The series is set at a time when human beings have migrated to space through the development of space cities. There are two organizations called the Dorssia Military Pact Federation and the Atlantic Ring United States; between these two is a small neutral nation called Jior that is prospering economically.
The main character of the series is Haruto Tokiushima, a high school student in Jior. He is in love with his childhood friend, Shoko Sashinami, but has not confessed his feelings to her.
A group from the Dorssia Military Pact Federation poses as transfer students at Haruto's high school, and Jior is attacked by the Dorssia Military Pact Federation. Haruto, Shoko, and some of their friends are outside doing some cleanup at a shrine. Just as Haruto is about to confess his feelings to Shoko, Jior is attacked.
Haruto sees a mysterious mecha just as Shoko goes to help someone who is trapped in a car. As she goes to help, the area where she is at is shot at, and it appears Shoko is dead. An upset Haruto climbs into the mecha. A console in the mecha asks him if he will "renounce his humanity." He hesitates to answer at first, and the mecha is unable to move. After Haruto decides to answer "yes," he is injected with a substance that not only allows him to move the mecha, but it also gives him some regenerative capabilities.
I have to say that when I saw the section of the first episode where Haruto climbs into the mecha and trying to make it move, it reminded me a lot of what happened to Amuro Ray in the first Mobile Suit Gundam series. The only difference is that Amuro was able to procure a manual to help him figure out how to move the Gundam, while Haruto was having to try to figure out how to make the mecha move on his own.
After seeing the first episode of Valvrave the Liberator, I thought the series showed some really good potential. After finding out this series is written by Ichiro Okouchi, the writer for Code Geass, it really gives me hope that the potential I see in this series will be realized as it progresses. I also thought that there was also some good animation in Valvrave the Liberator.
Content-wise, I did see some blood around the end of the first episode. Outside of that, though, I didn't see anything too terribly objectionable in the visuals. After watching the first episode, I would personally recommend Valvrave the Liberator to anime viewers who are 14 or 15 years of age and older.
| Valvrave the Liberator | 12 | 2013 | Ko Matsuo | Sunrise | Aniplex of America |
