Jonathan Clements introduced Phoenix: Reminiscence of Flower at Scotland Loves Anime 2023 using Cloud Atlas as a reference. I’m glad he did! It’s a suitable warning.
My summary of the story is that one sentimental wish from a hard-working woman triggers multiple genocides. It is all kinda her fault!
The Studio 4°C anime is directed by Shoujirou Nishimi and suits fans of surreal and/or bleak fantasy. The flying evil goose spaceship is just one example.
Phoenix: Reminiscence of Flower plot
Two refuge humans escape and settle down on a planet and then try and figure out if they can get water.
The timeline lurches forward from this engaging start and we go from the low level horror of mistakes and day-to-day survival to much grander horrors. In fact, over a thousand years will pass before the credits roll.
My takeaway from this early phase is that if you name the first person born on a planet as Cain then don’t expect it to go well.
There’s the arrival of aliens and a new civilization. For reasons unclear in the plot, one random alien develops omega-level powers and uses them to fly a rock spacecraft back to Earth.
Wisely, people try and kill them on sight. I say ‘wisely’ because this travelling rock does not bring good fortune or survival with its travels. I wouldn’t want them on my planet, either.
My takeaway from this mid-phase in the plot is that the name “Moopy” is just silly.
Reminiscence of Flower sort of wraps up with more loose ends than a bowl of spaghetti but at least it got there with as many twists and turns as you’d expect!
Phoenix: Reminiscence of Flower look and feel
There’s a gambit of styles on display in this sci-fi. I prefer the gritty life on Planet Eden17 as the stark colours and relentless sands seem to reflect the bleak future ahead.
However, there’s psychedelic space travel, cuteness, and alternative robot and spacecraft designs as well as that survivalist start. If the goose spacecraft isn’t your thing, what about a friendly bunny bot from an otherwise industrial and fascist dying planet?
The great thing about the look and feel of Phoenix: Reminiscence of Flower is that if you don’t like it, you just have to wait 15 minutes or so, and it’ll change to something else.
However, I don’t want to suggest this is an anthology with dramatically changing styles. There’s consistency and reoccurring characters, but it’s just that those characters age and where people have adventures differs significantly.
Overall
Good enough. I can’t imagine Phoenix: Reminiscence of Flower being my first choice of recommended anime to anyone unless they specifically ask for a sprawling epic across 1,300 years.
My overall takeaway is to be careful what you ask for, as there could be dramatic consequences.
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