“You cannot qualify war in harsher terns that I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it.
I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot not heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for more blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.”
General William Tecumseh Sherman
For an anime series that originally debuted in 1993, this review is a long time coming. But rather than leave things undone, I decided to let everybody in on a little known secret called Exo Squad. It was the first anime series I saw in its entirety and one of the few American animes handled in true continuum format. It also quite happens to be one of the greatest anime epics ever made. Exo Squad is one of those few animes you can watch over and over again and notice something different or new each time. Impressed?
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Background Info
The year: 2150. The place: Earth, along with the terra formed colonies of Mars and Venus, which comprise the “Homeworlds.” During this time human civilization is ushered into a new age of prosperity where interstellar space travel and cloning is possible. In order to sustain this flourishing growth, Humans must rely heavily on mineral resources to power its technological backbone. This leads in the creation of a genetically engineered race – the next stage in evolution: Neosapiens. Neosapiens are stronger, larger, faster, and more intelligent then their Human brethren, all while requiring little nourishment and no sleep.
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Immediately after creation these Neosapiens are enslaved and put to work on the harsh mining world of Mars. The Neosapiens sue for equality with fellow humans, but when their pleas go unanswered, they erupt in violent revolution.
Initially, the insurrection is successful due to the physical superiority and strength in numbers of the Neosapiens. Just when the Neosapiens appear victorious, the first of the prototype “E-Frames” appear - powerful, human-powered mechs wielding a devastating array of weapons capable of giving one man the firepower of an entire platoon. With the advent of the E-Frame the Neosapien revolution is easily squashed, ending the First Neosapien War. The dispirited Neosapiens are forced to endure the harsh treatments and prejudices of their Human masters and the humiliation of being defeated by a genetically “inferior” race. Disillusioned and dispirited, the Neosapiens elect a new leader, Phaeton, who promises to reconcile Human and Neosapien differences and release the Neosapiens from the chains of bondage. But instead of peaceful coexistence, Phaeton diverts funds from the reconstruction of Mars into building a secretive and massive military arm ready to crush the Human race once and for all.
The only thing standing in way of Phaeton and his destiny is the presence of the Exo-Fleet. Insidiously, Phaeton convinces the Homeworlds Congress to launch the entire Fleet on a campaign to wipe out the distant Pirate Clans (former prisoners sent to the outer planets) whose raids on interstellar commerce have been growing with alarming frequency. With the Exo-Fleet off fighting against the bandits, Phaeton executes his attack with alarming ferocity and accuracy. The Homeworld’s citizens are caught totally unprepared for the nightmarish hell that Phaeton mercilessly unleashes. Seemingly striking everywhere at once, the Neosapiens E-Frames and Fighters overwhelm the Human’s defense grids; within days the Homeworlds Congress is forced to surrender. Phaeton is given complete control of the Homeworlds, enslaving the Humans as the new second-class citizens. Humanity’s only hope lies with the Exo-Fleet, but will even this armada be enough against Phaeton and his unstoppable military? Thus begins the Second Neosapien War…
Story (6):
Without a doubt the storytelling in Exo-Squad is phenomenal. This is one of the few series that I will suggest for kids and adults alike. Kids will love it because of its superbly crafted space battles (sometimes involving hundreds of E-Frames at once) and adults will appreciate it more mature themes (racism, love, religion, suffering, politics). It is the first true “Space Opera” since Star Wars, encompassing an entire war in 52 Episodes. However, the story doesn’t focus on the overall structure of the War, but the exploits of the legendary “Able Squad” led by the charismatic leader, JT Mash. We see the war as it unfolds through their eyes. The “Able” designation is certainly not without reason. Whether its undertaking seemingly impossible missions like sabotaging Neosapien cloning facilities, infiltration missions to provide relief for Earth’s underground resistance, or holding the line against a barrage of Neosapien assaults, the Able Squad is always in the thick of the action.
The plot of the story remains excellent throughout. There are constant twist and turns where nothing is for certain and betrayal and windfalls lie behind every corner. Exo Squad is definitely thought provoking and inspiring. Drawing heavily from human history (with many parallels drawn between The Second Neosapien War and World War II), Exo Squad reminds us of the price of freedom and the consequences of our own actions. While most other shows focus entirely on a main character on his/her righteous crusade against a universally vile and wretched villain, Will Meugniot, the creator of Exo-Squad, chose a different path. No longer is there absolute good and evil – only sides. Will saw Humans and Neosapiens fighting for what they believed in was true. In the end, who is really to blame for this war and its horrendous losses?
The only problem is with the story’s pacing. Even though Exo Squad lasted for three years, the last season of the show seemed a bit rushed. Consequently, we are left with a bit of a cliffhanger at the end. Most likely this had to due to the show’s cancellation (due to a terrible time slot) and with Will choosing end the story abruptly rather than not at all. Thankfully, the last Episodes do happen to be some of the best.
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For such a large cast, the characterization is dead on. Instead of the standard treatment of gruff, unsure, or cocky personas given to anime characters, the diverse members that make up the Able Squad are unique and fleshed out. In Exo Squad all the main characters are round and dynamic, with real thoughts and feelings. As you watch the story unfold, you’ll notice how each of the characters grow.
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Such examples range from JT Marsh’s transformation from the rebellious commander of Able Squad to a mature, fatherly figure to Rita Torres’ warrior mentality given way to compassion. Additionally, every character has his or her own problems he or she must resolve, such as Marsala, a Neosapien in Able Squad, who must contemplate between fighting against his own kind and abandoning his allegiances with Able Squad. What is not lost in the series is the bonds of loyalty and affection shared by Able Squad. Supplementing the fact is how well written dialogue is. The scripts are written so eloquently, that some quotes will remain in your memory as a dagger in the heart.
The real stars of Exo Squad are the Neosapiens. Whereas most series devote their attention to only telling one side of the story, Exo-Squad chronicles both halves of the conflict. In the series we are presented with the Neosapiens’ plight, their rise to power, zenith, and eventual fall. In particular I found the last segment of this storyboard to be the most touching. In the Neosapiens’ downfall you get a sense of the despair and desolation of war. It is at that point the Neosapiens realize it is not their War but Phaeton’s, and their struggle for liberation was merely a pawn in Phaeton’s will to power. But more importantly is the fact that most Neosapiens continue to fight, often fanatically for a lost cause they once believed in. Near the end of the series as the Exo-Fleet makes its final push on Earth, see exchange of words between Phaeton and Shiva showing desperation and duty. Phaeton: "Shiva, you have always been my best general. Can you stop them?" Shiva: "No, but I will try."
Beside Phaeton, the series’ main antagonist, the experiences of many other Neosapiens are told in detail. There is as much political intrigue and behind the scenes maneuvering as a suspense novel. However, one character that stands out as my favorite is Ace-of-Aces, Thrax, who is introduced much later in Exo Squad. To the storyline, Thrax represents the decorated soldier questioning the cause for war. Admired by both friend and foe alike, Thrax is as much a fighter as a he is a pacifist. Like most Neosapiens, he fights not for Phaeton or the sake of destruction but for justice of the Neosapiens. A relatively minor character, Thrax’s dialogue contains some of the greatest lines spoken in anime history; no word is ever wasted. As he comprehends the meaning of a war fast concluding, Thrax comments with poignant insight, "I used to worry how I would face the end. Would I go bravely like a soldier? But let me tell you something Neo mega, it is life itself that matters, not how it ends. Each moment is a precious gift, if only we have the courage to accept it. That is where our duty lies, not in taking life, but in living it."
Visuals (3):
What separates Exo-Squad most from other anime series of its type (Macross, Gundam, ect.) are its visuals. While the Japanese adopted more of a “big eyes, small nose and mouth” treatment, Exo-Squad relies more on American design resembling a Norman Rockwell approach to characters. This gives the characters in Exo Squad an excellent advantage when showing realism, facial features, and scale. The character designs are each varied with each character given its own appearance and uniform. Detailing is handled exceptionally well, especially on the E-Frames and on ships. Unfortunately, as time passes and the quality bar for anime visuals continues to improve, many of the old-school animes become less atheistically pleasing as they once were. Superior in its time, Exo Squad is often dwarfed by much of the new generation of OVA-quality animation out there (Evangelion, Full Metal Panic, Chobits). In this case, some of the magic is lost.
Sound (4):
The sound employed in Exo-Squad is average overall, with one exception. There are three main areas to judge sound: sound effects, music, and voice acting. The sound effects are far from spectacular. While most of the sound effects do match their descriptions, far too often the same sound effects are recycled over and over again. The music quality is pretty standard, but used effectively.
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Music plays when it is needed to convey emotion; there is never a time where the music is off. The background music is great at setting the scene, whether tranquil or chaotic. The music is not bad by any means and better than most animes out there, but it just doesn’t compared to the likes of Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne, or Noir. What Exo Squad does do better than everyone else is in the voices department. As I mentioned earlier, the written lines in Exo Squad far outstrips anything in anime before as well as how they are delivered. Each spoken line matches each character’s personality and dialect. Given real people, this is exactly how you expect them to speak. Voices is a great way to express the differences between Neosapiens and Humans. While Neosapiens speak more in a serious fashion (representing conformity and conservatism), the voices of the humans are more distinct and varied (representing individuality and creativity).
Overall (19/20)
It is a welcome addition to place Exo Squad up there along with the higher echelon of Japanese anime. Though the anime was much enjoyable by the younger pre-teen audience, don’t be fooled, there’s an incredible amount of depth in here. While many viewers will see Exo Squad as a strong anti-war statement, Exo Squad also acknowledges the necessity and causes of war. Will Meugniot is able to paint a realistic portrait of war by showing the profligate waste of human life but also fusing with it the ideals of hope and honor. If you’re willing to look past the dated visuals and mediocre sound, you’ll be richly rewarded in the end. Exo Squad has it where it counts: Characters and Story. After all, aren’t those the two that matter most in storytelling art form?
End Notes:
Most of the episodes in Exo-Squad are inclusive and can stand alone on their on right. Representing missions more than anything, these episodes are a great way of showing where Able Squad was and what it was doing in the Exo-Fleet’s three-year campaign to liberate the Homeworlds. But connect all these episodes into one whole, and you see the beauty and intricacy of the series. The remainder of these episodes are dedicated to 4-5 Part “Sagas,” which are handled more in an OVA manner. In my opinion these Sagas are the glue that holds the series together. Fall of the Human Empire Pt.5: Resist!, Into the Heart of Darkness Pt. 2: The Brood, and The Fall of Neosapien Empire Pt. 1: One Small Step gives no finer example of the futility of war, its desperation, and the uncommon valor it brings out in men. Watch this series, take it all in, and be amazed.
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