Whenever someone asks me for anime recommendations, one title that always comes to mind is Last Exile (2003). While not perfect — the ending is a bit rushed, for instance — it still has a lot going for it: excellent animation and design, interesting characters, and above all else, a fully realized and well-drawn (npi) world and mythology. As I wrote in my Last Exile review:
Although the seeds of Last Exile‘s story have been sown in these 4 episodes, much of the time and effort so far has gone into realizing the world of Prester. The episodes take their time developing, offering many strange and wonderful sights to behold — those cliffbound cities, a maze of underground ruins, an array of vanships flying through the morning sky. But there are more subtle touches as well — economic details, daily customs and habits, architecture, the cockpit of Claus and Lavie’s vanship.
Everything in Prester seems familiar and even nostalgic, but with an alien twist that makes it feel strangely unique at the same time.
Needless to say, I was very excited when Gonzo announced they were making a Last Exile sequel. I was also nervous that the sequel would fall short of the original. After sitting through the sequel, though, I can safely say that “fall short” doesn’t even begin to describe Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing. It’s a letdown in almost every possible way imaginable — and it’s all the more disappointing because the storyline and setting does have potential.
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