Heavy Object: Part One

This anime series is set in a dystopian future where warfare has been revolutionized by extraordinary machines called Objects. As a result of this advanced military invention, the world finds itself in never-ending war. One of the governing philosophies here is that only Objects can destroy other Objects, but that logic is confounded when rookie soldiers Qwenthur Barbotage and Havia Winchell—fighting for the “Legitimate Kingdom”—manage to outwit an Object and bring it down. Because of their innovative bravery, the pair are sent on missions to destroy Objects from rival governments. They are assisted in their adventures by Milinda Brantini, an Object pilot who regularly gets into situations that require Qwenthur and Havia's intervention, and they operate under the command of the harsh lady commander Frolaytia Capistrano. While the series' vision of a futuristic world in constant war makes a compelling statement on the madness of militarism, the stories are relatively dull and the characters somewhat quotidian. Presenting all 12 episodes from 2015 in a dual-language Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, rated TV-MA, extras include episode commentaries. Optional. [Note: Heavy Object: Part Two is also newly available.] (P. Hall)