Final Fantasy Unlimited
Based on the popular Final Fantasy computer game series, this anime tracks the adventures of Ai, Yu, Lisa and yes a chocobo as they search Wonderland for Ai and Yu's parents.
The drawing style is very cartooney, although it is then mixed in with computer generated graphics of ships that are exceptional. For example, Herba's ship looks like a very detailed dandelion puff ship.
The basic concept is that the boy-and-girl twins, Ai and Yu, go from world to world, each stranger than the previous one, while they hope to find their parents. They are accompanied by a big-breasted teenage girl, Lisa, who can wield magic. They also keep crossing paths with Kaze, who is a mysterious warrior.
In their way stands Earl Tyrant, a petulant child-God who rules this world. The Earl has four "fighters" who he sends against the newcomers, each with his or her own special style of fighting.
I found the Final Fantasy ties to be extremely thin. Yes, there are yellow chocobos, and one of them, "Chobi", becomes Yu's pet. There is a teenage boy-scientist named "Cid". Kaze can summon creatures with his tri-combo gun, includindg one named "Shiva" who is indeed an ice goddess. But while most Final Fantasy games have lead characters that you can really relate to and understand, I wasn't fond of any of the main characters in this series. Ai, the girl, was VERY childish and annoying. Yu, the boy, was reasonable but not well developed. Lisa could have been a good magic-using adult presence in the game but her overblown Barbie-doll figure is a bit much. Kaze is the only character I could really appreciate, as he continually tries to put as much distance as he can between himself and the other three.
Still, there isn't any bloodshed in this series, it is extremely family-friendly. The characters do learn lessons as they go, and Kaze always finds the ideal solution to take down his current enemy - thinking up what the matching trio of soils will be.
A good DVD to rent, to see if this style of anime appeals to you, before you buy it.
Final Fantasy Unlimited Episode Listing
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