The Sky Crawlers

This Japanese animation was based on a novel by Hiroshi Mori. To be honest, the reason I was interested in this movie at first because Ryo Kase is one of the voice actor. He usually played in indie type movies, so it's a rare chance to see, or rather hear, him as a voice actor. And I can totally imagine his expression through out the movie: totally stone-faced, as per usual. Much like his character, Kannami Yuichi. Hahaha!!
In the first few minutes we were greeted with intense aerial battle scene between a double propeller fighter plane and a slick looking plane with black leopard painted on the side namely, The Teacher. The scene is breath taking and the mechanical design is just awesome. You can see the details on the plane while it flew cross the sky. The mysteriousness of The Teacher reminded me of JAM planes in Yukikaze series. Although looking at the whole fighter plane scenes reminded me of 1990's movie, Memphis Belle, about a group of bomber plane pilots back in WWII.
The character desgin for the movie is done by Tetsuya Nishio, which is maybe the reason why I think it's similiar to Blood: The Last Vampire. All the pilots in Sky Crawler are humanoids genetically enginered to stay as adolescent forever until they are killed in a battle. The war itself, is merely an entertainment for the peacetime people. Which is why most of the people are taking it like it's the football season. Supposedly, these pilots are still a kid, they don't grow up. But I think Rinko Kikuchi is the only one who can bring the child out in her character, Kusanagi Suito.
The interesting part is that whenever they are on a plane, the conversations are done in English. And I'm talking Japanese people here. But still, you'll be amaze upon hearing Ryo Kase speaking English. He looks like he's reading it straight out of the script though, but this pronounciation is still better then other Japanese actors I've heard speking English before.
Well, more or less, this movie is worth watching. It has a twist in the plot, which I love. And the music is nice too. Very calming and soothing. Me like.
Personal rate: 9/10