The 45-minute episode format really works to make Figure 17 a special series. For most of the series, it allows the slice-of-life aspect to shine, giving events plenty of time to play out with no rush needed, and it really makes it feel immersive.

And then for the last episode with the final sci-fi battle, it is paced like the final 45 minutes of a film, again with the extra time allowing for things to play out without needing to accelerate the narrative. It really feels like the final act of a movie rather than an anime episode.

It's all just part of the reason that Figure 17 is my co-favorite anime of all time, sharing the top spot with Utena, of all things. The two series are so different that they can't be compared apples-to-apples, and I can't decide on just one as my favorite, so they both are!

#Anime #Figure17

It's easy to forget that Kikuko Inoue is in Figure 17 since she is cast against type in the series. Rather than a sweet and caring motherly or big-sister type, she's forceful and decisive and has a much more assertive tone in her voice. Oldeena is definitely not Belldandy!

#Anime #Figure17 #KikukoInoue

Two episodes into my Figure 17 rewatch, and I'm quickly reminded of why it's one of my top tier favorite anime series.

First is the relaxed slice-of-life pacing allowed by the extended episode length. And this is traditional slice-of-life, not the CGDCT variant so popular today. Then there's the way this aspect of the story meshes with the seemingly incompatible sci-fi story. Both elements of Figure 17 seem to exist on separate planes, yet require each other for the series to function as it does.

There's also the depiction of the lush, rural setting of Hokkaido, and this series is what made me interested in Hokkaido in the first place. Peaceful farmland and majestic landscapes make Figure 17 a lovely series to just look at.

Even the sound design is unique. BGM is used very sparingly, relying on dialogue and ambient sound to pull you into the story. This, combined with the pacing, makes for a series which I find very peaceful to watch, and that feeling turns more to tension when the sci-fi aspect becomes the focus in each episode.

I also like the character designs by Yuriko Chiba, who would go on to design the characters for Planetes a couple of years later. (Another of my top favorite series, incidentally.)

This wasn't supposed to be a long post, but I guess it just took that much to describe why Figure 17 is one of my top anime series! It mixes up the usual formulas, and is something special as a result, at least for me.

#Anime #Figure17

Time for the next anime selections for me to watch from my shelf!

First up, because I'm in the mood for some unhinged Studio TRIGGER, is a rewatch a Space Patrol Luluco. My favorite short-form sci-fi comedy about a middle school girl who is determined to bring evil shoplifters to justice!  That, and the ending theme by TeddyLoid and Bonjour Suzuki is fantastic.

Next up is a rewatch of one of my all-time favorite series: Figure 17. An unusual mix of slice-of-life and sci-fi which somehow works perfectly. Episodes are about 45 minutes long, which allows for very relaxed pacing, making the slice-of-life elements shine. Yet when the sci-fi part of the story comes into focus, the pace picks up as needed.

It's been a while since I last watched Figure 17, and I wanted to get it in again before watching something I haven't seen yet. And bonus fun fact: Akiko Yajima, who voiced Relena in Gundam Wing which I just finished, also voices Tsubasa, one of the main characters in Figure 17, though the characters are nothing alike.

#Anime #SpacePatrolLuluco #Figure17