anime: Rideback eps 1-13 (complete series)

[meganbmoore]

Rideback is an anime about a delicate ballerina in a fluttery white dress who rides a motorcycle that transforms into a mecha with arms and legs that drive up walls and performs ballet leaps.

I love it when I can say these things in complete seriousness and without exaggerating.

Rin is the daughter of a famous ballerina who falls and breaks her ankle at her star performance, thus crushing her dreams of living up to her mother’s legend. (As another character observes, she probably could have made a comeback, but then we’d have a different anime!) She deals with this by attending a near-all-girls school and having eternal platonic love with her roommate. Until she discovers a school club (which has what may be the only boys in school, except maybe a few extras) for Ridebacks, the aforementioned motorcycle mecha. With a Rideback, she’s able to perform an amazing leap and suddenly, her life is complete!

I thought this was an action anime and then suddenly it was a sports anime set up for Rin to have BFF!Rivalry with her busty club mate, Tamayo, the Rideback champion. And as soon as I adjusted myself to that, there was plot! With bombs! And terrorists! With Ridebacks! One of whom is an angsty whitehaired dude who I think tried to romance Rin by having his Rideback and hers dance together.

I’m fairly certain this was a good plot, but I kept getting distracted. Observe the opening credits:

I briefly forgot that I don’t typically care for mecha.

Comments

[owlectomy]

I really want to watch this! *_*

[meganbmoore]

You really do!

Though you'll have to use illicit means to do so.

[pleonasm]

I really liked the themesong. I think I will actually watch at least one episode based on this enjoyment.

[meganbmoore]

I was basically like that and just kept watching and then it was over and I was all "Why is it over??"

[starlady]

It looks recent! I heard nothing about it at all ever--clearly a problem.

[meganbmoore]

It's from...2008 or 2009. I heard about it from a couple listies mentioning ballerina mecha and seeming to like it at the time, but it really didn't make the major fandom rounds.

[dorothean]

The only anime series I have ever watched (in 2002) was Neon Genesis Evangelion. I guess I like mechs? Anyway, I watched this, and then I found a vid for it on youtube which I watched basically without blinking or closing my mouth. Clearly there is a hole in my life where ex-ballerinas on robotic motorcycles should go.

Wikipedia says it might be coming out in the US next year (I have no idea how to find these things online) ... I think I will be watching the whole thing. Thank you!

[meganbmoore]

I hope it comes out in the US! I can hook you up otherwise.

[dorothean]

Thanks! I'll let you know if it looks like it's not coming out. *is unreasonably excited*

[royalarchivist]

Funimation, which is pretty much the last of the major anime importers in the States, is bringing Rideback here in 2011. The announcement was made back in May, and you can find the animenewsnetwork article here (which basically just says what I said above).

I wasn't very interested in this series when I read that announcement and looked it up on ANN's encyclopedia, but Megan's recommendation now has piqued my interest. :D

Also: NGE is a brutal way to be first exposed to anime. O_O It's a completely awesome series, IMO, and one of my favorites, but I personally would never recommend it as a first title. If you enjoy Rideback when you see it I'm sure Megan, I, and a bunch of other anime fans on her DWircle can give you recommendations for other series you might also like. :)

PS: Sorry this is so long. O_o

[dorothean]

Watching NGE is one of my cherished high school memories. My friends and I had a sleepover party where we didn't sleep, we just watched ALL of Neon Genesis Evangelion. All of it.

It took us a long time to figure out that the reason the ending didn't make sense to us wasn't entirely due to lack of sleep.

On the other hand, no, it didn't get me into anime.... it did get me into Frank Sinatra, though!

[royalarchivist]

That's a pretty awesome memory, actually. XD

I'm glad you have fond memories of it, then (presumably?).

[dorothean]

Oh, definitely. :D

[wingstodust]

a;lsdjkfs THIS SHOW. I love it SO MUCH. <3333

[marshtide]

I... I just read the first line of this post (I'm sorry, I was just kicking around on the latest things page) and now I really want to see this. Robots and ballet? YES.

Thanks for the heads up. I may have to do some furtive investigation.