Pilot Candidate

Pilot Candidate - Training (Vol. 2)

Instruction in how to pilot the gargantuan humanoid robot-suits called Ingrids begins in earnest, as each of the five male students is paired with a female "repairer" trainee who maintains the equipment. Zero draws Azuma, who, inexplicably, has cat's ears. Although their partnership begins with quarrels, they're well matched: Zero must overcome his fear of zero gravity, Azuma her self-consciousness. The rivalry between the good-natured if thick-witted Zero and the icy Hiead grows more intense, with Clay occasionally acting as mediator. The hints that Zero shares a mystic bond with the Ingrids clearly foreshadow upcoming developments. Director Shin-Ichi Yamaoka fails to blend the flashy 3-D CG animation of the Ingrids with the flat characters, producing some odd visual discontinuities. Rated 13 Up: Violence, minor profanity and risqué humor, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

Now that they've witnesses a battle firsthand, the training for the Pilot Candidates begins. Zero and the others are introduced to the Repair Candidates, who will serve as their partners. The pilots fly the machines, and the Repair Candidates keep them in good condition. Zero and his new partner, the cat-eared girl Kizuna, will have to work together - but how long will this partnership last?

Pilot Candidate - The Test (Vol. 4)

The 1999 TV series reaches a rather inconclusive conclusion in these final episodes. When Erts is commissioned as a full-fledged pilot, the familiar group of students find themselves in competition to succeed him as "top candidate." The rivalry between Zero and Hiead threatens to become a murderous duel when a training exercise turns into a space battle with the alien Victims. Hiead's "Repairer" Ikuni sabotages Zero's mecha suit in an effort to win over her aloof partner, but the inexplicably cat-eared Azuma covers for her. Much of episode 9 is devoted to an odd dream, in which Zero sees himself and his friends as 19th-century schoolchildren. Neither his dream nor his visions of a mysterious, long-haired woman are ever resolved satisfactorily: Pilot Candidate borrows elements from Evangelion and various Gundam adventures but fails to integrate them into a coherent narrative. Rated 13 Up: Violence, minor profanity, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

Zero's experience inside the Goddess has recently earned him quite a bit of p opularity within the G.O.A. When a Pilot is severely injured, the search to select a new top candidate begins! But it is during the candidate selection process in which Victim la unches its new offensive. Zero and the others are ordered to support the Pilots in real l ife combat! Can the Pilot Candidates survive the test?

Pilot Candidate - The Academy (Vol. 1)

Originally entitled Candidate for Goddess (Megami Kouhosei), Pilot Candidate is set in A.D. 4084. The human race has somehow destroyed all but one habitable planet, Zion, which they must defend against the monstrous aliens known as "Victim." Three teenage candidates, klutzy Zero, arrogant Hiead, and sensible Clay, arrive at the GOA Space Academy and immediately get into trouble. They all hope to become pilots of the "Ingrids" or "Goddesses," five giant robots used to fight the Victims. The story (the first three episodes are included here) borrows heavily from Evangelion, Lain, Nadesico, El Hazard, and Gundam. Although the program includes some sophisticated computer graphics, the filmmakers don't resolve the disjuncture between the 3-D CG robots and the 2-D drawn characters. The Goddesses resemble enormous mechanical caryatids, but their designs lack the imagination and power of other anime series. Rated 13 Up: Violence, brief nudity, minor profanity, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

Pilot Candidate - Working Together (Vol. 3)

As training continues at the Academy, Zero's special ability--his extraordinary speed--comes to the fore when he's paired with a senior candidate, the telepathic Erts Cocteau. They make an effective duo, fighting together in the test mecha, the Pro-Ings. Erts sees into Zero's rather simple psyche and approves of his single-minded dedication to becoming a pilot. But their partnership proves short-lived: Erts is promoted to commissioned pilot when his older brother Ernest is killed in a battle with the alien Victim. (Zero's rivalry with Hiead falls by the wayside during these episodes.) The designs of both the Pro-Ings and Ingrids are flashy and dramatic, but they're badly animated: the supposedly huge, multi-ton machines have no weight when they move. Rated 13 Up: Violence, minor profanity, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

Pilot Candidate, Vol. 3: Working Together

Instruction in how to pilot the gargantuan humanoid robot-suits called Ingrids begins in earnest, as each of the five male students is paired with a female "repairer" trainee who maintains the equipment. Zero draws Azuma, who, inexplicably, has cat's ears. Although their partnership begins with quarrels, they're well matched: Zero must overcome his fear of zero gravity, Azuma her self-consciousness. The rivalry between the good-natured if thick-witted Zero and the icy Hiead grows more intense, with Clay occasionally acting as mediator. The hints that Zero shares a mystic bond with the Ingrids clearly foreshadow upcoming developments. Director Shin-Ichi Yamaoka fails to blend the flashy 3-D CG animation of the Ingrids with the flat characters, producing some odd visual discontinuities. Rated 13 Up: Violence, minor profanity and risqué humor, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

Pilot Candidate - The Complete Collection

The planet Zion is mankind's last hope for survival. But the legions of Victim are intent on destroying humantiy! Five humanoid fighting weapons called Ingrids are capable of stopping the onslaught, but only the best pilots are chosen to become Pilot Candidates. The fate of Zion rests with these chosen few. Twelve episodes on 4 action packed DVD's. Also included: Voice Actor Academy, Interviews witht he Director and more! Genre: Action/Mecha/Sci-Fi

Pilot Candidate, Vol. 1: The Academy

Instruction in how to pilot the gargantuan humanoid robot-suits called Ingrids begins in earnest, as each of the five male students is paired with a female "repairer" trainee who maintains the equipment. Zero draws Azuma, who, inexplicably, has cat's ears. Although their partnership begins with quarrels, they're well matched: Zero must overcome his fear of zero gravity, Azuma her self-consciousness. The rivalry between the good-natured if thick-witted Zero and the icy Hiead grows more intense, with Clay occasionally acting as mediator. The hints that Zero shares a mystic bond with the Ingrids clearly foreshadow upcoming developments. Director Shin-Ichi Yamaoka fails to blend the flashy 3-D CG animation of the Ingrids with the flat characters, producing some odd visual discontinuities. Rated 13 Up: Violence, minor profanity and risqué humor, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

Pilot Candidate, Vol. 4: Test

Instruction in how to pilot the gargantuan humanoid robot-suits called Ingrids begins in earnest, as each of the five male students is paired with a female "repairer" trainee who maintains the equipment. Zero draws Azuma, who, inexplicably, has cat's ears. Although their partnership begins with quarrels, they're well matched: Zero must overcome his fear of zero gravity, Azuma her self-consciousness. The rivalry between the good-natured if thick-witted Zero and the icy Hiead grows more intense, with Clay occasionally acting as mediator. The hints that Zero shares a mystic bond with the Ingrids clearly foreshadow upcoming developments. Director Shin-Ichi Yamaoka fails to blend the flashy 3-D CG animation of the Ingrids with the flat characters, producing some odd visual discontinuities. Rated 13 Up: Violence, minor profanity and risqué humor, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

Pilot Candidate, Vol. 2: Training

Instruction in how to pilot the gargantuan humanoid robot-suits called Ingrids begins in earnest, as each of the five male students is paired with a female "repairer" trainee who maintains the equipment. Zero draws Azuma, who, inexplicably, has cat's ears. Although their partnership begins with quarrels, they're well matched: Zero must overcome his fear of zero gravity, Azuma her self-consciousness. The rivalry between the good-natured if thick-witted Zero and the icy Hiead grows more intense, with Clay occasionally acting as mediator. The hints that Zero shares a mystic bond with the Ingrids clearly foreshadow upcoming developments. Director Shin-Ichi Yamaoka fails to blend the flashy 3-D CG animation of the Ingrids with the flat characters, producing some odd visual discontinuities. Rated 13 Up: Violence, minor profanity and risqué humor, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon