Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu

Original Title: フルメタル・パニック？ ふもっふ
Romanized: Furumetaru Panikku? Fumoffu
Literal: Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu

Plot Synopsis

The Full Metal Panic gang is back in school and making more trouble than ever. Although things have settled down to a "normal" life, between Sosuke's misguided (and usually highly destructive) attempts at keeping the school grounds safe at the behest of the mysterious student council, Chidori doing her best to smack Sosuke into something resembling a normal human being, and the rest of their wild and wacky classmates going about their business, every day is a new self-inflicted adventure.

Quick Review

Rating: 4 / 5
Reviewer: Marc
Review Date: 2005-10-02

Fumoffu is Full Metal Panic done differently, and in my opinion done right. This direct sequel to the first two seasons forsakes any pretense of drama and throws itself full-on into the chaos that Sosuke's brutally efficient take on a wide variety of classic schoolyard situations begs to unleash. It may do nothing to explain the wide-open storyline, but Fumoffu's willingness to take situations one step too far, its absolutely dead-on comedic timing, and a growing cast of wacky characters is an effective recipe for hilarity. The amazing Japanese voice cast ties it all together, and the visuals, though a step down from the original, are still more than adequate.

Be prepared for a disappointing lack of any explanation of the mysteries of MITHRIL and the Whispered, but by focusing on the humor I thought was the original's strong point this sequel serves up a bust-a-gut funny chunk of anime.

US DVD Review

ADV's DVDs, in addition to the usual, bump the English audio track up to 5.1 channels, and include clean opening and closing animation, Japanese TV commercials, art galleries, and "The Mysteries of FUMOFFU" booklets.

Content Guide

Occasional bursts of dirty humor earn this one a 15-up from ADV.

Violence: 2 - Some bits are humorously brutal.

Nudity: 2 - Does its best with well placed "interference", but there's a fair amount of skin of both sexes.

Sex/Mature Themes: 2 - Quite raunchy at times.

Language: 2 - There is some rough language, although several scenes feature a hail of machinegun "bleeps" to add to the comedy.

Notes and Trivia

Several of the early episodes are broken up into two parts, each with it's own sub-title. As shown on Fuji TV there were only 11 episodes; the 2nd half of the first episode (Passing Hostility) and the 1st half of the 2nd (Uncompromising Hostage) were omitted, leaving the other half of those two episodes to make up the first as shown.

Availability

Available in the US from ADV on 4 hybrid DVDs, 3 episodes each.

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