This is, no doubt, the best anime series of 2008.
Contrary to what one may think from the images promoting this series; Xam'd is NOT a story about fighting robots, it is not a story about mystical monsters, it is not an adolescence becoming a man story, and it is not a romance story. Xam'd is a WAR EPIC with all those as the icing on top.
Xam'd also is NOT an action series. Being about war, there are battles and fights. However, there are maybe around ten in the whole series (all of which are animated beautifully).
Xam'd does the soul good showing the multiple perspectives of a war. The religious fanatics fighting for what they believe in, the opposing government state fighting to protect their nation against religious terrorism, and the town-states in between. Segregation and discrimination, rejection, trauma, sorrow, confusion, misunderstandings, religious and mystical mystery and the unknown are all themes explored in Xam'd. Throughout the experience, mystical events toss the viewer around to question which party to root for.
The series focuses on many different characters with different views, but all of whom believe what they are doing is right. Very rarely does a movie or series do this successfully. Xam'd does, and that's commendable.
Moving on to the animation, there is nothing left to be desired in this department. A good way to describe the whole series is CONSISTENTLY GOOD. Unlike other modern shows where there are bouts of poor animation sprinkled with good animation, Xam'd never falters.
Why is this series so underrated and unheard of? Poor choice on distribution. The series was released internationally, but only on the PSN(Playstation3Network)! Not even in Japan was this series shown on TV! The show must be bought a few bucks an episode, and is automatically deleted after 24 hours of download. An unfortunate fate for such an amazing series. There is no doubt, a cult following... yet it is sad to think such an amazing series will be under looked simply because of poor distribution choices. If you get a chance to pick this series up, do so.
Contrary to what one may think from the images promoting this series; Xam'd is NOT a story about fighting robots, it is not a story about mystical monsters, it is not an adolescence becoming a man story, and it is not a romance story. Xam'd is a WAR EPIC with all those as the icing on top.
Xam'd also is NOT an action series. Being about war, there are battles and fights. However, there are maybe around ten in the whole series (all of which are animated beautifully).
Xam'd does the soul good showing the multiple perspectives of a war. The religious fanatics fighting for what they believe in, the opposing government state fighting to protect their nation against religious terrorism, and the town-states in between. Segregation and discrimination, rejection, trauma, sorrow, confusion, misunderstandings, religious and mystical mystery and the unknown are all themes explored in Xam'd. Throughout the experience, mystical events toss the viewer around to question which party to root for.
The series focuses on many different characters with different views, but all of whom believe what they are doing is right. Very rarely does a movie or series do this successfully. Xam'd does, and that's commendable.
Moving on to the animation, there is nothing left to be desired in this department. A good way to describe the whole series is CONSISTENTLY GOOD. Unlike other modern shows where there are bouts of poor animation sprinkled with good animation, Xam'd never falters.
Why is this series so underrated and unheard of? Poor choice on distribution. The series was released internationally, but only on the PSN(Playstation3Network)! Not even in Japan was this series shown on TV! The show must be bought a few bucks an episode, and is automatically deleted after 24 hours of download. An unfortunate fate for such an amazing series. There is no doubt, a cult following... yet it is sad to think such an amazing series will be under looked simply because of poor distribution choices. If you get a chance to pick this series up, do so.