Battle Angel Alita (Gunmm)

Battle Angel, also known by its original name Gunnm (Gun Dream,) is the story of a cyborg girl named Gally. She is recovered by from a garbage dump by Ido, a cybernetic doctor. After saving the good doctor from brain-eating mutants, she expresses a desire to be a hunter-warrior. These bounty hunters are paid and registered by the omnipresent organization called The Factory to hunt down organ thieves, brain eaters, and the like. They are the closest thing there is to law and order in this world. Initially, Ido -- a hunter-warrior himself -- is taken aback by Gally's desire. He does not want her to become involved in the violent and brutal aspects of the world in which they live. Eventually, he does accept that it is her choice to make, and gives his approval. This is how her life begins in this lawless and garbage-filled place called Scrap Iron City, beneath Zalem, the city in the clouds. Meanwhile, Gally has met a boy named Yugo. He is obsessed with getting to Zalem, and spends most of his time earning money for his passage. No one who knows him believes that it is possible for him to make it there -- Zalem is apparently a pretty exclusive club. Yugo must be as aware of this as anyone, yet he clings desperately to this chance. There is more to Ido than meets the eye, as well. He was once a citizen of Zalem, but he seems to have left contentedly to pursue the life of both cyber doctor and hunter-warrior. While there, he was involved with a woman named Chiren. She also finds herself in Scrap Iron City, but unlike Ido, wants nothing more than to get out. Except, perhaps, to prove herself superior to Ido in some way. She senses that Ido's contentment with his way of life reflects badly on hers.

This anime has several strong points. The one I noticed the most was the emphasis on action in the present, rather than dwelling on what Gally's past might have been. I've seen so many sci-fi plots needlessly centred around a character's memory loss or lack of a past that end up being about as useful as a discussion about God's toenails. This movie does not constantly brow-beat you with implications of: "She's got no past, how can she find her identity?" or "Who would leave her in a scrap heap?" Rather, the idea seems to be that however she got there, she is there, and must make the most of it. The only analysis of the situation comes in a simple statement by Yugo, when Gally tells him she has no memories: "That's good. It's a clean slate for your soul," to which she hopefully agrees. Being superfluous in dealing with this issue is very easy to do, but it doesn't happen here. Another high point is the finely-crafted atmosphere of heroism surrounding Ido and Gally as hunter-warriors. When I watch Ido suiting up to defend the a victim of rogue cyborgs, I get the same feeling as when I look at a well-drawn picture of Superman, casting a strong glance forward in a posture conveying strength of mind and body. To me, that feeling means: This man is a hero; his power is used for justice only. A different but similar emotion comes from Gally's agile flip away from the attack of an opponent several times her size, with a look of utter concentration affixed to her face. Finally, the thing that holds the story together is Gally. She's an interesting mixture of character facets not often found together. She is in control of great strength, and even anger, yet stays distinctively feminine. At other times, when being more emotional and intimate, her strength seems to stand out. Yet the two elements co-exist together without conflict. They are different, but not contradictory. Gally is a type of character that is often attempted in anime, but usually only achieved to certain degrees. This part, which she plays perfectly, is that of a beautiful warrior. For all the praise I heaped on it, it might seem surprising to find out that I consider Battle Angel mediocre anime at best. It isn't that there's anything awful about it, its failing is that the background and overall feel of the story don't support the good points very well. It's kind of like the Mona Lisa with a dead forest as a background -- the setting acts as a detriment to the subject. There are some things which seem to be central to the story, but are only dealt with superficially. Zalem, for example. It is only ever seen from below. No one bothers to describe it. The viewer's only understanding is that it is a more desirable place to almost everyone than is Scrap Iron City. If something about Zalem was known, instead of merely character's feelings about Zalem, it would be easier to understand what alternatives the characters truly faced. At best, the motivations of Yugo and Chiren are minimally understandable, since only their methods are presented, not their goals. Reading over what I just wrote, it occurs to me that Zalem's obscurity might be intended to emphasize that these characters just want to be somewhere else, anywhere but Scrap Iron City. Nevertheless, I stand by my position that the story would have been made better by giving more information.

This fairy tall tale in a decadent era. Will rock your nuts!!