... let down by a somewhat weak ending. Without spilling any details, the ending is a major weakness here. Good science fiction leaves the viewer seeing the universe as suddenly bigger and more interesting than ever before, usually thanks to a knockout ending that makes you re-think all that came before, but I found myself asking "Is that it?" once it was all over. I remember being quite let down by this video. The trailer shows off the animation to great effect, and the spaceships and action animation here are actually quite stunning to look at, and the characters are engaging enough to keep your interest to the end. Yet, there is still an aftertaste of disappointment, despite there being quite a lot of eye candy along the way. The overall story arc is nothing particularly unique, and once the viewer gets familiar with the milieu, it loses a little of its appeal. Approach with caution.
2 Reviews
Interesting OVA series.
omega206413 June 2005
Warning: Spoilers
MAPS is a 4 part OVA sci-fi anime series telling a familiar story with several twists to it. Animation and music are good and the story progresses in a roller-coaster ride with only a few slow moments. Most notably at the beginning where characters are being introduced and set up. But this is common and expected. The main ship design seems to have been inspired by NELL from Roger Corman's movie "Battle Beyond the Stars"... You'll see what I mean early on. Alien design is interesting but could have used a little more interaction. Still good as is.
A well done OVA.
*** Spoilers may follow ***
MAPS starts out with our main protagonist for the series, Gen, and his girlfriend. Soon though the Earth is visited by a mammoth starship shaped like a gigantic woman. Gen is contacted by the captain of the ship. Lapumera and soon finds himself drawn into a massive quest for the mysterious Universal Key, a map of the universe split into parts, one of which was secreted on Earth by Gen's space-faring ancestors.
Chasing Lapumera though are her sisters, all in similarly statuesque and powerful star-ships, and it is shown soon that Lapumera is more than she appears to be.
Chapter 1 covers the meeting and battle across Earth to gain the first piece. Chapter 2 moves into space as they hunt more parts and become entangled in a interplanetary plot between two warring races. One humanoid, and the other bird-like. They also run into some rather mercenary mercantile aliens that further complicate matters. Chapter 3 continues with a search leading to an ancient being and the truth unfolding more and more as the leader of Lapumera's race reveals herself and her power. Chapter 4 wraps it all up in a spectacular way.
A well done OVA.
*** Spoilers may follow ***
MAPS starts out with our main protagonist for the series, Gen, and his girlfriend. Soon though the Earth is visited by a mammoth starship shaped like a gigantic woman. Gen is contacted by the captain of the ship. Lapumera and soon finds himself drawn into a massive quest for the mysterious Universal Key, a map of the universe split into parts, one of which was secreted on Earth by Gen's space-faring ancestors.
Chasing Lapumera though are her sisters, all in similarly statuesque and powerful star-ships, and it is shown soon that Lapumera is more than she appears to be.
Chapter 1 covers the meeting and battle across Earth to gain the first piece. Chapter 2 moves into space as they hunt more parts and become entangled in a interplanetary plot between two warring races. One humanoid, and the other bird-like. They also run into some rather mercenary mercantile aliens that further complicate matters. Chapter 3 continues with a search leading to an ancient being and the truth unfolding more and more as the leader of Lapumera's race reveals herself and her power. Chapter 4 wraps it all up in a spectacular way.
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