Director: Itsuro Kawasaki
Starring: Ayahi Takagaki, Brina Palencia, Mai Nakahara, Monica Rial, Mikako Takahashi, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Todd Haberkorn
Running Time: 300 minutes
Certificate: 15
The heavily influenced dystopian show is back to complete its run, and this time the show manages to underplay elements taken from other films and television programmes. There’s a greater focus on character and politics in this collection of episodes, and although that may sound like a good thing, it makes the show a rather convoluted and confusing watch.
Chrome Shelled Regios doesn’t exactly supply any memorable characters, and nor does it focus on a a particular character or group for a decent amount of time. The narrative is constantly switching in order to build a world in which we can feel engaged, but this is something that should have been done in the first place. Complications for the latter half of the series betray the simplicity of the first half.
You soon find yourself forgetting exactly what the show is meant to be about and where it’s set. The whole idea of contaminated giant bugs having taken over the world becomes an afterthought, and is only dragged out of retirement to add sequences of excitement. They do offer a sigh of relief, but you also find yourself thinking “Oh yeah, I forgot about that.” The sheer amount of characters bringing their own issues also becomes a distraction. I found myself trying to connect the dots rather than getting emotionally involved with characters and I could probably only name a quarter of the cast.
Bloated and unoriginal, Chrome Shelled Regios is an anime that can be dissected, taken apart, with each of the elements found elsewhere. Trying to cram so much into so little just leaves the impression of a stuffed suitcase which you have to sit on to even get it closed. You probably won’t be using all the items you packed, and the journey’s going to be a heavy and uncomfortable one.
[usr=2]Chrome Shelled Regios: Part 2 is released on DVD on 19th May via MVM.
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