Expelled From Paradise begins with a metric ton of fan service. A sexy woman in the sort of strappy swimsuit that’ll sure to provoke a reaction – even if it’s the roll of the eyes – is lazing around on a beach when she’s approached by a hunky guy in budgie smugglers.
The action picks up, you’re wondering whether it’s just a bold start to grab your attention – and the swimsuit vanishes.
As it happens; it probably just in a bold start to grab your attention. The truth of the matter is that despite the fan service Expelled From Paradise is a great anime. The fan service continues throughout as our hero, a security officer from a space station where humans live only in digital form, spends most of her time in an armoured one piece.
So how come Expelled From Paradise does so well? The action ramps up wonderfully from the beginning. There’s a chase sequence, followed by a mystery, straight into a giant battle with mechs and monsters and we’re only getting started.
This cyber Paradise is threatened by a hacker who not only seems able to outsmart all of security but appears to be based on Earth. Yeah, down there among the dirt and the reject humans who didn’t make the cut. How’s that possible? Our hero, Angela Balzac, is sent to find out. She’s in such a hurry she won’t even wait for her artificial body to fully mature and hops her conscience in when the meat puppet is just over 16 years old. Yeah, uh-oh, Japanese fan service – but, safe to say, nothing else happens from that point of view.
The twists keep on coming. The mystery unfolds into plenty more action, some wonderful characters and perhaps a plot twist that you won’t guess. By the end of the movie you might be wondering which side you’d pick. Would you live as a cyber avatar, with perfect health and all the sensations of the simulation, or would you live as a frail human down on the remains of Earth?
Director Seiji Mizushima has a hit on his hands with this one. The anime was rendered as CGI but then ‘toned down’ so that it looks hand drawn. The result? It looks hand drawn and is all the better for it. It feels as if this sci-fi movie could launch a series.
I was able to watch the EU premiere at Scotland Loves Anime. I safely predict that Toei Animation will have a little bidding war on their hands as UK distributors each step forward with license deal offers. I also think we’ll see Angela cosplays (which might involve raiding some Christmas tree decorations).
