Hunting the Elusive

For many, Ranka (ISBN 9784778311964, 1600 yen) should be the companion of the very excellent (and as yet unlooked-at on this blog) Macross Frontier Visual Collection Sheryl Nome book (ISBN 9784048544054, 952 yen). Unfortunately, at 1.5x the price, and two-thirds the size of the earlier volume, this is simply not the case. Ranka reads (emphasis, reads) more like a mook than an artbook, which is fair enough, since nowhere on it does it say “Visual Collection”. Therefore, visually, this volume is a dismal affair. From this introductory paragraph, I guess I have already given much of the game away. Yes, much of the book consists of screenshots of the anime and lots of information in Japanese. There a a number of visual goodies found within, but not, I suggest, enough to redeem this book for such illustration gluttons as us. [Review] [PNG]

The book’s cover is promising, with a (what they call) slightly “seedy” image of a blushing Ranka lying on her equally blushing alien spawn.

The inside of the front cover has a fold-out poster of Ranka in her Chinese restaurant costume, while the landing page is a slightly more horizontal version of the cover. I should note now that the cover is a complete illustration which spans across to the back of the jacket.

I think the shininess of the cover makes it scan darker or something.

There is a picture of Ranka in a ballet dress next to a small introduction, then there is a contents spread, with the girl in a pink mahou shoujo outfit superimposed on sky.

I suppose what this book really is (as opposed to being a misguided artbook) is a guide on the character. I’m sure if you really liked Ranka and read Japanese, you would find this volume a gold mine of information on the character, shedding new light on the series and bringing out of the shadows certain bits of trivia which you may use to impress your friends.

There are certainly a number of page spreads, but nothing quite approaching the epicness of the Sheryl book.

A major section in the middle of the book (accounting for around half the page count) is taken up by a black and white (or really, hot-pink and white) recounting of the Macross Frontier story from the eyes of Ranka (her blog, apparently).

We do get some interesting sections like a chibi rendition of the proper Ranka (aka “Kira!”) dance.

For the most part, though, this book is like a compilation of Newtype-style pages. We get one or two gorgeous images toward the end, but then that’s it.

Seriously, though, I really recommend the Macross Frontier Visual Collection Sheryl Nome book quite heartily. I might review it in the future, but in the meantime, rest assured it’s great value for what you get. I just wish we had something similar to that coming out for Ranka, but perhaps the Ranka character type just doesn’t lend herself to the type of glorious visual excesses that Sheryl does.

Meta:

Given the nature of this blog, some readers may be wondering why I would cover the Ranka book, given the perceived failures. To this, I will answer that this post does what a review must do, and should always do – provide a starting point for consumers to judge whether or not they should proceed with a purchase. If, for example, someone were a rabid Ranka fan, then, well, the decision has been made for them. If, on the other hand, like most other people who read this blog, and like myself, you are buying for the art, then this review should provide a good idea if splashing out your money on Ranka is indeed a wise move. The more cynical may simply suggest that I waste my money so you don’t have to.