Last Exile
Reviewer: Katze [email]Overall Rating: A
Media Reviewed: DVD
Creator: Studio Gonzo, Director Koichi Chigira
U.S. Licensed: Yes
Released by: Geneon Entertainment
Run time: 26 episodes
BL Content: None (slashable)
Genre: Drama
There are few anime series that really make you sit-up and take notice and this certainly is the case with Last Exile. Exile takes place in an era somewhere between the lines of a technologically advanced war-torn Europe, mired in the pseudo-Victorian era. Beautifully drawn and coupled with an equally impressive amount of well-placed CG, Exile introduces viewers to the land of Prestale in heated war with its long-time enemy, the Guild. The main characters are beautifully rendered and, as most battles take place in aerial dogfights, the backgrounds pay compliment with an equally ethereal feel. But visuals aside, the main key to the story is character development. Back stories are revisited to reveal the inner workings of each character, and a healthy amount of development happens throughout the show.
The BL slant enters with the introduction of positively feline Guild member, Dio Elaclaire and his page/co-pilot, Luciola. A curious if not tenuous friendship stems from competition when Dio meets enemy pilot, Claus. Having lost to him in a race, he is more than intrigued by the pilot's natural talent and follows him to the enemy ship where he boards and eventually defects from the Guild. There are moments of humor as Dio continuously compliments Claus on his talents, leaving the latter embarrassed and blushing. He lavishes more than a healthy dose of affection/attention on him - to the point of fawning over the guy - much to the discomfort of Claus' co-pilot, Lavie.
And then there is the Dio/Luciola factor. Luciola is a 'gift' from Dio's sister, Delphine. Awarded as a slave to her brother, their relationship evolves to more of - and more than - a friendship, and a bond is immediately struck on many levels. One only need notice Dio's obvious affection towards his page, and Luciola's quiet adoration to realize that this paring is canon with the overload of angst. There's a touching flashback of how Luciola came to service, which outlines his loyalty to his master. His devotion is obvious - willing to fight to protect him and risking his life in the process. Dio's reaction to this sacrifice highlights the climax of the series and cements that dimension to their friendship.
With Last Exile's artwork, interesting plot, and even more compelling subplots, this is a series worth watching. Highly recommended.
