Full Metal Panic? FUMOFFU volumes 2 and 3 DVD Reviews
© Holly Ellingwood
Full Metal Panic? FUMOFFU volume 2 Full Metal Fracas! is the second installment of zany fun in this all too brief comedy released by ADV. Based off of the characters in the original manga and the first anime series of Full Metal Panic, this is the story about boy meets girl. Specifically, it's about a military hyper-focused soldier boy named Sousuke, who is sent undercover to a high school to protect beautiful but bossy Kaname, a girl who has an innate psychic ability that can help win wars. Sounds dangerous, doesn't it? It definitely comes across as a sci-fi action. And it is. At least the first series was. Yet FUMOFFU steers away from the more dramatic moments of the original anime series and focuses on the outrageous happenings at the high school and the many crazy outcomes as Sousuke, a guerilla soldier most of his life, struggles to understand what acceptable Japanese high school behavior entails as he strives to meet his goal of being a bodyguard to Kaname.
I enjoyed the original Full Metal Panic! anime series very much. Although some fans of the original show might be wary of seeing a brief 4 volume series concentrating on the lighter, comedic moments only briefly touched on in the original series, there's no need. Full Metal Panic? FUMOFFU stays true to the beloved characters of the original anime while giving viewers a delightful ride along with them. We are introduced to a host of new characters as we see the day to day life of Sousuke and Kaname at Jindai high. In fact, one of the truly great things about this anime is that it is unrepentantly silly. It takes no prisoners, humorously speaking, and shows us a great time as we watch the hijinks ensue. From the start of the uplifting opening theme we are shown a lush animation style filled with warm colors and transported into Kaname and Sousuke's slice of life. The romantic sweetness of Sousuke's seemingly oblivious behavior towards Kaname's feelings for him, and his own for her, warms the heart even as it makes us laugh. And I can't stress enough the hilarity of watching him struggle with what normal behavior should be. Examples include his blowing up the locker room when he misconstrues a love letter as a potential lethal threat, or when he is asked to model for art class and he turns it into a dangerous obstacle course. This anime is self-indulgence of the best kind. A thoroughly enjoyable comedy, it will thrill fans of the original series and new viewers alike. It rates a strong 7.5/10 kendo swords.
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