GONZO's latest mech action series has landed, and the first episode is quite a ride. Take your standard, loser schoolboy and give him the power to control a giant mecha. Is this another EVA clone? Can Linebarrels offer something entirely new and refreshing? Episode one holds some exciting surprises.

Odd, this show. Visually, it combines quite retro character design (looks inspired by 70's anime) with cutting edge Mecha CG. It's storyline smacks of Evangelion. But in the last few seconds of episode one, a surprising twist is put upon the seemingly derivative plot. A twist that will get me to keep watching for now.

Linebarrels has some of the best CG effects seen in recent TV anime. They remind me of Blassreiter a bit, but on a grander scale. The destruction and particle animation is quite well done and cannot be justified in mere screenshots.

Kurogane no Linebarrels is a paradox wrapped in a cliché sprinkled with brilliance. I don't know if this will be a series I will follow throughout the Fall season, but the first episode has me intrigued. See for yourself.

Snag the first episode from http://shinigamisteam.forumotion.net/