I hope you’re all ready for explosions, because explosions and action are definitely at the core of
Galilei Donna’s identity. So much so that it’s a
little on the crazy side, though in no way is that a bad thing. The setting and plot are secondary to the sheer show-off power of A-1′s animation and budget (this is some pretty crisp stuff, CGI nonwithstanding) in this premiere, true, but we do start getting an idea about the kind of series this wants to be. I wasn’t expecting mecha, for one thing, with the small amount of information available prior to airing, nor was I expecting a few of the character interactions we’ve been privy to. Somehow I assumed
our trio of sisters would be an idyllic and somewhat pandering dynamic of sisterly love and support, but instead I see a family of dissatisfied individuals, and while I don’t think they dislike one another, they’re all pretty much doing their own thing. I find that to be pretty normal, as far as familial relationships go; after all, as an older sister myself, my relationship with my sister is rather all over the place, from irrationally close to somewhat disconnected, and it makes sense for these sisters to be a little cool to one another, especially when considering the fact that they’re living separately thanks to their parents.
In that sense, we do learn some of the basics on what makes the sisters tick. They’re all descendants of Galileo Galilei, something their mother likes to remind them of when they’re disappointing her, but as Hazuki Ferrari (
Shindou Kei), the onee-chan at law school, points out, they’re all doing their own things. She herself is bordering on
early alcoholism (drinking during the day instead of being at class, ouch) as a result of her dissatisfaction with her studies and life at college, and she lives alone, separate from the family. Hazuki is also the provider of some of the comedic relief in this episode, especially when she self-importantly starts spouting out law information in dangerous situations, and she seems to be a bit out of it and irresponsible. The middle sister, Kazuki (
Ookubo Rumi), is a socially withdrawn high school student who doesn’t care to participate in group projects but who harbors an unrequited crush on her fellow classmate, whom we’re not introduced to. She’s a
rather sullen presence compared to her sisters, in that bored, rather snarky teenage way, and she expresses a desire to leave her home, which she presumably shares with her overbearing mother. Then there’s Hozuki (
Hidaka Rina), the youngest sister and in some ways the star of the show. Unlike her sisters, Hozuki seems to be an engineering genius who has designed and
built her own weaponry and technology. Despite being the smallest, she’s the most openly ready to counteract, and also in some ways the most removed from her family (excepting her father, whom she probably lives with). The Ferraris don’t seem particularly aware of Hozuki’s abilities, after all, and she’s the one who ends up coming to their very surprised rescue when things go a little insane.
As to the plot surrounding the three sisters, we only know a few things. Firstly, the Ferrari girls specifically are wanted for some unknown purpose by
unknown individuals, which is stated to be finding “Galileo’s Inheritance,” whatever that means. Strangely enough, it’s the girls who are targeted rather than their parents, which leads me to believe that the sisters have to fulfill some unknown role rather than just give their pursuers information. Secondly, the in-story setting is still a little hard to place (they’re in Italy right? so why the Japanese first names? Are they part Japanese?), with pre-premiere information stating that the series takes place during a glacial maximum. Thirdly, with the appearance of Hozuki’s mecha, I think we’re in for some traveling adventure, and that is something I can easily get on board with. Where will the story lead from here? I couldn’t say, but based on this first episode at least, I think it’s safe to say we’re in for a good ride. Personally, I’m loving the small astronomical references in mentions of Copernicus and Ganymede, and I can never say no to a series that tries to go about
familial relationships. That being said, best hang on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen; it looks like it’s going to be a bumpy one.
No comments:
Post a Comment