10 Second Anime - Cross Ange - Episode 1

Cross Ange - Episode 1



In a world where Norma, people who can't use magic, are forcibly separated from society, Princess Ange is discovered to be one of these Norma. These exiles are recruited to fight Dragon invaders in flying mecha, and Ange soon joins their ranks.

Heh.

Here's my trashy adult-themed pick of the season. Much like Freezing, this is a show where beautiful girls get to be ugly to each other, mostly in violent ways with sexual subtext (sometimes not so very sub). The character designs appear to reference Code Geass (the character design lead was an assistant for that show), but because of the violent, sexual, ugly nature of the show, I'll just think to myself that this is the work of Utility Pole Spirit who does the lead artwork for Lilith Soft known for their hentai games, of which Taimanin Asagi is their most famous work. Don't image search for those things unless you're prepared for the all the depravity Japanese subculture is notorious for. Don't.

What I found refreshing about this first episode was how straightforward Princess Ange was with her bigotry towards Norma. These non-magic users, always girls, are usually discovered very quickly by social services and taken away to be raised separate from society. Specifically, a big island base in the middle of nowhere. It's easy not to like her immediately with how spoiled she is, but there might be a germ of actual nobility within her, as we see her forfeit a match to catch a teammate falling from a great height.

I'm not a fan of flash forwards, so it was a bit jarring to see Ange as she appears later in the series in full mecha plug-suit flying and attacking dragons, but directorially, I can understand that we need to see a hint of what she'll become after falling from her privileged status.

The voice-overs during the preview for the next episode shows the producers are very aware of what kind of show this is. Good. Reminds me a bit of Blade and Soul in that regard.

Meh.

I can easily see censor shadows in the opening credits. That does not bode well for the upcoming gratuitous nudity. Buy the blu-rays...

Hmm.

Seeing that baby just dispel magic by touching it makes me think the magic users actually fear the Norma, since having too many of them walking around would totally disrupt their magic based society.

Of course, only royalty could hide a Norma for sixteen years, and employ a maid companion to do all the magic for her.

I'm interested to see why these magic dragons are invading this world. Could it be the usual thing where they're attracted to a magical imbalance? No allegory there...

Ange is now in a de facto prison with other beautiful violent women. I'm sure many of the themes associated with prisoner-warden relations and inmate hierarchies will allow for instances of loss of dignity, nudity, violence, nudity, friendship, nudity, and lesbian sexuality. And nudity. I want to see how creative the censors get with their bars of colored shadow. Bring on the form-fitting plug suits and adult themes!