Aquarion Volume 1
Released By: MVM
Rating: 12
Running Time: 100 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD5.1
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

After the occurrence of a great catastrophe  a world is in ruins and to rub further salt into the wounds of the people it is invaded by another race, the Shadow Angels of Atlantea. They are dangerous beings from another planet who have just woke from a 12,000 year sleep and have come to earth to harvest prana, a living energy they need to survive. Deava, a special task force there have developed their skills in order to take the Shadow Angels on and try to keep them all at bay.

They use the mecha angel Aquarion, a machine that can assume three types of shape and who many enlist into its rigorous training programme hoping to get a chance to use it. It fuses with the heart, soul and body of its owner inside, ie it becomes a great and equally powerful weapon to use against the enemy. Only three candidates can be selected from thousands of hopefuls. In the Year 0011 several young people want to make it through to the training, desiring to make the world a safer place.

Onto the characters then, or a really special one that is prophesied to be a natural 'element' who was born with an ability to merge with Aquarion.  "Memories of Heavenly Wings" takes the viewer to the beginning of the saga where street kids steal food from a warehouse in order to live as they are being watched by those who believe one of the kids is the true reincarnation of the great Solarwind. They eventually get chance to talk to him, but are out of luck when he is captured along with his friend by the Shadow Angels who want to train him in their evil ways.Silvia, Sirius, Fudo and Rena are the others who along with a cast of many achieve a story that is rich with exciting dialogue.

Get set for a 26 episode mega series that will cause a real storm in the anime world with it animation style and action fueled battles. Mecha fans will enjoy this series written and directed by Shoji Kawamori who also created 'The Vision of Escaflowne' and 'Macross 7.' Volume one is available on DVD containing the first six episodes introduction to a tremendous anime. For the first time seen in the English language in the UK.

For those who like such titles as 'Voltron', and 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' this is a homage to the anime series of the 70's and 80's like popular series 'Battle of the Planets' with an update of CG animation that polishes up this type of series really well. With a production and animation value closer to that of a major movie this will be likened to 'War of the Worlds' due to the realistic graphics. From episode one this is shaping up to be a series that many will enjoy and fans of handsome men and huge, feathery wings will admire.

Bonus Material: Bonus features include; Interview with Director Shoji Kawamori, Tokyo International Anime 2005 Talk Show, Tsugumi's 'All About CG!' Solar Aquarion Edition, Tsugumi's 'All About CG!' Cherubim Edition, Tsugumi's 'All About CG!' Aquarion Luna Edition, Tsugumi's 'All About CG!' Aquarion Mars Edition, Clean Opening and Closing Animations and Trailers for other anime series.

Verdict: High tech, high spec and spectacular to watch. This is a visual feast,  a fantastically realized piece of anime.