Completed Series: Ginga Kikoutai Majestic Prince

[catystorm]

 Title: Ginga Kikoutai Majestic Prince (銀河機攻隊 マジェスティックプリンス)
Year: 2013
Episodes: 24
Production: Sentai Filmworks

Official Summary: In the latter half of 21st century, humans leave the Earth and begin to live in space. In order to adapt to the environment in space and deal with the hostile aliens in Jupiter, genetically engineered children called "Princes" are artificially raised and trained to be pilots of armed robots "AHSMB (Advanced High Standard Multipurpose Battle Device). This is a story about one of the teenage "Princes", Hitachi O Izuru, who studies in an academic city Grandzehle. ( - MAL )

Catie's Thoughts: I have a fondness for mecha series, as that was how I was initially introduced to proper anime (through the Midnight Run airing of Gundam Wing and FoxKID's butchering of Escaflowne), so I tend to be more lenient on it than I really should. Majestic Prince comes to us with some fairly familiar character designs, as those who are familiar with things like Infinite Ryvius, Fafner and Gundam Seed can attest. It doesn't take long to dispel though, because this is a different show.

It almost felt more like a slice-of-life with mecha on the side than the reverse of it, the battles don't take center stage until later on in the series. There is some interesting things here - that the kids have had their memories wiped before they became pilots, for one - but really at this point mecha series are so ubiquitous that every one feels faintly familiar after a while. It's going to take something that really stands head and shoulders above the rest to make a lasting impression.

I enjoyed Majestic Prince, but it's really not anything new or noteworthy. If you're a fan of mecha series - or even just a fan of the character designs, you'll probably enjoy it but I can't see myself recommending it otherwise.