Argentsoma

When I first started watching Argentsoma, I hated it with a vengeance. Have finished watching the series some years later, I wish I had watched it through to the end back then. Argentsoma is a wonderful series with memorable and dynamic characters, and a fascinating conclusion. Completely immersed in the NGE-style mech genre, Argentsoma has its own, unique spin on every element.

Why did I originally dislike this anime? The first several episodes of this series are very slow, showing the background upon which the real action and plot of Argentsoma are placed. Most series would just tell you what happened six years prior to the main story, or would reveal it in bits and pieces throughout; Argentsoma shows you everything. This doesn’t mean that the entire history of this fiction universe is revealed; rather, Argentsoma is filled with mysteries for the viewer to figure out. It does mean that you know, with some detail, the psychological issues that the main characters are dealing with as they progress throughout the show. This reminds me of the suggestion in the Exalted RPG that players can benefit by roleplaying an ordinary day before their characters exalts. Everyone else at Funeral, the anti-alien organization where most of the action takes place. has an equally detailed backstory; they just aren’t put front and center.