RahXephon Impressions

I just finished the cerebral-mecha anime RahXephon, and I have to say it's one of the finest series Ive ever seen. The story, music, animation, character development, and action are the best in any mecha anime I have seen. Well albeit Big O which is just as deep, but not as compelling in my opinion. The 2nd Season is good but it just doesn't do it for me. Now back to gloating over RahXephon. The whole series from beginning to end wraps you up in it's story and doesn't let you go till the very end.

In a way it is almost like the anti-thesis of Evangelion. Not that it's less deep in any aspect. What I mean is at the end of the story all the loose ends are tied up and everything makes sense. Another thing that seperates the two series are the characters. As I read before in a review and from my own personal opinion. Evangelion's entire cast was a string of metaphors each a representation of depressing flaws that we all share. With few characters who actually showed any compassion for each other or concern.

RahXephon's characters on the other hand are sympathetic and try to make ammends in the end for things gone undone. Every single character's story and development comes full circle. Unlike Evangelion which it seemed that all the characters were in a constant downward spiral. I highly reccomend this series for anyone who enjoys cerebral mecha anime (Evangelion, Big O), excellent music, animation, and character development.

For those of you who have seen the series what are your opinions? If those of you who haven't seen the series have any questions please ask me.

uhm, uh...RahXephon has wings on his head...his head...why are they on his head..... ?

The winged helm of the Rahxephon is a cool feature. I don't know how it helps it fly, but it's used as a weaon once.

RahXephon was the first anime where I bought the whole series. I found many stunning things, and some great fights. It was just so cool. The music added a brilliant touch to things. I'm still waiting for someone to release the soundtracks. For me, this ranks right up there with Big O and Evangelion. I also picked up the guide book, and I'm looking for the manga and movie.

I've heard good things about it - how it uses similar themes as other giant robot shows and makes it work really well.

An anime show that wraps up really well? I'd love to watch that! That's my one beef with some other shows - I like the "create your own version/interpretation of the end" shows, but I also like a little straight-forward resolution, too.

The wings on the heard are functional for flight even though they are a bit small. They are also used as weapons in a very brutal matter which I may mention. She will get a real pair of wings later but nvm that....

The show wraps of very well and for those of you who pay attention you'll realize that they have been hinting at it from the very start of the show.

Another interesting aspect of the story are the dolems. The dolems are the enemies main weapons of destruction. They literally and figuretively are instruments of destruction.

I was just today able to pick up volume 1 of the RahXephon manga. I found it a bit strange compared to the origional series.

spoiler (highlight to read):

1. The mini comic in the back said there would be only three volumes, so don't expect everything. 2. The liolence was lower, but the fanservice went WAY up. To keep the Rahxephon from fosilizing, Itsuki had Sayoko and Haruka get into bikinis and take him to the pool, right during a fight. 3. What is with this new Reika? She's lost her divineness and now acts much more like a teenager.

Will anyone else be buying this? I want a discussion on this.

EDIT: 100th post. It's official now: I'm enjoying this place more than Adult Swim's message boards.

I thought the show was decent. Ep. 19 was the best part.

I loved this anime it was freakin great, I bought the first dvd, just to see if I liked it or not. Before I even finished watching the first episode, I was online buying the rest, asking for rush delivery. I love the music to it, just makes me feel real funny when I hear it. Almost like a shiver when you are cold, but in a good way, I wish there were more episodes but in classic anime it wraps up in about 26 episodes I think. The kid in the show is a pimp also, he seems to have all the girls trying to get with him.

I've seen up to episode 19, I think (DVD #5). And this is a GREAT show!!!!

I can see the comparisons to Evangelion - but in my opinion, RahXephon is a LOT better. The animation is top notch, the character designs are cool, the characters themselves are likeable, and the music is a neat mix - jazz, moody stuff, and frenetic for the battle sequences. And the story itself is good - great drama among the characters, neat action, and some fun stuff too.

PLUS, like everyone else has said, I'm looking forward to seeing how all of the mysteries and the story get wrapped up at the end. (No spoilers please! - at least not until next week or so when I see the last two DVD's.)

Another plus is all the goodies they include with this show. There are voice actor and production crew interviews (clips and text in the case booklet), production sketches, explanations of Japanese references, and all kinds of goodies. This is what more shows need to do. It doesn't seem like it'd take much effort, and it really gives it a top notch feel to it - it shows that they care.

This show easily makes my top 10 favorite list and is the best anime I've watched since Last Exile and Big O Season 2. (Of course, I'm also enjoying the stuff on Adult Swim like Samurai Champloo, but I've only seen 4 episodes of that so far.)

I've only seen a few eppisodes, but i really liked it. I want to get the DVDs, but it will be a while before I can get the money for it.

I just watched the last 2 DVD's of RahXephon and it held up quality-wise. There are even more similarities to the storyline of Evangelion.

I think I'll need to read up on this anime to get some of the connections and past histories among the characters. It does get a little confusing.

A couple of questions:

spoiler (highlight to read):

1. So who exactly are the Mu? And why are some people who seemingly used to be human now with the Mu - were they always Mu? For example, I think of Ayato's "mother" (Kamina ) who was that uncle character's wife? or daughter? Also, there's that officer (Kuki) that is a Mu - but he had a past with the commanding officer (Kunugi). In the insert in the DVD case (#6), it says that Kuki defected to the Mu. So how did he get blue blood? 2. What's the history of that weird Foundation? 3. What happens to people who are inside when a T-field (?) is formed - like Terra started using as offensive weapons toward the end of the series? 4. And . . so what actually happens with the "tuning of the world" that Ayato chooses? And it seems he goes for his own heart's desire and not that Foundation guy or the Mu or Quon. I liked the ending where we see Ayato as an adult with a similar aged Haruka at home with a baby daughter named Quon. And Haruka's on the phone talking with Megumi. And we see a school reunion (10 year? 15 year?) with a note about Ayato's former classmates Hiroko and Mamoru (who had been Mu before the tuning) are those two married now? That's all I gathered from the ending sequence. (I also LOVED the very last sequence showing Ayato and Haruka's first meeting - I KNEW Haruka was the inspiration for Ayato's paintings and the image Mishima Reika to portray herself/itself.) But my bigger question is, what happens to everyone else? Is it sort of like a reset? Is Kisaragi okay (and that girl that always liked him)? What about Kunigi? Or Elvy the other pilots who apparently died toward the final Mu attack? Most importantly in my book, what about Yagumo Souichi - who was Kim's boyfriend? He was a fun character - nice guy who got things done for Terra command. (Plus, what about everyone else like the people from the Foundation - Helena, Isshiki, etc.) I guess in my book, it's sort of a reset with the good guys all okay - or somethig like that.

Anywho, I found ADV's official website, which has plentiful info about the episodes and characters and such. (Plus a neato trailer for the serie featuring the first episode.)
Check it out - http://www.neo-rahxephon.com/index.html

That's one thing Rahxephon has done better than about every other anime out there - it's plentiful supply of resources and goodies. Each DVD comes with a high quality insert booklet featuring art galleries and brief info about some of the characters and mechas, etc., featured. There are also staff interviews and a Japanese culture guide for some of the references in the show. Also, the DVD's have staff and English VA interviews along with art galleries and such.
Word of Caution: Don't read or watch these interviews before viewing the series!!! It only happens two or three times, but they do give away some spoilers!!! I'd wait until you see the entire series before watching or reading them.

I've heard there is a "bible" for the show in English that I might look into picking up.

As for the show - it's the best treatment of a huge cast I've seen in any anime. It juggles a cast of at least 15-20 characters but - and this is the exceptional part - the show manages to give each character their time to shine and their own characterization - both in feature episodes as well as scenes throughout the entire series. And, you really come to care for these characters (well, most of them - some make rather poor life choices).

And the animation is top notch. Gorgeous character designs, interesting characters, some comedy, neat action sequences a la Evangelion and more organic mecha series, quality English voice acting, and some interesting music - jazz and atonal stuff.

Okay, sorry to bring back an old thread, but I just heard that G4/TechTV picked up RahXephon for broadcast. Here's the link and news brief about it:

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ANIME NEWS

http://www.animenation.net/news/index.php


G4 to Air RahXephon

The G4 television network has announced a new programming
block called "Barbed Wire Biscuit," which will be the new
home to the "Anime Unleashed" program. Barbed Wire Biscuit
will premier on August 29th at midnight EST and broadcast
the anime series RahXephon and Colorful.
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If you get G4 (I don't ), take this opportunity to see an excellent anime show. It's very much in the vein of Evangelion, but with much more likeable characters, more resolution, and outstanding animation.