Moonlight Mile: The Complete Series

Goro Saruwatari and Jack “Lostman” Woodbridge are indefatigable mountain climbers who have conquered every imaginable peak on Earth. With no mountains left to climb, the pair set their sights on the moon, working towards gaining acceptance to a multinational space program (since lunar tourism is not an option). Saruwatari becomes a construction worker and masters machinery that will be required to construct a fusion reactor on the moon, while Woodbridge becomes a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force (although his plans are delayed when he is shot down and taken prisoner in Iraq). Of course, both men eventually follow in Neil Armstrong's “one small” footstep. Moonlight Mile is a curious anime, devoting an excessive amount of time to the backstory detailing the men's schemes to reach their destination. In addition, the series also features an unpleasant misogynist streak, with the men viewing women strictly as sexual diversions (and the female astronauts here seem to have been selected on the basis of cleavage rather than scientific know-how). Still, the animation in these 12 episodes is sharp and often brilliantly conceived (especially the moon sequences), while the narrative energy level never drops. Presented on a dual-language double-disc set, suitable for 17-up (due to language and strong sexual content), this is recommended, overall. Aud: P. (P. Hall)