Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet

This adventurous and highly underrated anime is an excellent choice if you're burnt out from, say, binge watching a longer series. Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet is only a single season long, but it packs an impressively in depth story into a meager 13 episodes.

Gargantia is set in a future where mankind has left a dying Earth behind to live in space, only to become engaged in a life or death battle with the Hideauze, a squid like alien species. The story revolves around a young soldier named Ledo and his fighting machine, a mecha known as K6821 Chamber, as a freak incident transports them to Earth. Contrary to all he'd been taught, the home planet is still very much alive, though now completely covered by oceans. What he encounters there will make him question his previous beliefs and alter his perception of what it means to be human.

Earthlings encounter Ledo and Chamber for the first time.

Gargantia balances big questions about life with warm, funny and very human moments as Ledo interacts with earthlings aboard the giant ship Gargantia. The cast is full of characters with a range of personalities, from the serious, goal driven Ledo to the boisterous Amy, a delivery girl on the ship. Amy is a great counterpoint to Ledo, and their friendship helps him grow as a person. The hint of romance that develops between the two adds just enough sweetness to the story while still avoiding an overly cutesy ending.

Many of the characters grow as the episodes pass and overcome very relatable difficulties. I especially like the young officer Ridget's transformation as she takes on greater responsibilities on Gargantia. The mechanic Pinion is another character to watch as the story goes on. I can't really point to any human character that is truly "evil," with the antagonists mainly acting badly because they were either misled with good intentions or acted on a weakness they later were able to overcome. In this way, I feel that the show's creators really wanted showcase a lighter side of humanity; and the climactic events of the final episodes are definitely designed to get even more cynical audiences rooting for the heroes.

In sum, if you're looking for a light, feel good anime that still manages to have an impressive adventure story, check this one out.

Good:

-The plot is well thought out and very involved

-Excellent character development

-The animation is beautiful

Bad:

-Pacing. The anime is a bit self indulgent at times in its slower moments, making you wonder when it's going to pick back up

Scully Rating: 8.5 out of 10