Godannar


Godannar is a Japanese anime television series created by Yasuchika Nagaoka, Anime International Company and Project Godannar, which consists of IMAGICA Entertainment, Taki Corporation, KlockWorx, NTT Data Contents Planing, Sojitz and Oriental Light and Magic. The series is produced by AIC and OLM, with Nagaoka serving as director and Hiroyuki Kawasaki serving as its main script writer. The first season aired in Japan from October 1 to December 24, 2003 on AT-X. A second season later aired from April 5 to June 29, 2004. Both seasons were licensed by ADV Films for North America. However, as of 2013, it is now licensed by Sentai Filmworks.

Plot

In 2042, alien threats known as the Mimetic beasts laid waste to Japan. During a final battle against the Mimetic beasts, Goh Saruwatari defeats the alien "boss" and saves his future fiancé, Anna Aoi, with his robot, the Dannar.
Now, on their wedding day, the Mimetic beasts emerge after five years of tranquility. Goh and Dannar are called to action, forcing Goh to leave Anna at the altar.
As Goh struggles in his battle against the Mimetic beast, Anna stumbles upon a sealed robot known as "Neo Okusaer". She is able to activate and pilot the Neo Okusaer to save her "husband" by merging it with the Dannar to activate the Godannar's Twin Drive.
During the course of the series, it is discovered that humanity is threatened by the "Insania" virus, which is spread by the Mimetic beasts. All of humanity is infected, but the virus affects robot pilots most severely, since they come into close contact with the beasts on a regular basis. The virus has the effect of transforming human males into Mimetic beasts; females are somehow immune, unless they naturally generate large amounts of male hormones. The virus is stimulated by human hormones, especially those released in great quantities during combat.
During the second season, the pilots of Dannar Base struggle to balance the need to fight the Mimetic beasts with the danger of further infection. Eventually, it is discovered that Mira, Goh's former combat partner and lover, who was trapped inside a Mimetic beast for five years, is the source of the vaccine humanity needs.
The series is famous for its fanservice: 'up skirt' shots, bouncing breasts, and the scantily clad female pilots.

Characters

Season one

Season two

Reception

Stig Høgset of T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews gave a mixed review of season one ranging from admiration of the animation to criticism of the story in the later episodes.
The seven volumes of the ADV Films release have been graded by Chris Beveridge in his reviews at Mania.com ranging from A− for the first two volumes to B for volumes five and six.
Theron Martin of Anime News Network gave a generally favorable review of the first volume of this classic mecha series although he did comment that Hilary Haag "gets a little too shrill at a couple of points."
In another favorable review Mike Toole has complemented the director Yasushi Nagaoka and some of the voice actors including the Japanese and English voices for Goh and Anna.