Anime Twin Spica

[densuke]

(Futatsu no Supika)
20 episode TV series
Aired: November 1, 2003 - March 27, 2004
Production: Group TAC
Creator: Kou Yaginuma (manga)

Asumi Kamogawa is a young girl who dreams of becoming an astronaut. The story follows her from early childhood through her training in a specialized middle school and beyond.

This series mixes fantasy with science fiction to present a story with lots of solid character development and emotional impact. Asumi is strange but very likable. She overcomes loss and hardship with determination and generosity.

The episodes do not follow a straight timeline, but loop back in to the past quite often. Also, several characters are haunted by personal loss and at times they are shown to be recollecting the past. None of this makes the story hard to understand.

The character designs are idiosyncratic but accessible and the music has some good things to offer. The many veteran voice actors in the cast did a very good job.

For fans who value interesting characters over fanservice and imagination over contrived plotting, this is worth a look.

Anime-Fansubs has been working their way slowly but surely through the series and all their episodes (10 so far) are easily available.