Alice Gear Aegis Expansion

Hello there, from one anime fan to another. If you have ever found yourself immersed in the futuristic worlds of extraordinary creatures, epic battles, and adorable characters, you are in for a treat. Step into the world of Alice Gear Aegis Expansion, an enthralling realm where breathtaking animation elevates every emotion, from the mundane to the miraculous. The anime is based on the Alice Gear Aegis gacha game. Gamer or otaku, this article will inspire your next anime binge-watch.

Now, let's rewind the story a bit to know what it is about. Centuries ago, humans had to leave behind their home planet, Earth, because of the mechanical aliens called the Vice. The Vice started ruling the planet, leaving humans with no freedom or choice. The humans are stuck in space on moon-piece starships, and what is their last hope?

It's in the hands of these young women called Actresses, born with the power to use the only weapons to take down the Vice- those slick Alice Gears. Does it remind you of Attack on Titan? It should, because these Actresses will pull a Levi on the aliens in an ultimate showdown to kick those aliens out for good.

But the story is not just all about this. Nadoka Takahata, voiced by Miyari Nemoto, is trying to join as an 'actress,' the term I made you familiar with. You know, a warrior fighting space invaders with weapons and their voices. She bumps into Shitara Kaneshiya, Fumika Momoshina, and Yotsuyu Hirasaka over at Narikozaka Manufacturing. And get this: Yotsuyu is the character Nodoka has a major crush on. Whenever Yotsuyu gets close, Nodoka blushes or bleeds until she passes out.

But here's the plot twist: Everything goes haywire when their company hits pause on operations. And wait, there's more! Alice Gear: Aegis Expansion takes a different turn from the second episode, giving it more of a slice-of-life vibe. Picture this: capture the flag, a cute concept cafe, ghost hunting, and even dealing with a toothache. The series will throw all types of curveballs your way.

So, I did some calculations and deductions, and it turns out there are five main characters in Alice Gear Aegis Expansion: Shitara Kaneshiya, Fumika Momoshina, Nodoka Takahata, Kaede Agatsuma, and Yotsuyu Hirasaka. Episode Zero introduced three of them, along with many other characters, and even spilled some details about their powers.

Now, in this episode zero, there was this contest called the National Mermaid Tag Team with a whopping 10 million yen reward. Pretty jaw-dropping. At first, it felt like I was watching the wrong anime, thinking it was all about girls competing for money instead of the sci-fi vibe I expected. But soon enough, the gadgets and ‘ninjutsu’ showcased were undeniably advanced and futuristic. Each character had a goofy side, yet their distinct personalities set them apart—one likes games, while the other prefers books.

The competitive contest that suggested the value of teamwork in the anime highlighted how important characters are from the outset. A cyclone that appears every 100 years hits the game arena, forcing all players to join forces to eliminate it.

In episode 1, Nodoka Takahata and Kaede Agatsuma join the scene, and the story’s pacing is good, with character arcs developing swiftly. Nodoka, captivated by two Actresses fighting a Vice and winning, decides to become an Actress herself. Here’s the catch—she has zero aptitude for it. Stamina, skill, and knowledge are deemed crucial traits, but Nodoka fails the test twice.

Her favorite idol, Yotsuyu, steps in with a unique training schedule when she's about to give up. Alongside other actresses, they work hard to help Nodoka build her skills, and guess what? The third time is the charm. It once again highlighted the significance of teamwork.

Now, because these characters are also idols, they showcase their charms. Touka Chan starts singing while the other actresses battle the cyclone, adding a dramatic touch. Nodoka’s character development is speedy; she enters the company in the first episode. But as luck would have it, another disaster strikes. Just when she thought her life would be luxurious with her favorite idol by her side, Narikoza Manufacturing received orders to cease all operations indefinitely. Tough break, right?

Throughout the next ten episodes, the characters put in all they have to revive their company. They go on slice-of-life quests (spoiler alert: those quests felt detached from the main story) to earn money for their company. Apart from Nodoka, all the characters were already shown to be ‘idols.’ They had already perfected their craft, but what they lacked were perhaps more adventures.

Their individual arcs did grow, but they were not significant at all. Nodoka’s habit of bleeding and blushing in front of her lady crush initially felt cute, but later, it turned out to be very immature. The writers could have slowly developed their friendship or relationship to make it seem realistic. Instead, they gave them a bathtub scene just to serve the fans. No intricate or complex character development might have left a mark on the audience.

One aspect of the animation immediately caught my attention when it kicked off: vibrancy. It was a burst of color, with everything looking incredibly lively. The character designs were sharp, and even the Ferris Wheel sported a rainbow of colors. Doesn’t that give you a sense of the animation style?

As mentioned earlier, episode zero featured a contest, and despite the appearance of ordinary girls having fun, there was an underlying futuristic tone. The revelation of some characters’ ninjutsu and advanced gadgets set the tone for the story. The contest showcased moments where the girls used ninjutsu and gadgets, and the animation was brilliantly executed, signaling that the creators meant business.

Moving on to episode 1, the animation stepped up a notch. A brief space battle between two Actresses and a Vice felt like a teaser for more significant and highly animated moments. Although the battle was short, it was intriguing, and every frame was captivating. Another interesting observation was that, aside from the characters crucial to the storyline, the extra people needed to be fully animated; they appeared as blue-moving figures. Initially, it hinted at potential budget constraints, but later, I realized it was a deliberate choice to emphasize the main characters. The makers wanted us to focus on what truly matters, making them stand out in every way possible.

Let’s talk about the opening and ending theme songs of Alice Gear: Aegis Expansion. They were pretty funky and catchy. The opening song, ‘Dash and Go’ by Aina Suzuki, turned out to be both upbeat and hopeful when you read the lyrics. It perfectly embodies the anime, touching on themes of hope, a better future, and the fight for freedom—pretty much what the characters are going through in the show. And Marina Horiuchi, the same singer from The Devil is a Part-Timer, sings the closing song, "Just a little bit."

My thoughts: So here’s the deal with the show: the writers and directors seem all over the place about how they wanted it to be. It seemed like they failed to come to a conclusion and thus threw two random genres in a blender. Things were pretty goofy and happy-go-merry in most episodes, but suddenly, Nodoka goes missing, and things turn dark.

There are these shady people doing illegal human experimentation on her, which is indeed a dark concept. They use electrocution and mind control. Here’s the plot twist: guess who the woman in shining armor becomes for Nodoka? Yotsuyu is totally unpredictable, right? The shift in tone is pretty drastic, wouldn’t you say?

Now, onto the funny stuff—it's a bit hit or miss. If the show had focused on the grand rescue of Nodoka, it could have been a blockbuster. But they chose the road not taken. And, safe to say, it turned out to be really bumpy. The tonal change did not blend well. It felt like I was watching two different animes. The dark, futuristic concept with vibrancy and goofy jokes could have worked better.

The music, animation, and character designs were top-notch, but the storyline could have been better. The ending, although bittersweet, with Nodoka leaving the company and others waving her goodbye, failed to execute the gravity of the situation because it was so different from all the events we witnessed in the previous episodes. The fan service felt unnecessary. It could have been a slice of life or a dark sci-fi genre. But the makers kept it hanging in the middle, with no concrete plots.

In conclusion, Alice Gear: Aegis Expansion is a rollercoaster of a series that tries to blend multiple genres and themes with varying degrees of success. Its vibrant animation and catchy music are definite highlights, creating an immersive experience that is both visually and audibly pleasing. The characters, while charming, need to be more consistent in the grand scheme of the narrative.

With its abrupt tonal shifts and mixed focus, the storyline leaves something to be desired, often feeling like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces from different sets. Despite these shortcomings, the anime offers moments of genuine entertainment and showcases a unique blend of sci-fi action and slice-of-life elements. The series' eclectic mix may appeal to some, but Alice Gear: Aegis Expansion offers an unforgettable journey into a world where the extraordinary is the norm.