Coppelion

It amazes me how underrated and under viewed this anime is. This is an exceptional drama about an attempt to recover and rescue people left behind ten years before, after a major city is destroyed by the meltdown of a nuclear power plant by genetically engineered humans. The story is demanding of the viewer as sensitive topics are raised and multiple perspectives are presented, leaving the discretion of the viewer to decide what is right and wrong. It purposely challenges human morality in its various forms making the act of viewing not for the faint of heart. This anime was made during a similar disaster (but not as extreme) in Japan, delaying its public release for several years. I suspect this is the reason for the low viewership. It's a little close to home.

The story is exceptional. By itself it would rate a 8. It follows three genetically engineered girls who were designed to withstand the radiation but are unexceptional in any other way. These teen girls are very human, and as is the tradition in anime are very cute. However, don't expect fan service as this is not that kind of program. The music and soundtrack meets the needs of the story but is unexceptional. I would rate it at a six.

What really is outstanding in the production is the anime. It needs to be seen and not described. It does equal Justice to both beauty and ugliness in the wasteland city. It rates a very solid 9.

Okay so these three girls are genetically modified and amount to little more than the intelligence and strength of a single man. What are we supposed to think. Maybe there is an actual name to it but I call it an anime second which is like 1 to 2 minutes of a action packed moment and instead of reacting AND thinking at the same time, they spend an eternity thinking of an action plan and then moving all while having bullets flying at them. The time it takes to think and say what the plan is the bullets have hit them before the first syllable is spoken. Dumb. Also the scenarios aren't well thought out since things don't make much sense and are made up to fit the characters needs and not what based on any reality or logic. For one tell me how it makes any sense to send out three teens on a highly dangerous mission and they are dressed like school girls in tiny skirts... second they are little cry babies who have no business being in that environment. Other than being able to breath in toxins they are unable to do much but cry, eat, run, get hurt. The realities of the mission plus by sending these airheads amounts to girls who are the main characters needing to be rescued by a boy. Heck they could have just sent him and have them stay back caring for people while he rescues and does anything dangerous. Talk about under using these girls and they apparently have special abilities but aren't used much at all. Even one scene where one girl should have had the strength of ten men couldn't lift one person and save them. Seriously explain this. I don't get the point of the whole story when you throw in these weak characters who need more rescuing than they can even provide. Very frustrating if you are expecting heroes in some form and get whiners and crybabies.

Coppelions are genetically modified humans that can withstand the nuclear radiation created by a power plant disaster which made Tokyo too toxic to live in. Years after the disaster, three high school aged female Coppelions are sent to the now abandoned city to look for survivors. The three young women have to deal with many dangers and personal issues during this 13 episode series. Now for the review: 1) Everything, but the Coppelions, is well drawn. Obviously the animators wanted the Coppelions to look different then regular humans. However, the Coppelions look as if the animators had missed the final step of adding color to the Coppelions face and skin. This makes the character drawings appear incomplete. 2) The English dub and music is good. 3) The characters are likable and interesting, but...it's frustrating to watch them at times doing things so obviously stupid that it needlessly puts their lives and/or the lives of people they are trying to save, in danger. 4) The story occasionally has irritating flaws in logic. In one instance, a Coppelion uses a superhuman power to escape the villain trying to kill her, but instead of continuing to use this power to help her escape, she doesn't and uses regular old physical exertion which allows the villain to catch up. In the end, if you can overlook the flaws, Coppelion has enough positive points to make it worth watching.

One might think "oh it's just an anime series thats about 3 dumb good looking schoolgirls visiting a radiation city for their school trip". Think again, what anime sends 3 dolls who replicate human girls to save folks that were affected by the earthquake? I'll tell ya this, none whatsoever!

The English Dub Cast were great at voicing likeable characters and I also like the fact this animation gave us a glimpse of what it would be like if Fukushima hasn't still cleaned up 20 years later. Fortunately most of Japan is still buzzing but there are still abandoned spots from previous natural disasters, especially the 2011 earthquake. Hard to believe it's been 8 years since it happened!

Great anime, it has emotional spots to it so I recommend having tissues beside you for this anime lol!