The Pilot’s Love Song Episode 1
What They Say:
As a beautiful daughter of the noble family del Moral, Fana was proposed by Prince Carlo, who is the crown prince of their country Levamme. However, since Levamme is at war with Amatsuvian, the marriage had to wait until the war ends. Meanwhile, as a bestado, the lowest caste in Levamme, Charles had always dreamed of flying and eventually became the ace pilot of the air force.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Having enjoyed the 2011 Madhouse feature film The Princess and the Pilot, which was released in the US by NIS America, there’s a certain kind of anticipation for a series like this. The Pilot’s Love Song is not a remake or lengthier adaptation of that work but rather something that’s in the same world, just in a similar time and place with whole other situations. That connection is important for those that saw the feature because it doesn’t change what we experienced and that allows this show to stand on its own without being truly compared in the same way. And becuase of the nature of the show where it’s going to be a bit simple and positive with what it wants to do, it’s not the kind of show where you really want to get heavy on it because it’s simply trying to delight and have fun with its characters, setting and copious amounts of aerial battles and the thrill of flying itself.
The opening half of the episode gives us a bit of a look at just how the aerial side will figure into things, which is good because if it falls apart here, it’ll make everything else harder to take. Some series just can’t muster the budget they need to really make such aspects of a show work, but Madhouse definitely hits all the right notes here with design and simply the flair of it all as we see the pilot trainees, including our lead in Kal, heading off into the sky after launching from the ocean to join the massive aerial fortress that’s doing the same. It’s all so ornate but realistic in a classical sense that it’s hugely impressive to watch because it’s done with a healthy dose of imagination while acknowledging the realities of how it would work .The fortress truly looks heavy and you can feel that kind of weight to it as it takes to the skies. Of course, we also see the way that the trainees are struggling with their abilities at times, especially when it comes to landing, which is comically awesome.
Kal as a centerpiece works nicely because he hits all the trademarks of the nice guy and we see it in his flying and some of the frustration that comes from it, which is natural. But we also see while back on the ground, he helps out a young woman who has a problem with her bicycle while out for a stroll himself. This brings us into contact with Claire, a shy but friendly young woman who has an ideal backdrop for meeting someone in the mountains like this. The two of them have this beautifully natural moment, especially as the clouds roll into the land because of how the land is actually flying, but that has its own comical effect. The whole sequence, which dominates a lot of the second half, does a great job in really making you full of the feels for these two while knowing that there’s likely a lot of drama ahead. It’s the kind of fantasy blossoming romance that many people want to feel but is largely relegated to the movies with how it happens. But it strikes a chord within you.
In Summary:
The opening episode to the series is one that is somewhat hard to pin down in a way because it’s not about story at the moment but more about introducing us to a number of the characters. We get a few pilots, a few regular people and hints of the larger world with what everyone is training for, but you don’t get that big hook in terms of story. What you do get is the hook with the animation, the mood and the atmosphere setting more than anything else. You’re supposed to be drawn by the characters of Kal and Claire, two very simple characters at this stage, who are young and full of potential. So much potential. And the episode does drive that home well enough in the second half – if you’re open to that kind of story. With what we get here, I’m very intrigued and hopeful for what it will bring about. Especially the feels. Oh, the feels in store for us.
Grade: B
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
Review Equipment:
Sony KDL70R550A 70″ LED 1080P HDTV, Apple TV via HDMI set to 1080p, Onkyo TX-SR605 Receiver and Panasonic SB-TP20S Multi-Channel Speaker System With 100-Watt Subwoofer.