Review of Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise

REVIEW WRITTEN ON 29 SEPTEMBER 2022 "Like the oceans and the mountains before, space too was once just God's domain. As it becomes a familiar place for us, it'll probably end up as bad as everywhere else we've meddled. We've spoiled the land, we've fouled the air". A technical achievement if there ever was one, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. It doesn't feel like a stretch to call Honnêamise one of the most elaborate and creative settings of the medium. Yeah there's its own currency, unique architecture and transportation, but there's also its own units of time and length, as well as neat littlebackground details for eagle eyes, such as vandalised posters of Shirotsugh in protest against the Force and its funding, which has created an increase in unemployment and homelessness. Scathing is the film's critique of militarism - its industry, its consequences, and its apathetic proponents. In Shirotsugh, we see a contemplative everyman in search of purpose, and a vessel for which "the hero" can be deconstructed. The guy wants to live in a peaceful world, forms genuine connections, and ultimately accomplishes the impossible. However, he represents the economic inequality which surrounds Honnêamise being the Force's poster boy, he has to overcome the reality that he's a marked man, I mean shit, he attempts to sexually assault the woman he mutually resonates with and is immediately regretful. Speaking of which, the woman in question, Riquinni, and the young girl she looks after, Manna, provide immense warmth to the experience, even during moments of tragedy and at their most vulnerable. The soundtrack is also fucking top-notch. I could see this thing being an annual rewatch, I most certainly want to listen to its audio commentary, not only as some form of elucidation, but as a substitute for reading the film's comically long Wikipedia article.