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====== Cross Ange: Tenshi to Ryū no Rondo ======
{{ lb:img:cross-ange.png }}
クロスアンジュ {{ruby|天使|てんし}}と{{ruby|竜|りゅう}}の{{ruby|輪舞|ロンド}}(Cross Ange: Rondo of Angel and Dragon) is a [[lb:mecha]] [[lb:anime]] about lesbians fighting dragons using transforming [[lb:mecha]]...at least, that's what the first half is about.
===== Review =====
As alluded to in the initial summary, the series is split into roughly two parts, which becomes obvious to almost everyone watching. I don't remember many details of the series, so this review will be general. Once (or rather ‘if’) I re-watch this series I'll be sure to add more detailed critiques.\\
The first half is what I'd consider to be a fairly standard [[lb:mecha]] series((:fn:>I used to repeatedly state that I don't watch much mecha, but I think at this point I've seen a few.)) with added fanservice. The sexy stuff didn't bother me all that much when I first watched it((:fn:>At least according to the previous version of this review.)), as I believe there are other shows that have way more sexual content((:fn:>The obvious choices, which I've seen, would be [[lb:Strike Witches]], Prison School, [[lb:No Game No Life]], and Highschool Of The Dead. [[lb:Strike Witches]] and [[:No Game No Life|NGNL]] are quite reserved compared to Prison School and HOTD however.)). This part is mostly focused on the main characters battling dragons every episode and resolving personal drama. There are hints for the second part sprinkled in every now and again.\\
The second part of the series is what I'd believe most viewers would consider the ‘cool’ part. The focus shifts away from repeated battles against dragons to a story about rebelling against <wrap spoiler>the creator god of the world</wrap>. I won't go into further details, because I don't remember them.\\
I mentioned before that it's obvious to viewers that the series is split into two halves, and that's sort-of the issue. While the two parts //do// flow together moderately well, it isn't to the same degree as //Koutetsujou no Kabaneri//, where I didn't even notice the transition when I first watched it.\\
There were a few times I felt some of the characters were off, particularly Jill, although I don't remember the details exactly. I found the worldbuilding interesting, and I do still occasionally think about that aspect((:fn:>The previous version of this review mentions I felt the worldbuilding was inconsistent sometimes, but it doesn't expand further. I don't remember the details at all, so I'm only mentioning this in this note.)).\\
I remember being impressed with the soundtrack of the show, which shouldn't be surprising when we consider the name of the series.\\
The final note I have is that the CG is noticeably better than in most anime, although it isn't good enough for it to not be obvious.
===== Speculah & Analysis =====
==== What I was expecting ====
One thing I noticed after watching the series was that it wasn't what I had expected to happen when I was first watching it((:fn:>This is most definitely because of how this series was constructed in two parts. To be clear here though, I'm not saying that the series was produced in two parts, but that the story comes off as having been two separate stories glued together.)). I initially thought that the Norma were going to rebel against the people of mana, starting a civil war; eventually being joined by the dragons.\\
While this did happen, to a certain extent, there was more of a focus on ‘cosmic forces’((:fn:>This was the best term I could come up with to describe it with the least number of words.)), which did annoy me a little.\\
I don't necessarily dislike the story that was there, but I thought it would have been more interesting to see a more ‘grounded’ story.\\
I'm not sure if I feel this way nowadays, although I do still remember the story felt awkward in places. I'll leave figuring out if this would have been better than what we got for after I re-watch the series.
===== Trivilinks =====
  * [[http://crossange.com|Official Site]]
  * [[https://crossange.fandom.com/wiki/CROSS_ANGE_Rondo_of_Angel_and_Dragon_Wiki|The Wikia]] - The wiki isn't particularly well constructed, so I wouldn't recommend using it.
{{tag>anime otaku}}