OP: “One Unit” by Minami
There’s no question that Planet With is the full-on Mizukami Satoshi experience. It has the randomness, the unsettlingly dark undercurrents beneath the goofy facade, the deep sense that whatever you think you know, you probably don’t know it. What’s different, of course (for veterans of his work), is that we’re experiencing it in anime form for the first time. And it’s made me realize in a way I didn’t just from reading Mizukami’s manga what a contradictory figure he is.
How can a show be both so Platonically anime at the molecular level, yet simultaneously stick out like a sore thumb? That’s the question Planet With asks me every time I watch it. I thought it might just be a matter of Mizukami being anachronistic, but it goes beyond time (though that’s certainly a part of the answer). Yes, Planet With does play like an anime from an earlier era, but it’s also the way he pieces these core anime elements together that seems so odd. I think there are patterns and formulas that have become so ingrained in us as anime viewers that we don’t realize they’re present until we miss them when they aren’t. All of the familiar building blocks are here, but they’re being used in ways we don’t really ever see them used.
That extends to the exposition in a Mizukami series too, of course. There are things which are both true and misleading, in ways that only become apparent with the passage of time. What he tells us serves to remind us of what he doesn’t, and why what we’re seeing doesn’t necessarily make sense. For example I have no reason to doubt that “Grand Paladin” exists for the reasons its apparent leader, Ryuuzouji Takashi (Nomura Kenji) says it does – to protect humanity from what it sees as an invasion. But I sure as hell know that’s not the whole story.
I suspect that the lie behind that truth is rooted in the woman who seems to be Takashi’s second-in-command, Shirashi-san (Goto Saori), though that’s merely a hunch at this point. I also wonder if there’s a clue in Ryuuzouji’s name (I don’t know how it’s written in Kanji, but perhaps “momentary dragon”?), given the prominence of dragons in Souya’s dreams. It’s an odd group to begin with, and the old man we’ve seen as part of it seems to be Takashi’s father Takezou (Kiyokawa Motomu) – a man obsessed with steak to the point of becoming a legend for it.
The obsession with meat is strong with Planet With – is it (and vegetarianism) a crucial plot element, or just a running gag? That’s the thing with Mizukami, you can never tell, because he treasures his running gags (hell, even Sensei’s pantsu obsession may prove important) like diamonds, and treats them as such. Meat plays a crucial role in the short reunion of Souya (who turns out to be a small high-schooler, not a middle-schooler) and Torai, who’s searching for the boy who foiled him in an effort to remain useful to Grand Paladin, but finds his memories of their encounter were blocked (amusingly, Sensei’s face is obscured by an image of his own face). Poor Souya thinks he’s getting a butaman out of the encounter, but it turns out to be anpaman in the end (yeah, the meat thing is important somehow).
Another encounter with one of Nebula’s giant beasts follows – this time it’s a mega-pig with “Smile” on its forehead. Again, are these written messages a gag or a clue (I’m suspecting “Peas” was a misspelling of “Peace”, though that doesn’t answer the question). Ginko-san reveals more of the truth to Souya – she and Sensei aren’t behind these giants’ appearances, but are related to those that are – both are part of Nebula. She and Sensei are part of the “Pacifist Faction”, while the beasts belong to the “Sealing Faction” – the difference being in the way each views the threat humanity’s increasing technological prowess brings, and what to do about it.
That whole exchange strikes me as a glaring example of how to lie by telling the truth – both for a writer and a character. Ginko doesn’t want Souya to understand everything yet, I’m sure of it. For Grand Paladin the task is simple (because that’s how it’s presented to them) – destroy the beast and save humanity. This time around the one taking the lead is Inaba Miu (Ohwada Hitomi), the twintails girl who idolizes her comrade Kumashiro Haru (Fuchigami Mai, who also performs the ED song). Everyone in this group seems to have a hangup, and for Miu it’s size – she overcompensates for her own lack of it by an obsession with being strong, while her much bigger friend Haru takes a subservient role. And like Torai, she confronts her illusion and defeats the enemy, though as yet none of these enemies has actually done anything threatening.
If I’m betting, both the Paladins and Souya-kun are being lied to – there’s truth in the story they’re being told, and as yet neither version contradicts the other – but there’s deception buried inside it. They’re being used to fight each other, and so far Souya has the upper hand – the battle with Miyu is tougher than that with Torai, but he does defeat her and enable Ginko to nab her vial of power. But Torai seems to have led the others to him, and now he faces the five remaining Paladins – and their boss – all at once. Perhaps this crisis will force Sensei to reveal more than he’d prefer to at this point in the story, and get both Souya and us a little closer to the heart of the matter.
ED: “Rainbow Planet” by Mai Fuchigami
Jindujun93
July 16, 2018 at 3:31 amThe misspelling on the invaders is definitely intended, considering that it actually reads 5mi1e on the one in the second episode (it’s more obvious on the corresponding manga page), though given that Mizukami does nothing by accident, I wonder just how that is actually relevant to the bigger picture (or whether that’s just stylistic after all). Or well, in general there’s plenty of things where I wonder how it’ll come into plan again later on.
Also, even though I knew this’d happen since I’m well familiar with how Mizukami treats his characters, I’m glad guys like Torai stay around and keep being relevant. In general I’m looking forward to getting to know the Grand Paladin crew more, though of course Takezo already earned himself some points with his presence this week.
One thing of note was the whole “this isn’t my world to begin with” by Souya, even though the last shot of the ED made it kind of obvious to begin with. Though I also wonder just how accurate his regained memory is to begin with, and the thing is, with Mizukami you can’t even rule out any possibility (especially considering how he weaved things like time travel or reincarnation into his previous stories). Considering that Sensei and/or Ginko are capable of interfering with memory, I wouldn’t even be all that surprised if at least part of what Souya remembers and uses as reason for his revenge is falsified in some form.
That’s the cool thing about seeing Mizukami in anime form for the first time – there’s plenty of stuff for speculation, and I’m curious to see just how the bigger picture will look like once he starts peeling away the layers bit by bit.
Guardian Enzo
July 16, 2018 at 3:41 amHeh, indeed I have “two moons” written in big letters on my scratchpad- but as it’s an ED thing I chose not to mention it.
Mike
July 16, 2018 at 2:31 pmThe retro visuals and vibe remind me of Concrete Revolutio, though it’s thankfully less confusing so far.
Favourite weird part was the giant pig having human hands and feet switched to the wrong places. That has sold me on the show!
Thanks for recommending this Enzo – you always champion interesting stuff.
Guardian Enzo
July 16, 2018 at 3:39 pmI do think Concrete Revolutio is the most Mizukami-like anime we’ve seen in recent years. It’s interesting, too, because both PW and the reaction to it reminded me of another series written by the same guy as CR, and I debated mentioning it in the review but decide not to reopen old wounds.
Ngai-Han
July 16, 2018 at 3:01 pmGiga…spiral…break? Is there any valid reason I should be getting TTGL vibes from this or is it just coincidence? XD
Guardian Enzo
July 16, 2018 at 3:37 pmI think it’s more a translation choice than anything but yeah, that popped into mind…
Rui Carvalho
July 16, 2018 at 4:07 pmMonitoring human evolution and confining humans to Earth also sound very anti-spiral-like. Yes, the TTGL vibe is strong in this one.
Urizithar
July 16, 2018 at 4:25 pmIt wasn’t really a Smile either. For me ot looked more like 5mile or possibly even 5mi1e. So it fits well with Peas that reads same as peace and what is happening with mecha pilots. Torai was finaly at peace with himself while Miu was just smiling from the bottom of her heart. Intriguing.
Guardian Enzo
July 16, 2018 at 4:28 pmIt may be some sort of deal where the sealing faction is testing human response to these misspelled messages or something along those lines.
Nóra
July 17, 2018 at 1:09 amWatching this series is a weird experience. I’m enjoying it so far, but it does make me sad thinking we might never see a Spirit Circle adaptation. Might have to do a re-read thanks to this series!
Rita
July 17, 2018 at 11:22 amSomeone correct me if I’m wrong, but this is technically Mizukami’s first foray into a series with mechs, isn’t it?
(and yes I’m aware this isn’t a ‘mecha’ series but you know what I mean)
Guardian Enzo
July 17, 2018 at 2:28 pmIt pretty much is, yeah, and I do sort of think this is a mecha series. Probably just a trope he felt like exploring.
Rita
July 17, 2018 at 1:46 pmOn a episode related note, I think my favorite part of the illusions so far is the bit right before it gets destroyed. With Torai it was his younger self saying ‘I forgive you’ and with Miu it was ‘It’s ok to be weak.’
The illusion themselves seem like they could be the sort of idealized dream meant to trap people or control them, like Miu calls them. But that last part is the most interesting because it feels like that might be the sort of wish each person has deep in their heart that they don’t want to admit. Or I’m reading too far into it, but with Mizukami who knows.
Simone
July 29, 2018 at 6:38 amMade me think the purpose of the illusions might actually just be to ease people into being happy with what they have rather than keep seeking power, not necessarily something hostile but in line with the stated objectives of the Nebulas.
Nayrael
July 18, 2018 at 1:39 pmI think the meat and vegetables represents this Nebula faction’s stances: people who are into power eat meat (you kill the weak to devour them) while the Pacifist faction eats vegetables as you don’t kill another (animal) for it.
Guardian Enzo
July 18, 2018 at 3:29 pmWe haven’t seen any evidence of the other faction eating meat, though – it’s Grand Paladin who seems into it.
kiwi
July 19, 2018 at 6:16 pmhaven’t watched the show yet.. but does it remind you of a mix between ConRevo and Mawaru Penguindrum? bc thats the vibes im getting from the screen caps
Guardian Enzo
July 19, 2018 at 7:21 pmI don’t see any Ikuhara in this tbh. There’s some ConRevo for sure (though I’d argue ConRevo has a lot of Mizukami rather than the reverse). Maybe CR mixed with some Eureka Seven (especially A.O.).