Line #63 Anime/Simoun


1	[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/simoun.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:320:"I came here to fight."]]
3
4	In the world of Daikuuriku, everyone is born female, and [[GenderBender chooses which sex they wish to become]] at age 17 with a trip to a magical spring. In this world, the peaceful theocracy of Simulacrum is guarded by magical flying machines called "Simoun," which [[GirlPowered can only be piloted by young girls]] who haven't chosen a sex yet. The Simoun can activate a [[FunctionalMagic magical power]] known as "Ri Maajon" (by inscribing enormous magical glyphs in the sky) that can [[WaveMotionGun destroy large numbers of enemy aircraft at once]].
5
6	When the industrialized nation of Argentum decides that it needs to invade Simulacrum to acquire the secret of the Simoun, war breaks out, drawing the Simoun pilots into a lopsided battle. Because the war is raging, the Simoun pilots are granted an exemption from going to the spring for as long as they're willing to keep flying. One such pilot in particular vows to stay with her squadron until she [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours becomes the ultimate]] Simoun pilot, and badgers her squadron-mates to do the same...
7
8	''Simoun'' aired from April to September 2006 on Japanese TV, with an all-star (and all-female) voice acting cast, and two stage actresses portraying the series' romantic leads. The series has been licensed, and the (subtitled only) [=DVDs=] are available in North America.
9
10	A serial manga of the same name was released in ''Magazine/YuriHime'', with a completely different storyline.
11
12	[[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann No relation to anyone named "Simon" with his name pronounced "See-MOAN",]] nor to the antihero protagonist of ''Literature/ElFilibusterismo'', although that is his name (yes, including the U). Quite possibly related, however, to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caudron_Simoun the 30s airplane]], which a [[Creator/AntoineDeSaintExupery certain French writer]] [[Literature/TheLittlePrince crashed into the Sahara desert]].
13	----
14	!!Provides examples of:
15
16	* TenMinuteRetirement: Subverted. Three characters actually stay retired and one is shell shocked into inactivity for several episodes after coming back.
17	* TheAce: While Neviril is renowned as the "Pride of all Sybillae"...until she becomes a BrokenAce. The Sybillae as a whole is renowned as being the elite of the elite, [[spoiler: until they’re decimated by combined power of the Highlands and their arch rivals.]] In reality, Aer plays this much more straight, being a highly skilled, if not well known pilot, and someone who almost never loses her cool.
18	* AchillesInHisTent: Early on, after losing the love of her life, Neviril refuses to participate in duty and later Dominura, after suffering SanitySlippage.
19	* AirborneAircraftCarrier: Lots of 'em.
20	* AlmostDeadGuy: There's quite a few examples of badly injured pilots coming back to warn the crew, before perishing..
21	* AlphaBitch: Mamiina is a subversion. She acts like this at first (before her following CharacterDevelopment) despite the fact she's not rich, but ''poor''.
22	* AnyoneCanDie: [[spoiler: As poor Mamiina finds out...]].
23	* AnimeAccentAbsence: When Plumbish priestesses speak in the language of Simulacrum, they sound exactly like native Simulacrans, with no traces of a foreign accent.
24	%%* AppliedPhlebotinum
25	* ArtEvolution: As the series continues, Wapourif's features become a bit rougher, and his chest shrinks. Possibly a justified use of the trope - Wapourif is one of the youngest male characters, and it's very probable that what we're seeing is the effects of the Spring as his body continues changing and becoming more masculine.
26	* ArcWords: ''Shin Tenchi e no Tobira'' ("The Door to the New World").
27	* AsLongAsItSoundsForeign: When Plumbish officials are shown to speak their own language, what is actually heard is Japanese phrases replayed backwards.
28	* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: [[spoiler:Aer, Neviril, Dominura, and Rimone in one sense; Onasia and possibly (eventually) Yun in another; Mamiina and possibly Anglas in a third]].
29	* AxCrazy: Aer is a minor example, she clearly enjoys the thrill of combat and she can be seen grinning when she's exterminating enemy pilots.
30	* BabiesEverAfter: [[spoiler:Morinas and Wapourif have a child together, and Morinas is visibly pregnant with number 2 during the final episode. Wauf also has a fairly young kid in that same episode.]]
31	* BeliefMakesYouStupid: Averted. The only character who thinks this is also the only character who is truly and unremittingly evil. The idea that it is somehow a sign of weakness to have faith in someone or something greater than yourself is treated as highly sketchy and hubristic.
32	* BewareTheNiceOnes: Guragief, as demonstrated in the penultimate episode when he [[spoiler:knocks out a Plumbish soldier who was trying to prevent Aer and Neviril from escaping]]. Lampshaded by Anubituf.
33	* {{Bifauxnen}}: Paraietta.
34	* BittersweetEnding: It's the [[WhoWantsToLiveForever little things]], you know?
35	* BlessedWithSuck: Not going to the Spring makes you immortal, but leaves you stuck in a TimeAbyss and unable to interact with anyone ever again.
36	* BloodKnight: Aer to borderline SociopathicHero levels, at several points ''she's laughing'' when she's engaging an enemy recon patrol and filling them with bullet holes. The most terrifying aspect is unlike all the others, ''she fully understands that's she's killing people and she still loves it''. PlayedForDrama, as she's so enthralled by war, it's practically the only thing she understands, which causes major friction between her and Nerivil.
37	* BrokenAce: Neviril was once considered the AcePilot of ''Ace Pilots'' and she was considerably skilled. After losing her girlfriend, she becomes extremely withdrawn, cynical and almost lifeless. It takes considerable encouragement for Aer to get her groove back, and even then, the show heavily implies she'll never truly be over losing Amuria.
38	* BrokenBird: A ''majority'' of the cast could qualify, but special mention goes to Neviril and Dominura.
39	* BrotherSisterIncest: Sibling incest, at least. It isn't treated as some awful, disgusting taboo when brought up; what's important is how each party feels toward the other, not the act itself. Yet another testament to how things like gender barriers are downplayed in the world of Simoun.
40	%%* CallingYourAttacks
41	%%* CatchAFallingStar
42	* CharacterDevelopment:
43	** Mamiina goes from the TokenEvilTeammate to a MessianicArchetype.
44	** Roatreamon goes from an ExtremeDoormat to TheHighQueen.
45	** ''Everyone'' gets a character development arc, remarkably for a cast of this size.
46	* CheerfulChild: Rimone.
47	* ChildhoodFriendRomance: Paraietta's been Neviril BestFriend since childhood, and she's always harboured romantic feelings for her. This strong emotions give her ''endless'' pain, since Neviril, while loving her platonically, doesn't return them
48	* ChildProdigy: Rimone.
49	* ColorCodedSpeech: The fansubs do this.
50	* CombinedEnergyAttack: The Iron Ri Maajon, among others.
51	* TheComicallySerious: Yun.
52	%%* ConstructedWorld
53	* CoolShip: ''Arcus Prima'', actually a former luxury liner converted to ad-hoc aircraft carrier. Certainly one way around the foolishly expansive glass-encased rooms and lush accommodations often seen in anime. When they get transferred to the ''Messis'' after the ''Arcus Prima'' needs to be repaired, their quarters are much more spartan.
54	* CoversAlwaysLie: [[http://cdn3a.dvdempire.org/products/78/1613578h.jpg The front cover]] of the North American DVD release featured Neveril and Aer sort of... hugging? Dancing? Playing patty-cake? Whatever they are doing they are close together and naked, but somehow their embrace has no sexual overtones at all, so the whole thing just looks weird. Also, there is not a single Simoun visible on the front cover, back cover, or spine. The series is '''named''' ''Simoun'' and the machines are nowhere to be found. Without already knowing the background to the series there is no way to determine even what ''genre'' the show is, first guess would probably go to MagicalGirl or an {{Ecchi}} series.
55	* DeadStarWalking: Amuria gets her own spot in the opening, despite being killed off in the ''first'' ten minutes. To be fair, she casts a ''very'' long shadow over the series.
56	* DistantFinale: [[spoiler: The finale takes place after a massive TimeSkip.]]
57	* TheDitz: Floe, with a bit of {{Jerkass}} too. Aer also has her moments.
58	* DramaticWind: Flight deck, episode 8; observation platform, episode 24.
59	* DudeLooksLikeALady: Pretty much anyone who has just chosen the male gender, as their sexual characteristics don't immediately alter. Notably, Wapourif still has very big breasts and wears his hair long.
60	%%* DuringTheWar
61	* EnsembleCast: None of the Simoun pilots-err, priestesses can be called the overarching protagonist. Everyone in Chor Tempest has an important role to play. Aer is introduced in a manner that indicates she would be a protagonist, but there's more than one episode where she has very little focus, if any. Even Neveril takes a back seat sometimes to let one of the others have the spotlight.
62	* {{Expy}}:
63	** Onasia is one of Ayesha, She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, from Creator/HRiderHaggard's adventure novels.
64	** Aer bears a striking resemblance to Franchise/SailorMoon.
65	* FacelessMooks: The enemies of Simulacrum attack in [[ZergRush swarms]] and wear full-body pilot suits and helmets that obscure even the tiniest bit of flesh. This de-personalizes them not just to the audience, but to the Sybillae as well. When Neveril looks into the eyes of an enemy pilot just before he is pulled into the Emerald Ri Majon, Amuria herself says that she will no longer be able to kill them once she has looked into their eyes.
66	* {{Fanservice}}:
67	** Kiss-powered airships, several kinds of skintight outfits.
68	** Dominura. [[PajamaCladHero In her nightgown.]] With [[MessyHair bed-head]]. This stuff writes itself.
69	* FashionableAsymmetry (one bare shoulder, illustrated above)
70	* FatBastard: The Defense Minister.
71	* FirstEpisodeTwist: [[spoiler:Amuria dies]], Aer arrives in Chor Tempest as a replacement, [[spoiler:and Neviril suffers a ''massive'' HeroicBSOD.]]
72	* ForgottenFallenFriend: One pair in particular in episode 1.
73	* FormFittingWardrobe: The anime keeps a prominent butt crack visible through skirts, dresses, and even baggy cargo pants. Though the Sybillae uniform strangely justifies it for breasts in one scene where Paraietta's top retains its shape after it's removed.
74	* FreedomFromChoice: A major theme. Choice (specifically the gender choice, but encapsulating other things as well) is the source of most of the main characters' internal conflict throughout the story not directly related to the war. The ''availability'' of choice is a good thing, but actually ''engaging'' in either/or decision-making erases other possibilities and hence, paradoxically, stunts potential, particularly spiritual potential. Characters sometimes attempt to go the traditional FreedomFromChoice route and submit to military, political, or social marching orders, but the only actual freedom lies in a particular kind of simultaneously static and "wavering" mindset.
75	%%* FunctionalMagic
76	* GainaxEnding: Definitely more sweet than bitter, but it's not clear exactly how and to what extent everything's been made right, where the Eternal Maidens are, and where Simulacrum is going as a country.
77	%%* GenderBender
78	* {{Gendercide}}: It's only seen in the [[AllThereInTheManual titles of the soundtrack songs]], but this was apparently done to men after a sex-based civil war/armed rebellion in the backstory.
79	-->The Woman-Nation, First Movement: Ancient Mankind (Track 3)\
80	The Woman-Nation, Second Movement: Collapse and Eradication of Male-Dominated Civilisation (Track 4)\
81	The Woman-Nation, Third Movement: Engineering and Preservation of a New Species (Track 5)\
82	The Woman-Nation, Fourth Movement: Founding of the Woman-Nation (Track 6)\
83	-[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simoun_OST_1 Simoun OST 1]]
84	* GenkiGirl: Aer.
85	* GirlPowered: The two female pilots must kiss each other and then the Simoun in order to [[{{Pun}} turn it on]].
86	* GrowingUpSucks: The girls lose their ability to fly a Simoun once they have chosen their gender.
87	* HamAndCheese: Mamiina is this ''in-universe'', even after her CharacterDevelopment away from being the TokenEvilTeammate.
88	%%* HeelFaceTurn:
89	%%** Mamiina.
90	* HeroicBSOD: Neviril after the events of the first episode.
91	* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Mamiina]].
92	* HesBack: Neviril.
93	* HopelessWar: The series starts with the protagonists' nation easily fending off all comers through superior AppliedPhlebotinum... and then the neighbors start catching up.
94	* HugeSchoolgirl: Paraietta, despite being around the same age as the rest of the Sybillae (barring [[TokenMiniMoe Rimone]]) can stand almost eye-to-eye with [[OldMaid Dominura]].
95	%%* HumanAliens
96	* HumanOutsideAlienInside: Their reproductive cycle only results in female children.
97	* ImmigrantPatriotism: [[spoiler:Dominura.]]
98	%%* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy
99	* ImportantHaircut:
100	** Roatreamon.
101	** Mamiina.
102	%%* ImpossiblyCoolClothes
103	%%* IndustrializedEvil: Subverted.
104	%%* InnocuouslyImportantEpisode
105	* InsistentTerminology: "[[PunctuatedForEmphasis WE! ARE! NOT! AT! WAR!]] WE ARE ''PRAYING TO THE SKY!!!''"
106	* IntergenerationalFriendship: Possibly the ultimate example (and possibly [[QueerRomance more than a friendship]]): Yun is sixteen. [[spoiler:Onasia]] is a TimeAbyss.
107	* ItGetsEasier: Though the Sybillae are originally very clear that they are priestesses, not soldiers, and that they are praying, not fighting, (See InsistentTerminology above), as the series progresses they stop "Offering prayers to Tempus Spatium" and begin "patrolling," and they stop "inscribing Ri Maajon" and begin "fighting." No one notices the transition as it happens, until one day it is pointed out that even the Sybillae have begun to "fight." Needless to say, they do not take this realization well.
108	%%* JigsawPuzzlePlot
109	* KiManipulation: Or EnergyWeapons, or a mix of the two.
110	* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Mamiina]], among others.
111	* {{Kawaiiko}}: Rimone, who is really just a little kid.
112	%%* LensFlare
113	* LosingTheTeamSpirit: [[spoiler:Amuria's death]] is bad enough, but Neviril's subsequent HeroicBSOD leaves Chor Tempest in tatters.
114	%%* LostTechnology
115	%%* LoveDodecahedron
116	* MeaningfulName: ''Aer'' in Greek mythology refers to the air that mortals breathe, as opposed to the ''aether'' the gods breathe.
117	* MercyKill: [[spoiler: The Plumbum priestesses to Mamiina]] and [[spoiler:Yun to Onasia.]]
118	* {{Miko}}: Most of the cast.
119	%%* MildlyMilitary
120	%%* MindScrew
121	* MissingManFormation: The Ri Maajon of the Fields.
122	* TheMole: More than one of them.
123	* MoralityKitchenSink: This is the show that gives us [[GoodShepherd Yun]], [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Mamiina]], [[AntiHero Paraietta]], [[TragicVillain the nations of Argentum]] [[AntiVillain and Plumbum]], and the Defence Minister of Simulacrum.
124	* TheMourningAfter: Neviril with regards to Amuria; [[spoiler:Roatreamon with regards to Mamiina]].
125	* MrExposition: Guragief in episode 2, Wapourif in episode 3, Onasia and the High Priestess in episode 21.
126	* MrFixit: Wapourif.
127	* MysteriousParent: Actually, a mysterious grandparent: Aer's grandfather.
128	* NeverFoundTheBody: [[spoiler:Amuria]].
129	* NearRapeExperience: Almost done to Neviril by [[spoiler:Paraietta]].
130	%%* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: [[spoiler:Anglas.]]
131	%%* NuclearWeaponsTaboo
132	* NumberTwo: Guragief on the ''Arcus Prima''. The ''Messis'' doesn't seem to have one.
133	%%* {{Ojou}}: Roatreamon.
134	* OldMaid: Dominura is actually not one, as her [[http://simoun.tv/characters/09.html official profile]] lists her age as 19 years old. Talk about YoungerThanTheyLook. Still, in the context of the Simoun universe, she qualifies, as she still has yet to choose a gender.
135	%%* OneeSama: Neviril.
136	* OnlyOneName: Namely in the anime. In the manga, Aer and Roatreamon get last names, but even then they're the only ones.
137	%%* OutrunTheFireball
138	%% * PastelChalkedFreezeFrame: Several per episode.
139	%% * PhlebotinumOverload: The Emerald Ri Maajon out of control.
140	%%* PillarOfLight
141	%% * PollutedWasteland: Argentum.
142	* ProhibitedHeroSavesTheDay: In episode 19 Aaeru and Yun are inexplicably grounded while the rest of Chor Tempest are sent after the enemy's elusive Airborne Aircraft Carrier. The two of them eventually decide to violate their orders and sortie to save the day, but not before [[spoiler:Mamiina]] is killed in action.
143	%% * PromotionToOpeningTitles: Yun.
144	* RashomonStyle: Episode 12 in regards to [[spoiler:the sexual encounter between Kaim and Alty]]. Each of them claims that the other initiated the act.
145	* RaysFromHeaven:
146	** These are used frequently to indicate normal levels of peace and happiness, especially in flashbacks. It's needed when the series is not exactly cheerful.
147	** The Spring has these shining down, particularly [[NaturalSpotlight onto]] Onasia, making it look as magical as it is.
148	** [[spoiler:When Aer and Neviril goes back in time, they are seen descending from one.]]
149	* ReassignedToAntarctica: Chor Tempest's transfer from ''Arcus Prima'' to ''Messis''.
150	%%* RedemptionEqualsDeath
151	* RummageSaleReject: The flight suits that the Sybillae wear.
152	* SayMyName: AA! E! RU! (Aer)
153	%%* ShrinesAndTemples
154	* ShowerOfAngst: A few times.
155	* TheSkyIsAnOcean: And the ships even have a nautilus motif.
156	* SleazyPolitician: The other countries are nominally the antagonists, but the real BigBad is the Simulacran Defense Minister, an ObstructiveBureaucrat GeneralRipper HollywoodAtheist SleazyPolitician. He's such a bastard that we ''cheer'' when the peace treaty deposes half of the Simulacran government, because at least it's possible for [[SupportingLeader Anubituf]] to negotiate constructively with Plumbum.
157	%%* SlowMotionPassBy
158	* SnubByOmission: When Chor Tempest gets asked to show a Plumbum priestess around their ship, they naturally start off with introductions, with the priestess repeating each name as she's told it... except [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Aer's]].
159	* SpellMyNameWithAnS: In spades. Aaeru/Aeru/Aer/Aelle, Rodoreamon/Lodreamon/Roatreamon, Angulas/Anguras/Angurasu, and more. It didn't help that the producers had rather odd romanizations in mind, and didn't communicate them until after the fansubs were finished.
160	* SpoilerOpening: Aer and Neviril are shown to be a Pair in the opening, but it actually takes several episodes before Neviril accepts Aer as her Pair.
161	%%* TheSquad
162	* SteamPunk: The Argentum army.
163	* StableTimeLoop: [[spoiler:Two of the pilots find themselves transported back in time and wind up founding the tradition of flying Simoun.]]
164	* {{Stripperiffic}}: Stockings and exposed garter belts... worn by ''fighter pilots''. Luckily their cockpits are heated, during the fight in the blizzard at episode 5 Alty says "It must be pretty cold out there", but still...
165	* SuckingInLines: The Emerald Ri Maajon.
166	* SuicideAttack: Under the guise of a peace conference, a Plumbish priestess commits a suicide attack with something like an explosive belt to destory the Simouns.
167	* SupportingLeader: Anubituf.
168	* TeamMom: Yun, by the end.
169	* TeamDad: Technically Neviril, but Dominura fills in for her a lot.
170	* TeamSpirit: Kiss-powered airships, and the more powerful Ri Maajon effects require the coordinated action of several Simoun.
171	* TemporalParadox: One country intentionally ''tries'' to change history to avoid losing a war.
172	* ThanksForTheMammary: Subverted--it's not played for laughs. After Wapourif deconstructs a Simoun and Dominura [[GoMadFromTheRevelation sees whatever she does within it and goes nuts]] , Wapourif has a crisis of faith, leading to this little exchange between him and [[ShipTease Morinas]]. After regretting "touching something so holy", Morinas does this to him and storms off in a huff. [[spoiler: They make up later.]]
173	* ThereIsOnlyOneBed: [[spoiler:Rimone and Dominura in the past]].
174	* ThoseTwoGuys: Anubituf and Guragief, with a healthy bit of {{UST}} between them. [[WordOfGod In the Commentary]], the director mentioned that, when they where Sybillae, [[WordOfGay they both decided to end up together]], but when they went to The Spring, they both assumed that the other would be the woman.
175	* TimeAbyss: [[spoiler:Onasia]].
176	%%* TimeTravel
177	* TokenEvilTeammate: Mamiina pre-CharacterDevelopment.
178	* TokenMiniMoe: Rimone. She is exempt from fanservice shots, although she still has to kiss her co-pilot. She doesn't mind though, which leads to [[Heartwarming/{{Anime}} very heartwarming interaction between her and Dominura]]
179	%%* TrueCompanions
180	%%* {{Twincest}}
181	* TwistedKneeCollapse: Mamiina, at the end of episode 7.
182	* UnderdogsNeverLose: [[spoiler:Inverted. The enemy nations eventually manage to defeat the Simouns]].
183	* UnusualEuphemism: "Let's do a Ri Maajon."
184	%%* WaveMotionGun
185	* WhatMeasureIsAMook: Amuria herself points out that, once you look an enemy in the eye (And thus recognize them as a person, instead of just "the enemy") it is suddenly a ''lot'' harder to kill them.
186	* WeHaveReserves: The enemies of Simulacrum have thousands, perhaps ''millions'', more planes than there are Simouns, but even in such lopsided battles they still suffer ''massive'' casualties. Their only viable option in the war is to keep replacing their slaughtered soldiers with fresh fodder as they slowly grind down the Simoun, which exist only in very limited numbers.
187	%%* WhamEpisode:
188	%%** Episode 8.
189	%%** Episode 14.
190	%%** Episode 16.
191	%%** Episode 17.
192	%%** Episode 19.
193	%%** Episode 21.
194	%%** Episode 26.
195	%%* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue
196	%%* WrenchWench: Morinas.
197	* ZergRush: The predominant tactic of all enemies of Simulacrum. There is simply no way they can match the Simoun on a 1-to-1, or even 100-to-1, basis, so they throw ''thousands'' of their own fighters at them in the hopes of downing even one or two. Since [[WeHaveReserves they have reserves]], this becomes surprisingly (and disturbingly) effective.

Context Anime / Simoun