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Simoun (Review)

Saturday, 11 October 2008 23:24 | Written by Wosret |

(6 Votes)

Simoun It's been awhile since I've seen Simoun, maybe a year, but I trust my memory enough to give a review, I never get into very much detail about the anime I review anywho, so s'all good.

Simoun takes place on a world called Daikouriku, where everyone is born female, and then upon their seventeenth birthday, they make a pilgrimage to what they refer to as "The Spring", where they choose to either remain female, or become male. They seem to imply that benefits are offered for those that choose male, so I assume that too many would opt to stay female if it was not for the offered benefits by society. Also, if they fail to make up their mind, upon entering the spring, the choice will be made for them. It also implies that the default may be male.

At some point in the past there seemed to exist a technologically advanced species. Their ancestors? It doesn't really say. These people have left ruins, and the remains of some of their technology has been monopolized by the theocratic nation of Simulacrum, earning the jealousy and ire of the industrial nation of Argentum; resulting in hostility and war.

The religion of Simulacrum centers around a goddess known as Tempus Spatium, which appears to be depicted throughout their architecture with winged pillars and artistic renderings of her.

The show focuses around priestesses that are known as "Simoun Sibyllae". In particular, the series focuses around a "choir" of twelve Sibyllae, referred to as "Chor Tempest". These are young girls that have not chosen a sex, doing so disqualifies them from being able to acquire a position as a Sibylla. The particular group featured in the anime, many of them are past the age of seventeenth, but have been granted permission to put off their pilgrimage to the spring, on account of the war. The Sibyllae understand the use of the Simoun to be sacred to the Tempus Spatium, and a form of prayer. The Sibyllae pair up, and as a group of twelve, can operate six Simoun.

The plot: The plot and story are extensive, involving, and complex. It is amazing how much writing, background, and thought went into this series' plot and story. I have to say off the start that I was very, very impressed. Rarely do series have such superb, and well written stories behind them.

The Chor Tempest has been commandeered to be put towards the war effort. They patrol, and even engage the enemy when necessary. The leader, or most senior Sibylla, the Sibylla Aurea (Neviril), is on a patrol with her pair, when they are engaged by an enemy fleet. There appears to be too many, and they fear for their lives, so Neviril's pair decides to attempt a dangerous attack, that requires precise and expert maneuvering and execution, "The Emerald Ri Majon". During the maneuver, Neviril sees the face of one of the enemies, and becomes frozen, and unable to bring herself to finish the execution, killing the person she now is face to face with. The execution fails and backfires, creating a devastating explosion, crippling her Simoun, and claiming her pair.

Emotionally devastated by the events, and bed ridden, the war refuses to go away. Soldiers, and non-priestesses are commissioned to join Chor Tempest, and other Choirs to help with the war effort. One of these persons is a girl named Aaeru, who is determined to pair with the Sibylla Aurea, and at any cost, because she fancies herself to be the best, and deserving of a pair worthy of her skills. Turmoil and drama among the members of Chor Tempest ensues, with a war that threatens the future of both nations forcing each side into desperation. The girls must come to grips with themselves and each other, what they want in life, the war raging around them that they have been pushed into participating in, being on the verge of becoming adults, and the questionable politics of their own nation.

I found this anime to be superb on its own merits, and did not require the yuri element to elevate it in any sense.

Yuri: 7 (lots of kissing, but very little emotional attachment until near the end)
Style: 9 (just beautifully and superbly executed anime. Everything was done with style and grace.)
Art: 8 (interest and unique art style)
Characters: 9 (Interesting, thought provoking, 3-dimension, and real. Just wow.)
Story: 9 (As I said, the story was amazingly written, and very, very interesting indeed.)
Premise: 9

Over all: 9. Just superb anime, for yuri fans and non-yuri fans alike. One cannot think this wasn't good, in my opinion.