RD Sennou Chousashitsu

2061 AD. Fifty years have passed since mankind developed the Network society. It was anticipated that this new infrastructure would realize a utopia where people connected with each other at the level of consciousness. However, new social problems such as personal data leaks and proliferation of manipulated information began to surface. Nevertheless, people still relied on the Network to exchange information, and proved unable to opt to abandon it.

In due course, a new Network realm with more effective security measures was developed. This was called Meta Real Network, usually abbreviated as "the Metal."

The Metal accommodated personal memory data within protected virtual stand-alone organic cyber enclaves called bubble shells and eventually pervaded the everyday lives of people.

However, people gradually learned to release and explode their instincts within the secure environment of the Metal. The unleashed instincts pushed each individual's consciousness to drown in the sea of information and to be exposed to the pressures of desire. Meanwhile, norms and regulations continued to bind their real world lives. Thus, strange friction between the two worlds began to manifest themselves as aberrations beyond the bounds of the imaginable.

Experts who challenged the deep sea of the Metal to investigate and decipher such aberrations were called cyber divers.

This is a story of a cyber diver, Masamichi Haru, who investigates the incidents that lie between Reality and the Metal.

(Source: Production I.G)

Aoi, Minamo Main

Oki, Kanae Japanese

Haru, Masamichi Main

Mori, Katsuji Japanese

Itou, Yukino Supporting

Nonaka, Ai Japanese

Holon Supporting

Kawasumi, Ayako Japanese

Aoi, Souta Supporting

Takahashi, Hiroki Japanese

Kushima, Eiichirou Supporting

Fujiwara, Keiji Japanese

Fujiwara, Ayumu Supporting

Yao, Kazuki Japanese

Takanami, Erica Patricia Supporting

Tsuru, Hiromi Japanese

Ichinose, Kazune Supporting

Nozawa, Nachi Japanese

Eliza Supporting

Koorogi, Satomi Japanese

Wada, Jouji Producer

Nakatake, Tetsuya Producer

Kobayashi, Mikiko Assistant Producer

Furuhashi, Kazuhiro Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Reviews

Jun 2, 2021

Recynon

Recommended

"The problem with RD is that you expect Ghost in the Shell, and instead get Aria the Animation."

"Actually, you get their bastard child, but oh well..."

-Anidb comments

The first statement wasn't fair, but the second one was more accurate. I just wouldn't refer to it as a bastard child of slice of life and scifi, because there's no intrinsic reason that this wouldn't work.

It seems a lot of people were disappointed with this series because of its episodic slice-of-life approach centering around a teenage girl with no technical ability, as opposed to an action show utilizing the cyber world promised in the description as ... a set piece. After all, this is a project authored by Masamune Shirow of Ghost in the Shell SAC fame. I can understand not liking its slow paced approach and bland characters, but it would be a disservice to the show to say that it doesn't deliver on hardcore scifi. Some of the reviews and comments gave me the impression that this was going to be mostly about Minamo's daily life and that the creators only tried to put a plot together in the last six episodes. Neither are entirely untrue, but 1) Minamo's daily activities serve as a framing device for the scifi concepts and allow the viewer to see how the Metal affects people on a day-to-day basis 2) each of the individual episodes were focused explorations of a certain application of the Metal, allowing the scifi ideas to be fleshed out and laying the groundwork for the themes delivered in the last few episodes.

Unlike Serial Experiments Lain, series like Real Drive and Ghost in the Shell SAC mostly refrain from asking broad ontological questions that have no real answer and only serve as fun thought experiments to give the impression of depth. Instead, the Shirow's scifi concepts are much more well thought-out in regards to conceptualizing a relatively realistic technological advancement and then exploring all the different aspects of society, nature, and human life that the technology affects. You know, as opposed to reaching for philosophical questions about God in the internet. Yes, the line between the virtual world and the real world is also blurred here, but instead of creating a dementia effect to psyche out the viewer it's done more concretely. Individual topics that are explored include the use of the Metal to simulate taste and pleasure, the effect of electronic noise on Metal users, the sex appeal of androids, the use of the Metal to connect humans and animals, the use of prosthetics for people with disabilities, the connection between math, music, and passion, and the connection between sea diving and diving into the Metal. These concepts aren't here to confuse you and make you question your sense of reality but rather provide very reasonable ways in which technology could affect our lives in the future.

Because it utilized each episode for specific, focused thematic development, Real Drive was later able to make broader statements about the relationship between man, nature, and technology without appearing like it was just spewing abstract technobabble or philosophy. Furthermore, the way this relationship was explored was detailed and subtle enough to avoid the preachiness that usually comes with talking about how man should be one with nature. In fact, despite Shirow's trademark weakness when it comes to his characters, I found his thoughts about man, nature, and technology to be quite touching and even spiritual. What's more, the show didn't go out with a massive emotional heave that is common for anti-war mech shows or environmentalist shows, but rather a steady, lukewarm, but substantial tide that had been slowly building up (though some may call it anticlimatic).

As for the specific idiosyncrasies of this anime, as I said before, characters are not Shirow's strong suit. None of the characters have much personality but neither are they cringey anime archetypes. I initially thought Minamo was going to be an annoying moe school girl designed to appeal to otakus who like thicker girls, but she isn't that and as the show went along she felt more and more like just a regular girl. This doesn't sound like it's saying much but in the world of anime where teenage school girls are usually sexualized and/or archetypal that's a plus in my book. She still doesn't have much personality and frequently comes off as too enthusiastic, but as an entry device into the various episodic stories she's alright. The biggest issue, though, is her seemingly unfounded attachment towards the old man, Haru, before she's even met the person. Thus, their relationship can come off as forced and creepy. Though towards the end Minamo is shown having the same level of care for an elderly woman at the senior center so it's not that bad. Another relationship blunder was the romance between Souta and the android, which lacked chemistry and came across as Souta developing feelings for an android one day. One pleasant surprise the characterization delivered was the absence of a real villain. No one really knows for sure what direction the new technology would take humanity and how it would interact with nature, so it's just people who are doing what they think is best for the world, while letting their dreams as scientists cloud their judgement.

The slow pace of the anime will be a real issue for many viewers and I can't say I felt compelled to keep watching for much of its run time. However, slow pacing can work if the music or visuals of a show are good enough to keep your attention even when there is not much going on in the story, and thankfully the visuals of Real Drive are up to the task. Following Minamo around in her daily life is made pleasant and relaxing by the pretty island resort backgrounds. The series was also able to render beautiful summer evenings of a color and tone that's seldom seen in animation. Furthermore, the visuals help convey the beauty of both the real sea and the sea of the Metal, which is essential for the viewers to understand the characters' connection to them as well as immerse themselves in the themes.

Overall, I think the show has some of the best scifi thematic exploration in anime, the characters were serviceable, and I was also able to accept that this isn't Ghost in the Shell SAC so I enjoyed its relaxing pace and setting.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Jan 24, 2018

gregaubry

Recommended

This is a classic case of marketing not selling a show based on what the show actually was, and I think that threw off a lot of people's expectations. Given Production I.G. and Masamune Shirow's involvement, people were likely expecting something along the lines of Stand Alone Complex.

The show is actually slice-of-life with sci-fi elements in the background. And I loved that. While there's an overarching plot lingering in the background, the majority of the runtime is enjoyable characters having low-stakes, personal adventures in a vivid, brightly colored and mostly optimistic future world.

The production values are high and I liked the more zaftig approach to ... the character designs.

I keep hoping Sentai Filmworks or Discotek will nab this for a US Blu-ray release! Real Drive deserves to be reexamined.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Jun 30, 2008

brass2themax

Not Recommended

Preliminary (8/26 eps)

I know it's still quite early in the game to be writing a review for this series, but after having just finished episode 8, I'm feeling somewhat agitated, and this will help cool me down.

STORY: 3 (Poor)
Thus far, even though it's early, Real Drive seems to have no discernible plot what-so-ever. In fact, it's quite boring. The beginning of the series started out alright and showed a huge amount of promise, leaving me full of wonder and intrigue, but now... Meh, it's all I can do to keep watching (in agony).

ART: 6 (Fair)
Quite frankly, the art for the background scenery, most of the male characters, ... and in general is pretty well done. However, and no I'm not saying that all the female characters have to be "pretty" or "ideal", but the portrayal of the female characters in Real Drive is probably one of the most annoying "features" of the show. Almost every girl in this show is either chubby or outright fat, and if that's not enough to just annoy you a bit, the artists seem to want to rub it in your face some more by (ever second episode or so) having these characters sit down to the fattiest, most sugar-filled calorie-rich feast they can possibly encounter--and glomp it all down. I can stand the fatty characters, but this last point just annoys me on a whole new level. Other than that however, the animation is very well done, and it's a shame the rest of it is the way it is.

SOUND: 9 (Great)
I like the soundtrack for the show so far, and the background music is nice to listen to. Not much more to say here, it's enjoyable.

ENJOYMENT: 3 (Poor)
While I enjoy aspects of this show, what I really want to see is more of the "main" character, Haru. I'm so much more interested in him than I am in Minamo (who can just take a hike for all I care). In fact, I've grown so far as to hate Minamo, and just seeing her on the screen temps me to just close down MPC, delete all my RD episodes and never ever, ever give them another chance. She and her friends are the most annoying characters in all of anime, and have ruined my prospective enjoyment of this show that had so much potential. When Minamo is off-screen, enjoyment goes up. When she appears, mouse goes to the top right corner and I have to fight myself from just dropping this show.

OVERALL: 4 (Decent)
Okay, so there are a lot of things about Real Drive that I do like:

1. Interesting (even though not completely original) concept of the Meta Real
2. Sense of curiosity that revolves around every character excluding Minamo and friends
3. Wondering what the plot is actually going to be (assuming there will be one)
4. All of the art besides that which has to do with Minamo and friends is nicely done and sometimes even breathtaking
5. Wondering what the deal with Kushima is.

What would make RD a great show and boost ratings in almost every category and blast this show up a few hundred spots on this website? Kill of Minamo and friends. Please, do the world a favor, end our suffering and kill her off. Then I would give this show 10's across the board.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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	Poll: RD Sennou Chousashitsu Episode 22 Discussion datsunvic - Nov 5, 2008	9 replies	by AshRayKay »» Feb 28, 7:00 PM
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