This story is a bit too melancholy for my taste, but it is interesting and original and has a small but devoted following.

One thing to keep in mind is that this is an anti-war story, and such stories usually do not have cheerful endings. It would tend to defeat the purpose.

In any case it is a thoughtful story with a unique premise. Considering that it is from Studio DEEN, the artwork is surprisingly adequate, with attractive backgrounds and impossible, beautiful flying machines. I found the character designs a bit disconcerting at first, but quickly got used to them. The music is haunting (I’ve had “Hikari ni tsusumare musuu no hana-tachi wa…” stuck in my head for days.)

• Title
  Simoun [1]
• Genres
  Fantasy, Science Fiction, Drama, Yuri
• Demographic
  Shoujo
• Contents
  26 Episodes on 5 DVDs
• Languages
  Japanese with subtitles
• Director
  Junji Nishimura
• Music
  Toshihiko Sahashi
• Character Design
  Asako Nishida
• Art Director
  Shichiro Kobayashi
• Chief Animation Director
  Asako Nishida
• Mecha Design
  Jin Seob Song
• Animation Studio
  Studio DEEN
• Broadcast
  2006
• Region 1 Publisher
  Media Blasters

Premise

Kyuukoku is a beautiful, pristine country which has nevertheless become rich and powerful through the use of advanced technology dug up from the ruins of a lost civilization. Among the most useful artifacts are helical motors, mysterious machines which can use some unknown scientific principle to generate clean, free energy. Apparently there is some sort of anti-gravity force involved as well.

Aside from the ancient artifacts, which they only vaguely understand, their technology is more primitive than ours. They have some knowledge of electronics, but know nothing about radio.

Beautiful though it is, Kyuukoku is far from a Utopia. It is a strict theocracy, centered on the worship of a god called Tempus Spatium. The society is rigidly hierarchical with a small, largely hereditary elite and a large mass of poorly-educated commoners. Though they are poor, most of the commoners are devoted to their religion and seem content with their lot.

Kyuukoku is hated by other countries because of its monopoly on ancient technology. However it has always been able to cow its opponents by means of a superweapon: an advanced aircraft called the Simoun.

Powered by two helical motors and a mysterious glowing green sphere, a Simoun can carry conventional weapons, but its real power lies in a maneuver called a Ri Maajon. Simouns draw patterns of glowing lines in the sky which explode in bursts of devastating energy, wiping out enemy forces.

Simouns are considered sacred and their use is surrounded by ritual. They can only be flown by pairs of Simoun Sibyllae [2], young priestesses who have not yet chosen a final sex. In order to start the Simoun they have to kiss each other, in accordance with the sacred principle of ratings boostum. Sibyllae need special talents and extensive training, and are thus in short supply. In times of national emergency they are permitted to delay becoming adults past the age of 17.

In its efforts to catch up in technology the island nation of Shoukoku has made itself a wasteland, choked and poisoned with pollution.

As the story begins, Shoukoku launches a massive attack on Kyuukoku using huge fleets of crude aircraft, capable of overwhelming a Simoun by sheer numbers. For the first time in history Simouns fall burning from the sky.

The sibyllae are shocked and demoralized. The nation’s leaders are confused and uncertain how to react. The common people continue to have faith in them and fight back bravely.

As the war drags on it takes an it takes an increasing toll on the priestesses, who feel worn down by the stress of battle and their grief over their fallen comrades. Some feel a conflict between their religious vocations and the duty to slaughter the enemy. Others resent the fact that the high command treats them like temperamental children, though in some cases that’s pretty much how they behave.

Parental Advisory

This series is unsuitable for young children due to violence, adult themes and the deaths of sympathetic characters.

Then there’s the whole lesbian issue, which is bound to make most parents uncomfortable. Mostly this involves scenes of girls kissing girls, which happens quite a lot. I suppose one could argue that a relationship isn’t really lesbian if one of them is going to turn male, but this seems unconvincing.

Characters and Locations

The Arcus Prima was originally built as a flying luxury liner, but has been converted to a sort of aircraft carrier supporting 3 “choirs” of Shimons. The story focuses on the members of Chor Tempest, which before the war began was considered the most elite unit.

Neviril is the most senior sibylla of Chor Tempest, referred to as the “Sibylla Aurea.” The others revere her for her superb flying skills and spirituality. However she is sensitive and prone to depression, which makes her seem temperamentally unsuited for combat.

Neviril’s partner Amuria is full of ambition. She dreams of mastering the Emerald Ri Maajon which was performed by legendary priestesses in the distant past.

Neviril’s childhood friend Paraietta is fiercely protective of her.

Elly has no stomach for war and decides to quit after the first battle.

Aer, a new recruit, is a classic “Top Gun” character: talented but brash, insensitive, overconfident and somewhat irresponsible.

Kaim is Paraietta’s partner, and very attached to her.

Alty is Kaim’s younger sister. The two don’t get along well.

Floe is Alty’s partner. She is mischievous and flirtatious.

In peacetime a girl as young as Rimone would never have been promoted to Sibylla. She is extremely talented but emotionally unprepared for battle.

Roatreamon is a gentle girl from a high-ranking aristocratic family.

Morinas, another new recruit, is fascinated by the mystery of the Simouns.

Dominuura is the eldest sibylla still in service. She is the last survivor of Chor Dextra, a choir that perished trying to master the Emerald Ri Maajon.

Mamina comes from a lower-class family and has a chip on her shoulder as a result.

Yun trained with Mamina. She also comes from a lower-class background and uses a startlingly masculine style of speech.

Anubituf (R) is the captain of the Arcus Prima. His close friend Guragrief (L) is the “Dux”, or overall commander of all the Simeon choirs on board.

Wapourif is the ship’s chief Simoun mechanic. Contrary to what one might assume from his appearance and speech patterns, he is actually a recently minted male.

Neviril’s father Halconf is a high government official. He takes a keen interest in his daughter’s career and an even keener interest in his own.

Onasia is the high priestess of Tempus Spatium and chief of state.

The Messis is an old freighter converted into a small aircraft carrier capable of carrying a single choir.

Wauf is the captain of the Messis, a gruff man who isn’t comfortable dealing with sibyllae, but quite competent.

Proper Names

I have tried to use the names as they are given in the subtitles, which often don’t match the spelling used on other web sites, or for that matter the pronunciation on the Japanese sound track. This seems to be another case where the translators followed the recommendations of the Japanese publishers on how to convert foreign names in katakana to Roman characters. Such advice is often dubious.

Links

Wikipedia entry (spoilers).

ANN Encyclopedia entry.

Wikipedia entry for the Caudron Simoun, a French aircraft of the 1930s.

Notes

[1] The title in katakana is SHIMUUN, which is also how it is pronounced.

[2] Probably the pseudo-Latin terms are supposed to represent a vestige of the language of the lost civilization.