Yukikaze

Publisher
Bandai
Director
Masahiko Ohkura
Production
Bandai, GONZO, Victor Entertainment
Country of origin
Japan
Format
OVA
Running time
5 episodes
Year
2002

Yukikaze DVD Vol. 1

By David Rasmussen
4th Nov 04

Company - BANDAI
Rated - 13+up
English/Japanese Dialogue
Optional Extras? - Quite a bit of optional extras.
Time - 75 Minutes
Subtitles - Off (set to English)
Original Story - Chohei Kambayashi
Director - Masahiko Ohkura
Scripts - Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Yumi Tada, Masahiko Ohkura and Masashi Sogo.
Original Character Design - Yumi Tada.
Produced by BANDAI VISUAL, VICTOR ENTERTAINMENT and GONZO.
Special Cooperation with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Website - www.yukikazenet.com

Yukikaze
Volume 1 - Danger Zone
Before We Begin...

Eh? You say this hasn't come out yet in your area? No Region 2 DVD yet?
Maybe it's time it did come out where you are. One way or another.
During the coming weeks I'll be reviewing stuff that might not yet have come across to the UK, and along the way we'll ask ourselves whether or not this is something worth voting for... voting for?

Besides the weekly reviews I'll also have a poll set up. I want to hear from all of you as to what BANDAI should be bringing to your neck of the woods. I didn't know BANDAI was abit understocked over there, considering the quality work they did I thought they were well represented all over... still don't know why this isn't the case but it's not from a lack of quality workmanship because they do a good job.

So, then, read the reviews, vote on titles, and I'll start pitching your votes (Top Five out of 10) starting December 1st and once every two months of voting, okay?
With that said let's open the first week of titles for review, in this case Yukikaze.

In The Beginning...

Stop me if you heard this one before, but there are things the general populace aren't being told by the powers that be... for instance, in this world of Yukikaze it's not general knowledge that humanity had it's first contact with aliens 33 years before the series begins. Aliens? Nope, didn't arrive en masse in large siege fortresses ala Independence Day (and aintcha glad of that), but they come through an interdimensional gate in Antarctica to invade the Earth. When that happened the major powers of the Earth joined to form a military unit (under the command of the United Nations codenamed the FAF, or Fairy Air Force) which were set to combat the new alien menace, and to counter the so-called "JAM Invasion".

Gaining the upper hand through air power, they were able to push the invaders back through their own portals in full rout, back to their hometurf. But the aliens never gave up their ambitions for the Earth -- yes, they're still at it even though these days the fight takes place on the alien's hometurf of "Fairy", with the Earth holding a "beachhead" on the Fairy side of the portal between worlds to keep the path to Earth secured from future attempts to invade by the JAM.

(Don't you just hate that kind of stubborn streak in aliens? What a pain in the rear!)

Worse, once the governments realized that they were in for a long stalemate war they stopped sending their "best of the best" and started sending the "socially maladjusted" (prisoners mostly) into service as an option to imprisonment. Some members of the squad, however, volunteered to fight. Others are from poor countries who are there for the money. Some are prisoners who governments sent because they have that "Snake Plisskin" badass quality that'll make them quality material for their own military once they finished their FAF tour of duty.

As for what we'll be keeping an eye on? The squadron we'll be watching is part of the SAF (Special Air Force) which is an attachment of the Tactical Fighter Wing of the Tactical Air Command of the FAF... yeah, try saying that three times fast.

The squadron you'll be following in particular in this series is the 5th Squadron, nicknamed "Boomerang Squadron" since, like a boomerang, every fighter "thrown" into the field has returned to the "hand" that sent it without fail... But, of course, that could always change.
And now...

Operation 1 (Episode 1)
33 years ago an alien invasion fleet arrived on the Earth, and attacked a base in Antarctica. This was the beginning of a war between humanity and a race called the JAM for control of the Earth.

After many battles the JAM were thrown out of the Earth and humanity chased them back home to set up a series of "watch dogs" bases on the Fairy side of the dimensional rift which must be a very distasteful thing for the JAM.. Having their "victims" set up shop on their own home turf to continue the war they started.
In 33 years, however, both sides have improved on their tech, making each side quite good -- for the JAM it's improved fighters, for the humans it's a system codenamed "Yukikaze", an advanced fighter with a system that comes close to sentience.

But that might not be the only advances in the last 33 years.
During a friendly fire incident in which the Yukikaze system ID'd a friendly fighter as an enemy the question comes to light that maybe the JAM has found a way to infiltrate the FAF/SAF... but how?

Oh, and who is the main character we're keeping an eye on? Name - Rei Fukai. Personality? Well, that I'll leave for you to discover. But speaking of discover, it looks like before this episode is over Rei is going to be doing a little discovering himself -- because it seems he's going to have a very close encounter that leads to -- well, you'll see for yourself when you watch.

Operation 2 (Episode 2)
Better stop here. With only two Operations per DVD I can't reveal too much per review.
It continues where Episode 1 leaves off, and it doesn't look good for our pilot Rei.
He's grounded, and not in a good shape after what happened last episode. Then again considering what happened I can't blame him for being kind of out of it.
Maybe this episode will turn things around? Then again maybe not considering what happens next...
Speaking of turn things around... has BANDAI released Volume 2 of this series yet? It's been months and I haven't heard a peep about that yet!

That's that. Meanwhile, for now, I'll leave this one for you to discover on your own. Ok. We have extras to peek at, and then the breakdown.

Optional Extras
Yukikaze Making of Report - It is exactly what it sounds like, the "making of" behind the scenes goodness of how the series came to be. They don't do this often enough, and when they do it's a nice little gem that's worth seeing.

Mission Briefing - It's your 4-1-1 on the FAF and the SAF (the military unit made to combat the forces of JAM). I'd watch the episodes before reading this, however, since it'll make more sense once you spun the disc at least once and saw the episodes beforehand.

Technical Data Files - Your 4-1-1 on the "Yukikaze" itself, lots of info on the fighters of the FAF/SAF, and a few pieces of info on the fighters of the JAM (a bit of good info, but not as much as the data on FAF/SAF fighters obviously since they are mysterious alien tech).

Yukikaze Glossary - Watched the DVD and need some help with those big terms, and you just so happen to NOT own your own personal Persocom to do your research for you? This Glossary is here to help... but it'd help if you watch the DVD first, then refer to the Glossary later. However, if you're a fan of any Air Force related series or games then you have a pretty good grasp of most of the terminology already without having to browse the glossary... still, a spin through it wouldn't hurt even if you're "in the know".

Yukikaze Breakdown the 1st
What's Hot?
Well, have you seen the hype yet? If you read some of the hype about the series it touts the aerial action as being top notch that even blows movies like Top Gun away -- this sentiment I must agree with wholeheartedly. With (no doubt) the assistance of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force the creators of this series has made the kind of military style Anime series that rates a high mark of watchablity for fans of all things military action styled. With an "engaging" and intense story, fine animation, good musical score, and that solidly done aerial action? Yukikaze is a safe bet for your fans of Top Gun-style action, but amped higher than Top Gun.

What's Not?
I was going to complain about the episode count, but they seem quite involved for each which means this is probably an OAV Series (of so many episodes), so enjoy Yukikaze while it's on because it might not go far episode wise.

What I WILL complain about is the sudden disinterest BANDAI has towards this series.
It starts, and then nothing. It's as if they suddenly pulled the plug because nothing has happened since this first volume has come out, and I don't know if they ever got around to putting up a Volume 2!

When will they make this series move forward?!? Why isn't it moving forward?!? Sheesh!

Moments to Remember?
You mean besides the series itself? Check it out, thanks to the involvement of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force which brings out this end product which is quite the watchable piece of action and high drama that locks and loads you in as a fan no questions asked.

With Yukikaze, they've taken the concept of aerial combat to make it a visual work of art! And after all, since we ARE talking about a series about military aircraft it only makes sense that you get people who know their military aircraft to be part of the production in some way, which they did.
It's no doubt in my mind that this is the secret as to why the series works in so many ways.

What to Ignore?
Nothing. It's a series to pay attention to, not to ignore.

Overall?
Now I am not one to go watch lots of military Animes or military shows in general, and I don't count Argentosoma as part of the equation of military stuff since it had a more sci-fi, human drama flair to it. But this, as a pure all out military action series it ranks high as something I'd recommend.
Highly watchable, and you don't need to be an fighter jet fanatic to enjoy it, can't go wrong there.

-- David Rasmussen 4th Nov 04

Yukikaze Images