Common Name: Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan
Alternative Names: HisoMaso, Hisone to Masotan, Hisone and Maso-tan
Score: 7/10, 4/5
Length: 12 Episodes
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama, Slice of Life, Military, Supernatural, Shoujo
Summary: Amakasu Hisone has never been much of an achiever. Having coasted through life without putting forward the effort to make friends or think about any of life's harder questions, she opted to join Japan's Air Defense Force out of some half-hearted desire to be finally make something of her life and be useful. Fate, however, has other plans for her. Unbeknownst to her, the Gifu base she's stationed at holds a national secret and she has been scouted as the next person to care for and pilot the base's Organic Transformed Flier or, in layman's terms, its dragon. Now, along with four other quirky Dragon Pilots, Hisone must learn to get along with her dragon and the idea of being eaten alive for the sake of Japan's continued prosperity and national security.
Review: Simple, unambitious, and whimsical. If I had to arbitrarily choose three words to describe the whole of Hisone to Masotan, those would probably be the words I'd go with. While those words often carry a negative connotation, I am by no means saying that it is bad. Rather, HisoMaso seems to be one of those rare titles that have no interest in conforming to standard anime storytelling conventions. There's no pomp or circumstance to this story. There are no life lessons to be imparted. No deep, complex narratives to dissect. It doesn't even really seem all the interested in hooking an audience or turning heads in its direction through other means, like stunning visuals or a tear-jerking soundtrack. HisoMaso is just one of those quiet, unambitious, and unoffensive titles that have a story to tell for anyone willing to listen. Yet, in spite of my saying that there are no grand life lessons or complex narratives to be found this story, I suppose this expression of self-determined identity and nonconformity is, in fact, the narrative through-line that holds all of Hisone to Masotan together. From top to bottom, it's characters, story, and the little artistic touches in its execution all point to an overall message of being who and what you want to be. It's about finding satisfaction in overcoming your own internalized expectations, as well as those of society and other people around you, just so you can be yourself.
Granted, it's fairly easy to lose sight of the narrative in the face of the show's
comedy, drama, and dragons that turn into planes.
From the very beginning, this narrative through-line and story is driven by a single character, one Amakatsu Hisone. Generally defined as being plain, awkward, and a bit of a wimp, Hisone is one of those characters who yearns to find some meaning in her life but is too pessimistic and self-conscious to even try. So, rather than actively working to make something of herself or do good for those around her, she contents herself with a secretarial job in Japan's Air Defense Force that, at the very least, helps her keep on living. In other words, Hisone is pretty much your average mid-20s, introverted, office worker stuck in a job she doesn't enjoy but can't get out of due to her own personal insecurities and lack of any social grace. Much like Retsuko before her, though, Hisone does come with one other defining character quirk that makes her stand out a little more: a direct line from her brain to her mouth. Anything and everything that crosses her mind, she can't help voicing it aloud. This tendency to run her mouth and penchant for offering unsolicited commentary obviously gets Hisone in trouble more often than not but it also gives a fairly decent explanation as to why she starts out the show as an antisocial loner with no friends or acquaintances to lean on. Understandably, she's terrified of rocking the boat, damaging what little happiness she has, and avoids others for fear of hurting or upsetting them. To her credit, though, most of her observations, complaints, and commentary are usually grounded in some truth or a general disdain for unfairness and dishonesty. Not that her unwitting dedication to those things makes it any easier to get along with her.
Tell it like it is, Hisone. Tell it like it is.
Almost immediately after we are introduced to Hisone and given a brief but comprehensive understanding of her current situation, all of that changes. For reasons unbeknownst to her and are left intentionally vague for most of the show, she has been chosen to pilot a dragon that calls the Gifu Airbase his home. Understandably, she's not too thrilled about her reassignment, especially when it's made clear that "piloting" this dragon involves willingly letting the dragon swallow her whole. Jarring as that might sound, though, Hisone quickly adapts to this new reality she's found herself in where dragons are real and can be piloted by pushing down on their stomach lining. In fact, within the span of the show's first episode, Hisone finds herself growing very attached to her mythical partner and all the responsibilities that have been thrust upon her as Gifu's resident Dragon Pilot, commonly shortened to D-Pilot or D-Pi.
Look, before you even think it, I'm sure there are people out there who envy Hisone's situation,
but I swear the vore aspect isn't the main draw of this show.
As bizarre and fetishistic as that general premise might sound, though, Hisone's job of "piloting" her dragon isn't so much the push of this show's story so much as what getting swept up in the insanity does for her personally. For all intents and purposes, her dragon, later christened Masotan, plays a massive role in Hisone's life akin to that of a newly acquired child or pet. Though that might be a bit insulting to the level of intelligence and intentionality that Masotan exhibits throughout the series, he forces Hisone to grow up and learn to operate outside her comfort zone. Whether it's through learning to trust Masotan not to digest her mid-flight or being forced to work as a team with other D-Pilots, Hisone's partnership with Masotan repeatedly puts her in situations where she either has to grow and adapt as a person or risk losing the closest thing she's ever had to a friend. The more she adapts and grows used to dealing with situations and people, though, the more she slowly and steadily becomes an active and willful character. These do-or-die lessons on trusting both herself and Masotan eventually meld with her pre-established vocal distrust of convention and authority. By show's end, Hisone begins to willingly act on what she believes is best, protocol and tradition be damned, rather than contenting herself with quietly muttering about how unfair the world is. Yet, as much as she might change socially, she never stops being the same awkward and thickheaded Hisone she's always been.
Hisone is a wonderful little snowflake of a character. She's just one of those
weirdo characters I could get along with almost instantly.
What's interesting, though, is that while this is most assuredly Hisone's story, she isn't the only character to undergo this brand of unique, self-determined character growth. In fact, all of the D-Pilots either undergo this kind of growth or display a personality that has already embraced this mentality that it's possible to grow and still remain true to yourself. What's more, to those who still have some growing up to do, Hisone serves as a direct catalyst for their development. For example, in the case of Hoshino El and her abusive insistence on being an F-2 pilot, Hisone's blunt, brutal, but no less honest commentary on El's shitty personality forces the girl to consider the harm she's doing to herself, her dragon, and fellow pilots. Though El still fights the idea that she's a Dragon Pilot, Hisone's laying the truth at her feet sets the gears in motion for her to eventually be as honest with herself as Hisone was with her from the start. In doing so, though, in no way does El become a clone of Hisone's personality. Rather, she remains stubborn, self-centered, and single-minded in her dream of being Japan's first female F-2 pilot. The only thing that really changes is the fact that she becomes more open about her appreciation for her dragon as he helps her realize that dream.
Of course, this growth also does wonders for her during the development of her romantic subplot.
As for the other D-Pilots, Hitomi Mayumi and Kinutsugai Ririko (Lilikos), these lessons on growth and personal honesty aren't all that necessary. While Lilikos can be generally defined as the resident otaku gremlin of the D-Pilots, she bears no illusions that she should be anything other than who she is. Like Hisone, she's similarly unambitious but doesn't have that same yearning for personal connections that drives all of Hisone's growth and drama. Mayumi, on the other hand, does admittedly have some issues when it comes to dealing with anger and moments when she isn't her usually fluffy self. In spite of her fear of what harm her outbursts might cause, though, she's much more conscious of who she is and wants to be, unlike our leaky-mouthed Hisone. Yet, like Hisone, she never apologizes for her rare outbursts. They'll both work to make amends after the conflict has blown over, but they stubbornly refuse to undermine their own thoughts and feelings for the sake of someone else's ego. So, in an odd kind of way, both of these other D-Pilots manage to encapsulate aspects of Hisone and what she strives to attain throughout the series. But, in spite of that connection, they are still very much their own characters.
Mayumi's unabashed lechery, for instance, is oddly refreshing,
considering it's coming from such an innocent-seeming character.
Now, as for the show's story itself, I'll admit that it isn't nearly as well defined or engaging as the characters themselves. While there is a story to be had that offers a lot of interesting highs and lows for the characters to navigate, the plot seems to move independently of the characters, rather than because of them. Though there is a reason for this kind of movement, thanks to a countdown that isn't actually mentioned until late into the series, this bizarre kind of plot progression moving independently of character progression only creates an odd dissonance between the two. Rather than stating the ultimate responsibility of the D-Pilots and the goals that must be achieved to see that responsibility fulfilled, letting the show's drama circle around the characters struggling with these individual goals and each other in the process, the higher-ups of the JASDF (Japanese Air Self-Defense Force) opts instead to keep everything under wraps all the way to the end. So, in the end, we're given a story that feels like all the drama and major plot points are being inflicted on our protagonists, as opposed to being something naturally born from personal, social, and ideological differences that are bound to crop up in any team setting. Even when the time comes for the show's romantic angles to take center stage, any and all romantic developments feel like they're developing in spite of the plot's main players stirring up trouble, rather than because of them.
Christ, it's the Revue Starlight giraffe problem all over again.
As this dissonance continues to compound over the show, we're left in an odd position where it's hard to put any kind of investment in the plans and intentions of the plot's architects and, by association, the plot itself. By show's end, it's clear that this is meant to create a distrust in tradition and protocol that is then fully realized as Hisone proceeds to "fuck the rules" and take matters into her own hands as the protagonist. In spite of that idea, though, we're also meant to cheer for and support those higher-ups who supported Hisone's growth but also actively discouraged her willful behavior. So, unfortunately, we're left with a weird story that just isn't worth nearly as much as the characters who are forced to dance to its tune.
Granted, it also doesn't help that we're meant to laugh and cheer for characters
that actively excuse and justify institutionalized sexism in the military.
Yet, in all fairness, this kind of narrative clumsiness can be seen in other aspects as well. Despite my strong praise for the show's characters, it's also very easy to pick them apart once you stop looking at them in a vacuum. For example, it's hard to claim that these characters are really all that intriguing and nuanced when you can draw direct parallels between it and TRIGGER's Little Witch Academia. Hisone, for one, is an almost exact parallel to Ako, who is defined by her unconventional methods and willful behavior deciding what the show ultimately endorses as right and wrong. For the most part, though, the work does feel original and well-crafted, particularly in comparison to LWA and the other shows it borrows concepts from. In fact, to highlight that creativity, one of my favorite aspects of this show is its dedication to the idea of establishing individuality and harmony simultaneously. Throughout the show's plot, one of the earliest aims is for Hisone to harmonize and understand Masotan so they can effectively learn to fly as well as other pilots. Then, as the other D-Pilots take the stage, this concept expands out to Hisone finding a way to harmonize with them while she simultaneously finds her own voice. Then this idea is carried out into other aspects of the show. You might need to strain your ears to notice it, but the half-point cuts specifically feature Hisone and the rest of the cast working to create a literal harmony as they sing the show's shortened title, HisoMaso. In the ending especially, this idea is taken to the extreme as each episode features a different rendition of the girls singing the ED either independently or together, rotating their parts in the song until they all simply attain a unified harmony in the final episode. Yet, while that harmony is ultimately achieved at the end, it's still possible to go back to one of the previous renditions and claim that you like that one better for its more independent or nuanced sound.
This is, of course, only expounded by the visuals of the girls dancing
in unison and then independently at the end.
With that said, I think it's pretty obvious that I have a lot of love for this show's quirky and unique style. It doesn't really want to conform to anyone's rules and just tells the story it wants, regardless of how clumsy and unrefined that story might be when all is said and done. Yet, for what issues there are in the story, the show's visuals and overall narrative carry it wonderfully. Obviously, with Studio BONES at the helm, it almost goes without saying that the show is generally well-executed. Considering it's simplistic art style and budgetary limitations, though, BONES still managed to create something that is at once simple but easily recognizable and gorgeous in its own way. Now, with that said, I don't go so far as to claim that this show is a universal recommendation. It's far too much of a special snowflake for that. It's weird, quirky, and hard to stay hooked on at times but, for anyone willing to give it a shot in spite of that, you might find this show to be a real treasure wholly unlike anything the industry has chugged out in a while.