Space Runaway Ideon

TwoSevenTwo★ 7

Let's be honest here. You're probably interested in this series because of the movie's reputation, and you're wondering if the TV show is worth watching. Let's get this out of the way first: you CAN skip the TV series and just watch A Contact (the compilation movie) followed by Be Invoked (the new and improved ending). This may be fine for you: you'll get skip some of the repetitive bits of the series, but you'll also skip characterization. While the TV show is a bit slow at times, A Contact and Be Invoked try to cram everything together... things develop abit too fast. The problem with Ideon becomes apparent as soon as you watch the first episode. At its core, the show is a series of 22-minute commercials for toys which haven't been sold in decades for a country on the other side of the world. Animations are reused heavily, early plots mostly follow a predictable formula (land on new planet, aliens attack with new strategy, mech pilots save the day), the characters can be hard to like, and you get tired of the revolving door of villains. But there are also episodes where the show takes itself seriously. Tensions between the main characters are handled with respect, and most of the main cast develops quite wonderfully, even if it seems a bit slow. The plot is sometimes stitched together with crude seams, but at other times it flows quite well. Once you get to episode #23, the tone changes, and the series discovers its purpose. Remember how the conflict in episode #1 seemed almost accidental in origin? By episode #23, the conflict has grown so large that no matter what anyone says or does, the fighting will continue, and the consequences are always serious. Even if you save the day, you can't save everyone. Even if you surrender, you can't stop fighting. Even as you work towards the same goals, you can hate and betray each other. The plot picks up the pace, characters develop and break down quite spectacularly (they don't cope with things by whining about them, thank goodness), and even the deus ex machina that saved the day in the first half of the series gets turned on its head. Everyone gets a moment before the end to show their true depth. Episode #39 should be skipped, just watch "Be Invoked" instead, since episode #39 was recut, improved, and made into the beginning of the movie. It is a great episode, but the movie gives you a better version. All said, I would give a 5/10 or 6/10 to the first 22 episodes, with the acknowledgement that a few of those episodes are fairly good. I'd give the last 17 episodes a 8/10 or 9/10—again with the acknowledgement that there are a couple stinkers, such as episode #34. I might rewatch this someday, but I'd skip over most of the episodes.

ZeraX★ 8

First of all, i usually don't make reviews, but i will make a exception just because i loved this anime and its movies by all my heart, and will be a quick review. and please forgive me, i'm NOT good at writing reviews nor good at expressing my thoughts in English because my English isn't that muchl.. Ok, now, Ideon isn't a typical anime which anybody can watch or enjoy, it's an anime that can be watched by hardcore mecha anime, classic anime fans, and or Tomino's fans. Ideon's story was unique, one of kind gets interesting as the series progresses to a degree you became on your edgeof your chair wanting more and more. Ideon's sometimes considered to be the prototype of the modern dark and twisted science fiction anime such as Evangelion, Akira and others. and been an inspiration for many directors and anime such as the just-mentioned and well-known Evangelion. It's draggy though, very slow paced which can be unpreferable to many. The titular mecha, the Ideon a massive giant robot resurrected when he felt that the people is killing each other again and now he must stop it. Later revealed to the characters that Ideon is more than a robot. i loved the idea of both factions thinking of each other as "Aliens" while both are human beings just fell into misunderstanding which lead them to their doom later. that also can be a good "Anti-Racism" message. the Love story between two characters from different sides, both loved each other despite the hate of everyone around them, One lost the trust of some people, and other lost her entire family and homeland for her love. there are also many twists and surprises for everyone in the series, things i love most in anime. And something i should not forget, how the series alone showed how filthy and corrupted the humankind can be amazed me, it's sadly true, mankind just lives to kill each other and rule each other.... 9/10 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Characters' Development: one of strongest elements of Ideon is that it has great development for each one. the interaction between characters, the trust and betrayals, the fear and revenge and the hatred. it's like a bloody theater It's nice to see that all the characters acting realistically, unlike the typical super robot anime everyone worried, cautions, nerves, depressed,jealously, etc... In a typical super robot anime, the main heroes all acting hot-blooded and ready to kick some bots ass because they have a powerful robot, it isn't the same in Ideon, which all the characters keep suspicious and in fear of it. 8/10 sound: there are some good and lovely pieces, but the problem here is the transition between BGMs sometimes get noisy and annoying. for example, a BGM played and eruptly changing the tone to entirely different tone and mood, that happened so much unfortunately =/ 6/10 Animations: Nah, i don't care much about animation, i'm fine with any, as an old anime fan that grew up with many 70's anime i consider Ideon's animations is one of the best in its time. what grabbed my attention more is the art of the galaxies and planets, the art shows how the scary the "ruined planets" can be, some arts was scary, giving a good image of a ruined world. 8/10 Final Words: I Enjoyed the series so much, there are many messages to humankind in Ideon, the series was good to show solutions to end wars and hatred from people towards each other. almost a perfect depiction of mankind.. I can't really recommend Ideon to anyone, only those mecha-maniacs like me can enjoy it, unlike most modern anime which famed by its fan-service and naughty girls Ideon has no fan-service if anyone seeking.... still a great show in overall, has good action and good characters set.. 8/10