Starship Operators: Memories, Volume 02

It's not every day that you see an intergalactic warfare “reality show.” This four-episode second volume in the Starship Operators anime series continues the saga of the starship Amaterasu. Abandoned as the last line of defense by their own homeworld Kibi, the Amaterasu crew made a bizarre deal: in exchange for the necessary money to continue fighting against attackers, the captain and crew agreed to be filmed 24/7 for reality television. In this compilation, the Amaterasu's crew believe they have found safe harbor on the planetary nation of Shu, but when a military coup breaks out, tactical expert Sinon Kouzuki and her crew are themselves forcibly drawn into the political intrigue. Sinon and her fellow ensigns are, of course, space babes, and their uniforms and girly behavior contradict their positions as trained military personnel (though their whiny captain is no better). The timely satirical elements here are intriguing as the reality show's producers compel their stars toward danger for the sake of better ratings, but the mix of complex battle scenes, celebrity fame, sci-fi technology, and hot ladies is uneasy at best, with numerous (and often indistinguishable) characters spouting bland, forgettable dialogue. Presented on a dual-language disc, rated 13-up, this is not a necessary purchase. [Note: Starship Operators, Vol. 01 and Vol. 03 are also available.] Aud: P. (R. Brenner)