Birdy The Mighty (A, 95.00%)

I have decided to revert back to my more concise review format in order to make my review posts more digestible for readers and to make it easier for me to find motivation to write them. Today, after spending the past four days marathoning, I have decided to review Birdy The Mighty: Decode, seasons one and two, consisting of twenty-five episodes and one OVA. Man do my eyes hurt.

With a strange name like Birdy The Mighty: Decode, many viewers will have no idea what to expect. As far as Wikipedia has told me, Birdy The Mighty: Decode is a remake of an older manga and anime. The narrative revolves around a Federation Inspector known as Birdy Alpha Cephron who is an Ixioran Altan. Basically, she is a space cop who has been genetically engineered to have superhuman characteristics, sexy uniform included. While pursuing a gang of space criminals, she accidentally kills a human named Tsutomu Senkawa whose conscience she stores in her own body until his own body can be repaired.

The narrative revolves around the dynamic between Senkawa and Birdy and constantly switches between the two who lead very different lives. However, when Senkawa's classmate and crush Sayaka Nakasuki becomes infused with an ancient parasitic alien weapon known as the Ryunka which develops by consuming her life force and can be used to carry out interplanetary genocide when matured. Heavy material. While the first season is grand in scope, the second season focuses more on Birdy's history and fills in the holes concerning how the Ryunka ended up on Earth in the first place.

Where the first season falls flat, the second season shines. Senkawa really pissed me off in the first season. Even though Birdy offered to keep him alive in her body, he continued to complain like a punk about all of his first world problems. Well, considering Earth is referred to as the "boonies" of the universe in this series, maybe his problems aren't so first world. However, when he moves into the side character position in the second season, he becomes much more likable. Senkawa practically redefines chivalry at the end of the first season and never fails to demonstrate how he is only useful when he is dead.

The second season is a lot darker than the first season. When Nataru goes on his killing rampage, he doesn't spare any of his enemies and doesn't hesitate to kill them in the most brutal ways possible. But a little blood and dismembered limbs are really just side pieces and in no way define the fights or overall experience of the show. The fights in Birdy The Mighty: Decode are fantastically choreographed and feature some of the best animation I have ever seen. I really love the no nonsense antagonists of the show who act intelligently and will mow people down at a moments notice. Well, except for the M. Night Shyamalan replica.

Nataru has got to be one of the best plot devices I have ever seen. His introduction in the second season was perfectly executed, serving as a springboard for delving into Birdy's past and laying the foundation for Birdy's romantic quest. I was only really pissed at him twice in the series and that was when he killed the Ice Climber knock-offs. DON'T TOUCH NANA AND POPO! Nataru's relationship with Birdy was really well conceived, producing a very genuine feeling of built-up love which lacked the artificiality I find in many anime in which two characters simply fall in love in an instant. Thank you Hayamiya for being one of a select few characters who can be childhood friends with the main male protagonist without having a crush on him.

It is really a shame that a show like this with such high production value isn't very famous. Birdy The Mighty: Decode has one of the best soundtracks I have heard in anime for a while, with fantastic OPs for both seasons which I highly recommend you download immediately. The animation outside of fights is clean and the character models are well drawn while the animation inside of the fights captures dynamic motion fantastically with messy and chaotic character movements. This series was a welcome addition to my collection of anime and I highly recommend you check it out and stick with it until the end. Really, Birdy The Mighty: Decode goes from good to fantastic.

***BEGIN SPOILER***

As far as the ending of the first season goes, I was satisfied even if the generic, everybody is happy route was taken. I mean, the Ryunka was supposed to be some bad-ass ancient weapon, so it was sort of unnerving to see it functionally defeated with a kiss. Oh yeah, and how does Senkawa jump nearly 50 feet off of a bridge onto a cruise with only a twisted ankle which magically heals in the next frame? Honestly A-1, just have him jump into the water first. I feel like having Nakasugi die instead would have packed a greater emotional punch. At the same time, I am glad that the possibility of having more Senkawa/Nakasugi action was left open for the future.

As far as the second season goes, the ending wrapped up a lot of questions, but a few lingering questions remain which I pray will be answered in a new seasons. For instance, is Nataru dead? What is up with the blonde Altan with the sunglasses? Will Revi be brought to justice? When will Senkawa ever get his body back? Did Valic get away? What is  Senkawa's classmate's connection to Irma? WHEN ARE SENKAWA'S PARENTS COMING BACK? These are just a few of the questions which could form the basis for a kick-ass new season. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed.

***END SPOILER***

Birdy The Mighty: Decode is available on YouTube for easy watching if you are interested. However, some punk decided to flag the second season so you will need to use an account which proves you are over the age of 18. Sigh. Some people.

Story: 9/10 - Once again, no filler; Every minute is utilized well; Complex second season makes up for somewhat generic first season, especially with successful implementation of time-travel.

Characters: 9/10 - One-dimensional characters in season one get fleshed out well in season two; Chemistry between Senkawa/Nakasugi and Birdy/Nataru is fantastic.

Animation: 10/10 - The fights pack a mighty artistic punch with amazingly fluid movement; Character expressions are realistic; The colorful environment is a joy to watch.

Music: 10/10 - This may be one of the few series whose OPs I never skipped while watching; The EDs are not as good, but sufficient; The main theme is catchy and blends well with the situation.

De Arimasu,

Noel