Review of Full Metal Panic!

Having been a mecha/military anime fan for as long as I can remember, Full Metal Panic (hereby referred to as FMP) was a treat for me. It was the combination of serious military/political action and amusing comedy/romance. That being said, it becomes evident that FMP is a hotchpotch of genres, breaking free from the traditional single-minded seriousness that's often the standard of military themed anime (not that I'd know what traditional would be) Story Set in what slightly resembles today's world, FMP tells the story of Sgt./Specialist Sousuke Sagara and the exploits of the pseudo-UNish organization of peace, MITHRIL. (it would make a killer acronym.. actually, itprobably is) That's the gist of the plot, which flows smoothly, creating an alternate universe that's believable. In fact, it's so believable that you can't help but get pulled into it.

Being the sort of person that appreciates a healthy twist in the plot every once in a while, FMP offers quite a lot of unexpected moments of suspense scattered throughout the fog of your typical action scenes.

The best part of FMP for me, which many people tend to overlook, is the sheer amount of realism applied throughout the plot. Being a military otaku myself, it was kinda self-gratifying to see accurate depictions of AEGIS class missile cruisers, Los Angeles class submarines and.. well... Sousuke's guns.

Art
First thing I thought after watching was "their noses are too pointy." Then, "Wow, that C-17 Globemaster III looks so cool o_O" ... Yeah, that's about it.

Sound
It seemed adequate, but didn't impress much. ... Really, what else do you want me to say?

Character
The characters are vibrant, varied, and very likable. Sousuke's otakuness and social ineptitude are the catalysts for most of the comical scenes in FMP, while Kaname's aggressiveness (tsundere, anyone?) and her chronic Sousuke-beating sessions exacerbate said catalyzed circumstances. But does this dynamic ever change? Not really. The one weak point I see is the inadequate amount of character growth. There are some changes the viewers see with respect to Sousuke's emotional capacity, but largely, the characters remain relatively identical to when the series started. In fact, it's The Second Raid that manages to build upon this more effectively than the first season. So when the series winds down to a close, Sousuke will still be incapable of giving a girl a proper gift, and Kaname will keep beating him up. But that's why we keep watching.

Enjoyment
10/10 guaranteed. The comedy was brilliant, with plenty of Sousuke-driven faux pas to laugh at. In terms of the serious parts, they leave you breathless for more... in a strange asphyxiating kind of way...