SeattleOtaku

Anime’s version of The Right Stuff, a nation struggles to launch the first man into space in the epic The Wings of Honneamise (aka The Royal Space Force).

Story Intro

As a boy, Shiro dreamed of flying the fast jets he watched take off from a nearby airfield. Low grades and a slacker attitude kept him out of the military, and his only chance was a branch everyone looked down on for accepting almost anyone: the Royal Space Force. Politicians and warring neighbors threaten to stop the plans of the space force after many failed tests and lost pilots.

After meeting a freindly religious-pamphlet distributor, Shiro volunteers as the nation’s first true astronaut. He helps raise money for the mission with promotional appearances and interviews but quickly tires of fame. But budgets aren’t the only thing to worry about; the rocket itself isn’t finished yet, the neighboring countries are sending armies to stop them, and even the local politicians are resorting to older ways of stopping the project: assassins.

Other Notes

The first feature from the GAINAX studio, a group of fans that were set on showing they could create as well, Honneamise became a classic and favorite. Shortly afterward, GAINAX themselves became a fan favorite worldwide.

There is a rape scene that keeps the main character from being a full favorite of mine.