UlasanAnime.com – When asked for a recommendation of a bad anime, Argevollen is not the first title that comes to mind. However, it also doesn’t quite qualify as a good anime, leaving its precise standing on the quality spectrum uncertain, perhaps hovering around mediocre or just average.
Argevollen does succeed in providing entertainment tailored for a specific audience, which isn’t exclusively the core Japanese otaku demographic. While it does cater to them, many viewers likely appreciate its semi-mature science fiction setting, deeply rooted in the familiar tropes of warfare with robots reminiscent of Battletech. For those who enjoy “real robot” anime, this aspect might be particularly appealing. The series also prominently features traditional tanks, adding another layer for enthusiasts to consider.
You might also be interested in : Giant Robots: Captain Earth and Aldnoah.Zero
A recent episode depicted the protagonists’ group resupplying, repairing, and taking a moment to relax in a countryside village situated just behind the front lines. Imagine a typical rural Japanese town, complete with five-story buildings and a shopping street, offering all the conveniences of modern Japan. The antagonist faction launches a surprise assault on this village, prompting the troops to hastily evacuate while simultaneously working on repairing their valuable prototype robot. They manage a last-second retreat across the single bridge connecting the village to the escape route. The episode’s first half featured the protagonists enjoying a hot spring in town, while the second half saw the battle unfold, utilizing seasonal fog to make the retreat less perilous. Explaining the connection between these two seemingly disparate halves through words alone is challenging, so a visual representation of the fog might be more effective.
It’s in moments like these that the feeling of being catered to as an otaku doesn’t feel unwelcome. Unfortunately, this sentiment is partly due to the show’s overall lack of quality, compelling one to appreciate whatever enjoyable elements can be found. Given that Argevollen is distinctly not a typical fanservice vehicle, the few instances of nudity, involving both female and potentially male characters, genuinely stand out. Furthermore, this type of humor is intrinsically woven into the show’s fabric, much like the distinct flavor of rum in a rum cake. The ease with which one acquires a taste for such humor is perhaps the least of Argevollen’s concerns, especially when considering how well these late-night TV anime are typically received. It’s intriguing how one can appreciate dry, subtle, yet remarkably silly elements like these. This might simply be another instance of approaching a show as it is and finding enjoyment in it, despite its absence of redeeming or remarkable qualities.
