The Alchemist Code: The Movie (2019)

[劇場版 誰ガ為のアルケミスト]

Director: Shoji Kawamori, Masanori Takahashi
Starring: Inori Minase, Ryota Osaka, Ai Furihata

Synopsis:
With alchemy sealed away and the fate of Babel hanging in the balance, the survivors used what little power remains to summon a Phantom to aid them and what they get is an ordinary girl from our world.

Impressions:
I didn't realize Shoji Kawamori was involved with this project until I saw the end credits. I certainly was getting an Escaflowne vibe, particularly the film version that has too much crammed into too little space. Had this been a 24-episode series, even a 12-episode one, we would have had more time to develop the characters and make the emotional payoffs at the end really resonate. I also didn't realize this was based on a mobile game. If you're not a player, then there are a lot of characters with limited establishment who are nevertheless meant to seem important. The core story is good, but then, it's a lot like Escaflowne, which is perhaps my favorite anime. The movie did succeed in getting me started on the game, so I imagine from the filmmakers' point of view, mission accomplished. What we're left with is a nice-looking yet underbaked film that has just enough going for it to make it worth a watch.

Rating:
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