MOURETSU Space Diary: Entry №2
One of the reasons why I like Mouretsu Space Pirates back when it aired live was the meld of old technology aesthetic with sci-fi elements such as this pocket watch:
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I find it fascinating at how it does it; it's so much easier to have all the gadgets and data bolted or strapped to your forearm through some sort of wrist computer or at least a smartphone-esque communicator but they decided to make use of something that's rarely used even in our Real Life.
Another aspect that I like about the anime is the authenticity of the science behind, or at least from what this sci-fi lover and aviation engineer is perceiving. Sure there's some weird physics applied, like how the training space dingy can fly with a design like that (in the anime) or how the space shuttle can just do a vertical takeoff and fly straight away with a bulky, albeit still aerodynamically sound fuselage without a ventral thruster below it, but all in all they are kind of balanced by the somewhat authentic space physics.
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As anyone with a basic understanding of physics in space, there's no air resistance, so the basic science of aerodynamic will not apply in this case. They include thrusters such as shown above for the ships to manouver in space. This is also shown on spacecrafts much smaller than a ship that size. Even up to the docking umbilical bridges they use for boarding action is included with little decelerating thrusters. Small details and attention to authenticity like this is why I love shows that put the effort into it.
At this point in the series, around ep. 6 or so, the complexity, while not really deep in any sense, seem to ramp up a bit into a more serious tone. Sure there's still the SoL part of the show, but it's not too much of the focus for the series, and seem to focus on more how the characters develop in lieu of showing more of the universe of the series. This is another trap that I think they are smart enough to avoid, being that they are not focusing on cute girls doing cute pirating, but they take themselves serious enough to warrant believing in the universe. Sure it's not really true pirating in the sense that most expect, but they still do a decent enough job at bending around the in-show universe to make it convincing.
Also I like the yuri undertone of the series too, so any yuri seekers should also try a bit of the show too, at least for a few episodes, if you're wary to spend time on a 2-cour series (2 seasons' worth of episodes, usually numbering up to 20+ episodes). And since this is a mostly-female cast, it should provide ample fodder for more yuri goodness. But if you're expecting ecchi yuri action then you'd mostly be disappointed, at least up to this point. I don't foresee it becoming ecchi anytime soon too.
Progress: episode 8.
