Fixup image links in this old post
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@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ disable_share: true
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wordpress_id: 880
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Recently I had the opportunity of viewing a DVD that I had bought in 2006 but never had the chance of seeing: it was the third season of _Galaxy Angel_, of which I had already viewed the first two years before. After viewing it, I realized I could have viewed it sooner, as I liked it quite a bit. Not only that, but I brought myself up to speed by getting what was left in the series, that is the second half of the third season (marketed by Bandai Visual as _Galaxy Angel AA_) and the fourth and final season (known in the English speaking market as _Galaxy Angel X_).
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@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ Well, I found the whole franchise quite good: and after having explored also oth
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## Galaxy Angel? What was it about?
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I was initially aware of the whole matter when _Project G.A._ was announced by BROCCOLI (for those who don't know, it is, or at least used to be, a large merchandising company which also owned the _GAMERS_ anime chain until very recently) at the Tokyo Game Show in 2000.
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I was initially aware of the whole matter when _Project G.A._ was announced by BROCCOLI (for those who don't know, it is, or at least used to be, a large merchandising company which also owned the _GAMERS_ anime chain until very recently) at the Tokyo Game Show in 2000.
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At the time the designs were very preliminary and they showed mostly about the game (more on that later) than on the TV series that was going to be made by Madhouse. As you may already know, BROCCOLI thought of this whole matter as a rather spread initiative, encompassing different medias: games, a TV series (13 episodes in total) a manga (made by the Kanan, the same person who did the original designs) plus a lot of merchandise and associated bits.
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@ -42,41 +42,41 @@ It was only years later that I bought the animated series, in 2004, that is when
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### Season 1 - Galaxy Angel
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[]({{ site.url }}/images/GA_first/GA_first_1.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_first/GA_first_3.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_first/GA_first_10.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_first/GA_first_2.png)
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[](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_first/GA_first_1.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_first/GA_first_3.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_first/GA_first_10.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_first/GA_first_2.png)
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[]({{ site.url }}/images/GA_first/GA_first_4.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_first/GA_first_14.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_first/GA_first_11.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_first/GA_first_15.png)
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[](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_first/GA_first_4.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_first/GA_first_14.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_first/GA_first_11.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_first/GA_first_15.png)
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[](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_first/GA_first_16.png)
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[]({{ site.url }}/images/GA_first/GA_first_16.png)
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That's where it all begins (TM), in all senses, because the animated series was the first to come out after the announcement. I wonder if people watching it thought that BROCCOLI had been trolling them, since it was completely different than the promo. Difference that's seen already by the opening song, ギャラクシーBang! Bang! (Galaxy Bang! Bang!), markedly nonsensical. The episode titles reinforce the impression, as they're almost about food and have a somewhat loose connection to the actual content.
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Even though it was just 24 15 minute episodes, I already appreciated the highly non-sensical humor that permeated the series. The first series sets the basis for all the characters (from the second one top rightwards, Milfeulle Sakuraba, Ranpha Franboise, Volcott O. Huey, Mint Blancmanche and Vanilla H - pronounced _ash_) and to introduce their... peculiarities.
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Already, unlike the games (see below) there's a lot of nonsense and parody humor that will become even more important in the later seasons. At this point the characters aren't that developed but I found most episodes to be enjoyable. Already hilarious is the presence of Nomad (rightmost on the second row) that is just a target for some serious nonsense violence.
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Compared to what we'll see in later sesons, the interactions among the cast are a bit stiff: understandable since nothing else had been done (the game would come out later).
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Sometimes the fact that the episodes end without a real conclusion can be surprising (as well as finding that in the following episodes the characters are still there!) but one gets used to it pretty quickly. The series "ends" with a non-ending like the rest of the episodes (introducing counterparts that will never be seen after that episode), but at the time I knew already that there was a sequel.
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### Season 2 - Galaxy Angel Z
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[]({{ site.url }}/images/GA_second/GA_second_47.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_second/GA_second_20.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_second/GA_second_21.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_second/GA_second_23.png)
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[](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_second/GA_second_47.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_second/GA_second_20.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_second/GA_second_21.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_second/GA_second_23.png)
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[]({{ site.url }}/images/GA_second/GA_second_27.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_second/GA_second_28.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_second/GA_second_64.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_second/GA_second_50.png)
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[](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_second/GA_second_27.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_second/GA_second_28.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_second/GA_second_64.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_second/GA_second_50.png)
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[](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_second/GA_second_38.png)
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[]({{ site.url }}/images/GA_second/GA_second_38.png)
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The second season (known as _Galaxy Angel Z_ outside Japan) introduces a format that will become common: assemble two episodes (which are half as long as a common anime episode) separated by the eye-catch. In this case we're looking at 18 episodes, or rather 9 in total. Compared to its predecessor, elements of parody and marked non-sense begin appearing, which make the show even more enjoyable. Also the cast has better interactions than in the first series, leading to truly hilarious moments.
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@ -97,33 +97,33 @@ However if I were to pick, parody-wise, two episodes from this series, I'd defin
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The first of the two is an all out reference to the "magical girl" series, where the Angels (and Volcott, too!) try to use a magic stick that would grant a wish to a truly believer in magic. This somehow ends up in a sort of clip where lots of historical shows are referenced, as shown in the images below.
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[]({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_1.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_2.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_3.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_4.png)
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[](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_1.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_2.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_3.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_4.png)
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[]({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_5.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_6.png)
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[](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_5.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_6.png)
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The series reference relatively recent productions such as _Doremi_, but also real antiquities (for the Japanese, at least) such as _Megu-chan_ (the Italian readers of this blog may know it as _Bia e la sfida della magia_), touching also video games. How many references did you find in the image shown above? [This video shows all of them](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA-BYHp8Ku0). As you can see are quite a lot. The song is also performed by a veteran of such series.
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The second parody episode I mentioned instead is a reference to _super sentai_ series, where the Angels have to fight as a group known as the "Angel Five". Also this episode compresses a full-length _sentai_ 52 episode series in little less than fifteen minutes.
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[]({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_7.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_8.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_9.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_10.png)
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[](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_7.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_8.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_9.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_10.png)
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[]({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_11.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_12.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_13.png)
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[](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_11.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_12.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_13.png)
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Almost all the cliches are touched, including also a reference to the first _Kamen Raider_ series and the always present narrator that tells how things go on. Oh, and I should not forget about the obligatory mecha scenes (with the combination of the girls' 紋章機 - _monshoki _or rather _emblem frames_ - referencing the usual lack of budgets of these series). Just like the previous episode, there's even a specific song for the various scenes.
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The last mention for this series is the last episode, _final dish REBECCA_, which is actually full-length. In contrast with most of the series, there's not a single trace of humor. It's like one of the few serious episodes scattered through the series but in a more coherent and longer form.
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[]({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_14.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_15.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_16.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_third/GA_third_17.png)
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[](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_14.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_15.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_16.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_third/GA_third_17.png)
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Despite the difference, the essential psychology of the characters is not changed at all (in fact some bits reminded me of the game) and the whole story fits perfectly as ending of the series (open ended, also with Masami Okui and JAM Project's _In the Chaos_ as ending song). If _Galaxy Angel_ had to end there, _final dish REBECCA_ would have been ideal. By the way it was done, I also feel that this season was to be the last one, but the decision changed only later on.
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### Season 4 - Galaxy Angel X
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[]({{ site.url }}/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_1.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_1.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_3.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_4.png)
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[](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_1.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_1.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_3.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_4.png)
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[]({{ site.url }}/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_5.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_6.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_7.png) []({{ site.url }}/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_8.png)
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[](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_5.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_6.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_7.png) [](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_8.png)
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[]({{ site.url }}/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_9.png)
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[](https://www.dennogumi.org/images/GA_fourth/GA_fourth_9.png)
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The last of the seasons is also the one of the most absurd, because the parody and nonsense elements increase dramatically. Usually it's impossible to predict where an episode would end up to being, because aside the initial settings they almost go completely random (but they're rather funny). The craziness affects even episode titles, which become tongue-twisters that also play on assonance: an example 非凡平凡チョコボンボン (_Hibon Heibon Choko bonbon, _translatable as _Extraordinary, ordinary chocolate bonbon_).
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@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ To be very brief, watching this series, even now taht many years ahave passed, i
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## The video games
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It is somewhat less known that _Galaxy Angel_ had also a series (three) of game counterparts, in fact part of the all round strategy devised by BROCCOLI. Unlike the animated series, however, none of these have been translated to English (actually, such a translation was planned, but hastily canned when BROCCOLI USA closed up shop).
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@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ While the story has a more serious tone, it has also many comical moments that r
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Speaking of characters, Chitose appears in _Moonlit_ _Lovers_, and as I wrote before she has a completely different personality, the one of an elite soldier but so fresh that's not capable of adapting (let alone in a carefree unit such as the Angel Tai). She still has a good deal of humorous scenes, though: her interplay with Milfeulle or with Forte in their respective scenarios is quite funny.
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Let's go over the battle part a bit. In these sections, the player is thrown in a 3D battlefield, having to control the Angels, the command ship (the Elsior) and optionally other friendly units (this only from _Moonlit Lovers_ onwards). Units can be selected and orders given (in this case, the visual switches to a zoomable 2D map). Each unit has a series of gauges that indicate their status: the Hull gauge indicates how badly the unit in question is damaged, the Energy how much energy it has (the Angels' _monshoki_ can be resupplied by coming within reach ot the command ship) and for the Angels only, the Spirit gauge. The last one fills when damage is dealt or received, and once full can be use to unleash a powerful special attack which varies depending on the pilot (or in the case of Vanilla, to repair all units). Although the _monshoki_ are rather powerful, some careful planning is due, especially in _Moonlit Lovers_, where the enemies are in much larger numbers. Aside that, there isn't much else to control. The camera can be switched to the various units (useful if you want to check their performance or watch the specials).
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