3ET: Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta

Flying is like pimping. It ain't easy.

Studio: TMS Entertainment

Director: Suzuki Toshimasa (Heroic Age, Rinne no Lagrange)

Writer: Inotsume Shin’ichi (Sket Dance, Hayate no Gotoku)

Main Cast:

Hanae Natsuki as Kalel Albus

Yuuki Aoi as Claire Cruz

Character Design: Harada Hiroki (Romeo x Juliet, Sasami-san Ganbaranai)

Music: Ootani Kou (Gundam Wing, Another)

Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta is trying to do a lot of things. First off, it's a love story between an ex-prince (Kalel Albus) and a noble girl (Claire Cruz). It's also a military drama, with a lot of emphasis placed on the main couple and their friends learning how to dogfight. It's clearly a fantasy, since the setting is a giant floating island that is exploring its magical creation myth. And it's a tale of revenge, as Kalel still bears burning hatred for the woman who led the rebellion that toppled his family's rule and wants to kill her. Some of these things it does quite well; other things, not so much.

As someone who is usually bored by romance, I found Kalel and Claire's first meeting and their development thus far fairly enjoyable. Yes, Claire is painfully shy when she first meets Kalel, but she quickly opens up to him after he fixes her bicycle. The two of them have a cute moment riding through clouds that float at the cruising altitude of their floating island, ending with them accidentally falling into a lake and splashing each other. That segues into them becoming partners for training, much to the chagrin of the obnoxiously trite noblemen. The more I see of them together, the more I like them. It comes off as an innocent first love, one that isn't exploited for the viewers' base desires, and that makes it endearing to me.

"Go for the headshot!"

The military stuff is less effective, especially if they think going with shakycam effects for the battles will get an audience response that isn't grossly biological. Also, the instructors come off as over-the-top and silly with their character desgins and personalities. However, that does not go for the students. They are a clash of cultures, as the floating island is a collaboration of three nations, and they are an enjoyable cast of side characters. The fantsy element gives the setting some of the gravitas it needs to keep up with its overdone soundtrack, the sweeping orchestral music is almost laughable at some early points of the show. And Kalel's desire revenge gives him a bit of depth opposite his happy exterior and playful barbs with his adoptive sister and his other friends. One character who hasn't done anything is a white-haired pretty boy who eats alone and just glares at people. He needs to do something and quickly.

So, I'm going to give Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta a pass. Much like Noragami, I'm doing this based on potential. While I wasn't really blown away by either, both laid the foundation to do something interesting later on. And I feel more attached to Kalel and his story of love and revenge than Noragami's Yato. More than anything, this show is mostly competent, and that's good enough for me.