From the creative team behind:
Stand Alone Complex, 2nd Gig,
And Solid State Society
Production I.G.
Sola team
Music by former composers of the Metal Gear Solid Series
Going to start a brief summary..
Okay so it's best you are caught up with Stand Alone Complex, and 2nd Gig before hand because its vague on backstory. It's set after the mainline series.
The Section 9 crew (as of now former S9)
Major Kusanagi = team leader, with a past, yet has conviction to do good, yet fighting to be herself.
Batou = second in command, also one of the major's longtime friends for years
Saito = the sniper, also longtime friend of the major, and a legendary marksman
Paz and Bohma = the b team, but also investigation crew
Ishikawa = the technician, you ask, he knows everything you need info about, used to own a Pachinko parlor, but that's another story
Aramaki = the old man, the former head of the team, also goes way back with Major, and Batou during their military days
Togusa = detective, and former Intel / also co captain of S9
Okay that's a summary..
So how is 2045? Well..
The past entries blended 2D and 3D animation very well together. However in this new series it's taken on more of a full 3D experience. The only downside, is it lacks that flow, motion, details, and fluidity.
Story wise.. it's okay. It expects it's audience to be familiar with the characters and concepts. It is a bit vague on explaining who the team is if you're a newbie to the series.
It's set after the economy had fallen, humanity is fading, and the team has been disbanded. Major, and the crew now act as mercenaries for hire. Going where the jobs are, however they are stateside. While Aramaki, and Togusa see still overseas.
Art and visuals .. the art style is remarkable, the character designs are made by cg artist Ilya Kuvshnov
But visuals in animation leaves a lot to be desired.
SAC_ 2045 is a completely 3dCG series.
While it does keep the series alive, it was admired for captivating visuals, atmosphere, art style, voice acting, soundtrack, storytelling, and drive to keep it's audience invested.
What SAC 2045 is..
12 episodes
It lacks musical flourish past series contained
Visuals and animation are so-so, it doesn't feel like a finished product
Available with Japanese audio, and English subtitles
However the dialog does not sync up with what's on screen. So you kinda feel behind because it moves fast.
There are muted moments (us longtime fans know of autistic mode, a term coined in SAC where the user is stationary, yet active on a different level. Able to communicate, but on another frequency. A closed channel of communication.
But in some scenes, there are subtitles but no audio?
Even though it's great to see this series return. I have mixed feelings after watching episode one. I will give rest of the season a try. But everything feels off,
including the opening and ending themes. I don't know who they were trying to grab as an audience, but it's not for me. From a screamo electric punk ska, to a mellow end theme with a pixy vocal. I can't think of anything to compare both too, because it does not fit the flow of the series.. just why?
The Series soundtrack feels okay, it's in the moment, but not mind blowing compared to what Yoko Kanno was capable of with the previous series. Her sound style contained: energy, passion, heart, and soul.
It's difficult to recommend this one. I dislike the animation style, love the art, not a fan of most of the music, but story is okay... It's just.. trying to expand more of the series when there is not much to grow from. So it's a blank slate. Yes it's a fresh chapter, with familiar faces, but that's it really. But the storyline has potential to keep a viewer going.
12 episodes of SAC 2045 are available to watch right now.
Series page and info
https://www.netflix.com/title/81030224?s=a&trkid=13747225&t=cp
Animation
Sola Digital
https://sola-digital.com/
http://www.productionig.com/
Music
Kazuma Junnoichi
Nobuko Toda
Opening theme by: Millennium Parade "Fly With Me"
https://youtu.be/hr92sU1IVYs
End theme by: Milli "Sustain ++"
https://youtu.be/Wu4fVGsEn8s
Art
https://www.deviantart.com/kuvshinov-ilya
https://www.artstation.com/kuvshinov_ilya
