was not expecting damn Geass/Valvrave levels of WTF moments cause it was CRAZY! I thought those moments would come later? Either way I am in it for the over the top moments~

      Angie needs her revenge and hopefully she gets it <3

      Yeppers 25 episodes.

      • BlackBriar says:

        Yeppers 25 episodes.

        Only the first episode is out right now but Cross Ange has already been licensed by Sentai.

        • Foshizzel says:

          I really hate Sentai their dub actors are horrid but then again Cross Ange does not look like Toonami/Adultswim material anyway and I don’t buy anime from them anyway hahah so its no big deal for me.

  3. Highway says:

    “Ohhhh, Sunrise…”

    That was pretty much my reaction to this premiere. I actually liked a lot of it, although it was pretty heavy-handed with the messages. “THESE ARE THE BAD GUYS. See? They have morally repugnant views! See? They are power-mad! See?” I don’t know what they could have done with Prince Jackass to make him worse. Maybe chucked a couple babies off the tower? Kick some puppies and kittens on his way back to the castle?

    I don’t really blame Angelina, she really had no idea, and there’s a message of passing on society’s values uncritically. I also was reminded a little of Shin Sekai Yori, in that the society of ‘evolved’ people has evolved so much that it doesn’t have any defense against the people who aren’t ‘evolved’. So they get rid of them ASAP.

    I hope this show doesn’t try to top the WTF moments of Valvrave. A show could be really good without being that stupid.

    • Foshizzel says:

      “Ohhhhh, Sunrise…” indeed

      Lol welcome to another Sunrise experience where they are bad at hiding things, but it depends on the series I guess I know Valvrave kept some things hidden for quite some time and yea Cross Ange was quite predictable.

      True I guess looking at it from her side she really wasn’t truly at fault for being told NORMA’s are bad and should be sent away so ya I can see it.

      Well I for one had fun with Valvrave every week even if they used their WTF card a bit too much it was still fun and not a dull and boring mecha.

  4. skylion says:

    I would have like to have seen this be at least a two-parter. The balance of magic could have had more room to breathe. As it is, everyone has magic powers, no one is really showing them off/using them, and they live in a techo wonderland where using magic seems superficial at best. Everyone is just one step away from being Norma to begin with. That’s a big step from “not using” to “breaking it/cancelling it”, I know, but that’s the kinda squeaky hinge I would grease.

    As for the rape/medical torture. There are plenty of ways to show desperation and such. This one just happens to occur at that cross-road of titillation and edginess.

    Well, the good news is arse-faced villains like Julio pretty much stamp their own expiration date themselves. I hope the remaining princess is the best defensive mage going…

    • Foshizzel says:

      Probably so but since it is 25 episodes there is still plenty of time to go back and show off the magical powers because it’s not like we wont ever see Ange’s little sister or evil brother ever again.

      Yeah was that scene really needed? Not really I fail to see what it does for the overall episode, but I guess it is in place to show you just how screwed up the world of Cross Ange really is! Also I am gonna guess all the girls went through the same thing.

      Eventually Ange will get her revenge and it will be AMAZING!

      • Di Gi Kazune says:

        Eventually Ange will get her revenge and it will be AMAZING!

        “At last we will reveal ourselves. At last we will get our revenge.” *makeswooshingnoises*

    • akagami says:

      … unless Julio has norma slaves, to destroy all magical opposition. =(

  5. Irenesharda says:

    Now, I’m a supporter of Sunrise, I’ve liked most of their stuff over the years despite how over the top it sometimes ends up being. It’s usually a fun ride, even if it sometimes might end up in a train wreck.

    However, I’m really not sure about Cross Ange. It started off really good, I liked this world and I connected to Ange. I know she was in for a downfall, but did it really have to be this extreme? Honestly to me, Angelise was not that bad a person. She had strength and courage, was kind and considerate, and she was suited to her station as princess. She had the wrong values in regards to Norma, but that’s really a fault on society more so than it was to her individually. Everyone in her society believes as she did, so what she said about the baby would have been seen as a good thing and “kind”. I honestly don’t really see why they felt the need to tear her down and destroy her to this degree. That whole end scene was completely pointless and unneeded. I liked the idea of a female MC, but it seems that they couldn’t help but just toss in pointless, gratuitous fanservice for the heck of it. I’m not really into seeing a woman get degraded for episodes, so I hope her time at this prison is short. It was really the fault of her parents for raising her this way and then somehow hoping it wouldn’t all come out in the end. Her brother is a piece of crap, but he was just using the tools he was given to work with.

    The mechs are nice and the battles are cool. I’m just hoping this series does better. This is one of the few times that I’ve actually felt uncomfortable watching a series. I usually am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next episode of a Sunrise series. Not really so here. I’ll stick around for at least a few episodes, and we’ll see where it goes. I feel this has potential, but they made a bad first impression.

    Also, Sunrise, stop being so lazy! I was like, “Come on, Sunrise! I know SEED was one of your most profitable franchises and one that many people know, but come on, this is twice in a row that you’ve just blatantly reused old footage and re-edited it. First Buddy Complex, and now this!”

    I mean, did you really think we wouldn’t recognize that redressed mech to really just be the Freedom Gundam? I mean, they practically look the same!

    And on top of that, you decided to just toss Kira Yamato 2.0 in here like we wouldn’t notice? You just gave him a different outfit and slightly different haircut. Come on!
    You even gave him back his famous OP shot and just replaced Lacus with Ange.

    Also, Ange’s brother Julio, looks awfully familiar.

    And you know what, because you guys are not even trying any more, I don’t care what Ange’s mech is called, it will henceforth be known to me as “Freedom 2.0” and I don’t care what name you decided to give him, but that boy will be “Kira 2.0”. He came back to try to reclaim his crown as the JC of anime. 😛

    • Foshizzel says:

      I always love reading your comments <3

      The start of Cross Ange looked really interesting with all the girls fighting the dragons in their mechs, but I assume we will be waiting for a awhile for that moment to actually happen. As for the WTF moments found in the episode yeah Ange got owned hard by the plot hammer especially with the whole Norma vs Mages scene and agreed looking back on her reaction towards the baby with powers she really didn't do anything wrong because it was how she was raised.

      The mechs do look cool and my brain instantly thought of the Strike Freedom, but I guess Sunrise just love to use that color scheme? I always loved it and the whole idea of the mechs having two/three modes is great! That good old Macross style <3

      The Kira clone you keep mentioning I don't think he will be doing a whole lot just because he is seen in the OP with Ange doesn't really mean a whole lot for all we know they meet each other but he dies protecting her and it pushes her to become stronger? That has death flag all over it with them together and with similar vibes to Valvrave/Geass I don't think there is room for love; however I am just guessing! Maybe they will be the Kira/Lacus of the series? LOL she was singing at the start hahah

      I think Ange will be a great main lead but it will take a while till you get short haired badass Ange because shes been a princess her whole life so this is going to be a huge adjustment for her! Also she will learn NOT to TRUST people which is important cause yeah...that prison scene...I know people were probably hating that cause was it really needed? Nope, but the way I see it is even if Ange was a male character instead I could see a similar "treatment" happening like in Game of Thrones if you know what I mean LOL

      I hope you stick around! I love hearing your ideas~

  6. Rathje says:

    Yeah, I’ll just be reading the spoilers in reviews on this one and not watching. I hate let’s-screw-everyone-over shows. Stopped reading Game of Thrones after the first book and never watched the HBO series for the same reason. Was utterly uninterested in Attack on Titan.

    Watching Code Geass for a season was enough to satisfy my quota for life. I’m good now, thanks.

    Glad this blog is around to identify these shows before I unwittingly watch an episode or two and then wish I hadn’t.

    • Foshizzel says:

      Yeah I can tell you weren’t really a fan of this type of anime and for the geass fans that sat through that crazy ride trust me I have no problem with you avoiding it haha

      Thanks! This is why we review these kinds of shows to give you a preview of what you might be getting into or you might find a Anime you originally wanted to skip, but you read something that got you interested in watching.

  7. HannoX says:

    Body cavity searches are pretty standard when someone enters a prison and I’m sure Sunrise was also saying, “Karma’s a bitch, Bitch.” And the prison staff wanted to break Ange quickly. However, I feel it didn’t need to be so brutal or at least to be shown to the extent it was.

    That said, I’m planning to stick with this show. After all, it’s GIRLS IN MECHAS FIGHTING FUCKING DRAGONS!!! How awesome is that?

    Then there’s the yuri aspects shown in the ED. Hopefully it’s consensual, although I suspect it won’t be for Ange at first.

    • Foshizzel says:

      Yeah I am sure they have had a few girls pass through that were cleaver at hiding things LOL and yeah Karma is a bitch indeed, but is it really Ange’s fault? After all that is how she was raised to hate on Norma’s when she was probably one herself the entire time.

      Same I plan on watching more because I don’t think Cross Ange could do anything to stop me from watching unless all the girls die horribly and that dude in the OP becomes the new main hero that saves the world…yeah…

      Probably not but at least its just girl on girl right? It could have been old dudes who keep the various mech chicks in the OP as personal slaves…

    • belatkuro says:

      There’s that not-Kira Yamato guy with Ange in the OP though in the same naked fashion as in the OP of Gundam Seed/Destiny. So don’t get your hopes up.

      • Foshizzel says:

        There’s that not-Kira Yamato guy with Ange in the OP though in the same naked fashion as in the OP of Gundam Seed/Destiny. So don’t get your hopes up.

        haha yeah

      • HannoX says:

        I know the OP showed Ange naked with a guy, but the ED showed girls together and that’s what I’m hoping for. Although I’ve got a feeling Ange gets forced into non-consensual yuri before he shows up and she gets strong enough to say “No.” and make it stick.

  8. HannoX says:

    Spammy strikes! Where’s a mecha to blow him away when you need it?

  9. AllenAndArth says:

    Actually i liked it…of course there was the baby incident and the lesbian scene(which was pretty sexy by the way ;D) still…the fight seemed very well made, i guess i can try to put my hopes high as a mecha specialist however i find it lacking, there was a lack of motion on any of the other mechas(Ange’s aside) that just annoyed me… and the design was far too close to Gundam’s style for my taste on a new series, it lacks personality.

    • Foshizzel says:

      More Yuri next week judging by the preview anyway and sadly the mech designs were straight out of Gundam for me as well especially Ange’s because as Irenasharda said it looks just like the Strike Freedom from Gundam Seed! As for Ange herself we gotta give her time to adapt to her new life and eventually the transformation into BADASS Ange from the short bit at the opening.

  10. akagami says:

    I’m neutral for this at the moment. The first episode set up the premise, seemingly two different ones: a) fight off invading dragons using girls piloting mecha, and b) the royalty/rulership plot. I’m interested to the point in seeing how they tie the two together – is it primarily a, or a is a stepping stone to clear b?

    If this turns out to be a Code Geass trainwreck, I’m all aboard! You know it’s a trainwreck, but you just can’t stop from watching because it’s so entertaining.

  11. Sumairii says:

    I didn’t think I could find anything more atrocious than those suits. Then I saw the mecha and how they transformed mid-flight. I’m sorry, but that was the stupidest bullshit I have ever seen.

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