In the last few years, CERN has discovered a new kind of
particle within our world, eXotic Matter, or XM, which can affect a humans
psyche and unlock latent potentials.
Freelance Investigator Makoto Midorikawa, who has his own XM ability to
see others memories with a touch of his hand, is called in to investigate an
explosion at the headquarters of The Hulong Group. When he touches the hand of an amnesiac girl
named Sarah Coppola, Makoto is thrust into a thrilling race against time when
he discovers Hulong is out to control all humans with XM potential. What began as a simple investigation soon
turns into an all out war for the future of mankinds next stage of evolution.
Ah, another Friday, another CG Anime from Netflix to take
a look at. I never knew Ingress was a
video game before watching the first couple of episodes of the new Anime. But I can see how it would be a mobile game
as the beginning of the show definitely feels like the opening stages of one. From the mobile app to the ways in which characters
access and use their powers, we were definitely in “the tutorial level”
territory. That said, Ingress does
intrigue me a little bit.
On the surface I don’t think Ingress brings much new to
the table in terms of its main protagonist, Makoto, and his secret power to see
anyones history by touching them with his right hand. It’s when Sarah and the concept of the XM
Particle arrives that something old becomes something old with a neat new
twist. The way in which the particle is
being described, as an energy that surrounds all of the planet and exists on a
different visual spectrum, adds a more scifi element to a supernatural super
power. In fact, I couldn’t help but
think about X-Men while watching the first two episodes. Anyone who can access the XM can gain an
ability unique to themselves alone (at least right now). For example, Makoto’s psychic scans, Sarah’s
ability to see the XM spectrum and supposed assassin Jack being able to look a
few seconds into the future and become a cross between Agent Smith from The
Matrix and The Terminator, I’ll give Ingress credit: like I said, it feels
familiar but still remains fascinating all the same.
Ingress also gains favor thanks to a rather cute report
between Makoto and Sarah. They have an
instant connection, and not just because Makoto can tap into Sarah’s XM sight
when he touches her hand. I also really
like the music. Apparently this got a
new score for a global release but it sounds amazing. It’s like if Yoko Kanno was given the ok to
do a score for Blade Runner. The
soundtrack is both soothing, haunting and one of the best ive heard in Anime in
quite a bit. However, this is still a CG
Anime and the results of that animation approach are still mixed for me, at
best. There are moments during the action
scenes of Ingress where the animation looks great and every aerial view of the
neon lit city is gorgeous. But when
characters are just walking I felt like my Netflix was taking a long time to
buffer at times, movements just looked sluggish. Idk, maybe it’ll grow on me but who can say.
I can say, Ingress has promise and might be one I try to
continue through for a little bit. The
Ghost in the Shell meets X-Men approach is a fun combo and there’s plenty of
mystery to keep me invested (though thank God they didn’t run with Sarah having
amnesia for more than the first episode.
She doesn’t remember everything but she’s not a Jason Bourne blank
slate). Great action, even better music
and a cool premise, maybe I can look past or at least just ignore the back and
forth animation for now. I will say,
that kind of praise is more than I can say for other CG Anime ive seen over the
last couple of years.
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