Full Metal Panic!: Fumoffu - Complete Collection
The popular broadcast seriesFull Metal Panic(2002) began as a rambunctious mixture ofmecha, magical girl and high school romance genres.Student council vice-president Kaname Chidori was a "Whispered," an individual whose untapped psi powers made her a target for sinister organizations. To protect her, the anti-terrorist mercenary corps Mithril sent Sergeant Sousuke Sagara to Jindai High, where his military bearing, hair-trigger reflexes, and extreme literal-mindedness always got him into trouble. For the second season,Fumoffu, the filmmakers dropped themechaand magical girl elements to focus on the mismatched romance between Kaname and Sosuke, with hilarious results. When a girl leaves him a love note, Sosuke notices his locker has been tampered with and blows up the bank of lockers; when he gets stuck in line at the cafeteria, he fires off a pistol and shouts out his order. Sousuke infiltrates a local amusement park by disguising himself in a plush walk-around suit of their mascot Bonta-kun, who looks like a giant hamster. The martial arts attacks make a wonderful foil for the character's super-cuteness, and the result is like watching Hamtaro go postal. Kaname, who temper makes Yosemite Sam look serene, screams at Sousuke and belts him with an outsized paper fan. Voice actors Chris Patton and Luci Christian make Sousuke and Kaname the funniest anime couple since Ranma Saotome met Akane Tendo. The character-driven slapstick and take-no-prisoners silliness may remind American viewers of old Hollywood cartoons. (Rated TV PG V: comic violence, nudity, alcohol and tobacco use, risqué humor, including real and fake profanity)--Charles Solomon