Shangri-La, written by Eiichi Ikegami and illustrated by Ken’Ichi Yoshida. As a light novel, the series are only two volumes long.  Makoto Bessho is the director for the anime, and Gonzo is the studio. For the anime, illustrations were made by well-known Range Murata.

Again, a bit late as I am aware. The reason has been stated in the post for Yokuwakaru Gendai Mahou, which you by the way might like to read.

Short summary:

In the mid-21st century, the international committee decided to forcefully reduce CO2 emission levels to mitigate the global warming crisis. As a result, the economic market was transferred mainly into the trade of carbon. A great earthquake destroys much of Japan, yet the carbon tax placed on the country is not lifted, so Tokyo is turned into the world’s largest “jungle-polis” that absorbs carbon dioxide. Project Atlas is commenced to plan the rebuilding of Tokyo and oversee the government organization, which the Metal Age group opposes due to its oppressive nature. However, Atlas is only built with enough room for 3,500,000 people and most people are not allowed to migrate into the city. The disparity between the elite within Atlas and the refugees living in the jungles outside of its walls set up the background of the story.

I have to be honest, it took me some time to actually get into the actual story. It seemed overly complicated, but everything was so original that I kept watching for the sake of enjoyment (for once). This series made me want to know more. To me it highly resembles Last Exile, also a Gonzo masterpiece with Murata as its illustrator. Not only because of that, but the villains in both series are practically one and the same. They even look alike. I wonder if their evilness can be measured at the same level.

As I previously stated, this anime revolves almost solely around carbon. And power. The protagonist can be a bit of a pain in the ass (and I would like for her to put some pants on for a change), but at the same time, she’s quite interesting. There are lots of unusual plot twists regarding her and the people around her, some of which I realized before they were made official, and some raising my eyebrows in surprise. But I’m not here to talk about the series itself. Kuniko has now created the people’s Shangri-La, and the question is, will there be a second season? So far, it hasn’t been announced.

SPOILERS AHEAD

The ending made me a tad disappointed. I had hoped to see something epic, but instead, people who should have died showed up again, and “died” again and showed up ONCE MORE. Kuniko confronts the Ryoko, Ryoko goes down Shit Creek, and peace is restored to Hyrule.

Well yeah, what I want to say is, it ended quite abrubtly. I expected something more, and so I was disappointed. All in all, a wonderful series with many good qualities as well as some bad ones. If you want to watch this, you should prepare for some thinking. If not, I was just so set on having to watch yet another anime cliché with a flat storyline that I got taken back enough not to pay attention. Hah. Who knows? I may have to watch it again.

Much cannot be said about this abrubt ending. It all just happened too quick. The last moment was cute, though. Nice music, and RIGHT THERE at the last phrase of the whole series, you get to find out why it’s called Shangri-La. Maybe I was stupid not to get it. But hey, I don’t expect the titles to have anything to do with the series. Either the title explains the whole storyline, or it’s completely irrelevant. That’s anime for you. So anyway, beautiful punchline at the end. I’m relieved enough to see Ryoko dead that the sudden ending almost went past me.

But ahhh, I’m getting ahead of myself. There wasn’t much to criticize since there wasn’t… much at all. Poof, the end. But look at the illustrations. Just look at it. All in all, great anime, well done without the ecchi this time, Gonzo. (And it involves TRANSVESTITES. Now that’s magic.) Hope to hear about whether there will be a continuation or not. Please don’t air another season.

Not-so-cynical-today Anime Critic - over and out.