The “mecha” genre in anime has long been a criticized one.
It’s not because giant robots are impractical or childish (as if anime ever obeyed realistic physics), but because they usually follow a rehashed formula… child finds giant robot, discovers he has some hidden power inside him, meets terrifying enemy (aliens, military, etc), and becomes a better fighter using his mecha until he single-handedly defeats said enemy.
And in this overdone genre, Eureka Seven stands out. Why? Because it tries to be different. That’s not to say it doesn’t contain elements from its genre roots… yes, there’s a mecha, and yes there’s a child with some overpowered abilities… but Eureka Seven goes far beyond that. This isn’t a plot of “travel from point A to B” or “go from zero to hero” – it’s a tale of a boy who needs more from life, who needs to know what he’s supposed to do in this world, and mainly how everyday events keep changing not just him but the people around him. From dealing with his first serious crush, to deciding whether it’s alright to kill an army through a weapon of mass-destruction, Eureka Seven wants to flesh out its characters and story far beyond the typical mecha show.
However, just having a grand scope isn’t enough to make a good show. Fleshing out your characters isn’t worth it if they aren’t likable, and fleshing out your story isn’t worthwhile if it becomes too complicated or confusing. *cough EVANGELION cough* It’s not enough to have a strong idea for a foundation if its parts aren’t put together well. So let’s just find out for ourselves how entertaining this modern mecha is, and whether it will be as memorable as it promises or not…
