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Studio : Sunrise
Licenced by : Bandai Entertainment
Length : 26 Episodes
Year : 2006
Genre : Adventure - Mecha - Science-Fiction
Synopsis :
Sogoru Kyo is a normal, energetic high school kid who likes to hang out with his friends and is trying his best to rebuild the swimming club at school. One day he sees a beautiful girl in the pool at school and he wants her to appear in the club's PR video. She agrees with one condition: that he "Saves the world".
Before Kyo knows it, he is suddenly dragged into a strange war-ridden world like something out of a video game, where he must pilot the ZegaPain Altair for the Celeblum Organization in its battle against the mysterious Gards-Orm. But something is not right. Kyo is instinctively using his piloting skills, as if he has done this before, and he realizes something even more puzzling: One of the two worlds he has seen is not real. But which? What are Celeblum and the girl Shizuno hiding from him?
Added : 2006-04-06
Synopsis by : leoxjm
Last update : 2007-10-25
Last update details : Seiyuu modified
Score : 8.86
Number of reviews : 7
Link(s) :
Official #1 : Official Zegapain Website (Japanese)
Official #2 : TV Tokyo's Zegapain Website (Japanese)
Song(s) :
Opening #1 : Akino Arai - Kimi he Mukau Hikari
Ending #1 : Rocky Chack - Little Goodbye
Ending #2 : Rocky Chack - And you
Ending #3 : Rocky Chack - Last Blue
Release(s) :
2007-02-19 -- Episode(s) 1 by Shinsen-Subs. BT Link
2006-12-08 -- Episode(s) 26 by Megami-Anime. BT Link
2006-11-19 -- Episode(s) 25 by Megami-Anime. BT Link
Found 49 releases. Click here to [ Find them! ]
Hits : 39377
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Posted by : Ravensdark 
Posted on : 2010-08-16  
A very well thought out sci-fi show with lots of drama a quite a lot of old style mecha action.
At first when watching this show I was trying to remind myself that I need to get through the first 3 or so episodes to get to some development. Starting out in a very 90's type of mecha story with 80's and 90's type of mecha battles that are thought of as a game develop into a story that makes one think about the nature of reality.
There is a significant amount of drama that is just about right for the story, which makes me think that those who created this show made sure not to create too much drama. Additionally the pacing of the story was just about right. Any of the episodes that could be thought of as filler episodes were episodes that were created to develop some of the characters that needed to be developed, as well as adding some drama into the mix.
The science in the story is not just the usual junk science. Instead we find that there is a lot of stuff in here that could potentially be possible, though many generations in the future. I guess that the science does not really fit with the setting. The cities look very much like a modern city with bits and pieces of more advanced tech. I think that the city should have had integrated a lot more of the advanced tech to go along with the advances in quantum physics that would be required. It looks like they took a few technologies and radically advanced them and stuck them into a modern city and modern world.
I have two complaints about the show, first the mecha battles are done in such a way that it makes me think that the show is one that could have been done in the 90's and not 2006. The other big complaint is the name of the show. Really a corny name that fits with the 90's type mecha but does not fit the show in general because the 90's type mecha does not really fit it. One good part of the mecha battles is how the calling out of moves does not happen. Yes there is the calling out of weapons but it is done in such a way that it does not seem unneeded. Having the mecha be two seater with separate jobs make the calling out have more of a communication with their partner type feel instead of the irritating calling out of moves, though there is a bit of that too.
The music and animation over all was pretty good, though not great.
Overall this show makes me realize how unfinished many of the themes and genres are. Here we have a rather cliched mecha show that develops into a much more dramatic and interesting story with a fast pace that has good character development. I suppose that this is the opposite of many shows that show so much promise and then crash, here we have a show that showed very little promise and then it made something of itself.
Posted by : shoangore
Posted on : 2010-04-14 
While I give this anime a score of 10, it is primarily to help it attract attention. Real numerical scores will be granted as a sub-section.
I first started watching Zegapain as it was being released, and yes, it was terrible. Three episodes in, I had nothing but static characters who were all-powerful, horrible CG battles, ugly mechas and repetitive musical scores. I almost dropped it immediately. However, recently I found myself in possession of the whole series, and decided to sit down and start watching it over again.
As many reviewers have already pointed out, Zegapain starts out as a cliche mecha anime where a pure natural pilot is suddenly able to pilot a robot to fight off enemies in an unknown world like a pro. However, there was a small niche- he'd done this all before, as the show continually emphasizes. This was the sole savior for my second time watching the anime, as well as being bored.
However, hang on through with this series and you'll suddenly realize that the characters actually contain a lot of depth, and really do evolve as the storyline progresses. The storyline takes dynamic arcs that are unexpected, and really has you watching the next episode for the continued storyline.
Animation: 8/10
Animation is fluid, acceptable for 2006. Characters move around well enough. However, the CGI scenes, scored by themselves, would receive possibly a 5/10, for tons of recycled footage, boring fight scenes and uninteresting tactics. (Note, this covers the first 13 episodes. Slightly more variation occurs later on in the series) On a weird note, the animators made the characters talk with their mouths really wide open, so while they are talking normally you feel as though they should constantly be yelling. Nothing too bothersome.
Characters/Designs: 7/10
Characters feel generic at first, but they really are infused with great depth and personality. Little variation in their clothes, though the design for their meta-bodies are pretty cool.
Music: 7/10
While the OP/ED tracks are fantastic, the battle music makes me think of an 80's arcade kind of retro music. While this might be to mimic the game simulation, I find it annoying, and a mark that a poor fight scene is about to occur.
Plot/Storyline: 10/10
Beautifully written, this series starts out terribly slow, but then blossoms into one of the most magnificent pieces I have had the pleasure of watching. While I usually enjoy series that have both plot and decent animation, I could have cared less if there had been NO animation and watched the entire series just for the plot.
If you're patient and into sci-fi, this has one of the most compelling, thrilling storylines that you could ask for.
Posted by : leoxjm
Posted on : 2007-12-15
The makers of Zegapain forgot one very important thing when making this show: The importance of making a good first impression. That is so because, at first, Zegapain is simply one bundle of mecha anime cliches. The high-school age pilot who gets into the really powerful robot ans starts kicking butt in it. "Yawn" doesn't even begin to describe how boring that is at this point. Even the show's unique characteristics, dealing with virtual and real worlds feel more like gimmicks that try (and fail) to freshen up an old product. As a result of this, I quickly grew bored of Zegapain and it joined the shamed ranks of series I dropped. I only picked it up again after the insistence of some members of this site's forum. Although it meant putting myself though the absurdly cliched beginning once again, I didn't regret watching the show in its entirety.
That is probably Zegapain's biggest flaw: being such a late-bloomer. It focuses on unimpressive mecha action at the beginning and leaves explanations and real character development for the middle and end parts. As a result, Zegapain's beginnings are weak almost beyond description. The early mech action, though well animated, suffers from the abuse of stock footage and hit-or-miss designs. The setting is poorly explained, probably in an attempt to create a sense of mystery, but it fails and simply makes you feel a lack of information with no motivation to try looking for it. However, if you're patient enough, you'll be rewarded.
The later parts of Zegapain give it a complete turnaround and focus instead on a growing-up story for the characters, and their role in a world where they can't even be sure of their own existence. The middle part of the show provides strong characterization and gives the characters defined roles to play in the story. Even the whole "real vs. virtual" theme that sounded so unnecessary at the beginning becomes more important and starts to make sense. The development of the characters even gives the viewer a certain attachment to them and their plight. The middle and later developments of the show are some of the best I've seen.
Unfortunately, Zegapain winds down, again, in its ending. Although it holds quite a few surprises, it is ultimately predictable. It makes use of the strengths it developed earlier on, but it is reminiscent to the beginning in its lack of emotional punch. I can't help but feel that the middle of the series could have gotten a "great" ending, but we're left with a "good enough" one instead.
Technically, Zegapain's animation is quite impressive. The use of CGI can be seen throughout the series, although it is certainly much more obvious in the mech sequences. Personally, I think that in those parts it actually stands out too much; it looks too different form the rest of the show. Although that isn't too much of a bad thing, it isn't good either. The problem with the animation is, again, the use of stock footage, which is quite apparent. Even at the beginning, where action is what tries to make an impression, the recycling of sequences is way too obvious.
In terms of design, the show's mechs seem to have had quite the cold reception, since they seem to have been built using vast amounts of neon lights. Personally I didn't mind them all that much, but I found the likeness between Kyo and Aquarion's Apollo a bit unsettling. The background music isn't particularly memorable, but I did like the OP a lot.
This show is certainly aimed at mecha fans, many of which may find the earlier portion of the show uncompelling at best. If a viewer can put himself through the first part of the show (and I do mean putting oneself through it), the later parts of th show will reward that patience... but I don't think that a good show requires patience to watch. The serious flaws of the show's early portions and the somewhat unsatisfactory ending, coupled with the all too obvious use of stock footage, are what make me rate this show at 7/10. Watch it if you can stomach watching a bundle of cliches for a few episodes in a row, since the best part comes later. But I can't blame you if you decide to give it a pass.
Posted by : crazy3jackal08
Posted on : 2007-08-16
Hm how do I put this...Zegapain is one the those animes you don't hear much about since it's not a main stream anime (meaning populary advertise). Basically one day I kind of stubble upon it and said "O why not, not sure what this is but lets try it out". What caught my attention was the beautiful art work and the main characters personality. I enjoy main characters with humorous, but yet serious traits when needed, you can say it kinda reminded me of myself.
I got instantly hooked onto the first episode because I love it when a first episode of a series leaves you wanting to know what's going to happen in the end. I admit in the end this isn't your everyday hardcore mecha anime, it develops more into story and characters which are also good traits in an anime. Sadly people just want to see robots destroying one another.
I would have to say in my personal opinion that this anime gets a perfect 10 in all perspective. The opening and closing song is very catchy and became one of my favorite. I would say to anyone who enjoys character and story develop and a steady pace to check this one out. If you're looking for a crazy mecha anime, then no this one ain't for you.
Posted by : jzmagic
Posted on : 2006-08-11
Beneath the crappy mecha designs presented in Zegapain is a painful story that raises questions about what it means to exist. If you're expecting an action packed mecha series with crazy battles, then you should probably skip this one, because this story focuses much more on the drama. The story's about a kid who randomly gets randomly transported to a world where he must protect the earth from alien invaders in a mobile suit. While he's battling these aliens, he must also continue to live his school life out but when he discovers the truth, the life of him and his friends will be forever changed.
The art is pretty standard with today's anime. Not too bad but nothing too spectacular. The animation is pretty decent, but the mecha battles (which are done in CGI) aren't that great. Some scenes are recycled and the actual fighting is fairly bland. It also hurts that the mecha designs look like a bit on the childish side.
The pacing is a bit slow at first, but it really picks up midway through the series when the truth about the world is uncovered. The atmosphere for each episode is very melancholic due to the nature of the story, and the sad music complements it well. The op and ed were enjoyable and very fitting for the series.
The character development is one of the more important parts to Zegapain. Throughout the series, you'll find the main character thinking and talking to himself. At times, I found him annoying because half the time he's yelling and acts as though he's constpiated. The two other main characters each have their own development as well but talking about them would have to include spoilers so I'll leave that out.
One word to describe this anime is "depressing". It was pretty sad to think about what the characters are going through and it only gets worse as the series goes on. So far I've found this series to be one of the better ones this summer. If you're looking for a drama with some action and an ounce of romance, you might wanna check this out. Just make sure to have anti depressant ready.
Posted by : heliusw
Posted on : 2006-07-27
ALL RIGHT!!! Another stereotypical boy meets girl and instantly falls in love then gets sent to an alternate reality where he pilots mechs to save some computer anime! Soooo typical... wait a second, WHAT THE F**K?!
***Review written after watching 13 episodes***
- Story 8.5/10 -
OK, so you start watching Zegapain and you think to yourself "Man, I've seen this sh*t a thousand times before. Can they at LEAST come up with something new?" Well, at least the creators of Zegapain found out that if you can't come up with something new, just combine everything together and BAM! just like instant ramen noodles, you've got an anime. I would mark Zegapain down on the story department much more IF they hadn't put in more plot twists than an M. Night Shyamalan book. This certainly helps to keep us viewers coming back for more. If you like mechs, if you like cute anime girls, and if you like the Matrix, you will certainly like cute anime Matrix girls+ mechs that is the yummy cream filling of the Zegapain pie. Mmmm, pie.
- Sound 10/10 -
Music/sound is an important aspect of anime because most people will react to the sounds they hear accordingly. A loud sound will make you jump while a soft noise will make you feel comfortable, etc. I feel that a lot of animes don't really use sound to its full potential, and so they miss out on giving the audience a good portion of the "viewing experience". Luckily for us, this show knows how to use sound. Both the OP and ED songs do well to set the mood for this show. Just listening to it makes you feel like you're listening to something surreal and distant. The BGM during the show is also done well and helps to accentuate the various plot climaxes that occur. Simply put, Zegapain has good music in it.
- Characters 9/10 -
Since Zegapain is like the Frankenstein of anime stereotypes, don't expect to find unique characters that you've never before seen. Do expect, however, to find a lot of character development going on during the anime. Unlike a lot of other series where the characters show little change or just stay static the entire time, Zegapain makes sure to have the characters continually change. This in turn keeps it interesting for us, as you can definitely see the difference of personalities from Episode 1 vs. Episode 13.
- Animation 7/10 -
Zegapain scores weakly (at least comparatively) in this department. The reason it scores so lowly is 1) I just don't like their mech designs. They look ugly. 2) During the combat scenes be prepared to see a lot of recycling. Don't like seeing the same fight sequence 10 times over? Too bad, so sad, call the waahmbulance. 3) Although the animation is very crisp and pretty, it's nothing special and therefore doesn't help or hinder the score.
- Overall 9/10 -
Addresses the true meaning of human existence... with giant robots, parallel universes, crazy aliens, and cute girls. Good times? The Kool-Aid man says "OOHHHHH YEAAAAH!"
Posted by : Fission2
Posted on : 2006-07-15
Through some thought and consideration, I have decided to decorate this anime with a score of 9.5/10 because of multiple reasons. Although at first glance this seems to be a run-of-the-mill production and lame but if you forgive the mecha design, you'll find that its not that bad.
Animation: 8/10
The animation in this anime production is pretty good and although the design for the mecha is a little forgein, it's overall decent. Although not really comparable with the gundam series in terms of mecha design, the animation of the mecha is just as good.
Plot Elements: 10/10
The plot lines are more along the Neon Genesis Evangelion but its got its own unique elements so it's not a rip-off, more of a second generation. The story is pretty fast-paced and it compiles a variety of genres, including life, romance, mecha (obvious) adventure, science-fiction and hint elements of comedy.
Music/sfx: 9/10
The music and sfx overall are pretty good and its fitting for this kind of anime.
Highly recommended to anyone that wants to watch something that involves giant robots and/or the butterfly-dream effect.
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