I actually watched this the day it aired, but I couldn't get around to writing this post. I first heard of the manga when I was poking around Extra Scans' site while reading Maoyuu Maou Yuusha, but I never bothered to read it. I decided to watch it anyway and it left a definite favorable impression on me. I guess it's because I haven't seen many interesting sibling dynamics since watching Cross Game. Though some sources say that this show is going to span 4 cours, I'm still unsure about the length.
First, lets get the technical stuff out of the way. The production quality is by no means high. However, that is not to say that it's not good to look at. The colors used are rich enough, and the character designs are rather refreshing because it's different from the majority of its contemporaries. Though there haven't been much music yet, it's alright so far. The voice acting as of the first episode is solid, especially Hirata Hiroaki's job on Mutta. It's pretty much the same voice he used for Kotetsu from Tiger and Bunny.
Speaking of Mutta, I can say without a doubt that he'll be in the running for my favorite male character of the season. The guy is hilarious and every little thing he does makes him really fun to watch. He definitely has that "oyaji moe" factor that carried over from Kotetsu in Tiger and Bunny. Moreover, he's someone I can relate to. "A big brother should always stay ahead of his little brother." Being the older of two brothers myself, I can't say that the thought hasn't passed my mind. This older-brother-younger-brother sibling dynamic will be certainly interesting to see how it compares to the relationship I have with my younger brother.
Mutta certainly has his work cut out for him if he's trying to catch up to Hibito. With only a mechanical engineering background, it'll probably be a long journey on the way to becoming an astronaut. I really doubt we'll actually see them go into space together; rather, we'll see Mutta trials and triumphs on his way to achieving his childhood dream. Personally, I'm not a very ambitious guy, so maybe watching him work his way up will motivate me to do something bigger and better.
In the end, I think this anime is receiving a warm reception is because many are becoming jaded of the typical angst-filled teenager acquiring superpowers and saving the world type of anime. A show about an adult chasing his childhood dream to become an astronaut is something different and endearing. It's highly likely that I'll keep up with this, but I don't I'll have enough to say to write a post on it episodically.
-Bern
