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Advance Review of Hakugei The Legend of The Moby Dick volume 1

© Holly Ellingwood

Hakugei - The Legend of The Moby Dick is a creative science fiction retelling of the original Melville novel about Ahab and his obsessive hunt for the white whale. An anime TV series being released by ADV Films, the first of six volumes introduces us to the characters and world as retold in this intriguing anime. Set in the far future, the year 4699, the galaxy has many abandoned space ships called "whales" floating around the vast expanse of space. They often seem to have the names and appearance of sea creatures. Those who catch the ships and salvage them are called Whale Hunters. The best in the galaxy is Ahab and his crew of riff raff. One young boy longs to be a whaler and stows away on Ahab's ship to become a part of his crew. What none of them realize is that this is the beginning of possibly the end where obsession and hate might prove to bring about either the end of their world...or save it.

There is a combination of things that work, and do not work, that are at play here. On one hand, you have a classic story innovatively retold in a highly unusual way. For example, the anime's take on the world of Moby Dick, and the hints at what the white whale might actually be, are inherently unique. Also, the show takes its time to slowly tease us about the reveal of Moby Dick which I quite like. Not too fast or too slow. However, what doesn't work is the narrative provided by the stowaway. It's unnecessary and lessens the impact of the world, draws you out of it by having someone remind you that this is a story. Less narration and more exploration, allowing the viewer to come to their own realizations about the world, revealed by the anime as it goes on, would make this a stronger series. Another thing perhaps working against it is the dated animation. This series was first aired in Japan in 1980. The animation style is somewhat reminiscent of Captain Harlock. Nevertheless, the creativity of the whalers as a salvage crew, the driving secret of what Moby Dick actually is, and the intriguing scene designs, make the good points outweigh the bad. Hakugei The legend of The Moby Dick volume 1 'Ahab Awaits', ranks 7 out of 10 kendo swords.

Rating: This series is rated PG. Nothing overly frightening or violent but the story is likely a bit more deep than something a very young child could follow.

The copyright of the article Advance Review of Hakugei The Legend of The Moby Dick volume 1 in Anime is owned by Holly Ellingwood. Permission to republish Advance Review of Hakugei The Legend of The Moby Dick volume 1 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.