Review of Texhnolyze
Texhnolyze is by no means an easy show to review, since it differentiates greatly from the established norm. If an average, run-of-the-mill show glorifies victory and personal triumph, then Texhnolyze will be the antithesis of that; celebrating defeat and personal setbacks. Though one thing is for sure, the show is mainly targeted towards mature viewers, and it requires some degree of thought to appreciate its offerings. The general plot revolves around Lux, an underground city that is embroiled in constant conflict between three factions. The Organo is a consortium that has close ties to the underworld and a monopoly on prosthetic technology (Texhnolyze), tied together bybureaucracy and intrinsic greed. While the Union is a hive of fanatics that seeks to destroy the aforementioned technology, but in reality they are just searching for an outlet to blame for the hardships in Lux. Lastly, the Racan is formed by wandering vagabonds who sought to seize their place in the power struggle, though mostly a bunch of egocentric individuals who huddled together in the false sense of security.
In between the maddening chaos, our protagonist Ishise – a ring fighter out on his luck, must seek his own salvation in the guidance of Ran – a seer from the city’s outskirts that has the gift of precognition.
The pacing of this anime is methodically slow, but this is a necessity to erect the sense of desolation and despair. Some reviewers may disagree with me, but I compare this to the fermentation process in wine making, where a certain level of patience is required to perceive its flavour. Scenes might seem disjointed at first, but each tiny silver, every little splinter would come together eventually in revealing their connections and underlying messages.
The characters are well designed, as expected of works by Yoshitoshi Abe. Some people may argue on how silent and nihilistic they were, but I merely believe that to be an aspect of Lux that has rubbed off on them. Viewers should have focused on the significance of their futile struggles, and how they became triumphs of the show. Onishi knew the peace was short lived despite his best attempts, but in believing his duty to the city, he fought on regardless of the outcome. The Doc knew humanity was on the exit stage, that as well as the city around her, but she did her best in advancing the Texhnolyze technology; hoping to steer the trend. Shinji knew his rudimentary gang was no match in a proper fight, but he did his best in leading and protecting his subordinates, even when the odds were stacked against him. Yoshii may not have the best mindset to right all the wrongs in Lux, but he was convicted in his task on bringing about change, to spur others into action.
The series is badly underrated and deserves a viewing from anyone interested in Japanese animation. I would suggest applying the three episode rule here for measures, as that would have been fairer than to discard this excellent show merely on initial impressions.