Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse

For those of you who don't know what this show is: it's a sidestory for the Muv-Luv series of visual novels. It's set around the same time as the last part of the main trilogy, Muv-Luv Alternative. This story is about an international unit testing new models of Tactical Surface Fighters (a kind of mecha) for use against the alien BETA. Crunchyroll have announced they will stream the show.

The franchise as a whole has a thread in the Visual Novels section, but having a separate thread for the anime might be useful, especially because of spoilers for the Visual Novels.

The show will start airing in a week, and a new preview has just been released. Most of the footage is the same as in earlier trailers, but there are some new shots. Part of the ending theme is also played. Turns out a non-vocal verison of it was already used in the other previews.

All in all, this show looks like it will be at least decent, but only time will tell. I'll at least be watching for some shiny animated TSFs.

I'm decently excited for this. Hopefully it serves as a good prequel.

I'm disappointed it won't have any of the original characters (supposedly) but I'm hoping it's good enough to make up for this.

Can anyone tell, if I intend to read Muv-Luv Alternative in the future, should I wait with the Eclipse anime to avoid spoilers, or it is an entirely different story, that can be enjoyed before the V Ns?

This show looks interesting (I'm a sucker for mecha ) but the fact that the director of the Rosario+Vampire anime is the one heading this series has me a bit cautious. Only time will tell if it is good or not.

I'm honestly not sure. There might be some spoilers for Alternative in terms of general storyline/major events, or there might not be. The problem is that (as far as I'm aware) almost no western anime fans have read the novels this is based on.

I'd say that there will be spoilers, but they're going to be fairly minor. The existence of the Unlimited/Alternative verse itself is something of a spoiler, after all.

Right now I'm in wait-and-see mode. Contrary to popular opinion, I didn't find the setting of UN/AL to be all that interesting, and the whole Forgone Conclusion aspect of TE is putting me off. I'm mildly hopeful that this will be decent Military Sci-Fi, unlike the first series, but I won't know the answer to that until I see it.

Well, based on the setting, we can certainly expect some death and suffering. The question is gonna be: how much of it? Something to keep in mind is that some partially translated interviews seem to indicate this will not be a 1:1 adaptation of the novels. Considering that, it's unclear how much of a foregone conclusion it's gonna be.

Unfamiliar with Muv Luv but I'm gonna give this one a go.

Much appreciated.

edited 26th Jun '12 5:56:21 AM by fillerdude

Also: if anyone has some questions about the setting etc, I'll try to answer them without spoilers.

For anyone who's interested, someone uploaded scans of the five LN volumes (all that were released so far, covering events past the introduction of a Chinese pilot) here.

Do take note that the chapters that were serialized in Tech Gian run past them (before stopping on a cliffhanger) and will probably be released as Vol.6, but then again âge's been notorious for several delays in the past.

Edit: Koda Kumi (The Law Of Ueki) is doing the OP, while Minami Kuribayashi is doing the ED. You've heard the ED as the instrumental BGM in the first couple of PVs.

Edit 2: Comments on Twitter after the pre-screening at UDX in Akihabara are positive in general. Then again, most if not all of them are members of âge's fanclub, so yeah. Raising my optimism level a little, anyway.

Edit 3: The first episode will also be shown at this year's AX, nearly at the same time as it airs on TV Tokyo.

Edit 4: Someone took the ED sample aired on Radio TE, listen to it here.

edited 30th Jun '12 3:12:58 AM by HithertoAnIPAddress

Yeah, things are starting to look interesting.

Going by the previews, the TSFs are looking quite nice. The thing I´m most anxious about is how the BETA will look. Well, we'll know in about 48 hours.

Edit: Well, the first episode has aired. It should be available subben on Crunchyroll in about 10,5 hours as of this writin. The episode mostly consists of world building, focusing on Yui's training as an Honour Guard cadet. In fact, Yui is the only of the main characters appearing in the episode. It's an unusual choice, but one I can support. Also in true Muv-Luv style, it looks like the vast majority of the characters introduced here will die fighting the BETA next episode.

The animation was fairly low-quality, which was to be expected considering the production's low budget. The TSFs do look nice, so it's fairly clear where the money went. If the show stays at this quality level, it should be a decent watch, though not amazing. And now it's time to wait for subs and then the next episode...

edited 2nd Jul '12 11:29:15 AM by MarqoD

Might want to fix that spoiler

I liked the minute details which tie in to the other works in the franchise. Besides the (not yet) Shogun, we hear Kyushu getting evacuated in 1996, tying in with Owarinaki Natsu, Towa Naru Shirabe.

Oh hey, next episode preview!

Please... shoot... me.. hurry... YUIIIIIII!!!!

Oh boy, here we go!

edited 2nd Jul '12 9:52:51 PM by HithertoAnIPAddress

Well, watched it with the subs now. Crunchyroll's are decent, but do contain some errors. For example, the line about the 8 minute life exopectancy. Nothing too surprising in the dialogue, and actually watching the episode with a decent video quality the animation wasn't too bad, though not exactly good either. I'd still rate it as a pretty decent introductory episode, letting viewers know about the setting. Episode 2 should provide some more action and finish up the setting introduction. Then it's onwards to Alaska.

One thing I am curious about is the pacing. As I haven't read the novels, I don't know about the pace and amount of story in them, but I do hope this introduction leaves enough room for a decent plot.

Is it too much to ask for a Ga Rei Zero-type Total Party Kill? I'm about done with these girls already.

From what I hear, Yui is the only survivor

Damned aliens can't even do that right. I guess I'll have a week to take Yui out personally.

Well, Yui's not really the primary character after this point anyway, based on the LN.

Interesting to see the custom paint schemes and Eishi suits, though. I'd have figured that would have waited until they get assigned to actual units, but I guess it's not Japan Glorious Nihon! unless you have pointless and counterproductive displays of relative social status. Makes it easy to identify the heroine of the moment, though.

Lots of nice little continuity nods, as others have mentioned. The TS Fs also clearly got more animation time than the more girly fanservice, though I guess that's to be expected given the nature of the plot in this series. We've got the classic problem of Inconsistent Mecha Size (I swear that's troped), but that's something we've been bitching about since Unlimited.

edited 2nd Jul '12 8:14:48 PM by HighVelocityPointyThings

Well, this thread is a prime example as to why you shouldn't even read threads about a series you want no spoilers of. It's very easy to read between the lines and spoilered passages and get a fair assumption of what the plot will be.

Rather interesting first episode, but then again I love apocalyptic situations and mecha, so I was bound to like something that's those two things rolled into one.

The pace seems to be really fast though. And the way things are going I wouldn't be surprised if Yui will be the only one left standing.

Looks like Strike Witches with (generally speaking) slightly older and bustier girls and more deaths.

Keep in mind there will actually be significant male characters in this show, unlike Strike Witches. All the trainees in the first episode are female because most males of their age would already have been drafted.

Additionally, they're rather priveleged members of established families. In the Imperial Royal Guard (which isn't Japan's main army) that means you get better stuff and better treatment. The reason Yui's Zuikaku is yellow instead of white is also because of these priveleges. In order of rank: Purple is for blood relatives of the Shogun. Blue is for other members of the five houses from which the Shogun is chosen. Yellow is for important lineages with established service records. Red is for members of families who have thoroughly proven themselves, and whose families usually have connections. White is for regular members of samurai families. Black is for regular grunts.

Ah, so there was an explanation for the lack of males. And the yellow suit too. Cool.

It might just be me but I think their suit designs are funny. They're kinda awkward to look at.

If Strike Witches have the pantsu shots, this has the skin-tight suits.

Well, the suits are worse in the original visual novels. UN trainee suits are transparent orange...