Zone of the Enders: Idolo

Zone of the Enders: Idolo
Anime Review

Anime Type: OVA

Genre: Action

Based on the popular game of Zone of the Enders, this anime does well to add to the story. The storyline is set on 2010, that's 25 years before the first ZOE game. At the time Mars is under control of the brutal dictators of Earth. And the rebel group of Mars known as Barahm developed a new weapon to fight Earth, the first Orbital Frame (super strong robot). The story's main character is a LEV pilot who is chosen to fly the new Orbital Frame. Viola is also in the anime, as she is trying to stay close to the main character.

All goes well till the pilot starts acting strange from piloting the Orbital Frame and becomes very aggressive. As he starts losing his mind the story starts to develop and the people from Earth start their plan of attack against Barahm.

The anime's is well drawn when it comes to the people, but the fighting with the Orbital Frames and the Robots could have been improved. The terrain detail of Mars is very plain and at some times very confusing. You watch as the environment includes waterfalls rivers lakes and trees, while the people in Mars have to be locked up in the biospheres. It makes you think they should have paid more attention to what they were doing.

The story itself doesn't pick up momentum till the later half of the anime, they could have added more characters and more character development, but it's ok as it is. Since the later half of the story is very cool and you realize that's what the anime is all about.

The characters are all easy to relate to and the voice acting done on this job is superb in Japanese. I wouldn't know about the English version but I don't recommend anybody watching the anime in English. I always prefer to watch it in its original form with English subtitles.

I consider this anime to be pretty short but leaves you wanting more. You can always go to your PS2 and start playing ZOE the 2nd runner again, or watching the new series of Zone Of Enders.

ZOE is a refreshing anime, and serves well as a good break in-between watching long anime series'.

Total Score: 8.2 (out of ten)