Review of Full Metal Panic!

Protagonist Sousuke Sagara is part of Mithril; a quasi-military organisation that undertakes counter-terrorism operation. He is given the task of protecting Japanese school girl Kaname Chidori who unknown to her is being targeted by a terrorist organisation. This mission means that Sousuke must go undercover at her school where the other students think he must be obsessed with the military thanks to his behaviour and his guns… which they assume to be replicas! Eventually Kaname learns what is going on and gets caught up in the conflict between Mithril and a terrorist organisation lead by a thoroughly unpleasant character named Guaron. Over the course of the series Sousuke and his comrades will get into several battles with Guaron's forces that will involve fighting in giant mechas known as 'Arm Slaves' and we learn just what is so special about Kaname.

This well-known series is a lot of fun; early on there are plenty of laughs to be had; mostly as Sousuke has no idea how to behave at school or around Kaname. Later on the humour drops off as the drama and action increases. The main cast isn't too large which means we can get to know the character's fairly well. As well as Sousuke and Kaname, Kurz Weber and Melissa Mao, Sousuke's comrades, provide some good laughs and Guaron is an impressive villain; bad without pantomime excess. The animation nicely combines standard 2D animation with some decent 3D and all the main characters are pretty distinctive. Overall a fine series that nicely combines action and comedy; well worth watching.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.