Iwa ni Hana

Quick post on the first episode of 'RD Sennou Chousashitsu'

So the first episode presents the background of the story (which I summarized here before). Not much new info is presented, except now we know that Haru is to rediscover his diving potential during a power outage at his hospital. Also, something called 'real dive' is mentioned. 'Real dive' simple means a dive where you drop yourself as far as you can go into the sea just for the sake of feeling the depth of the sea. I am guessing that it can be contrasted with dive in Metaru, ie. a sea of information, which (according to the info pages on the official website) has pressure proportionate to its 'length' and 'depth'. I wonder if the English title of this series is meant to be Real Dive rather than Real Drive (which is the title that seems to have proliferated within fandom).

This episode is great - thoughtful dialogues, some nicely choreographed action. It promises to be a worthy successor to Ghost in the Shell.

[10/04/2008 EDIT: Actually, forget I said a thing. I just listened more carefully again and I think it is not 'real dive' but 'free dive'. And Real Drive is the titled on Production I.G.'s webpages.]

Plot summary of Production I.G.'s 'RD Sennou Chousashitsu'

Comments from the staff and cast were publicized today and you can follow the link below to read further if you like. I don't have time to translate everything so I will just stick to summarizing the plot which they also posted:

In the year 2012, Haru Masamichi who was surveying the phenomenon of the 'burning sea' on the coast of a man-made island got into an accident and went into a comatose.

In the year 2061, Haru Masamichi awakes to an aged body after 50 years. This reality causes him to lose the energy to walk. He has to live on a wheelchair. However, whenever he sees the sea, he still feels the pull of the mystery of 'the law of the earth' which he encountered in the depths of the sea minutes before the accident.

Kushima Eiichirou, who was an old friend of Haru and who has become the executive manager of Denriken, appoints Haru to be a 'diver' of the computer network, Metariaru (also known as Metaru for short).

Aoi Minamo, a girl of great powers of observation, comes to the aid of Haru.

Minamo's elder brother is an intern of Denriken and works under Kushima. He is also skilled in combat. He worries about his sister who seems to have become an assistant of Haru, and comes to frequent Haru's office.

There is also an assistant android called Holon. Together, they form a team and solve problems arising between Metaru and reality.

Furuhashi Kazuhiro is directing this, along with Amatsuki. He has got his hands quite full. My guess is that his energies are directed at RD Sennou Chousashitsu rather than Amatsuki, which explains why Amatsuki (or at least the first episode I have seen of it) seems rather pedestrian. Certainly it seems several notches off from his level at Le Chevalier D'eon. I for one just hope that he will do justice to both shows.

(Source: ttp://www.animecenter.jp/jp/200804/07202717.php)

New anime series from Production I.G.: 'RB Sennou Chousashitsu (RD潜脳調査室)'

News reached me that Production I.G. will be launching a new series called RB Sennou Chousashitsu (RD 潜脳調査室). It has a number of big names on the staff roll such as Shirow Masamune as creator and Furuhashi Kazuhiro as director. You can see the rest of the staff here:

ttp://www.ntv.co.jp/RD/
ttp://www.production-ig.co.jp/contents/works_sp/1740_/index.html

I can't say I am too thrilled about this just by reading the plot summary. There is something the virtual world where people's suppressed instincts and desires are unleashed etc etc. I thought that sort of thing is old-hat by now in the sci-fi genre. (You know it is old hat when it has become more like a real issue in the Real World...)

But we shall see.