Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu

3 reviews - 12.5 total score (Explanation of the rating system)
avg. score: (4.2)

3. Avenant

After the original Full Metal Panic! concluded I was a little disappointed. They never explained a lot of things, so I thought this sequel would provide a few answers along with an extended storyline. Wrong. Rather than bring more of what the first series had provided, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu is an outrageous comedy, no more and no less.

Now this in itself is not really disappointing - Although it's different from what I had expected, I also thought that the original had too little humour. Fumoffu delivers that in spades. The animation is top-class and the music is pretty much the same as that of the previous series (which is pretty average). The story line, or lack there of, holds little in the name of progress. Still, this is a comedy through and through, and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't enjoyed it. Recommended, but bear in mind that this is pure comedy - don't expect any mecha.

2. Tempy

Though a continuation of the original Full Metal Panic!, Fumoffu throws away the mecha, terrorists, and contrived plot to focus solely on comedy - and succeeds magnificently.

Sousuke Sagara was raised on warfare, but has the social skills of a rock. Although he doesn't spend most of the time in high school to protect Chidori Kaname like he was required to in FMP!, he still uses his military training skills to solve problems. Unfortunately that means pointing guns at people and blowing up suspicious shoe lockers - something that is simply not done in normal society - and he pays for that with frequent beatings by Chidori (who's not amused). It's Sagara's military antics and Chidori's outraged reactions which makes FMP? Fumoffu so damn funny. Despite Chidori's frustrated attempts to keep Sagara in line, she does appreciate what he does for her, and the added romantic complications are sweet, without slowing down the humor. The highlight of the show has to be Sagara in a personalized Bonta-kun costume combating crime and unable to utter anything other than "Fumo!".

In short, I highly recommend Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, even to those who disliked the original. It's not even required to have seen the original, though it would help to have at least a basic understanding of who the characters are.

1. Prep_Styles

Considering that I received more angry mail for my review of the original Full Metal Panic! then anything else I've submitted here, it seemed appropriate that I review this iteration, especially considering that this new production is exactly what I would have liked the first one to be. Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu takes everything that didn't work about the first series and throws it away allowing for the exploration and expansion of everything that worked, highly likable characters and an interesting spin on a heavily used (and abused) formula involving romantic drama/comedy set in high school. There are no pathetic attempts at dramatic action or politically intriguing plot to get in the way of what is genuinely interesting about this series; the daily situations of a combat crazed military agent trying to attend a normal high school. Quite probably the best thing this series has going for it is that it makes no attempt to take its over all story seriously, at all, in fact it has almost no over all story to speak of. All there is here is the same highly likable characters with several humorous additions participating in full or have episode story arcs, that never once failed to but a grin on my face.

Productions values in all regards (music, character design, animation, and ext.) are outstanding; they easily overshadow the original series, which is saying a lot considering the quality of the original. Despite not having an over all story Fumoffu is highly creative even to the point of having original variations on the “Beach” and “Onsen” episodes. Imagine that! As well there is some interesting use of continuity and parody through out. All in all a highly enjoyable anime comedy that will please fans of the first Full Metal Panic and even those that were not (or not even familiar with it). I doubt many will be able to deny how much fun this show is.

Also worthy of mention is that Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu TV consists of 15 "chapters” that are ether a full or half a episode in length, 11 weekly 25 minute long episodes were showcased in the original broadcast however one episode (consisting of two “chapters”) was not released on television because the story mirrored an unpleasant situation in Japanese current events. This missing episode was included in the DVD release.