Time Stranger

Alright, take the director of the Pokemon movies and have him do a sequel movie to a fighting force mecha show from the early 80's. It sounds like a recipe for unadulterated mediocrity, yet somehow it manages to be one of the most bizarre, surreal, and personal animes ever created. In a way, I would liken this to Watchmen, even though it came out over a year before that famous comic. Both weave tales of heroes who had their moment in the sun, but when the war was over, they faded into obscurity. They're all older now and one has turned his one-time fame intoa successful commercial enterprise. Another is the Surgeon General. They haven't seen each other in years, but they quickly rally when one of their own is threatened. While Time Stranger does have several action scenes, action is not the focus. Rather it focuses on Remy's internal struggle and how she deals with almost insurmountable odds. She realizes that her death is almost a certainty, but she never gives up. But let's get one thing out of the way: Time Strange is 14 years old and it looks it. The animation gets the job done, and there are some moments where a lot is done with a little, but it's not going to blow anyone away. More than anything else, that's the main gripe with the show. However, it should, in no way, take away from enjoyment one gets from viewing this movie. The music is a mix of haunting and surreal, with a pure 80's power ballad at the end. Again, nothing truly exceptional here, but it holds up better than the animation The main draw here is the characters, or, specifically, Remy. She is one of the strongest and most unique female characters I've seen in an anime. She can fight when she needs to, but it's her strong will and never-say-die attitude that make her truly standout. This is one that's not to be missed.