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Review by Gwynn Grandy
Just because it's about trash doesn't mean it is trash.
Who would ever think an anime series about garbage collectors would ever amount to anything? Yet PlanetES manages to be intriguing with its refusal to copy the formula for popular anime. No catgirls, samurais, robots, angsty teenagers, superpowers, girls with guns, or tentacle monsters here. Instead PlanetES is the story of the much looked-down upon "han" or trash section of a company operating in space. Their job is to collect the debris travelling at potentially lethal speeds in orbit around Earth.
While there is a continuous plot, there is as yet (I'm on episode 13--about halfway through the series) no driving storyline. It's mostly about the characters and their interactions. The main female character Tanabe originally comes off as obnoxiously idealistic and naive, but mellows out a bit as the series progresses. It's fun to watch her interact with Hachi, whose (mostly) practical attitude provides a welcome foil to her overenthusiasm.
Eventually, they finally begin to realize they have feelings for each other. It's nice to see a romantic relationship between two pretty much average people. No angsty superheroes or girls with triple-D breasts here. Sorry, guys.
There are also attempts to round out the secondary characters, some more than others. It's good to feel like the background characters are people, instead of just moving plot devices.
My favorite humorous bits include the crazy good luck lottery dance, the episode with 10 otherwise average guys who are all convinced they're ninjas, and Fee's cigarette cravings incidentally leading her to be a heroine.
Any complaints I have are minor (like why is Tanabe washing dishes in the kitchen with Hachi's mother while the guys go off to play with rockets?)
Relatively recent graphics, a realistic but futuristic storyline, likable characters, and some light humour make this a fairly solid show. It's a good change of pace from battles with unrealistic robots, unbelievable psychic powers and over wrought highschool melodrama. And samurais. I can only watch so many samurai shows. If you feel the same, try this one out.
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