Martian Successor Nadesico

Martian Successor Nadesico has always struck me as a bit odd – there’s something paradoxical about the message that the series has about anime itself, told through the framed anime of Gekiganger III. Nonetheless, this is an anime with a meaning, albeit one that’s difficult to really grasp. Those who are just looking for humor or action will be completely delighted with Nadesico – there’s no heavy moralizing here, and the message is subtly woven between jokes, gags, and mech battles.

An unusual crew operates the Nadesico, a private space battleship created by Nergal Heavy Industries to combat the Jovians, which Earth’s military has been doing a dismal job of dealing with. The flakey appearing but quite capable captain, Yurika, once lived on Mars with Akido, the ship’s cook and back-up pilot. The Jovians have taken over Mars, and Akido has a mysterious past that must be unraveled.

None of the characters are cardboard cutouts – they’re just eccentric, and fairly realistically so. Prospector, the only character from accounting that I’m familiar with from anime, is especially memorable. Ruri, cybernetically enhanced superhuman, also has a surprising depth in her backstory and personality. Even the ship’s computer gets a name and feelings eventually. The mech pilots are especially quirky; it’s hard not to laugh at a the crew of the Nadesico, and, ultimately, empathize with them.