Mars Daybreak, Vol. 1 [DVD]
The comedy-adventureMars Daybreak(2004) takes place in the future, when Mars has somehow been covered by oceans. Cheerful ne'er-do-well Gram River can't find work in the collapsing Martian economy. When he falls into the sea while escaping from a heist, he lands in a conveniently placed RB, a sophisticatedmecha. A natural pilot, Gram fights off his pursuers--and joins the pirates aboard the Ship of Aurora. Captain Elizabeth's jolly crew of misfits robs the occupying Earth military to help the needy. Gram's new calling puts him in conflict with Vestemona, a no-nonsense young lieutenant from Earth with whom he shares an interesting past.Mars Daybreakis fast-paced and fun, with lots of underwater mecha battles. But the story doesn't go much of anywhere, and it's not clear what Gram and the other characters want. The comic interaction among the crew members will appeal to fans ofPatlabor. (Rated 13 and older: violence)--Charles Solomon