RahXephon

RahXephon (ラーゼフォン) is a 26-episode science fiction anime series about young Ayato Kamina, his ability to control a god-like mecha known as the RahXephon, and his inner journey to find a place with the world around him. There is also a manga adaptation of the anime, created by Yutaka Izubuchi and Bones, with artwork from Takeaki Momose.

The title has been released in the United States and United Kingdom by ADV Films on 7 DVDs. Additionally, there is an OVA and a movie that summarizes the whole story, taking most of the scenes from the TV episodes, but also featuring a couple of new shots. The manga is published in English in North America by Viz Communications, and it is published in English in Singapore by Chuang Yi.

Cast

Japanese Cast

Ayato Kamina - Hiro Shimono
Haruka Shitow - Aya Hisakawa
Quon Kisaragi - Houko Kuwashima
Reika Mishima - Maaya Sakamoto
Megumi Shitow - Ayako Kawasumi

English Cast

Ayato Kamina - Chris Patton
Haruka Shitow - Monica Rial
Quon Kisaragi - HKira Vincent-Davis
Reika Mishima - Mandy Clark
Megumi Shitow - Hilary Haag

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Plot

The premise of RahXephon is the fight between Humans, and pan-dimensional invaders known as the Mulians, short Mu (pronounced "moo", or "moo-li-ans"). The Mu appear to be human; the only consistent physical difference seems to be their blue blood. The Mu first invaded in the late 1990's, and after some fighting with Humans involving nuclear weapons, they envelope the entire city of Tokyo and some outlying suburbs in a transdimensional sphere resembling Jupiter. It is referred to as Tokyo-Jupiter. Nothing may cross this "absolute barrier", although it turns out that with enough power and technology it is possible to cross and even destroy it. The Mu control Tokyo, and the citizens are in effect cut off from the entire rest of the world, and are led to believe that the rest of the Earth has been destroyed. The barrier has a time-dilation effect, and time passes much more slowly inside Tokyo-Jupiter.

Although RahXephon usually placed in the mecha category of anime, its mechas aren't mechanical at all. They are referred to as "Dolems", which is probably Engrish for Golem. Dolems are made of clay and are animated by an unknown force resembling magic. Further, each Dolem is controlled by a pilot, and the pilot is bound to the Dolem. When a Dolem is destroyed, its pilot is killed as well. Dolems differ from typical Golems primarily in that rather than being slow and stupid, they are very fast and effective fighting machines.

The underlying theme of RahXephon is one of music and sound. Dolem pilots are referred to as "instrumentalists". Each of the Mulian Dolems has a name like "Alegretto", "Falsetto", or "Crescendo". The ultimate goal of the RahXephon is to "tune the world".

Influences

RahXephon has many references to the Mayan culture. The Dolem's control system appears to consist of the pilot wearing a helmet shaped like a face from a Mayan sculpture [1]. Also, the cities of the Mu contain artwork that appears to be Mayan in origin. Even the leader of the Mu is named Maya.

Comparison to other Anime

Many fans compare RahXephon to Neon Genesis Evangelion, usually favorably, especially as regards the proactive nature of RahXephon's protagonist and the clearer nature of RahXephon's single ending. But there are also negative comparisons by some. Some say that since RahXephon came out after NGE, the similarities in the respective protagonists functions on the shows, have accordingly damned it to copycat status.

Cultural Commentary

The impermeable barrier between Tokyo and the rest of Japan with the Tokyo-Jupiter effect might be interpreted as representational of a perceived cultural barrier between the urbanized, seemingly more Westernized primate city of Tokyo and the comparably more rural and traditional rest of the country.

This analogy would make the Mu into a representation of the Japanese view of Westerners from just before the Meiji Restoration to the reconstruction following World War II: similar anatomically except for a few minor variances, an invading force, both militarily and culturally, an initially technologically superior enemy that causes the Japanese (or in RaXephon, humans) to require rapid advancement in military technology, and a scapegoat used to inflame nationalistic (or in RaXephon, non-Mu) jingoism.

External links