Break Blade | Retcon_404 (Anime Retrospective) 

Break blade is one of the best ways to mix Fantasy with mech. I really loved this anime

Chloe is a result of Athens growing soldiers to fight.

The best oart of Break Blade is the very detailed hand drawn mecha animation. The Golems have such an oldschool anime mecha vibe to them. This series gives me some serious Vision of Escaflowne vibes with the heavy feeling mecha that centers more on close melee combat. I need to do a rewatch of this series, it has been well over a decade since I last watched it.

Oh My God, I loved Break Blade. I loved its adaptation and loved its manga but I'll never forgive them for that piss poor ending. Like seriously, wtf.

Dephine's armor-purge during its original sortie has always stuck w/ me. Thank you for covering Break Blade!

Quartz is a real-world mineral. It's usually used in time-pieces because it resonates under pressure and is also piezoelectric. It's a VERY common mineral on earth and yes, it is also tied to mysticism. :)

I love when you do multiple takes of the same line, but leave both of them in the final cut. 15:05 Even a cripled golem can be dangerous.

Mecha? Geopolitics? Magitech powered by something called quartz? As a Kiseki fan my ears immediately perked up lol

Quartz in Break Blade could actually be normal quartz. The piezoelectric effect uses quartz crystals to change physical vibrations into electrical impulses. It works the other way too...

Of the other scant non-Gundam 2010's mecha anime I would recommend Majestic Prince. It's somewhat reminiscent of Macross and Gundam ZZ, a pretty straightforward mecha space opera focused on a squad of plucky-yet-dysfunctional young pilots fighting an evil alien empire. While in 2013 I initially balked at the heavy use of CGI as well as the Hirai-designed Gundam Seed-esque character models, the animation was done by Studio Orange (as their first TV anime) and is actually quite fluid while the character designs just kind of grew on me with the show's pretty solid character writing behind them.

Yeah, Break Blade ,an anime and manga that introduced this world to me 13 years ago... just read the last chapter of the manga yesterday... my heart nearly stopped beating when I realized how long it has been ,the nostalgia, somehow the unfairness of the princes twin's life also strike a cord..

Honestly the next introspective you should do is "Full Metal Panic". It's one part funny school anime and one part crazy mecha anime with a surprisingly mature undertone. The mech battles are nice and the character interactions are pretty interesting.

Coverage for B. Blade was inevitable and I'm glad it's here. Ty.

Break Blade really scratched the itch i had for weighty mecha combat i got from the early parts of Escaflowne.

Cleo's weird. Its definetly implied that there's something going on given her age (its is indeed 12, which Athen's conscription age is)q, berserker state and her appearance but its never 100% confirmed. Also possible she got lucky with genetics. She's also a huge shipper of Rygart and Siygn.

Still reading the manga, last chapter was released a year ago, and anyone who tells me that at chapter 104 the story concluded, I don't understand. It is literally in the middle of a story arc, with TO BE CONTINUED written on the bottom of the page. if this is the ending, I wish it had ended at the point the anime had. Otherwise it is just criminal

I went to your channel to rewatch a Gundam retrospective and was pleasantly surprised with a new upload. Never heard of this, so I’m excited.

If you’re starting to look at mecha past 2010, I HIGHLY recommend Muv-Luv Alternative Total Eclipse and Schwarzesmarken

Fafner Dead Aggressor is a must watch. That and it's follow up, Exodus and The Beyond are some of the best mecha shows I've ever seen.

Just finished watching break blade because of this video. I loved it! Thanks for shedding light on this show!!

Mecha series I remember from 2010's.... - Star Driver - LBX (Little Battler Experience) - Symphogear(?) (can we call that mecha musume?) - Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere (my personal favourite) Going back to older shows, have you done Mai-HiME (or My-HiME)? it was made back in 2000, and I found it interesting because of the mix genre of phantasy and school life setting at the time, which has since become quite common nowadays.

This seemed pretty crazy for sure. The designs and action was great. Fun review! Nice to see your style growing and evolving!

Someone in the comments here said that Rygard and the Undergolem basically turn into Guts, and i can certainly feel some inspiration, especially with the whole "Lets fight destiny" line. Plus hes just a massive hubk of metal stronger than any golem should be

I would love to see you cover Phantom Memory Kurau, it’s such a special anime, it’s got almost every genre wrapped into an emotional, yet action-packed jaunt. And it’s under 30 episodes.

I have fond memories of this one. It wasn't too long into my journey into anime and taught me that I really like "fantasy mecha".

Thank you so much for covering Mech anime, it really needs more attention. I've never seen this series, but I probably will check it out now.

Sooooo underrated!! I watched this on a hard-drive my friend gave me back when i was 16! Almost nobody has covered this show. So thank you!!

This anime feels so right at home on many, many levels. One of the rarest games worth of time and rewatch, especially the remade OVA's that added the battle with Girge brutally dispatching the Spartan team along with its general. Your analysis is spot on, well done! Kind regards!

how nice of you to mentioned Gundam IBO 'cause it could be argued Break Blade is one of the inspiration for Gundam IBO.

Guess this one goes on the list. On that note, Aura Battler Dunbine (and its follow up) might be some great material to look into. Its a 80ties Mecha Isekai where the mechs are very insect like looking.

Break Blade is a series I got introduced to with the manga, since as far as I'm aware there aren't too many mecha manga series out there so I was interested. I loved the setting and world too and the combat is illustrated very well (which all the anime really did to improve was add sfx and music lol). I also liked how it seemed to subvert a lot of common tropes in mecha and anime in general. The MC isnt special and that's what makes him special, yet he's so good in the Delphine not really because of his own power but because of the machine itself. Zess and Rygart seem to have a Naruto/Sasuke rivalry getting built but I liked how the show sidelined Zess early on to focus on other characters and aspects of the plot. The manga is quite good for sure too but I feel like it peaked with the Borcuse arc and Rygart's final fight with him. There are other good moments of the series later on for sure but it feels sort of past its prime after that. If I had any mecha anime suggestions for you to put on that google doc it'd be Shippu Iron Leaguer which is an early 90s anime about sports playing robots with mecha designs by Kunio Okawara himself. Its good but VERY niche so I barely hear anyone talk about it and idk if anyone has even talked about it on youtube before lol. Anyway great vids 👍👍

One of the best mecha fantasy & somehow also remind me of Five Stars story. I just wish it gets a proper end for the anime adaptation. A new season in this years period would totally bring a refreshing stories for Mecha genre.

5:59 Bro, the OG Mac Anu theme?!?? 👏👏👏 knew you were a man of culture. ❤️

You should do a retrospective on whats apparently the first isekai anime called Aura Battler Dunbine. A show created in 1983 by Yoshiyuki Tomino. Maybe you can touch on its OVA's and the infamously bad dub side story of Garzey's Wing.

Can’t wait for that big O retrospec my favorite anime during my existential crisis hahah

Dude, love break blade. Bonus points for using breath of fire 3 music.

Thank you so much for this, Break Blade was literally going to be my next recommendation. Underrated, underappreciated and way too good to be left to obscurity. Quick edit: While I won't say the 12 episode TV version of Break Blade is necessary if you've already seen the OVA, the extended fight between Girghe and Borcuse's elite squad is definitely worth watching since it always seemed so abrupt for such a great pilot to go out so quickly.

Thank you for another great retrospective!!

LOVING THE MECHA CONTENT BRO! 🤘😎

Hey man, you should totally do a Big-O retrospective. Would love to hear your thoughts! I remember watching break blade, some of my favorite mecha designs.

Oh man! I remember watching this years and years ago - definitely a unique take on mecha anime and one which isn't utilised enough imo. The other OBVIOUS one that comes to mind as an analogy is Vision of Escaflowne, which is also a similar type of high fantasy mixed with medieval/magical mecha. Another, less fantasy but arguably more trippy mecha anime (which I thought you said when you referred to Ray Earth actually), is RahXephon which is... well... trippy. And I see you've already done escaflowne so Imma give that a watch now.

I'm still remember when I first watch this anime. It so good that I even dream staying in that world.

Huh, I was just wondering if you had a video on break Blade as I was watching the Turn A video. Saw the link and I was like... hey convenient! And then I saw it was 30 minutes old. Perfect timing!

27:00 - This was BY FAR my biggest issue with the entire show. "Haha! Thanks to our master strategist, we have the high ground and more troops! And this is a narrow pass so you'll never get by us!" "Well, we have a super badass over here who can totally wreck you." "A super badass you say? Let's send almost half of our force out to attack, giving up all of their advantages so they can take on an enemy way stronger than them! What could possibly go wrong?!" *proceeds to get wrecked* "Argh, how could we have known???!1!" Dear god the entire thing was awful. 'Master strategist' my ass.

IM YELLING AT YOU LIKE A GOOD MECH BOY

Break Blade is definitely my favorite Mecha of all time. I just love how down to Earth it is, the mechs feel like they have weight, the way mechs get damaged and the armor looks like they're made out of paper because they're made out of quartz. Especially when the Delphine just shreds through golems with its sheer power. I also love the focus on melee and later in the manga, Rygart gets really skill at piloting and using the Delphine's power to his advantage, I won't say too much. The music is also really good. It's too bad they changed the last bits of the anime from the manga, and the manga ended but it's not a conclusion to the story sadly 😞 Need a video game where we can put on heavy armor on our mechs then purge it once it's all used up.

Hell yeah, Break Blade. That just happens to be the series that got added into SRW DD a few months ago. For other mech shows, if it isn't on your list yet (I've seen it suggested before though), Argevollen is another non-gundam show from this time. I'd personally suggest Star Driver. G-Reco's pacing is mostly the issue with the show (it's clearly a show meant to be 50 eps long being spedrun in 24 eps). The other thing folks find difficult to grasp is how Tomino makes his characters talk in the show. Well, you'll see soon enough for yourself. I think watching the Movie (or were they OVAs?) versions is better to comprehend the story.

Retcon, I love how short your intro animation is. Gets right to the video. Thank You

Loved and wish there was more of Broken/Break Blade. Delphine was a damn good design and with the red armor, it was a goddamn beast!

Yay, a new retcon video!! the perfect way to start the morning.

Even a crippled golem can be dangerous.

Loved it. Manga and the anime were fire. Iron blooded orphans must have taken huge inspiration from this. I hate the queen as a character, she just is insufferable she just runs the wrong way as she is not even faithful to her husband even though she may have loved Rigurt in the academy she has no reason messing around with him.

That's always thanks again for doing these retrospectives. You're making me find anime. I've never known about. I was also gonna ask if you have ever , watched, or know about The Vision of Escaflowne.

I didn't know this was adapted into an anime. Thank you!

Finally it drops! So excited to see this!!!!!! Ill respond to this after. Thank you for doing this Retcon_404!

I’m so happy that this series was real, I thought it was just some dream I saw as a kid.. but damn now I got a name to a face

I guess even a crippled golem can be dangerous.

I liked the touch of did quartz being used in armor. Kinda like depleted uranium being used in tank armor and sabot rounds

And also, I LOVE Break Blade. Fuckin' A!

Gonna be another one asking for a Dunbine video considering this vid's on another mech fantasy anime. Another one I think you'd really like and I think might already be on your radar is Panzer World Galiant, another Sunrise fantasy mecha series.

Gonna be another one asking for a Dunbine video considering this vid's on another mech fantasy anime. Another one I think you'd really like and I think might already be on your radar is Panzer World Galiant, another Sunrise fantasy mecha series.

Great review. Break Blade definitely deserves a continuation. A recommendation of mine to consider watching someday is 'Sidonia Knights'. A rare mecha anime where you fight against aliens and not just humans who dress like European nobility.

Break Blade is my 3rd favorite Mecha anime, just behind Escaflowne and the legendary DSF Macross from Robotech.

I’d say one of the best anime action that was ever made.

Sigyn in her night robe is just *chef's kiss

One of my all time fav manga and anime…

Recommend to watch the dub version too. You gotta re watch it in english dub too.

new video lets go!!! i was just thinking about your channel today. love your work, man, keep it up please!!

Babe wake up, a new Retcon 404 vid dropped

I'm excited for Build Fighters can't wait, also love the Bearguy collection

you a good one, got the armored core music in this!

"The Visions of Escaflowne" next please!

While not connected lorewise, Chleo having the body of a teenager at the age of 12 is totally believable. In the Philippines, we have 6 year old kids with the bodies that look like teenagers, and in the opposite spectrum are 40 year old adults having the bodies that look like teenagers. Southeast Asian and East Asian genetics are weird but considering that Western (mostly American) teens look like 30+ year old adults to us so not completely weird.

I love Break Blade. The golems in the manga looks amazing, just because of the art style and action sequences it is worth it to check this manga!

Going through all these old anime, I wonder if you'll ever get to Tekkaman Blade.

And here me thinking inwas the only one who liked it 😂😂 nice to see more cultured mech nuts like me 😎✌️🤟

The very beginning of this video resonates with me. Since I was a teenager, 20 years ago, I was a huge anime fan especially mecha anime. Around 2008 or so, I lost interest in anime and took a very long break from the medium. When I try to come back to modern anime, I was really disappointed in the lack of mecha series being produced. I did find a few good shows like Knights of Sidonia, but other than Gundam, mecha seemed to have fallen out of mainstream anime. I hope something comes around to give the genre the shot in the arm it needs. But it needs to be something big, like Gundam 0079 or Eva big. Something that really resonates with audiences and creates a mecha boom like what happened in the 80s. Everyone seems to be sick of the fantasy rpg isekai fad, so maybe mecha can take its place.

Woohoo!!!!!!!! Super glad you got to Break blade. And yes the MANGA is worth it. Cheers

I would love to see you review Knights of Sidonia!

So glad you watched this. It's an awesome show. Would love to see more of this world, Aldnoah Zero wasn't as bad as people say in my opinion. The mech designs were nice and least the earth ones.

Just found this channel. I'd recommend the Knights and Magic anime. Loved that mech show.

I always say this and will keep saying this, this is what IBO wishes to be.

The over coat uniforms really cool.

I remember reading this manga 10 years ago...my introduction to mecha

This author has one plot that just..repeats.

Sad I never got to finish this series.

"...Can't use magic to activate quartz which is used in pretty much every part of every day life..." So it's a trails game?

Really good show! I wached it years ago

Aparently this series is related to xenogears somehow? I swear if that bastard Citan Uzuki shows up somewhere, punches will start flying.

Thanks! Will check this out

BREAK BLADE MENTIONED WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

instantly subscribed, i have a love hate relationship with this show, this manga and the author

The golems look a lot like the mechs in front missions.

Fun Fact the Delphine was never fully repaired. Its systems and technology were foreign or ancient at present time. It was always outfitted with lots of outer armor but the moment its internal part were damaged it cant be repaired. Its state right after the anime's ending was its suspension breaks in the arm to cushion it fall are destroyed as well as its left hand being replaced by a hook and the entire left arm ia covered witch cloth. Its current state in Eng. Translated manga is that its entire left arm is destroyed and parts of it body were severly damaged.

Popping in to 'like' 'comment' & 'Im already subscribed' I'll have to watch this during lunch or after work.

two good mecha anime heroic age and Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet

reminds me of the plot of zoids genesis where the only guy who can pilot the murasame liger has no talent in piloting ordinary zoids. likewise regular zoid pilots cant control the murasame liger

16:50 my ears pricked up like an animal, i know Breath of Fire 3 battle music when i hear it

The first like 3 episodes of Aldnoah Zero are incredible. The fall off coincides with Urobuchi not writing anymore episodes. Then the second season is an atrocity.

Break Blade's OP is straight 🔥! If you love this series, I recommend The Vision of Escaflowne, too.