Jinki: Extend: Complete Collection 2005   FUNimation Productions, Ltd Official Japanese Website  Buy It Now Official Japanese Website

Sometimes the shortest series are the best. Thirteen episodes are all you need to build some depth to story and characters all while quickly reaching a resolution. While many may think that thirteen is too short, very interesting series have gotten their start as shorter seasons. Action series the like of Black Lagoon or Gunslinger Girl and even comedies, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, have created all that they need with little waste in time or plot development. The important thing to realize about these series is that they take time to meticulously plot out how the story and characters will operate on a truncated season. It’s a double-edged sword that can cut its wielder deep if mishandled. Jinki: Extend attempts the short season format with some potential success and disastrous results.

Jinki: Extend operates in our world where normal people live out their day to day lives. In the background however, ancient mecha known as Jinki are used to fight in what appears to be a power grab. We are then introduced to Aoba, a young girl with a hobby of building models and a wish to be able to build the real thing. In an accidental turn of events, Aoba is taken at the command of her mother (to whom Aoba is quite bitter) due to her abilities to potentially work with a Jinki. Meanwhile, a second storyline also runs during episodes. With Jinki battles breaking out in Japan, a team of familiar characters are fighting to stop the takeover by a sinister group behind the scenes. Aoba works at an endearing pace to build her qualities as a mechanic and eventual pilot of a Jinki. As the timelines get closer to each other, the truth regarding the purpose of battles, revenge, and destiny are revealed.

I won’t lie or even attempt to cover up the fact that Jinki: Extend included more taboos in thirteen episodes than I’ve seen in a while. I will start with the most obvious blunder the show makes in its management of time. I’m quick to say this is not a reference to shoving in too much in too few episodes, rather how they organized the actual timeframe within the series. From the beginning of the show, you will notice that the series is attempting to tell two stories at the same time. One takes place with the characters in South America while the second frame takes place in Japan. Splitting episodes between two storylines is a faulty start for any short series because of the investment it takes to make sure certain important and annoying details are sorted out. Most series usually just opt to include a couple of episodes of flashbacks before continuing with the main storyline. Instead, Jinki: Extend attempts to boldly fashion itself with a dual storyline. As you watch, you will notice similar characters popping up in both locations leading you to believe that there is a definite difference in when events are occuring. If the storyline times were quite distant, then I may understand the need for splitting the episodes; however, towards the end you learn that the storylines are so close in time that they run into each other. If you are wondering why this is so painfully annoying, the reason is that it blatantly disrupts how the series flows. The exact same plot could have been told straight through from start to finish without chopping in bits and pieces of events to come. A single run-through might have also encouraged writers to concern themselves with including better details on plot and characters rather than trying to connect the dots in their respective episodes. One thing leads to another and the series turns out to be a jumbled mess of mecha battles, training, evil people, secret organizations that make no sense, more random evil people, and one of the most thoughtless conclusions that I’ve seen this year. I try not to be harsh, but take heed and note that this format killed this series.

Because of the aforementioned structural issue, I found it hard to understand the point or purpose of the rest of the series. Characters are poorly developed, if you are so lucky to see a character long enough to attach yourself to it. I took audio checks on both the Japanese and English versions only to be set back by the ridiculous dubbed material I found. Perhaps one of the best examples I can include is the use of the sexy voice during the next episode presentation. I know it is wrong to pick on a portion that has nothing to do with the core episode, but there was nothing remotely close to provocative or scandalous in any episode! To randomly use a voice that is obviously there for the sole purpose of sex appeal is disgraceful and I hope I don’t encounter it again, ever.

Features are few with this set, and it probably works better that way. For a thirteen episode short series, the packaging is where it needs to be in terms of design. The single DVD case set is what is expected of these kinds of releases, and I still enjoy the hard casing to protect the discs as opposed to the paper thinkpack design.

I won’t continue harping, as I have said my opinion and hopefully it is received as a reminder to the dangerous nature of experimenting with episode design. As for Jinki: Extend, I regret to say it should be passed on. Several important lessons can be gained from the mistakes that surround the series. I get that sometimes experiments in animation design can yield something truly wonderful, but this time it was truly wretched.

Episode 1 – The Battlefield the Girl Saw

Aoba lives with her grandmother and has a knack for constructing models. Following her grandmother’s passing Aoba is taken by unknown assailants. Aoba manages to escape after being kidnapped, and discovers a Jinki in an unfamiliar locale.

Episode 2 – After the Tears

Aoba learns about her situation and decides to work diligently towards gaining access to the Moribito. Her ambitions catches the attention of the other crew for better and for worse.

Episode 3 – Quality and Quantity

Aoba learns more about Akao, and is introduced to the Angel team.

Episode 4 – Face-to-Face

Aoba finds a rival for the Moribito pilot position. While Aoba has the brains to match function, she lacks the endurance for real combat and begins training to reconcile her weaknesses.

Episode 5 – Of Enemies and Allies

The secrets hidden by Genta are revealed with startling information. Motives become clear as the power struggles of Jinkis become more and more prominent.

Episode 6 – The Pilot in Black

Shizuka arranges a battle in order to force Aoba to fight. With friendship on the line, both parties find it increasingly difficult to fight when there is a face that accompanies the Jinki.

Episode 7 – The Ends of Ambition

Akao finally decides to place her efforts in helping team Angel in Tokyo. Against her inner self’s warning, Akao begins blurring the lines between right and wrong.

Episode 8 – Silvery-winged Visitor

Akao becomes the focus on two fronts, one forcing her into battle and violence and the other urging against it. With pressure building and a no win situation in sight, Akao struggles to resist the temptation to help on the battlefield.

Episode 9 – Winner of the Game

Vanette works to avenge her younger brother by killing her former acquaintance J. Harn. The battle spills over into the territory of team Angel, and Akao is faced with a tough decision.

Episode 10 – Red and Black

The true intentions of Akao’s inner warnings come to light and her capture spells trouble for the battle worn and thoroughly beaten team Angel.

Episode 11  - Family

Aoba returns to Japan from South America to confront the ever growing threat of Akao and her captors. With an obvious reason to help, Aoba is fighting for more than team Angel.

Episode 12 – Blue and Red

Aoba and team Angel confront the Shiva/Akao combination in an all Jinki assault. With Akao in an enormous red Jinki, can the small units of team Angel actually make an impact on such a foe? The battle concludes with some unexpected results on both sides.

Episode 13 – And Then

With the battles over, the members of team Angel celebrate their time together, as they prepare to move on with the future of their lives. Some will stay, some will go, but each will remember each other.

-James-