XVI: "Full Metal Panic!" series

This post is not necessarily a SPECIAL post, but it's a 3-in-one post regarding the anime Full Metal Panic! Not to be confused with other media bearing the name Full Metal, Full Metal Panic!, or FMP!, deals with a member of a secretive anti-terrorist military "Mithril", who is hired to guard a high school girl. This Mithril agent, Sousuke Sagara, is sent to Japan as a student in Jindai High School, bearing the task of protecting Kaname Chidori, later revealed to be one of a special breed of people known as the 'Whispered', beings that posses information of Black Technology.

Noteworthy enough, FMP! is based on events occurring in 1998, making the world of FMP! parallel to our own. There are some differences though. In FMP!, it was during the Cold War, with a divided China, with Hong Kong being the center of that division. This mirrors how it was for Germany and it's city, Berlin, in years past. Quite a few events happened as well that kinda mirrors what ACTUALLY occured in real time. Even Jindai High is a fictional take on a school by the same name in real time.

While FMP! is serious in tone, it's companion title, FMP? Fumoffu, doesn't share this trait. In fact, Fumoffu is a romantic comedy take, bearing little reference to the mecha theme of the original, and bearing no trace of the political theme involved. It more or less centers on the romantic tension between the two main characters, while taking a more comedic turn, notably at Sousuke's attempts to fit in as a normal person.

It returns to being serious with the direct sequel, FMP! The Second Raid. Sousuke's mission is terminated, where he is replaced by the agent known as Wraith. To add to this, he is more so on front lines against the organization Amalgam. A certain face from the original is seen once more, but the enemies this time around are a new threat, bearing Black Technology capable of defeating the ECS mode for Arm Slaves. FMP! The Second Raid also has an OVA, centering on Captain Testarossa rather than the main two characters.

In all, as a mecha, I enjoyed it, heck, I enjoyed it overall. All three gets a pretty stable 8: FMP! getting an 8, Fumoffu a 7.5 (for humor), and FMP! TSR an 8.5. This definitely falls as one of my faves overall, this being next to Detective Conan and both Ai Yori Aoshi titles. It was kinda long, but I'm glad I finally finished this article. Till next time anime fans!