Last Exile

Last Exile is an anime about Claus and Lavie, who are friends that fly in a vanship for a messenger service.  Their fathers were pilots who flew together in the same profession, but died when trying to cross the Grand Stream, a powerful jet-stream.  The setting is on a world troubled by war, and run by the ruthless Guild, where all technology seems to come from.  Claus and Lavie suddenly find themselves on a very dangerous mission to deliver a young girl named Alvis to a famous pilot, Alex Roe, who is the pilot if the dreaded Silvana.  Alvis is supposedly the key to something mysterious called Exile.  Claus and Lavie’s friendship is tested as the unfolding events cause them to realise different desires.  Clause wishes to become a fighter pilot, while Lavie, unable to withstand the forces involved with battle, wishes only to cross the Grand Stream, and becomes jealous when Claus begins flying with another navigator.  Along the way, the eccentric Dio, brother of the ruler of the Guild, takes an obsessive liking to Claus, who he dubbs “Immelman.”

The setting is Victorian, with the technology a mix of old and new. Perhaps the strangest is what is called a Claudia Engine, which is the basis for flying ships. This technology is owned by the guild and rented out to the various nations. The beginning of the series starts with a massive battle between two nations. Their idea of battle is to open the sides of 2 ships up and have their armies fire at one another. It is very reminiscent of the revolutionary war where the two sides line up and attrition decides the winner.

The Silvana is the typical rogue ship with a captain who is rumored to be a ruthless man. There are many stories and rumors about the Silvana, which is what initially frightens Claus and Lavie. Of course, the rumors aren’t exactly true, and Alex Roe was in fact, my favorite character. He is the typical brooding male character, with a trouble past and connection to Lavie and Claus only come to light later in the series. Perhaps even more interesting is the fact that his first officer is in fact the empress of one of the 2 warring nations. The repair crew of the Silvana is a rag-tag bunch who always seem to lighten the mood.

The series has a mix of love stories, tales of true friendship, finding your way amid battle, and a bit of humor mixed in. Dio often became comical simply due to his obsession with Claus. At first you just want Dio to take a bullet in the head, but as the story goes on you realize he’s not so bad.

The main piece that brings all these forces together is the race to collect the Mysterion. They are phrases passed down by various families and are the key to unlocking Exile.

House Eraclea’s Mysterion
Poem: What lies beyond the furthest reaches of the sky?
Response: That which will lead the lost child back to its mother’s arms: Exile.

House Dagobert’s Mysterion
Poem: The waves that stain the land in gold.
Response: The breath of blessing that nurtures life: A Land of Wheat.

House Bassianus’ Mysterion
Poem: The path upon which the angels walk.
Response: You are the path of great winds: The Grand Stream.

House Hamilton’s Mysterion
Poem: What lies beyond the furthest reaches of memory?
Response: The place where all were born and to where all will return: A Blue World.

Last Exile is an exciting anime with excellent artwork.  The story has many twists and turns, and as typical in most animes, a bit of a love story intertwined within the greater conflict.  It is an anime worth watching and is spread out over 26 episodes.