Special Review
This review is a special request from Patreon supporter BodaciousCNO. If you'd like to support me on Patreon, click the button below. Visit PatreonIn 2007, Japanese animator Hiroyuki Imaishi gained worldwide attention for the series Gurren Lagann from the studio Gainax. He also directed the 2010 series Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt before leaving Gainax in 2011 to start Studio Trigger. Their first project was the 2013 short film Little Witch Academia, which spun off into Kill la Kill. Imaishi frequently worked with writer Kazuki Nakashima, whose credits include Ultraman Max, Kamen Rider Fourze, and Batman Ninja. In 2017, Studio Trigger and XFLAG revealed a new project that had been in production for roughly four years. Later announced as a film in 2018, the project would see Imaishi and Nakashima returning to collaborate. The two had previously worked on Gurren Lagann and Kill la Kill, both earning critical praise. Promare premiered in Japan in May and the US in September two years later.
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Synopsis
A series of spontaneous combustions ends up killing half the world’s population in an event called the Great World Blaze. Following the cataclysmic event, a group of people with pyrokinetic abilities emerged called Burnish, and they continued spreading. Thirty years later, the firefighting group Burning Rescue rolls out whenever a fire arises due to Burnish attacks. They run into Mad Burnish, a terrorist group led by Lio Foita, during one such episode and take them down. Burning Rescue member Galo Thymos is hailed as a hero by Kray Foresight, the city governor and Galo’s hero. However, Kray reveals his true intentions when Galo learns he’s using Burnish to power a spaceship. It turns out the Earth is about to explode, and Kray wants to migrate with a select group of people. Galo and Lio have to settle their differences and work together to save the world.
Review
Promare is one of the most stunningly beautiful animated movies I’ve seen in quite some time. There are so many bright and vibrant colors that it feels like a euphoric trip throughout. The pacing is fast-paced and kinetic, so you’re never bored and constantly left on the edge of your seat. The music, which is insanely catchy and quickly gets stuck in your head, perfectly complements the kinetic pacing. At just under two hours, the film flies by pretty fast but not so much where it feels anemic. Even though the target audience is teens, even hardcore and casual adult anime fans will enjoy watching this. Admittedly, some of the transitions between 2D and 3D can be jarring, and the fast pace can get overwhelming. It’s almost like an animated Michael Bay movie, but it’s way better than the live-action Transformers movies.
Unfortunately, despite how dazzling the animation is, the story comes off as convoluted, and the characters are paper-thin. There is so much happening, and it goes by so fast that it’s challenging to keep up with sometimes. Also, the characters don’t have much of a personality aside from the basic archetypes they fill. You’ve got the reckless hero, the solemn and misunderstood villain, and the hero figure revealed to be the true villain. Aside from their designs, even the side characters are pretty one-dimensional and primarily forgettable, though they’re not the central focus. The film does touch on some serious issues, such as exploiting people considered harmful for a supposedly good cause. Even with a basic story and characters, this movie will satisfy you if you’re looking for a fun thrill ride. Overall, Promare is a flawed but enjoyable roller coaster of an animated movie.
Buy Promare from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3J2OZIS.
