The EUREKA SEVEN franchise probably has some of the clumsiest brand
management ever. Between this
awkward attempt at a feature film, and ASTRAL OCEAN (the even more awkward attempt at a follow-up
series), it’s clear that the original series’ magic was only achieved through a
delicate and precarious balance that Studio Bones maybe didn’t even understand.
The show worked so well because it was one of the rare mecha
shows that put its characters squarely on top, and largely relegated the lore
to the background. We followed young Renton’s hero journey, and his coming of
age - - seeing this world of sky-surfing
mechs, alien ‘scubs’ and beautiful homunculi through his eyes. If we were ever
confused by the mythos, that was all right, because. Renton
was just as confused. We could focus on this tender young romance between him
and Eureka without needing to catch most of the world-building details.
GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT, YOUNG LOVERS presents itself as a distillation
of that love story, focusing even more sharply on Renton and Eureka... but it really isn’t.
For whatever
reason, the decision was made to try to squeeze in all the lore, too (with the scubs arbitrarily renamed as ‘EIZO’).
And if you do appreciate the simplicity of these kids’ tender relationship, it’s
all quickly drowned out by a ceaseless succession of anime monologues. You look at the counter on your DVD
player, and seriously wonder how so much screen time can be filled up with so
much hot air.
Trying to squeeze 30+ episodes of plot into a two-hour feature
is an effort doomed by basic math. You think it’d be common sense by now, but
so many studios keep trying, and they keep making the same mistake.
The packaging pointedly describes this as a “feature film set
in an alternate timeline within the EUREKA SEVEN universe,” as if that’s an
actual sales hook, and not a hilariously convoluted double speak for "this is just
an adaptation." AO pretty much fell off the cliff once it started
throwing ‘alternate realities’ around regularly in its parlance, and mentioning
that stuff here proves to be just as convoluted. It makes you see all of the
creative liberties - - making Nirvash as a baby mecha with a growth cycle,
having Renton and Eureka grow up together, adding a bracelet to symbolize their
relationship - - as arbitrary
differences, and not decisions made to critically streamline the plot. One wonders if there was ever of discussion of
changing Eureka’s hair from turquoise to magenta, for no reason other than to stress how it’s an 'alternate
timeline.'
It’s a shame. EUREKA SEVEN, the original series, continues
to stand out as a mecha series that transcends the clichéd pitfalls of its
genre. This awkwardly manages to fumble into almost all of them.
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