Full Metal Panic Review

TL;DR

If you're into modern alternative history, military themes, and mecha (giant robot) light novels, you absolutely have to check out Full Metal Panic.

It's essentially a boy-meets-girl story: A teenage boy who's survived in war zones around the world since childhood meets a girl who turns his life upside down.

The series has two main threads—one is the serious main storyline, and the other is a collection of lighthearted, humorous side stories.

Overview

Full Metal Panic is an early light novel series that ran from 1998 to 2008, but its tech feels at least a decade ahead of its time, so it doesn't come across as dated.

In this world, the Soviet Union still exists, the Cold War drags on, and AS (Arm Slaves, basically giant robots) have evolved into key military weapons.

The protagonist, Sagara Sousuke, is a mercenary for a secretive group. This organization isn't tied to any country and aims to maintain world peace.

He's posing as a high school student while secretly acting as a bodyguard for Chidori Kaname, the female lead, to shield her from villainous groups.

Rating

9/10

Anime

Thanks to its popularity, it got adapted into four seasons. Sadly, it's unfinished, and a fifth season probably won't happen.

Seasons 1, 3, and 4 cover the main plot, while season 2 focuses on the side stories.

The anime has some quality issues, so I strongly suggest reading the novels over watching—it's worth it.

Disclaimer

This review might include some spoilers for the whole series. If you're spoiler-averse, start with the anime and see how you feel.

Stories

The Main Story

I'd say the main arc splits into two phases: the first focuses on Sagara's personal growth, and the second on rescuing Chidori.

Reviewing the entire thing would be a lot, so I'll just give a quick rundown of volume 1.

Volume 1

Mithril, where Sagara belongs, gets intel that shady forces might be after Chidori because she could be a "Whixxxxed." So, Sagara enrolls in her high school to keep an eye on her.

During a school trip to Okinawa, their plane gets hijacked by a villain named Gauron. His plan? Kidnap Chidori and blow up the plane to cover his tracks.

Gauron's goal is to verify if she's really a Whixxxxed—people who possess "black technology" knowledge that's way beyond current stuff like AS.

Sagara's official mission is to save the passengers, not specifically Chidori. But when he hears her scream, he can't help himself and prioritizes rescuing her instead.

Side Stories

These are anthology-style tales that mostly stand alone and don't impact the main plot. They revolve around everyday life but get hilarious because Sagara struggles to adjust to normalcy.

For instance, there's one where Sagara joins the rugby team with Chidori as manager, another about investigating a ponytail-related criminal, or delving into the backstory of a top-tier sniper buddy, and so on.

Characteristics

1. Charming supporting characters

   1. A lot of the side characters really shine with their unique personalities.

2. Well-written story with solid military knowledge

   1. Both the main and side stories are crafted beautifully, with authentic military details.

3. Many homages included

   1. It packs in tons of references—even the title is a nod to Full Metal Jacket.

Conclusion

I highly recommend diving in—you won't regret it. It's an old-school gem that's still a masterpiece.