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Anime 101
Area 88
The first episode opens with the lines "North Africa... Area 88 is a bitter, blood-stained battlefield. The front line's front line. Even the simple luxury of walking on the runway is dependent on the graces of Allah. But we abandoned God and shook hands with the Devil. We are the mercenaries of Hell."
So starts the most profound anti-war series that I have ever seen. It tells the story of Kazama Shin, an airline pilot student who is affianced to the daughter of the owner of Yamato Air Lines. On the night before Shin and his friend Satoru Kanzaki graduate, they go on a drinking binge. Kazama tricks Shin into signing up for the Asran Mercenary Air Force. The next day, they haul Shin off to Africa to fight. There are only three ways out: serve for 3 years, earn 1.5 million, or escape. All those trying to escape are hunted down. Shin quickly becomes the top ace, but suffers immeasurably from having to kill.
Meanwhile, his friend continues to conspire against him. He takes over the air line while trying to get Shin's fiance Ryoko Tsugumo. He even hires pilots to go to Area 88 to kill Shin when he tries to escape.
Shin comes close to 1.5 million once, but has his plane shot out from underneath him, meaning he has to buy another one. When he's lost in the desert Shin tries to walk to freedom, but almost dies from exposure, only to stumble back to Area 88. Over time, Shin gets more and more estranged from his former life.
One of the things that helps Shin get through it is his friend Mick, a rich Vietnam vet. Mick survived Vietnam but couldn't stand civilian life. He ran away from his fiance and padded life to become a hunted mercenary, stealing an F-14. He warns Shin to make sure he never gets used to the smell of gun smoke because once it gets on you, you can never escape it. Mick, like most of the pilots at Area 88, has lost his soul to war and can't live any other way, fighting only to die.
Finally, Shin makes his money and accompanies the leader of Area 88 back to France. Shin is mustered out, bumming around trying to get in contact with Ryoko. At one put he gets mugged by some street toughs, but he only smiles and beats them all senseless. When he finally gets in touch with Ryoko over the phone, Shin says nothing to her, hanging up and walking away. He has his fighter refueled and flies back to Area 88, even though he knows that it is being overrun as Asran has lost its war, but there is no other place for him to go: Shin couldn't outrun the smell of gun smoke.
The anime's many air battles usually don't focus on the fighters, but the pilot's reactions. From Shin's anguish fading gradually to apathy, as he does what he has to do to make the money; Mick's blase attitude to war; one pilot who shoots pilots that eject after he shoots down their jets; other pilots' reactions from fear to eagerness. We see the hopelessness of it all sink into Shin as he survives mission after mission only to remain a prisoner, up until the end, when Shin too can only exist to fight, having had everything else stripped away. He never revenges himself on Kanzaki, nor sees his fiance.
The final scene shows Shin sitting in his fighter, closing in on Area 88 where his comrades are already fighting against overwhelming odds and losing. Shin checks his instruments one last time then cries "Area 88: go!" while streaking out of the clouds.
This anime is three OAVs and manga.
Special Thanks to: Sky Xu from Area 88 for the information.
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