Full Metal Panic!

Mithril, a covert military institution using state-of-the-art technology to combat terrorist operations, assigns a specialized team to a sensitive mission. Under the command of superior officer Melissa Mao, sergeants Sousuke Sagara and Kurz Weber must secretly protect Kaname Chidori—a teenage girl who unconsciously holds breakthrough scientific knowledge and is considered a "Whispered"—from intelligence agencies and other organizations pursuing her abilities.

While Kurz and Melissa are to assist him remotely, Sousuke enrolls at Kaname's high school as one of her classmates to closely monitor her. However, his militaristic upbringing and poor social skills lead to a difficult adjustment to civilian life. Not only does he attract unnecessary attention, but his actions frequently make Kaname suspicious of him.

Despite the earnest attempts to fulfill his duty, a terrorist ambush further complicates Sousuke's task. Recognizing the vicious mastermind behind the assault, Sousuke abandons his orders to ensure Kaname's safety.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Sagara, Sousuke Main

Seki, Tomokazu Japanese

Chidori, Kaname Main

Yukino, Satsuki Japanese

Testarossa, Teletha Main

Yukana Japanese

Mao, Melissa Supporting

Neya, Michiko Japanese

Weber, Kurz Supporting

Miki, Shinichiro Japanese

Gauron Supporting

Tanaka, Masahiko Japanese

Kalinin, Andrei Sergeivich Supporting

Ootsuka, Akio Japanese

Tokiwa, Kyouko Supporting

Kimura, Ikue Japanese

AL Supporting

Murozono, Takehiro Japanese

Kazama, Shinji Supporting

Noto, Mamiko Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Takechi, Tsuneo Producer

Chigira, Kouichi Director, Episode Director, Script, Storyboard, Screenplay

Tsuruoka, Youta Sound Director

Reviews

Dec 25, 2024

kemptea

Recommended

I first watched this show years and years ago. I've probably watched it four or five times now, including Fumaffu and Second Raid seasons (only seen Invisible Victory once). It's practically a comfort watch, which is weird because it's basically a mecha-military show with high stakes and a lot of discomfiting violence.

Or is it a rom-com?

Or is it a fish out of water?

Or is it a high school slice of life?

Or is it a cartoon-ultraviolence, farcical comedy that parodies rom-coms, fishes out of water, and high school slices of life?

Depending on which season you're watching, it could be any or all of the above. And ... that's what makes Full Metal Panic so great. One episode you'll be laughing until your gut bursts and you spill your wine/apple juice, and the next you'll be biting your nails, wondering how Sousuke and Chidori are getting out of this one alive.

The thing that really makes it work is the chemistry between our two leads. He's a soldier who wouldn't know pop culture or romance (or common sense) if they slapped him in the face with a grenade. She's a tsundere who, honestly, has a good reason (or five) to smack him. He's also earnest, determined, and skilled. She's also smart, athletic, and more adaptable than she thinks she is. They both grow as people over the course of the seasons, and their romance is a slow, if comedic, burn.

The supporting cast is also fun and differentiated, though Tessa is irritatingly tropey, and there is the occasional fan service (but, in the spirit of equality, there's a bit for the ladies, too).

All of you, watch this show and love it. Watch it until someone looks at the numbers and decides to make a fourth season after Invisible Victory. Thanks.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Dec 4, 2023

MxS7HGS

Mixed Feelings

Full Metal Panic! features two distinct styles in its storytelling. The first is comedic, starting with Sousuke's struggles to fit in at school and moving on to other topics. The second is the harsh reality of a Mythril soldier, which includes political intrigue, terrorism, sci-fi weaponry, and mecha action. If these two elements had been better integrated, Full Metal Panic! could have been an award-winning series. However, the two styles never really blend well, and the story progresses in awkward chunks as it switches between them. Although both styles start out strong in their respective sections, it's unfortunate that they soon become mediocre. The comedy ... stops being funny, and the seriousness is mostly dull, except for a few moments and a reasonably strong finale. As the series comes to a close, I am still unsure about what "Whispered" and the "Lambda Driver" actually are, leaving many unanswered questions that could have been easily resolved.

I really like how diverse and vibrant the cast of characters is, particularly in the dynamic interactions between them. The central focus is on the relationship between Sousuke and Kaname, which ranges from humorous (often due to Sousuke's social awkwardness) to more profound as Kaname is introduced to a world she is unfamiliar with. Sousuke's connection with the primary antagonist, Gauron, is also intriguing as it delves into Sousuke's past, although it could have been further developed. The pairing of the lecherous Kurz and the more serious Mao is another standout aspect. Even Kaname's school friends, who contribute little to the plot, possess unique and enjoyable personalities. The only weak link is Captain Tessa, who is the closest thing to an annoying character in the show but still manages to undergo significant character development in the final few episodes.

This show also showcases a considerable amount of mecha action. The Arm Slaves are quite plain and military-like, but they do provide a good understanding of the type of combat the show portrays. This also means that when the Arbalest and later the Venom make an appearance, they stand out more, making it easier to follow the action. I find the animation somewhat outdated, but the character design and action sequences are still as impressive now as they were long ago.

This was not a terrible series. However, it bothered me how much the show attempts to blend two distinct genres and only manages to strike a decent balance at the outset. The initial comedic episodes are excellent, and the first serious story arc is interesting. However, the comedic episodes that follow tend to fall short, while the serious episodes are mostly uninteresting, except for a few intense action scenes. The series concludes with many unanswered questions, and without a strong cast of characters (and the knowledge of two additional seasons in hindsight), watching all 24 episodes would feel like a chore. While the show has the potential to be great, it never quite reaches its full potential.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Mar 17, 2024

PurpleMagic

Not Recommended

From episode 1 I could tell this was nothing special. The comedy was bland and unoriginal usually resulting in Chidori getting mad at Souske and then hitting him. Are your laughing yet? NO.... well get used to it because that's at least half of the series. The other half is a military mech fighting show that barely scratches the surface of what it could be because it decided it wanted to focus on highschool comedy too. The writers did a terrible job with these two concepts because they don't mesh together at all. It doesn't help that the music is limited at well it has ... like 4 soundtracks and they're generic.

I put this as background noise after episode 4 and I'm glad I did because my instincts were right. This anime is boring at straight up 5/10. Sousuke and Chidori are terrible main characters. Chidori is annoying and useless. Sousuke is as bland as flour. It took him 20 episodes to show genuine emotion where he wasn't taking like an unsalted cracker. The show also had a weird fascination with showing panty scenes in the first 7-8 episodes, ruining any serious moments.

The only reason people ever liked this show was because they're was literally limited options on what they could choose to enjoy. Times have changed we have like 50 new anime to choose from each coming season. Not to mention the internet gives people quick access to better older anime whether its from a legal or illegal site. There's a reason people don't talk about this show its just forgettable.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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