Plot: What’s it about?
The human race has become quite advanced, with constant leaps in the world of technology. But then an alien force invades, mankind discovers their weapons are behind the curve and then some. With no defense or weapons capable of fending off the aliens, the world turns to Sandman, a billionaire with a plan. Out of his arsenal, funded by his personal fortune, comes the Gravion, a robotic force of epic proportions. The power of the Gravion is immense, but Sandman’s pilot team consists of orphans and misfits, not the elite level personnel the world has to offer. In addition, there is much mystery that surrounds Sandman, as to his motivations and intentions in this galactic conflict. Will the truth about Sandman ever be learned and meanwhile, can his pilots use Gravion to save mankind from the alien threat?
I’ve never been a big fan of the giant robot genre of anime, but since I had just watched and enjoyed Godannar, I figured there was hope for Gravion. But instead, I just remembered why I don’t often watch shows of this kind, as both seasons of Gravion left me disappointed. The series is kind of a parody of the giant robot genre, but one that fails to pay tribute or be humorous, as the result just seems rehashed and inferior. Godannar took advantage of the giant robot conventions and cliches, but that kind of creative edge is nowhere to be found here. I will say that the females do provide eye candy, with a lot of bouncin’ breasts and fan-service, especially in Gravion: Zwei. I wouldn’t call either season bad, but I’ve seen this all before and done with more skill, so this isn’t memorable or remarkable. If you’re a giant robot addict or value fan-service over substance, then Gravion is worth a look, but even then, keep your expectations in check. This collection has both Gravion and Gravion: Zwei, so all twenty-five episodes from both seasons are here in one box.
Video: How does it look?
The show’s vivid color scheme is well handled, so we have lush and rich hues throughout. I was sure some oversaturation would surface, but the colors never ventured into error, which is impressive. I found black levels to be good also, so blacks have a stark texture, instead of an overly bright appearance. The animation isn’t always that detailed, so some scenes have a soft visual presence, but that is not due to this presentation. So all in all, these episodes look terrific and should more than please fans.
Audio: How does it sound?
As usual, ADV Films has included dual language tracks here, so you can choose between the original Japanese soundtrack and an English dub version. Of course, I recommend the original language track, but it is nice to have additional options. I found both tracks to be basic, but solid and without serious flaws. Both are stereo soundtracks, so don’t expect too much, but each one has a good overall sound. The audio is clean and crisp throughout, with no pops or distortion to mention, so all the elements come through well. The music has a little more presence than expected, while sound effects make good use of the limited directional resources. So not all that memorable, but well crafted and more than effective soundtracks. The episodes also offer optional English subtitles, should you need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes no bonus materials.
