Anime of the Month (May 2005) - Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu

[JShaggy]

This month's Anime of the Month is the hillarious sequel to Full Metal Panic! entitled Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu. Volume 1 of this highly-anticipated title was released yesterday, and if you're a fan of the first series, you'll definitely like this one.

(Courtesy of Anime News Network)
It's back-to-school mayhem with Kaname Chidori and her war-freak classmate Sousuke Sagara as they encounter more misadventures in and out of Jindai High School. But when Kaname gets into some serious trouble, Sousuke takes the guise of Bonta-kun - the gun-wielding, butt-kicking mascot. And while he struggles to continue living as a normal teenager, Sousuke also has to deal with protecting his superior officer Teletha Testarossa, who has decided to take a vacation from Mithril and spend a couple of weeks as his and Kaname's classmate.
You may now discuss the series. As always, place any and all spoilers in spoiler tags.

[KasumiTen]

This is what always happens to me. A title gets picked that ends up being backordered. I am definately changing my anime supplier beginning this month. Hopefully, my new source will be much more dependable in getting my titles to me in a more reasonable amount of time. If it gets here before month's end I will be sure to post my impressions.

:crying:

[MrBananagrabber]

This is a very funny show, but I'm going to wait for a box set (hopefully a marked down one). I've heard a few people complain about the video of the DVD, does anyone know if it's actually that bad, or if only people with ultra-nice tvs will see the rainbow or whatever effect?

[Artimus Gigan]

This is a very funny show, but I'm going to wait for a box set (hopefully a marked down one). I've heard a few people complain about the video of the DVD, does anyone know if it's actually that bad, or if only people with ultra-nice tvs will see the rainbow or whatever effect?It works fine on my TV, no skips or video errors...


Honestly I'm a bit miffed on the 3 episode count for the first disc, even though some are 15 minute episodes, I wouldda liked more.

[Classic Speedy]

I've still gotta buy the ORIGINAL Full Metal Panic complete series before seeing this. I doubt I'd be completely lost if I jumped right into Fumoffu, but seeing the original series first couldn't hurt. Especially since THEM Anime gave FMP a glowing review, whom I frequently agree with.

[serenitymoon]

I haven't bought the dvd per say, but I did view the two ten minute episodes on the NewtypeUSA DVD. I didn't think I would watch it, but I did. My boyfriend whodoesn't even watch anime loved it. It had plenty of laughs throughout and the creators seemed to know when exactly to really plug the gags and when to slow it down a bit. And I'm glad they did too, because my stomach was about to burst from laughing so much!

My favorite part was in the second episode when
Sousuke was playing a shooter video game in an arcade. He ran out of ammo and so he pulled out his own gun and shot the game machine to bits. It was classic!
Another great part is also in the second episode
when his upperclassman "translates" between Sousuke and a blond thug. It's so funny because they are all standing in the same room, not 5 feet from each other, and they need to be told what the other person just said.

What is so funny about it is that everything he does to solve his current problem, from employing explosives to holding people at gunpoint, just about everyone but Kaname thinks his actions perfectly normal! He's even got his upper classman on his side and helping him! It's outrageous!
The first series was pretty good, but had such serious overtones. It's nice to see a take on it that gives it a more lighthearted air. I definately want to get the whole dvd after viewing this sampler!

[Classic Speedy]

Just watched the first volume. It's a fun show, and manages to bring new ideas to the table with each 11-minute segment. My favorite on Vol. 1 was Episode 2-2 where Chidori and Sousuke race home to pick up some homework, but everything goes wrong and getting back to school in 45 minutes becomes a fast-paced, frenetic race. Great animation that had my eyes fixed on the action, and good comic timing.

The beach episode relied on miscommunication a bit much, but it was still funny, as Chidori fingered Sousuke as a stalker pervert after she gets irritated that he seemingly isn't paying attention to her. Then the guards at a palace she's staying at try to take Sousuke out.

Third-place probably goes to the bread-baking episode, with the gym teacher constantly trying to sabotage Sousuke's bread and getting a booby trap in the face.

As for the DVD itself, though it's really disappointing that it only contains 3 episodes, is otherwise good. Especially interesting is the origin of the name "Fumoffu" and problems in airing the first episode on Japanese TV because of current events. It's cool that this DVD is the first time that the first episode aired the way it was originally supposed to. :) Also nice to see is a "Next Volume Preview", which is quite welcome and I hope it makes a return in future ADV releases. The dub is good too, though it was pretty easy to tell some of the ADV VAs in the roles, like the woman who does Chiyo-Chan.

While I haven't seen the original FMP yet, judging from the good results of this first batch of this series, I'll have to check it out.

[Vu Man]

The dynamic between Sousuke and Chidori is funny for the first couple episodes but it doesn't change over the show and it gets stale for me. I've seen the whole thing fansubbed and although the character designs are great, I can't say the same about the plots. Sousuke resorting to some over-the-top solution and Chidori hits him, rinse and repeat.

The episode with the hospital is unique but the one with the rugby team was just stupid. Aren't there these two female police officers that show up once in a while?

[Artimus Gigan]

The dynamic between Sousuke and Chidori is funny for the first couple episodes but it doesn't change over the show and it gets stale for me. I've seen the whole thing fansubbed and although the character designs are great, I can't say the same about the plots. Sousuke resorting to some over-the-top solution and Chidori hits him, rinse and repeat.

The episode with the hospital is unique but the one with the rugby team was just stupid. Aren't there these two female police officers that show up once in a while?
these were all stories in the manga

However I think that FMP:Overload is better than the inital FMP manga

[AstroNerdBoy]

These were all originally short stories before they were manga or anime. :p The novels were used to tell the action-adventure stories and the short stories were used for humor tales.

As to the series, it may be one of the funniest anime titles ever produced, certainly a top-5 contender in the comedy genre.

[Spastic Minnow]

I've seen the first couple now on AnimeOn Demand.

Constant laughs, I'm very impressed. I haven't seen all of the original series but I figure as long as you've gotten to episode 7 (also where Anime On Demand is at) there's no problem watching this. In fact it almost seems like it's more appropriate to watch Fumoffu at the same time.