What is the appeal of Last Exile?

[Isambard]

Curious about people's responses to this question.

[Magami No ER]

The animation is surperb, nice character design and it flows nicely.
Not a favorite of mine though. :P

[Levon]

The sci-fi & fantasy mixed world. The great animation, CGI was done very well, great atmosphere with Range Murata character designs. Amazing music. Action packed. Great English dub.

[cutiepieanna15]

i liked the animation and the theme song and pic layout to the jap version. plus its a simple plot but a very well thought out series.

[Kaiga]

The creativity is what draws me in, the storyline, the characters, the way the artist tends to put "personality" into his art, so it just doesn't feel like an anime that feels like a bunch of drawings moving to a soundtrack. they are good at matching everything together. yes and the animation is just godly, as well as the how the storyline flows. great creativity on this one. Last Exile isn't one of my tops favorties but it is a favorite.

[Leader Desslock]

I liked it, but I'm not much of a fan of the series, and I certainly won't be buying it.

I thought it was beautiful eye candy, and it created a very nice world without ODing on the detail. Just enough detail to keep it interesting, and the rest left to the imagination. All that was great. I thought the characters were mostly stereotypical cutouts and they didn't interest me at all, but I'll chalk the latter up to personal taste.

What I thought the series lacked (objectively) was an overall coherence. It was like they were trying to tell more story than they knew how to tell in the time allotted. I suppose that one could make the argument that it was 'a show about nothing', and all of the details were meant to be glimpses into different but loosely related facets of the world. I didn't get the sense that this was the creator's intent, however. I got the idea they were trying to make something Epic (with a capital E) but didn't quite know how to go about it. So they threw in everything in the definition and called it Epic. That's my gut impression.

Overall, worth a rental, but only worth buying if you know you like it. And I guess I can see how some people like it. Not my bag, though. It's maybe worth a half-price thinpack one day, but if I want to see a beautifully animated, thoroughly detailed world, I'd sooner spend my money on something like Haibane Renmei.

[Scandiadream]

It did nothing for me when I watched it. I thought it would be another good fantasy a la MKR, ROLW, or Escaflowne. But it bored me instead.

[japangirlcmw]

To me, the art. The characters are beautiful--Even more beautiful is the background art, and the ships...Just amazing looking.

And...Alright....I watch it for Dio/Luciola, too... ^_^

[Animebebop]

I believe that the storyline is just amazing and the character designs by Range Murata were incredible. It takes you on a journey really that just kept me interested throughout the whole show.

[Jon]

I can't really add much to this disscussion as I only own the first volume. But the animation is great, so far I haven't really got to see the characters develop much, as I have only gotten through episode 2 where they deliver that message.

I think it's great, I hope I'll finish gettting all of them.

[RoadAvenger]

The series had great animation, great characters, great music and great storytelling. To me this series was the epitome of masterpiece. For the time I was watching it...I was somewhere else, always wanting to go back to the great setting after finishing a few episodes. It was addicting and kept me wanting more and more.

I have been extremely critical lately on many an anime mostly due to lackluster endings and bad storytelling. Last Exile however, remains an amazing piece even after watching it again, I can't remember the last time I was so pleased with an ending and a show in general.

[soulreaper]

I agree mainly with every compliment that has been said so far. There really isn't any fault I can find with it. Although, it does fit right in with my preferred genre, steam-punk with a little bit of 19 - 20th century character and vehicle designs. I bought the $150 boxset without ever seeing one episode, just because of good reviews. And I can safely say that it is the best purchase I have ever made on an anime.

Gonzo may not be the greatest of studios, but this masterpiece is more than enough to make me trust them with Black Cat.

[Animebebop]

great music

Agreed. The music is really good. The opening theme is addictive and all the music fits nicely with the show.


I am kind of hoping for a second season but really it's not necessary. It would be nice if you guys know what I mean, to kinda conclude certain things. ^_^

[soulreaper]

I don't think there is any hope at all for a second season. Because, well, everything is already wrapped up pretty well (everything except ONE thing). However, as there have been hints from Gonzo, I believe that a prequel would be much more appropriate, describing more about why the humans left Earth and how Exile was made, or about the different houses of the Guild.

[Krueger]

What is the appeal of Last Exile?

It's got airships and puffy clouds.

[ayato kamina]

Its from Gonzo...

[Lancaster]

Mostly just Delphine's chest.

[Lord Timaeus]

What's not to love? Great story and characters, stunning animation, imaginative world and background, no excessive fanservice... although I could have used more background information on the Guild and the origin of Prester...

[LightingBolt]

Great series :)
bought the soundtracks :)

A great purchase indeed :)

[SuperKnuckles]

The emphasis on airplanes and the like. That's a HUGE plus in my book. If Last Exile took place on land, it would lose all its appeal.

[chugg666]

I never made it all the way through Disc 1. I thought that the animation was beautiful, but the story didnt really draw me in. Last Exile and El Hazard are the only two series that have ever failed to get my attention in the first few episodes. I'll probly give them both a second chance sometime in the future though.

[Leader Desslock]

What is the appeal of Last Exile?

It's got airships and puffy clouds.
Mmmm... puffy clouds...

[soulreaper]

I never made it all the way through Disc 1. I thought that the animation was beautiful, but the story didnt really draw me in. Last Exile and El Hazard are the only two series that have ever failed to get my attention in the first few episodes. I'll probly give them both a second chance sometime in the future though.

Dude, that's not good at all. Don't ever judge a series by its first few episodes. For crying out loud, I jump at every chance i get to praise FMA, and I was bored out of my mind for the first two episodes (with Cornello). I guarantee that if you do in fact give it a second chance, you will regret having ever stopped in the first place.

[slotmech]

There is still a limit on how far one can watch before they decide to stop. I'm not going to tell someone to keep watching after they finished half a series and still not like it.

[chugg666]

I watched the entire first disc, and have the second disc lying around. I just wasn't interested, so I put it down.

[Aquarius_Flower]

Ah, the music. Actually that's the only thing that really caught my attention. I saw a preview of it in my Heat Guy J copy and absolutely fell in love with the song. I now own the first o.s.t.. Want to get the second. The visuals accompany it nicely as well. Unfortunely the series does not peak my interest quite as much. The Gorillaz video reminded me of the beauty of Last Exile's skyscape and floating aircraft.

[Levon]

Last Exile and El Hazard are the only two series that have ever failed to get my attention in the first few episodes. I'll probly give them both a second chance sometime in the future though.

Are you talking about the El Hazard TV series or OVA? There is a diffrence....

[chugg666]

Are you talking about the El Hazard TV series or OVA? There is a diffrence....I watched El Hazard: The Wanderers DVD 1 'The Adventure Begins'. I dont know if thats the OVA or series. I never checked into it.

[cutiepieanna15]

i personally watch the downloaded version of an anime show first then buy the dvds later. that way u dont end up buyin somethin thats not even what u like. just a lil tip LOL

[chugg666]

I only have them because of Netflix. :)

[Leader Desslock]

Dude, that's not good at all. Don't ever judge a series by its first few episodes...I guarantee that if you do in fact give it a second chance, you will regret having ever stopped in the first place.
Interestingly, I had precisely the reverse experience.

Last Exile had me hooked from the first few seconds of the title theme, which I thought set the mood perfectly. For the first few episodes, I was convinced it was going to be a very different series, and likely an outstanding one. Then as the series progressed, it lost me. I found Deeo's cat-with-a-mouse thing with Claus to be mildly interesting, as was the little girl whose name I've already forgotten. Beyond that, I just lost interest. The characters were flat, I didn't care about anyone, I didn't care what Exile was, I couldn't care less about the political landscape, and just generally found it to be kind of mediocre. Very Pretty, but mediocre.

[Neo0tak0n]

I love Leader Dresslock.

[Akaihyo]

I really enjoyed Last Exile. There are some questions that I would have liked to have had answered at the end that were not, but I can live with that. The overall look, story and flow were all excellent.

[goddessofanime]

I love the pretty, pretty art from Range Murata. I saw about 10 episodes and lost interest though.

[Loopy]

Extremely pretty, good musical score, good characters, good story, etc. Although I'm only up to episode three so I don't know much about the latter two.

[seba_boi]

Range Murata!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I mean his character designs)...

That's about it...

[Irons]

Interestingly, I had precisely the reverse experience.

Last Exile had me hooked from the first few seconds of the title theme, which I thought set the mood perfectly. For the first few episodes, I was convinced it was going to be a very different series, and likely an outstanding one. Then as the series progressed, it lost me. I found Deeo's cat-with-a-mouse thing with Claus to be mildly interesting, as was the little girl whose name I've already forgotten. Beyond that, I just lost interest. The characters were flat, I didn't care about anyone, I didn't care what Exile was, I couldn't care less about the political landscape, and just generally found it to be kind of mediocre. Very Pretty, but mediocre.

I had the same experience too. I get it a lot with certain shows, and it's no surprise. It is a marketing strategy that all companies use. Wanna make people buy Evangelion Platinum? Put 5 episodes on the first disk. Give them an empty artbox with the first DVD so that it sits there and guilts them into buying the rest. Put a ton of effort and money into making the first few episodes brilliant.

Often times if the first bite tastes good you don't realize you're really eating **** till you're almost done. I'm not calling Last Exile ****, but it certainly wasn't what I thought it would be after watching the first few episodes.

edit: Holy ancient thread bumping Batman.

[mystic_ss]

^lol....i like that answer......

well...it definitely owns an original synopsis.... i really liked the idea of those airships....
but what makes it appealing..is..
-plot..it's never to heavy to watch...no matter what's going on..you always have a feeling something good will happen...
-music-so relaxing...and yet powerfull...
-description of characters...so detailed...and everyone is in love with someone...commonly that ''love'' isn't two-sided....
-has a beautifull badguy...which makes it interesting...
-has two kids for main characters....which is rebellious ..coz you have 2 kids without their parents trying to find their place in the world of adults....
-those who are discriminated in real life in Last Exile are ''celebrated''....
-ok...i could go for hours....but the most appealing feature of this anime is the
the ending.....although a lot of people say they dislike happy endings..a vast majority just melts down when watches one...happy endings are the safest way to end a series ...because you know people will like it.....

just to mention...i liked Last Exile...how ever there are a lot of things i disliked ....but i'll not mention them coz then it would be offtopic....

[mecegirl]

Becuse Range Murata is awswome!!!

[Ark]

What is the appeal of Last Exile?

Did it have any?

The episodes up to and including the race were fairly entertaining but after that it just went all over the place plot wise.

Now and Then beats it as a war story ten times over even though it's half the length and doesn't have any CGI.

[Baka Deshi]

I watched El Hazard: The Wanderers DVD 1 'The Adventure Begins'. I dont know if thats the OVA or series. I never checked into it.

The Wanderers is the TV series. It's pretty much universally recognized as being not as good as the OVA. AN doesn't seem to have the OVA, so look here (http://www.rightstuf.com/cgi-bin/catalogmgr/PTK=BwPWsA1WSCeUz1/browse/item/47902/4/0/0).

[Matsu'o Tsurayaba]

The concept was very good,late 1800`s early 1900`s theme.It often gave me the impression of old world technology with a twist.It is a decent anime,good opening theme song.

[seba_boi]

Becuse Range Murata is awswome!!!
Woot, YEAH!!!...