ENGLISH DUB REVIEW: SPACE BATTLESHIP TIRAMISU “FLY IN SPACE/NAKED DANCE”

Full disclosure: I thought that Space Battleship Tiramisu’s short episode length meant that there simply wouldn’t be enough time for it to be memorable. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy about being wrong.

In a mere 7 minutes, the viewer not only has a basic introduction to the extra-terrestrial threat Earth faces but gains a spectacularly well-realized insight into Tiramisu’s bizarre protagonist: Subaru Ichinose. Although Subaru is supposedly an exceptional mech pilot, I hardly noticed the first time he destroyed an alien fleet, having been distracted by the hilarious spectacle of breadcrumbs and pork floating in zero gravity throughout his cockpit. Explaining the context for this sequence isn’t worth spoiling the impact but suffice it to say Subaru is devastated; to him, the cockpit is warm and familiar like a womb, a creepy description from the narrator that instantly seems to make sense.

Speaking of which, Space Battleship Tiramisu has the best narrator I’ve heard in recent memory. This is at least partially due to the quality of the show’s script, which adds an air of melodrama that quickly becomes absurd. For instance, while I thought that the episode was about to take a nosedive in quality during an awkward shower scene, the narrator revealing that Subaru’s discomfort stemmed from trying to hide his mismatched nipples was unexpected and funny enough to earn the build-up. Similarly, there’s a brilliant juxtaposition between the tension of the “Fly in Space/Naked Dance”’s final space battle and Subaru’s horror at having his shirt on backward, which the ongoing commentary heightens.

However, the focus on Subaru does create some minor issues regarding other characters. That is, at this point they don’t have personalities beyond making Subaru and viewers uncomfortable by being overtly sexual. This will hopefully be addressed as the series continues, but I would like to have even more context to explain Subaru’s total contempt for life outside of his cockpit. Considering the hints at how advanced life on the Tiramisu is, I also would’ve liked to have seen a greater number of locations featured.

The first episode of this sci-fi comedy makes a lasting impression by embracing sheer insanity. Given its short length and rapid-fire jokes, I honestly think most viewers will simply have fun watching it; what are you waiting for?