Dragonaut: The Resonance - Part 1by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Studio
Credits Grade: 8 Jin was the sole survivor of a spaceship crash a few years ago. His whole family killed, and his father blamed, Jin disappeared from the astronaut academy. A supernatural girl named Toa finds him, convinces him he's not alone any more, and they are soon caught in the middle as human Dragonauts and their Earth-born Dragons prepare to battle and destroy or capture original Dragons from space in order to "save" Earth. Toa is one of the original Dragons though, and her presence (or lack of it) changes everything ... including how Dragons and humans bond. Jin is able to use Kazuki's Dragon Gio, much to the maddening infuriation of Jin's one-time friend.At first, just looking at the cover, I saw large breasts, crotch shots, butt cheeks bubbling out of short shorts, and boobs pressed against a guy's face and I figured this was going to be a sci-fi harem series. Not only was I wrong, and not only was I pleasantly surprised by what this series is, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to get my hands on part 2! Ok, there are lots and lots of over-sized breasts — breasts that are larger than their heads; breasts that overflow the clothing that surrounds them; breasts that seem to grow larger depending on which cleavage-shot angle is used. It's crazy. However, unlike just about every other series out there, these women are strong and are not treated as objects. There's not a single nose-bleed, ogling, or groping by a male character!! Not one! So it's uber fan service without the gratuitous perverseness inherent in the anime. It actually took me a few episodes to realize that and as soon as I did I was able to relax and enjoy the show easier, and have some respect for these women (only one of which is wearing an outfit that is obviously made to attract attention to that and every other part of her body). One large breasted woman is a dragon, another is a scientist, and a third is a powerful warrior (second in command! — under a king so that's pretty good). The cover art for the DVDs actually sexualizes all of the women more than the anime itself does. Marketing is interesting isn't it? The voice acting is quite good, and the art is done really well. The Dragons are an interesting design; they are more mecha-like than I would like, and it's strange that their masters ride inside them in a cockpit-like area, controlling them from there. So the designs are kind of neat, but overall they move rather stiff and machine-like rather than like true Dragons. The art is also a mix of regular animation and CG animations; they are nicely blended but it may account for some of the stiffness in the Dragons. There are simple henshin (transformation) sequences for the Dragons from their human form to their Dragon form including being boarded by their human master. There's actually a nice variety of battle types including mental, emotional, hand-to-hand (once with a katana!), and of course various war machines and the Dragons. The Dragons also wield powers or weapons in their human form and have super jumping/flying abilities and super strength. It all blends together for some exciting action sequences and internal struggles. The only thing I don't like is Kazuki's attitude and reactions. His feelings are understandable, but his reactions should make him unfit to be in the program any more. He's arrogant, blinded by his own anger and hatred, he's quite power-hungry and desires with all his being to be master and controller of a great and powerful Dragon and if he can't have it then he will destroy them all. It's a very visible descent into madness and I keep wishing he'd get killed off or at least locked up or done away with so he can stop interfering. He's a character you hate. Not one you love to hate, just one you hate. It would be horrible to see what he'd do if he ever did get his Dragon ... especially considering he's able to use Widow as his Dragon, but he only uses her as a tool and doesn't acknowledge her in any other way. She empathizes with him, but she also sees what he's becoming. It's a rather intricate story that keeps evolving bringing the viewer deeper into the heart of the story while also introducing new villains and challenges. Dragonaut is a first-rate anime series. It's a shame that some characters designs are so boob-oriented, but at least that's not the butt of humor. This series has a real story to tell and it tells it very well. It amazes me in new ways with every episode, and at the end of 13 episodes I am eager for more! Don't let this gem slip through your fingers. Written: November 29, 2009
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