Full Metal Panic!

Mithril, a covert military institution using state-of-the-art technology to combat terrorist operations, assigns a specialized team to a sensitive mission. Under the command of superior officer Melissa Mao, sergeants Sousuke Sagara and Kurz Weber must secretly protect Kaname Chidori—a teenage girl who unconsciously holds breakthrough scientific knowledge and is considered a "Whispered"—from intelligence agencies and other organizations pursuing her abilities.

While Kurz and Melissa are to assist him remotely, Sousuke enrolls at Kaname's high school as one of her classmates to closely monitor her. However, his militaristic upbringing and poor social skills lead to a difficult adjustment to civilian life. Not only does he attract unnecessary attention, but his actions frequently make Kaname suspicious of him.

Despite the earnest attempts to fulfill his duty, a terrorist ambush further complicates Sousuke's task. Recognizing the vicious mastermind behind the assault, Sousuke abandons his orders to ensure Kaname's safety.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Sagara, Sousuke Main

Seki, Tomokazu Japanese

Chidori, Kaname Main

Yukino, Satsuki Japanese

Testarossa, Teletha Main

Yukana Japanese

Mao, Melissa Supporting

Neya, Michiko Japanese

Weber, Kurz Supporting

Miki, Shinichiro Japanese

Gauron Supporting

Tanaka, Masahiko Japanese

Kalinin, Andrei Sergeivich Supporting

Ootsuka, Akio Japanese

Tokiwa, Kyouko Supporting

Kimura, Ikue Japanese

AL Supporting

Murozono, Takehiro Japanese

Kazama, Shinji Supporting

Noto, Mamiko Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Takechi, Tsuneo Producer

Chigira, Kouichi Director, Episode Director, Script, Storyboard, Screenplay

Tsuruoka, Youta Sound Director

Reviews

Dec 25, 2024

kemptea

Recommended

I first watched this show years and years ago. I've probably watched it four or five times now, including Fumaffu and Second Raid seasons (only seen Invisible Victory once). It's practically a comfort watch, which is weird because it's basically a mecha-military show with high stakes and a lot of discomfiting violence.

Or is it a rom-com?

Or is it a fish out of water?

Or is it a high school slice of life?

Or is it a cartoon-ultraviolence, farcical comedy that parodies rom-coms, fishes out of water, and high school slices of life?

Depending on which season you're watching, it could be any or all of the above. And ... that's what makes Full Metal Panic so great. One episode you'll be laughing until your gut bursts and you spill your wine/apple juice, and the next you'll be biting your nails, wondering how Sousuke and Chidori are getting out of this one alive.

The thing that really makes it work is the chemistry between our two leads. He's a soldier who wouldn't know pop culture or romance (or common sense) if they slapped him in the face with a grenade. She's a tsundere who, honestly, has a good reason (or five) to smack him. He's also earnest, determined, and skilled. She's also smart, athletic, and more adaptable than she thinks she is. They both grow as people over the course of the seasons, and their romance is a slow, if comedic, burn.

The supporting cast is also fun and differentiated, though Tessa is irritatingly tropey, and there is the occasional fan service (but, in the spirit of equality, there's a bit for the ladies, too).

All of you, watch this show and love it. Watch it until someone looks at the numbers and decides to make a fourth season after Invisible Victory. Thanks.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Mar 3, 2025

joemaamah

Mixed Feelings

I was a big fan of this back in the day, and enjoyed it immensely. I just finished a re-watch after god knows how many years. Sadly I can't say this has withstood the test of time well. Not unworthly, but seems shopworn today.

Art work was good for its time, but looks only so-so today. Characters and mechas were already trope-ridden, and today they are simply cliche. The animation work is something of a mixed bag; some good and some not so good. Overall it was about average for its day. But it's hardly anything impressive anymore.

The narrative is hardly inspired. I got the solid ... impression this viewing that a lot of this is a direct ripoff of Martian Successor Nadesico, without Gekigangar or the cooking, in a sub rather than a spaceship. Tessa seemed a direct cut and paste of Ruri. Bakas. I kept waiting for the Jovian Lizards to pop out. Some of the middle episodes are sloggy. Things perk up towards the end. While not unsatisfying, it all wrapped up in a seemingly preordained manner.

The VA work is choppy. I thought the actress doing Chidori was pretty good, and her performance still holds up. But the rest of the cast are just cliche or meh at best. Direction in this rewatch struck me as kind of choppy. While some episodes move along at a spritely pace, others seem to drag out forever, Soundtrack usage seemed unskillled. Distracting in way too many instances. Splashes of fanservice are sophomoric at best.

But no need to get into a panic. This isn't bad by any means. Just not as good as the rosy lens of nostalgia would make it out to be. If I were to grade it today, it would get a C- at 72/100. But back in the day, it would have easily been high end B material. If you loved it back then, definitely worth a stroll down Memory Lane. If you haven't seen it, keep your expectations in check, and it will be a good 'turn off your brain and veg" series.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Mar 17, 2024

PurpleMagic

Not Recommended

From episode 1 I could tell this was nothing special. The comedy was bland and unoriginal usually resulting in Chidori getting mad at Souske and then hitting him. Are your laughing yet? NO.... well get used to it because that's at least half of the series. The other half is a military mech fighting show that barely scratches the surface of what it could be because it decided it wanted to focus on highschool comedy too. The writers did a terrible job with these two concepts because they don't mesh together at all. It doesn't help that the music is limited at well it has ... like 4 soundtracks and they're generic.

I put this as background noise after episode 4 and I'm glad I did because my instincts were right. This anime is boring at straight up 5/10. Sousuke and Chidori are terrible main characters. Chidori is annoying and useless. Sousuke is as bland as flour. It took him 20 episodes to show genuine emotion where he wasn't taking like an unsalted cracker. The show also had a weird fascination with showing panty scenes in the first 7-8 episodes, ruining any serious moments.

The only reason people ever liked this show was because they're was literally limited options on what they could choose to enjoy. Times have changed we have like 50 new anime to choose from each coming season. Not to mention the internet gives people quick access to better older anime whether its from a legal or illegal site. There's a reason people don't talk about this show its just forgettable.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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