This is another edition in the under the radar video series. I have heard about this series before, but I was never able to watch it as I was focused on so many other animated properties at the time. I was able to recently and I'm glad to say this is another hidden gem to add to the 90's animation collection.
The setting of this show is awesome as it's something different in the post-apocalyptic genre of sci-fi, but also really like the series and mature feel of the show which shows the big steps animation is taking, that's just like with the dragons can soar to heights never achieved and have yet to be now.
I really love this post-apocalyptic world which is fascinating and not one I see much except in Anne McCaffrey's "Pern" book series and the video game series "Panzer Dragoon". What I like about this series is just like with both properties, this is post-apocalyptic sci-fi not fantasy. Yes, there are dragons and mutants but they're not the products of fantasy but of science itself.
I even like that the post-apocalyptic world is one of a futuristic world. Even though this world does have high technology that still works and is far more advanced compared to ours. We still see there are still pieces of technology and practices that have become lost in time, due to the devastating war aftermath.
The world it takes place in is also dark as we see humans have become an endangered species. The remaining humans live on a floating island that is unfortunately the last oasis that can support and sustain them. But not for long as they need a fuel source which is a mineral called amber. Of course, this isn't easy to find nor retrieve, and so we see the humans are both on a quest for fuel but also time to find a promise land where they can live and rebuild the Earth again. This really is thoughtful and sad premise, but an important lesson showing that we as a species aren't immortal, how we might not go the distance, and that when the world of the past is gone, it's gone for good.
The animation is solid, it's the kind you'd expect from the 90's, here they utilize French animation which I think looks great as there is this elegance to their style. From the backgrounds, character models, along with creatures, most notably the dragons which look cool as rightfully as they should.
The action is very good as it consists of shootouts, but mainly arial combat. The arial combat/dog fighting is well choreographed, really love seeing the use of the dragons, but also as they dismount, we see the Dragon Flyz utilize their technological wings and the mutants their organic wings. It was just cool, and you can say by their nature there were kind of ballets/dances but in the sky. I even like some of the stories and writing which has some memorable stories, but we see there is a revolving mystery in the show as in each episode we discover a little more about this lost world and what possibly lead them to where they are now. Also, the show explores mature and relevant themes of environmentalism, the victories, and follies in scientific/technological advancement, as well as prejudice and racism.
The only bad thing this how the characterization is a bit two dimensional. I know that most animated shows then and even some now aren't always known for deep character drama. But I felt with a show like this it could have benefited from it, making the show gain more altitude than ever through depth. As I would have liked to see more into the main villain Dreadwing's motives as to why he wants to wipe out all of humanity. I know seems complicated, which I don't mind if you don't overdo it. Though you could say this show is more plot driven which could be the reason for this, so I can't complain too much.
It would be cool if this had a revival or a licensed comic book series so we can take the series to higher altitudes; like being able to explore and get more answers on this futuristic post apocalypse like clues on what the war might have been about and even possible explanations on the existence of the Dragons and mutants. See if there are other floating cities and other regions on the ruined earth ruled by different hierarchies and see how different they are and how they affect the war. Could even be a bit like the "Planet of the Apes" series where we'd get a perspective from both sides of the war and the moral grey area that exists as there's no black and white between both sides nor are either entirely on the right. Though this won't happen due to the show's small fanfare, however, there have been some recent resurgences on certain properties, so the possibility is still out there.
This is a hidden gem worth a flight.
Rating: 3 stars.
The setting of this show is awesome as it's something different in the post-apocalyptic genre of sci-fi, but also really like the series and mature feel of the show which shows the big steps animation is taking, that's just like with the dragons can soar to heights never achieved and have yet to be now.
I really love this post-apocalyptic world which is fascinating and not one I see much except in Anne McCaffrey's "Pern" book series and the video game series "Panzer Dragoon". What I like about this series is just like with both properties, this is post-apocalyptic sci-fi not fantasy. Yes, there are dragons and mutants but they're not the products of fantasy but of science itself.
I even like that the post-apocalyptic world is one of a futuristic world. Even though this world does have high technology that still works and is far more advanced compared to ours. We still see there are still pieces of technology and practices that have become lost in time, due to the devastating war aftermath.
The world it takes place in is also dark as we see humans have become an endangered species. The remaining humans live on a floating island that is unfortunately the last oasis that can support and sustain them. But not for long as they need a fuel source which is a mineral called amber. Of course, this isn't easy to find nor retrieve, and so we see the humans are both on a quest for fuel but also time to find a promise land where they can live and rebuild the Earth again. This really is thoughtful and sad premise, but an important lesson showing that we as a species aren't immortal, how we might not go the distance, and that when the world of the past is gone, it's gone for good.
The animation is solid, it's the kind you'd expect from the 90's, here they utilize French animation which I think looks great as there is this elegance to their style. From the backgrounds, character models, along with creatures, most notably the dragons which look cool as rightfully as they should.
The action is very good as it consists of shootouts, but mainly arial combat. The arial combat/dog fighting is well choreographed, really love seeing the use of the dragons, but also as they dismount, we see the Dragon Flyz utilize their technological wings and the mutants their organic wings. It was just cool, and you can say by their nature there were kind of ballets/dances but in the sky. I even like some of the stories and writing which has some memorable stories, but we see there is a revolving mystery in the show as in each episode we discover a little more about this lost world and what possibly lead them to where they are now. Also, the show explores mature and relevant themes of environmentalism, the victories, and follies in scientific/technological advancement, as well as prejudice and racism.
The only bad thing this how the characterization is a bit two dimensional. I know that most animated shows then and even some now aren't always known for deep character drama. But I felt with a show like this it could have benefited from it, making the show gain more altitude than ever through depth. As I would have liked to see more into the main villain Dreadwing's motives as to why he wants to wipe out all of humanity. I know seems complicated, which I don't mind if you don't overdo it. Though you could say this show is more plot driven which could be the reason for this, so I can't complain too much.
It would be cool if this had a revival or a licensed comic book series so we can take the series to higher altitudes; like being able to explore and get more answers on this futuristic post apocalypse like clues on what the war might have been about and even possible explanations on the existence of the Dragons and mutants. See if there are other floating cities and other regions on the ruined earth ruled by different hierarchies and see how different they are and how they affect the war. Could even be a bit like the "Planet of the Apes" series where we'd get a perspective from both sides of the war and the moral grey area that exists as there's no black and white between both sides nor are either entirely on the right. Though this won't happen due to the show's small fanfare, however, there have been some recent resurgences on certain properties, so the possibility is still out there.
This is a hidden gem worth a flight.
Rating: 3 stars.