(L) Simoun

[Simon]

Originally Posted by Futaba-chan

I love love love the music from the series, especially Utsukushii Kereba Sore De Ii, and I can't wait for the soundtrack album to become available....

The Tempus Patium has noted your prayers to the sky: Animate list OST 1 as coming out 2006-06-21 (no listings on Amazon, CDJapan or the official site yet).

I'm pleased they're saying OST 1, because four episodes in there already seems to be too much good music for a single CD (my credit card isn't so pleased, but it'll just have to cope).

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

If we like the show, it doesn't matter if anyone else does. But there is one thing: the more people who watch a show, the more shows like it will be made, and the more work by the members of the cast and staff we will see.

And that matters. As much as we admire the talented people who make anime happen, they can't do it unless the grey men in suits are willing to fund them

As fans we need to consciously think about where we put our energy and our yen, and support shows we believe in. If anything, the ratings we're seeing for Simoun just make me care more about doing my bit to promote it (which includes putting my money where my mouth is when the merchandise comes out). Maybe I'm just too fond of the show to be objective, but I don't believe the low numbers are due to any lack of quality - instead, they just prove that here's an anime brave enough to go in its own direction. We need more shows like this!

(I'd also like to think the numbers show that Simoun fans are a refined elite, but then I did admit to watching Joshikōsei a few pages back...)

The most interesting thing to me here is how low Nana is among the otaku, compared to how big the overall audience is for it.

Isn't Nana practically "mainstream" after the success of the movie? Maybe that explains both those facts.


And now for something completely different, I spotted these Simoun production drawings up for auction on YJ. According to someone who buys that sort of stuff, they're probably a collection of photocopied sheets that the studio distributes to its animators (I guess the red stamp on the cover sheet is a non-disclosure warning).

What's interesting is the text next to the Aeru line-art. Even just reading the kana I can make out シムーン・エクエア ("Simoun Equea"?) and the phrase ネヴィリルのメイト ("Neviril's mate"). I'm not sure what the former refers to, but the latter makes me wonder if パル really is "pal" rather than "pair" - in Commonwealth English at least, "mate" means friend just like pal does. Perhaps they changed it at the last minute to avoid people assuming something more mammalian?

[fignae]

Spoiler for episode 4 (Futaba-chan's synopses):

Originally Posted by Futaba-chan

The pilots are Aaeru (auriga) and Morinas (sagitta). Aaeru tells Morinas that she loves to fly a Simoun, and asks her if she's never done it before. She hasn't, and is a bit nervous. Aaeru is impatient: that they haven't done any Ri Maajon yet, so why not try one now? As the rest of the chor watches from the enclosed forward park, she launches without any further discussion into Ri Maajon A. "Aaeru's really doing it!" Floe cheers.

I can't see where Aaeru says that she loves to fly. Morinas asks her if she still wants to continue, and Aaeru replies with, "Only by riding a Simoun together can we learn whether we make suitable partners, isn't it Morinas who said that?"

Aaeru and Morinas land to face a highly annoyed Guragief, with Morinas clinging to Aaeru for support. He chews them out: they are an embarrassment to Chor Tempest, which is supposed to be the best. Aaeru replies that they needed to practice, so what's the problem? Guragief sourly points out that they could have taken a Simile (training craft) instead.

Futaba-chan, I like how your synopses are interpretative and not just factual, but this I want to disagree with. I don't think Guragief looks "highly annoyed" here. Annoyed, maybe. Looks like the barest sign of anger to me. (Similarly, I don't see Morinas as clinging on for "support"; she's hanging on to Aaeru's arm flirtatiously, looking quite secure and content.) Guragief says that before the new members arrive, Chor Tempest should lie dormant. The next remark is harsher, a little sarcastic; she can borrow a Simile (?), and he'll give her permission for this, but on the whole it's mild for someone who's in a high position and nearly died a moment ago. I take the tack that Guragief isn't being as strict as he could be -- perhaps because of their sacred position? I also think he secretly approves of Aaeru's rebellious attitude. The expression when Aaeru stalks past may be a slight smile, and the sigh, a sort of fond resignation.

Qualifier: Kuwashima Houko fan speaking.

Morinas tries again, asking whether the kiss that they shared earlier when they launched was so bad.

I read that as "If it's me [Morinas], is it so bad?" The difference being, does Aaeru want to kiss someone else.

Wapourif replies that Aaeru is like a little kid... but at least she has a pretty face.

Hmm, neither of my subs mentioned pretty face. "Karakau" = "揶揄う" = to make fun of. In full, she's still a little kid, you don't have to make fun of her.

As she is leaving the cafe, she runs into Limone. Limone asks Aaeru if she was trying Ri Maajon A. "You're a little saint for figuring that one out," Aaeru replies. Limone is troubled: if they can't even pull off a simple Ri Maajon, then are they really worthy of calling themselves Chor Tempest?

Rimone's on the arrogant side, isn't she? Not "saint", though, but "genius". Whoops, in Rimone's case, "prodigy".

This is where I run out of steam. Figuring out about the tags expended much brainpower, and I fear I still got it wrong. Let me know if I'm violating forum conventions. ^^

[fignae]

Too tired to squint at Japanese characters right now so I'm just leaving the links here. A two-page magazine scan of Aaeru and Eri. Probably contains no new information.

http://i3.tinypic.com/ws0nxh.jpg (from here)
http://i3.tinypic.com/ws0olu.jpg (from here)

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by fignae

Too tired to squint at Japanese characters right now so I'm just leaving the links here. A two-page magazine scan of Aaeru and Eri. Probably contains no new information.
http://i3.tinypic.com/ws0nxh.jpg (from here)
http://i3.tinypic.com/ws0olu.jpg (from here)

I haven't read the whole thing, but already there is one piece of new info　from the left-hand column on Eri's page: Daikuuriku is divided into well over a hundred countries. Shimurakurumu Kyuukoku (Simulacrum Palace Country) is a small, mountainous country without seas. And besides Argentumu Shoukoku (Argentum Reef Country), there is one other country called Purunbumu　Reikoku (Purunbum Ridge Country). At least that's literally how things seem to translate.

[Futaba-chan]

Originally Posted by fignae

Spoiler for episode 4 (Futaba-chan's synopses):

I can't see where Aaeru says that she loves to fly. Morinas asks her if she still wants to continue, and Aaeru replies with, "Only by riding a Simoun together can we learn whether we make suitable partners, isn't it Morinas who said that?"

I got that bit wrong; I'll update the copy that was posted to reflect this.

Originally Posted by fignae

Spoiler for episode 4:

Futaba-chan, I like how your synopses are interpretative and not just factual, but this I want to disagree with. I don't think Guragief looks "highly annoyed" here.

Spoiler for episode 4:

Hmm, certainly not "highly." "Annoyed," perhaps? "Wry?"

Originally Posted by fignae

Spoiler for episode 4:

I read that as "If it's me [Morinas], is it so bad?" The difference being, does Aaeru want to kiss someone else.

Another spot that I'll go back and correct; thanks!

Originally Posted by fignae

Spoiler for episode 4:

Hmm, neither of my subs mentioned pretty face. "Karakau" = "揶揄う" = to make fun of. In full, she's still a little kid, you don't have to make fun of her.

Spoiler for episode 4:

Oh! Okay... I misheard that as "kawaii kao".

Originally Posted by fignae

Spoiler for episode 4:

Rimone's on the arrogant side, isn't she? Not "saint", though, but "genius". Whoops, in Rimone's case, "prodigy".

Thank you so much for the feedback... my Japanese is very limited, and I'm really glad for any help from anyone who understands the dialogue better. I'd appreciate it very much if you'd be willing to correct my mistakes in further synopsis attempts as the season progresses.

Did I make any errors in episode 3?

[Futaba-chan]

Originally Posted by Guppy

Spoiler:

About this part - my Japanese isn't that hot, but is that really what they said? The way I heard it, Guragief was surprised to find the pair cleaning the Simoun themselves, and commented that Aaeru was starting to act more like a miko - Aaeru's response is a noncommittal "Sa..." Then she apologises - but without turning around or looking up, so it seems more like she's apologising to the Simoun...

Thanks! I'll correct the synopsis to reflect this.

[Futaba-chan]

Originally Posted by Simon

Maybe I'm just too fond of the show to be objective

There's something special about this series that I'm still trying to put my finger on. I enjoyed Kashimashi, for example, but Simoun has really grabbed me in ways that other series haven't. I feel like Simoun is its own fandom, and not just a part of being a fan of anime in general....

Isn't Nana practically "mainstream" after the success of the movie? Maybe that explains both those facts.

There just isn't quite so much to say about Nana as there is about Simoun. It's a very well-done shoujo drama, and I'm enjoying it, but it doesn't ask the questions or propose the intriguing possibilities that Simoun does, and it doesn't make you think as much. Miyazaki once said about the Nausicaa manga that he was trying to make something more substantial that wasn't just manga that you'd read while slurping soba noodles. Simoun is like that, too, while Nana goes well with soba.

We don't have to mull over why the two Nanas chose to be female, or speculate about whether the Shinkansen is powered by the engineers kissing each other, or try to figure out the structure of the Tokyo government. And we know how to romanize "Tokyo," "Black Stones," "707," and so forth....

[Futaba-chan]

Originally Posted by Yui from Okinawa

- hypothesis A- (a lot of theories)
When they goes to fountain and sex is fixed, and it starts and the birth ability is caused. It is not possible to give birth if sex is not fixed.
Only the effect of Estorojen as the girl.

-hypothesis B- (small number of theories)
The Fountain, and the change to the man is begun only by the person who selects a man.
Therefore, it matures as it is as a woman, and birth is also possible if it leaves the society when the fountain is refused and it lives.

That's another very good unanswered question. I think that hypothesis A is probably correct. Among other things,

Spoiler for episode 2:

when the Spring has turned Eri into Erif, Onashia tells him that the Spring has granted him adulthood. That's still ambiguous enough to allow for hypothesis B, but it sounds like it's saying that visiting the Spring makes one an adult... and therefore fertile. The Daikuurikans certainly seem to have developed as female before going to the Spring, including secondary sexual characteristics, and Eri explicitly says that she has been always female up to the point of her conversation on the train with Neville... but that doesn't necessarily include fertility.

[Futaba-chan]

Simoun (シムーン)
Episode 4: "Nearby War" (近い戦争)

Many thanks to wrex_japan, Guppy, and fignae for catching mistakes in the earlier draft. Please don't hesitate to point out other mistakes -- my Japanese is very weak, and part of the reason why I'm doing this is to force myself to learn more.

Spoiler:

We open with a series of flashbacks in the mind of an Argentine
soldier: enormous fleets of airships, factories and refineries
belching smoke, military men looking out the window at this scene, and
a hand covered in blood -- all against a blood-red sky. The soldier,
in Argentum's traditional mask and goggles, hiding in the woods at
night near a shack in the mountains, somewhere far from the polluted
nightmare city shown in the flashback.

Spoiler:

Arcus Prima is docked at the Citadel to take on supplies.
Anubituf and Guragief are conferring in Anubituf's office, when they
notice a Simoun launch through the office window. They're surprised
that a Chor Tempest Simoun has launched -- none are currently
scheduled.

The pilots are Aaeru (auriga) and Morinas (sagitta). Morinas is
nervous; Aaeru reminds her that it was Morinas' idea to try flying
together. Aaeru is impatient: they haven't done any Ri Maajon yet, so
why not try one now? As the rest of the chor watches from the
enclosed forward park, she launches without any further discussion
into Ri Maajon A. "Aaeru's really doing it!" Floe cheers.

Unfortunately, Morinas can't keep up with Aaeru's flying, and their
Simoun quickly spins out of control. Aaeru manages to recover the
craft just as it dips its tail fin into the estuary, but the ship
zig-zags onto a high-speed collision course with the Citadel as
Morinas fumbles with her controls. At the last minute, Aaeru manages
to pull the Simoun up, and the two wind up buzzing the flight deck
right as Guragief steps out onto it to evaluate the situation. The
Simoun's tail fin misses his head by less than a metre.

In her darkened quarters, Neville sits alone, lost in a funk of severe
depression.

Aaeru and Morinas land to face an annoyed Guragief, with Morinas
clinging to Aaeru for support. He chews them out: they are an
embarrassment to Chor Tempest, which is supposed to be the best. [Or
was he saying something about Tempest doing ceremony together instead?]
Aaeru replies that they needed to practice, so what's the problem?
Guragief sourly points out that they could have taken a Simile
(training craft) instead.

Paraietta bursts onto the flight deck, twice as angry as Guragief.
She demands to know why Aaeru was offering prayers without permission.
"I wasn't praying," Aaeru responds, "I was training for battle."
Paraietta raises her hand to slap Aaeru, who angrily asks Parietta
what gives her the power to do so -- after all, she isn't the Regina.
Parietta responds that until Neville shows up, she's acting in her
stead. Morinas slyly asks Parietta if she and the Sibylla Aurea are
involved. Guragief sighs as Aaeru stalks away past him and into the
hangar.

Spoiler:

Morinas follows Aaeru into the hangar to tell her that she's forgotten
something: she's supposed to kiss her pair after the flight to thank
the Tempus Spatium. Morinas puckers up, but Aaeru isn't buying it.
Morinas tries again, asking whether kissing her is so bad. Aaeru
regards Morinas suspiciously for a moment before noticing Wapourif
standing before her. She apologizes to Wapourif for having created
extra work for him, but Wapourif replies that if the Sibylla never
flew the Simoun, he and his crew would be out of a job. Aaeru slinks
away, looking sheepish.

Morinas and Wapourif discuss the absent Aaeru. "Cold, isn't she?"
asks Morinas. Wapourif replies that Aaeru is like a little kid, and
that there's no need to tease her. Morinas sidles up to him
flirtatiously and adds that Aaeru's flying was amazing.

Spoiler:

Floe and Rodoraemon are sharing a drink in the ship's cafe when Aaeru
enters. Floe bounces over to Aaeru and gushes about how amazing her
flying was. Mistaking the pair's out-of-control flying for an actual
Ri Maajon pattern, she asks which Ri Maajon they did.

Rodoraemon asks Aaeru to please stop pulling crazy stunts like the one
that everyone just witnessed. Aaeru impatiently asks why she should.
Everyone from the other three chor thinks badly of Chor Tempest --
they look terrible.

Kaimu replies that in that case, all she can do is offer her prayers
and wait for her turn to go to the Spring. Alti mentions that she'll
probably become a man when her time comes, and Kaimu finally lets out
that she plans to do so as well.

Aaeru can't believe her ears, and asks the other Sibylla if they
really feel that way and are okay with not participating in the
battle. Before anyone can answer, Chor Ribbon flies past the cafe
windows, on their way home from that day's patrol. Floe notices them,
and points them out, which prompts Aaeru to go and try to do something
about the current situation.

As she is leaving the cafe, she runs into Limone. Limone asks Aaeru
if she was trying Ri Maajon A. "It's just like a prodigy to figure
that one out," Aaeru replies. Limone is troubled: if they can't even
pull off a simple Ri Maajon, then are they really worthy of calling
themselves Chor Tempest?

Spoiler:

Aaeru pounds loudly on Neville's door demanding that she come out at
once: the war is heating up. Neville replies that she hates war, and
that the Sibylla are just priestesses of the Tempus Spatium. Aaeru
loudly demands that Neville come out and get back to work, but Neville
refuses: she isn't coming out. She tells Aaeru that she isn't going
to pair with her, either. Dejected, Aaeru, gives up and returns to
her quarters.

Aaeru is sitting glumly on her bed, when another Sibylla enters. It
is Bura, from Chor Ribbon, and she's Aaeru's new roommate. Aaeru
tries to bond with her over their shared role as an aurgia, but Bura
coldly cuts her off, and flops exhaustedly onto her bed, saying that
she's very tired. Chor Ribbon has been flying patrols day and night
while Chor Tempest has been slacking off back on the ship.

Bura's words goad Aaeru into action. Remembering Limone's words from
earlier, Aaeru tracks her down in the library, where she is reading a
book and snacking on another bag of chips. Aaeru is dressed in her
flight suit, and she tells Limone that she wants to see how well she
flies. "So c'mon!" she adds, and drags Limone down to the hanger by
main force.

Spoiler:

As Wapourif watches, the pair taxi a Simoun out to the flight deck.
It is the dinner hour, so no one will see the two of them leave on
their flight, Aaeru explains. As for food, the two of them can eat
from the large backpack full of sweets that Limone carries wherever
she goes. Limone is hesitant, but Aaeru climbs across to the sagitta
cockpit, returns the backpack, and quickly kisses her. The two fly
off into the moonlight.

"What kind of Ri Maajon are we going to do?" Limone asks. "Which one
do you like?" Aaeru replies. Limone suggests the Silver Ri Maajon,
which pleases Aaeru -- but they'd better be careful about it, in case
they run into the enemy. Limone is taken aback by the talk of battle,
but concedes that it's likely that they'll have to face it soon.

Limone interrupts to point out a downed Simoun lying in the forest
below. Aaeru is surprised to see it here -- Chor Cup's fatal battle
was far from here, so it couldn't have been one of theirs. Limone
suspects a trap, but Aaeru replies that if it is, it's a chance to
learn more about the enemy.

As Aaeru and Limone land to investigate, they are watched by the
Argentine soldier from the first scene... who is tracking them with
his rifle. "They're coming!" he says to himself. "This will be my
final tri--" but before he can finish, he lapses into a coughing fit.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Spoiler:

Floe has discovered Aaeru and Limone's unauthorized sortie, and tells
the rest of Chor Tempest about it as they relax in the cafeteria after
supper. Rodoraemon is shocked, as Limone was supposed to be her
pair. Morinas jokes that she got dumped, too. Rodoraemon denies that
Limone has dumped her.

Bura and another Chor Ribbon Sibylla are in the cafe drinking at the
bar. They say to each other, cattily, "It looks like Chor Tempest will
fall apart... thus we'll get busier." Kaimu asks Neville if they
should report Aaeru and Limone's unauthorized flight, adding that if
they don't bring them back, the entire chor will be held
responsible. Nevril answers coldly, "Just let them be. If they want to
fly, we'll just let them."

On the bridge, Guragief tells Anubituf that Arcus Prima will be ready
to resume operations in the morning. Anubituf asks him just what sort
of priestess Aaeru is. Guragief is silent for a moment, then replies
that Aaeru has a good reason for being there.

[Many thanks to Wrex for editing this scene.]

Spoiler:

Out in the forest, Aaeru and Limone climb down from their cockpits to
investigate the downed Simoun. They quickly discover that it is a
crude fake: panels on a wooden framework. The Argentine soldier
surprises them, and quickly overpowers Limone. Aaeru, angered,
attacks him, but is herself overpowered. He lands with his hand on
her breast, and is astonished to learn that his enemy is a pretty
teenage girl.

The soldier flashes back to his memory of Argentum: he volunteered to
travel to Simulacrum to uncover the secret of the Simoun as his final
act before dying of a terminal illness.

The soldier binds Limone and Aaeru's arms with rope, and lights a
campfire. When the two Sibylla regain consciousness, the soldier is
sitting in the auriga cockpit of their Simoun, attempting to get it to
lift off to fly it home to Argentum. Aaeru and Limone try to explain
the futility of his task to him: only a priestess who hasn't gone to
the Spring and chosen a sex can fly a Simoun, and it takes two of
them. Only Aaeru and Limone can fly the Simoun out of there.

Hearing their words but not understanding them, the soldier stomps
over to Aaeru and Limone, demanding information... but they can't
understand him, either. Suddenly, he doubles over, coughing
violently. He rips off his helmet and throws it to the ground,
revealing his gaunt face and wild eyes to the two captive
priestesses. He props himself up against a tree to recover his
strength.

Spoiler:

Aaeru and Limone confer as to what to do next. Aaeru is determined to
escape and get the Simoun out of there. Argentum dearly wants a
Simoun: it's the best flying machine in the sky. So Aaeru plans to
escape and get it back.

As the soldier watches, Aaeru and Limone continue to talk. All of
Aaeru's friends from back home have gone to the Spring by now. Only
Aaeru has stayed away. Limone asks why, and Aaeru doesn't have an
answer... except that if she had, she wouldn't be here now. She plans
to be the best Sibylla of all, and that demands that she not go to the
Spring.

The soldier, not realizing that he is touching on the exact topic of
the Sibyllas' conversation, asks them rhetorically what it's like to
be neither a man nor a woman. He himself never had that choice: the
Argentine war machine scooped him up when he was very small, and made
him into a man through hormones and surgery so that he could be a
soldier. What would it have been like to have had a choice?

His musings are interrupted by another attack of the disease that is
slowly killing him, and he vomits up blood. Limone has compassion for
him, but Aaeru is busy cutting through her bonds with a knife she's
managed to extract from a hidden pocket somewhere.

Spoiler:

When the soldier interrupts his own meal to offer Limone a part of his
rations, Aaeru strikes. She kicks him onto the campfire, and begins
to run for the Simoun, but the soldier grabs her by the ankle. Limone
makes it back to the airship, but the soldier runs to the cockpit
ladder, pulls Limone away, and climbs into the auriga cockpit again.
He fires repeatedly at Limone, but misses. Aaeru and Limone run into
the woods and take cover.

The soldier again tries to lift off, but to no avail. "Fly, damn
you!" he shouts. "Why won't you fly?" When Limone pokes her head out
to investigate what he's doing, he pulls out his rifle again and draws
a bead on her... then thinks better of it. Enemy or no, he can't kill
a pair of innocent little girls, and his time is up. There's nothing
further that he can do now. His illness returns with a vengeance, and
he vomits blood into his lap.

Aaeru and Limone, crouching behind hard cover outside the clearing,
discuss the soldier and his efforts. Aaeru is baffled by his
stubbornness, as it's obvious that there's no way that he can get the
Simoun off the ground. Limone adds that the soldier is selfish, and
that the Argentines seem like bad people. Aaeru vows never to let the
Simoun be captured.

Spoiler:

When morning comes, Aaeru and Limone spring their plan. Limone waves
her arms and shouts to cause a distraction, while Aaeru hefts a stout
club that she has improvised from a tree branch. When the soldier
fails to respond, Aaeru dashes across the clearing to the Simoun, only
to discover to her horror that the soldier is already dead, having
succumbed to his illness during the night.

Limone joins Aaeru, and the two try to extract the dead soldier from
the auriga cockpit. Unfortunately, rigor mortis has set in,
and Aaeru's impatient shouts at the corpse to let go of the controls
don't help the situation at all. Limone suggests that Aaeru just give
up, and wait for someone to find them, but Aaeru is adamant. She
can't possibly let anyone know that she let herself be captured by the
enemy. She orders Limone to run away from the Simoun, and begins the
gruesome work of sawing the dead soldier's hands off with her knife.

As the sun rises over the vicinity of the mountain cabin, Aaeru
finally succeeds at extracting the dead soldier from the cockpit. As
she lifts him out, she loses her balance, and falls painfully to the
ground along with the corpse. She shouts impatiently for Limone to
come, but the younger girl is crouching behind a bush, crying.

Eventually, the two kiss and make up, in order to activate the Ri
Maajon gem to get the Simoun off the ground. Limone is shocked to
find blood on her hand... and on closer examination, discovers that
most of the cockpit area, including the Ri Maajon gem, is covered in
it. The Simoun lifts off into the morning sky and flies away.

Spoiler:

In the hangar aboard the Arcus Prima, Aaeru apologizes to
Wapourif for getting the Simoun dirty, and volunteers to wash it
herself. Wapourif tells her that he'll do it, but she is insistent.
Limone runs off to fetch a hose.

Guragief and the rest of Chor Tempest file in to confront Aaeru and
Limone. Guragief tells Aaeru that the priestesses aren't just allowed
to take the Simoun out whenever they feel like it, and asks her to
stop doing it without permission. Seeing Aaeru and Limone cleaning
up, Guragief adds that Aaeru seems to be acting more like a priestess
now. Aaeru is noncommital at this, but apologizes to the Simoun. The
two Sibylla continue to clean out the gore as the sun rises.

END OF EPISODE

[Simon]

Couple of quick things while I'm staying up to wait for ep 5... First is a new six-minute interview with Niino Michi (Aeru) and Takahashi Rieko (Neviril), available as streaming WM. Second, my CD singles arrived today - I don't know if it's a first-pressing bonus or standard issue, but they each come with a nice jacket illustration (OP, ED). It's interesting to see the girls looking so feminine, and the ED art makes me appreciate what a cute nose Aeru has

(Although the artwork is from the back of the package, I notice it was prominently displayed in this Akihabara store on Sunday.)

[Kaoru Chujo]

I love this show. From the first strains of the OP, I am in a beautiful -- and terrible -- world.

Is it the story? Yes. In eps1-2, I thought the death of Amuria was being taken too easily, and that Neviril was a bit plastic. Wrong on both counts. Is it the look of things? Definitely yes. Is it the Simoun? Yes, again: who are you, besides being Korean, Jin Seob Song? (He/she was the mecha designer.) Is it the music? Another definite yes. Is it the characters? For sure. Because of the world they grow from, they are unique. Is it the voice-acting? Yes, once again in part because of the world/story they speak in.

Spoiler for very rough ep5 summary:

Simoun 05 “White Solitude”

Corps Tempest is out on patrol again. They see a group of enemy fliers and attempt a Ri Maajon pattern to destroy it. But Rimone, who is flying sagitta with Aaeru, freezes again, and the Ri Maajon fails. But another pair performs a pattern that destroys the enemy.

Back on the mother ship Arcus Prima, the captain, Anubitōf, and the commander of Simoun, Guraghief, ask the senior Sibylla, the aptly named Dominūra, to fly with Corps Tempest and try to bring them back to usefulness. She is not optimistic, but agrees to try. When Corps Tempest returns, she is there to meet them.

She tells Rimone that she will fly with her, instructing her to just follow her orders. Rimone goes to Aaeru to ask her what to do, but Aaeru refuses to give her any orders, and says brightly that she will accept it if Rimone decides to break up their Pair, that all the decisions are hers. Rimone thinks of the horrible episode in the forest with the enemy fighter. And she also thinks back to when she was a little child and loved the sight of the Silver Ri Maajon, and was praised (by her mother?) for her ability and told she would make a great Sibylla.

Rimone sees Neviril and speaks with her, asking her if she doesn't get into a Simoun because she is afraid. Neviril says no, but that she cannot give Rimone strength. Dominūra comes and takes Rimone to the Maju Pool for practice, where they swoop beautifully through the air, Rimone following Dominūra.

When they next go out on patrol, Dominūra tells Rimone to fly auriga with her as sagitta. Only that pair and Aruti/Furoe are on this patrol. After initial wobbling, Rimone gains control of the Simoun. They fly into a snowstorm, and come upon an invading force of tanks rolling through the snow, and are fired upon. Aruti/Furoe perform a Ri Maajon that destroys a force of tanks. Dominūra tells Rimone to do one, too, but Rimone again freezes. Rimone recalls a time during practice when her Simoun clipped another and threw a Sibylla to her death. Meanwhile, on the Arcus Prima, the other members of the Corps are disturbed that the patrol is overdue.

Back in the snowy wastes, Rimone is still in trouble. Then Aaeru/Rodoreamon show up. Rimone recalls Aaeru telling her that she has to decide things for herself. Rimone decides: they will do the difficult and powerful Silver Ri Maajon. Dominūra shouts that it is too difficult. But Aaeru says “aye, aye” and off they go. Aaeru's attitude gives Rimone confidence. They proceed to perform the Ri Maajon, a beautiful and powerful pattern that destroys all the enemy tanks like an atom bomb. Dominūra is startled at the tremendous skill of Rimone. We end on the way back to base, with a view of Aaeru's easy joy.

Spoiler for ep5 reaction:

Dominura and Rimone seem so good together, maybe because of the mother-daughter feeling. I knew Dominura was going to appear in this episode, and I expected not to like her. But I do, despite her arrogant forcefulness. Her approach to Rimone seemed to help. And their flight together in the Pool was somehow moving. I don't know why. Probably the music contributed. And I am now officially used to Noto Mamiko as Rimone. I still hear her as her, but she got the right emotions across to me. And the Silver Ri Maajon is beautiful. And Neviril, I know you will come to love Aeru. Who wouldn't? She has such clarity, warmth, and joy in her.

By the way, I notice that there are rather poor reviews of this show over at animenewsnetwork.com. I'm about to add my review. Perhaps others who like the show might take a look? And I have added Dominūra to my characters page and have added a picture and details to the wiki.

And I have a suggestion for the spelling of Guragief's name: Guraghief. In this episode, Anubituf says it, and the "g" is clearly hard, not soft like a "j". My earlier mistake. I've changed it on my characters page.

Dominura is played by Yukana, the VA who was Tessa in all the FMP series, and also played Eri in this one.

[Matrim]

I love this series! I didn't get most of what was happening in this episode and yet I totally loved it. What's wrong with me? And thanks for the summary, it was really helpful.

Spoiler:

Dominura is mighty cool and seemed a very suitable mentor for Rimone. I sure did not expect Rimone's confidence to break early on in the series but it seems she managed to overcome this trial with flying colours. And Aeru is more and more likable. I really wish I could take back my words that she reminded of me Arika from Mai-Otome.
The battle was exquisite, poetry in motion, just what the series needed after a few setup episodes. And since I seem to be be just raving with praise, my minor complaint woudl be that I would like to see Neville back in action soon.

[Futaba-chan]

Originally Posted by Matrim

Spoiler:

I would like to see Neville back in action soon.

Spoiler for the manga:

If the anime and the manga are following the same continuity, it may be a while -- the manga is happening at a time when Mamiina (who we haven't met yet, other than in the opening credits) is flying with Chor Tempest, and Neville still isn't flying then. (And is still brushing Aaeru off, even though they've become roommates.)

If the anime and manga are in separate continuities, all bets are off, although getting Neville to fly again is clearly a major plot arc, and resolving it would likely be a key turning point in the overall series.

[Futaba-chan]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

And I have a suggestion for the spelling of Guragief's name: Guraghief. In this episode, Anubituf says it, and the "g" is clearly hard, not soft like a "j".

The dying auriga from Chor Cup in episode 1 also pronounces his name with a hard 'g'. (The fansub mistransliterates his name as "Kurakia.")

[Futaba-chan]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

Is it the Simoun? Yes, again: who are you, besides being Korean, Jin Seob Song?

My one annoyance about the Simoun (and the Simile, too) is that the helical motors don't appear to be attached at all! When the Simoun are parked, characters climb over them, bang on them, and so forth, as if they were solidly connected. That pushes my "willing suspension of disbelief" button a bit. One of the things that I always respected about the various Macross series, for example, is that they always took care in their mechanical design to come up with something plausible.

I could buy that there's some mysterious force -- gravity control, for example, or magnetic fields -- operating on the helical motors, but if that's the case, shouldn't there be play in them? And more to the point, shouldn't they fall off completely if the Simoun is destroyed, and whatever force was suspending them no longer operates? It's an unusual and pretty design, but how is it really supposed to work?

On the other hand, I absolutely love Arcus Prima....

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by Futaba-chan

My one annoyance about the Simoun (and the Simile, too) is that the helical motors don't appear to be attached at all! When the Simoun are parked, characters climb over them, bang on them, and so forth, as if they were solidly connected. That pushes my "willing suspension of disbelief" button a bit. One of the things that I always respected about the various Macross series, for example, is that they always took care in their mechanical design to come up with something plausible. I could buy that there's some mysterious force -- gravity control, for example, or magnetic fields -- operating on the helical motors, but if that's the case, shouldn't there be play in them? And more to the point, shouldn't they fall off completely if the Simoun is destroyed, and whatever force was suspending them no longer operates? It's an unusual and pretty design, but how is it really supposed to work? On the other hand, I absolutely love Arcus Prima....

I just looked at the first part of ep3, where Morinas is looking at the Simouns. At around 4:05 in my raw, you can see a dark armature that passes in from the right-hand side of the picture into the space between the Helical Motorises. When the HM spins down, perhaps that comes in and grabs onto some part of the superstructure of the motor, maybe the larger golden curved spokes. Or something like that.

I actually have more problem with the Arcus Prima, because although I take for granted that there is some kind of big HM in the snailshell, I've never seen it moving. And the Maaju Pool is also a mystery to me.

But in any case, the beauty of the Simouns, especially landing and taking of, makes my willing-suspension-of-disbelief factor very, very high. And so does the beauty of the aerial ballet in the Maaju Pool. Or of the Arcus. Any sufficiently advanced.... (A cop-out, I know, lol.)

[Futaba-chan]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

I just looked at the first part of ep3, where Morinas is looking at the Simouns. At around 4:05 in my raw, you can see a dark armature that passes in from the right-hand side of the picture into the space between the Helical Motorises.

That looks like the articulated frame that the "wings" are attached to, that holds them and moves them in and out as the Simoun changes between landing and flight configuration.

I actually have more problem with the Arcus Prima, because although I take for granted that there is some kind of big HM in the snailshell, I've never seen it moving.

That is rather mysterious, isn't it? I've wondered about that. Does AP have some other propulsion mechanism that it's using to cruise around and stay airborne? For that matter, can Arcus Prima herself trace out really enormous Ri Maajon patterns? What happens when they spin that (or those -- it looks like there are two of them, side by side) up?

And the Maaju Pool is also a mystery to me.

Indeed... do the flight suits only work in the pool? If they work outside of it, why not wear them on actual missions as a substitute for a parachute? If the pool is the only place where they work, shouldn't there be a safety net on the bottom to prevent a Sibylla from wandering out of it and plummeting to her death? For that matter, shouldn't there be one anyway, in case a spectator at the pool's edge falls in?

[Altimit]

Indeed... do the flight suits only work in the pool? If they work outside of it, why not wear them on actual missions as a substitute for a parachute? If the pool is the only place where they work, shouldn't there be a safety net on the bottom to prevent a Sibylla from wandering out of it and plummeting to her death? For that matter, shouldn't there be one anyway, in case a spectator at the pool's edge falls in?

There arn't any railings/nets/etc around the edge of the forward platform on the airship either. I'm guessing they just take it for granted not to fly out or fall in. If somone is foolish enough to do so it's just natural selection at work :P

Even in reality it's only fairly recently that people have put fences around ever ledge more than a few feet tall. They only do it now because people are so careless and sue-happy.

[Futaba-chan]

Originally Posted by Altimit

There arn't any railings/nets/etc around the edge of the forward platform on the airship either.

Huh? There's a railing there; in one scene, Neville and Paraietta lean against the railings on opposite sides and stare out at the scenery.

[Matrim]

But in any case, the beauty of the Simouns, especially landing and taking of, makes my willing-suspension-of-disbelief factor very, very high. And so does the beauty of the aerial ballet in the Maaju Pool. Or of the Arcus. Any sufficiently advanced....

Exactly!

If the pool is the only place where they work, shouldn't there be a safety net on the bottom to prevent a Sibylla from wandering out of it and plummeting to her death?For that matter, shouldn't there be one anyway, in case a spectator at the pool's edge falls in?

I guess the pool just wouldn't look that nice if there was a safety net. Maybe even if you fall you will bounce back because it rejects people who don't wear a special (magical?) suit? Quite a contrived explantion, I know. Another possibility is that the suits are needed just to leave a trail so that the movements of the Sibyllas can be followed easier and there is nothing else special about them?