Review of Terra Formars
Seeing so many negative reviews for Terra Formars, I decided to offer a positive view instead. Note that I would probably give an 8 for this anime, but because of it's pure enjoyment factor, I'm jacking it up to a 9. What I like about Terra Formars is that the universe is much more...developed, than the typical fare that action anime gives us. It's not a bunch of teenagers running around saving the world, but a people who have been chosen from a diversity of backgrounds tasked with collecting samples to cure a virus that has surfaced on Earth. Questionable scientific methods aside (i'm going tochalk it up to 500 years worth of scientific research). The premise itself is interesting enough: cockroaches were sent to Mars to Terra Form (hence the name), to perhaps make it suitable for human habitation in the future. But fast forward 500 hundred years and these cockroaches are some bigas$ humanoid mutations each with the strength of an army. The irony of becoming to the cockroaches on Mars what they are to humans on Earth seems to be presented again and again as the narrative switches between Earth and Mars.
To combat these the humans hybrid themselves with various animals, taking on the fighting ability of various dangerous animals from all over the world. I really enjoyed the exposition on the different kinds of animals and how their abilities would fare in human combat. It kept me interested.
The anime also had political elements which are always lacking in the genre. Subversion, typical politicking and allied blocs of nations with their own agendas provide a nice overarching story to complement the straight up massacre (on both sides) that constantly seems to be happening on Mars.
What seems to lack though is the presence of interesting characters. I only seem to be attached to one, and that is Michelle (and perhaps Adolf) - the others simply blur into the background for me. They aren't exactly original or well thought-out, and I've found myself feeling nothing in many of the 'character development' scenes. However, I will put that aside because Terra Formars isn't trying to be something it's not. And for that, I won't nitpick at the lack of compelling characterisation.
Terra Formars makes me wonder at what will happen next, and though not necessarily original, is highly enjoyable and unpredictable. The plot is enough for me to continue watching definitely, and the themes on extinction and survival are palpable throughout the show. More than that though, it is action-packed, with a decent soundtrack and gets my blood pumping when I watch it, and that in itself is worth the watch.