Last Exile anime (Possible Spoilers)

[Maniac]

I fianally got around to watching the Last Exile anime that aired on TechTV last month.

Its basically the story of Kluas and Lavi - pilot and navigator of a Van ship (think biplane without the wings) who get caught up in and ongoing war between several factions. The style is sort of steampunk.

Its very good and I liked it alot.

But like many anime series the background is sometimes hard to grasp on your first runthough. When I get the time I'll rewatch the 13 episodes I have (the remaining 13 have yet to be dubbed in english) but I was hoping to read up on the background.

Initial web search unfortunately did not turn up what I was looking for. Does anyone know of links discussing the background rather than simple episode summaries?

If no such info exists I'd be happy to discuss the series here.

Thanks.

M.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I also caught it on TechTV. I thought it was very interesting in terms of character development without being overwhelming like Robotech tends to be at times. I know that they're on DVD 3 but I'm waiting for the boxed set so I can sit down and enjoy the whole bit at once.

 

[ShadowX]

Actually I have the same criticism of many anime series. They jump right into the plot and you are bewildered until they explain the background, if they do at all. Anyway its funny you bring this up because a friend of mine recently recommended this very anime to me. The steampunk sounds interesting.

 

[WayneLigon]

Actually I have the same criticism of many anime series. They jump right into the plot and you are bewildered until they explain the background, if they do at all. Anyway its funny you bring this up because a friend of mine recently recommended this very anime to me. The steampunk sounds interesting.

The reason for that is that many time, you're assumed to have read the prose novels and/or the associated manga; we have nothing on the Japanese when it comes to cross-marketing.

 

[WizarDru]

The reason for that is that many time, you're assumed to have read the prose novels and/or the associated manga; we have nothing on the Japanese when it comes to cross-marketing.

That varies dramatically from series to series. Sometimes you're simply assumed to have read an article in New Type or elsewhere that helps flesh things out, but as often as not, they simply don't bother detailing certain story elements. The Japanese emphasize different story-telling elements and perspectives.

On top of this, that style varies from anime to anime. Consider, for example, the Giant Robo OVA. There, you get a good deal of information up front, but as more and more information is revealed, you learn that things are different than how they first appeared: the bad guy isn't necessarily bad, for example. One thing that appeals to many folks is that some anime, such as Last Exile, forces you to work it out, and doesn't bother spoon-feeding you extensive exposition. Take a show like RahXephon: the concepts of the series are it's central mysteries...you have to wait to find out what's going on, because that's the whole point. A show like Cyborg 009, on the other hand, throws it all out in front. Cowboy Bebop is a mix: Spike's backstory is a mystery that is revealed over time, but the main themes are straightforward....but if you want to learn why Earth is a mess...you need to wait until someone mentions it.

This can be a maddening or intriguing process, depending on your taste. A show like Kishin Robot Corps, for example, can be completely derailed by a failure to explain the nature of the evil aliens giving giant robot technology to the nazis (among other things). However, a show like Trigun is as much about the Journey as it is the end result. Why did Wolfwood leave the Gung-Ho Guns? Where did Vash and Knives come from, exactly? You get hints, and are expected to work it out on your own.

In the case of Last Exile, certain things seem to come through: the world is currently controlled, indirectly, by the Guild. The guild appears to A) have access to superior technology, B) have four families, each with a specific task and piece of knowledge to guard, C) provides some of the technology that powers the Van Ships, which in turn is where they derive their power. The series seems to be focused on breaking the guild's power and freeing mankind from their yoke, but it's obviously much more involved than that.

Was there a particular point you were curious about?

 

[Maniac]

Thanks for the replies.

Is there a Manga for this series?

Originally Posted by WizardDru
In the case of Last Exile, certain things seem to come through: the world is currently controlled, indirectly, by the Guild. The guild appears to A) have access to superior technology, B) have four families, each with a specific task and piece of knowledge to guard, C) provides some of the technology that powers the Van Ships, which in turn is where they derive their power. The series seems to be focused on breaking the guild's power and freeing mankind from their yoke, but it's obviously much more involved than that.

This is exactly the kind of info I was looking for.
I think that one of the things I like about this anime is the clues to the background create mysteries that keep me into the show - but it can be frustrating at times.

As to other points I was curious about here are a few. I understand there is a Guild that seems to be in control. Then we have an Emporer (not sure the name of the Empire) whose fleets seem to be in conflict with the Dysif(sp?). Are there any other factions?
Who does Alex Rowe and the Silvana owe their allegiance too? I gather more will be revealed as the show progresses but it seems as though he maintains his own agenda but was reporting to the Emporer at times.
I have little idea what the auction was about - a distraction for Alex to get the Exile (whatever that is) from the guy he talked to after escaping the auction?

I could go on but I will contain my curiosity

Thanks.

M.

 

[WizarDru]

Thanks for the replies.

Is there a Manga for this series?

To my knowledge, No. This series is cut-from-while-cloth, envisioned by Gonzo studios as an anime from day one, using some of the CGI techniques for which they've become so popular.

This is exactly the kind of info I was looking for.
I think that one of the things I like about this anime is the clues to the background create mysteries that keep me into the show - but it can be frustrating at times.

Yeah, it can be a real double-edged sword. Particularly when some series NEVER answer what we, the western audience, consider to be vital questions. RahXephon, for example, left some things open or ambigious, which the Japanese audience likes, but drives U.S. audiences nuts.

As to other points I was curious about here are a few. I understand there is a Guild that seems to be in control. Then we have an Emporer (not sure the name of the Empire) whose fleets seem to be in conflict with the Dysif(sp?). Are there any other factions?

First, grain of salt time. I'm no expert on the show, I've just watched all three DVDs, so far. I watch with subtitles, so that may give me a different perspective, at times.

1.) There are several countries at work, here. Alex and the Silvana owe their allegience to the Emperor of [cough]forgotthename[cough]. However, it's clear that he doesn't trust the emperor, and in action shows his allegience to the queen, who is apparently waging a war of intrigue. There are at least two other countries involved, one of which is where Klaus and Silvie are from.

I have little idea what the auction was about - a distraction for Alex to get the Exile (whatever that is) from the guy he talked to after escaping the auction?

Actually, it's a little different from that. Alex already has the Exile. It's the young girl that Klaus and Silvie rescued. SHE's the exile, and she's the cargo everyone wants. Locked inside her is a power, apparently, that might hold the key to the Grand Stream, the powerful wind tunnel in the high sky that no one can penetrate (except for Klaus father, who apparently once did it).

The item that was bid on was supposed to be the key to the Exile, a portal of sorts. It wasn't, that was a trick, and Alex knew it (he was playing a dangerous game with the guild, there). The man who was carting it around was the actual key. He knew one of the four key phrases to activate the girl's power (which we see activated later). Each one of the four guild families guards one of the phrases. It sounds like if you use the whole four lines of the poem, the girl's power will unlock some sort of portal...but we haven't seen for sure.

How's that for a start?

 

[Maniac]

That was a great start! Thanks.

Can't wait for more of these to come out.

M.

 

[WizarDru]

That was a great start! Thanks.

Can't wait for more of these to come out.

M.

Glad to be of service. From the Last Exile website, some clarity arrives:

There are two major nations: Anatory and Disith, who are currently at war. Both sides have ships powered by 'Claudia' drives, provided by the Guild. Only the guild knows how they work, and when ships are fated to be destroyed, the Guild can remove the drive remotely, causing those ships to crash to the earth far below.

The two nations of Prester are currently at war. They are separated by a powerful and dangerous expanse known as the Grand Stream. Disith manages to create a shield to pass through it, and violence ensues. Alex is considered a loose cannon of Anatory, and while the Silvanas has never lost, it is both feared and disliked, for a variety of reasons. When the Guild recently decided (in episode 1) to stand by and do nothing when Disith violated the laws of chivalry, Anatory suffered badly (as you saw). Why did the guild do nothing? The assumption I have is that they were paying back Anatory for hiding the Last Exile (Alvis) from them.

The guild appears to be guarding something, but I suspect some in the Guild have taken to hiding it, instead. I suspect it will have something to do with why the guild has such powerful technology, in comparison to the two nations.

Claus and Lavie come from Norkia, a frontier town of Anatory. They are far removed from the war, and like most of the frontier towns, could care less. They all dream of breaching the grand stream, far above. It should be noted that the physics of Preston and the Grand Stream make it sound more like a fantasy barrier....Disith is on the other side of the grand stream, far above Anatory, supposedly. I suspect we'll see more in upcoming episodes.

Oh, one more thing: the Vanships use Claudia drives, but they are NOT dependent on the Guild, making them the last bastion of freedom in the skies. Klaus and Lavie's vanship has been modified to be a racer, which is why they need an external electrical 'boost' to start their engine...they've stripped the starter out.