Common Name: Full Metal Panic!
Score: 7/10, 4/5
Length: 1 Season of 24 episodes, 2 Seasons of 12 episodes
Genre: Action, Comedy, Mecha, Sci-fi, Military
Summary: In recent years, technology has advanced to such a degree that the the concepts of Artificial Intelligence, large-scale cloaking, and bi-pedal war machines that were once little more than a dream have been realized. These great advancement are due in no small part to the appearance of the "Whispered," human beings that possess an innate knowledge of "Black Technology." So it comes as no surprise that individuals that are suspected of being one of the "Whispered" are ruthlessly sought after by terrorists and military organizations alike. Luckily, the military organization Mithril works tirelessly to seek out and protect these individuals from those that would abuse their terrifying gift. Unfortunately for Kaname Chidori, a potential "Whispered," the Mithril soldier sent to observe and protect her isn't exactly a smooth operator.
Review: Full Metal Panic! exists as one of those strange shows that's an amalgamation of several different concepts. It's a military mech series. It's a gag comedy. It's a fun romance that gets a little weird during the spin-off season. Yet in spite of it's lack of a consistent tone, the series holds itself together pretty well. The characters are fun and sympathetic when the show's action hits its stride. The action is engaging, relatively believable, and cool to look at (and this is coming from a guy who HATES mech battles). It honestly is just one of those fun classics with an art style that was typical of the late 90's and early 2000's that might not have aged well but isn't all that hard to look past. Though it stumbles from time to time while juggling all it's components, it never fails to be worthwhile in some capacity.