Stratos 4 is a surprisingly enjoyable show. It’s a fanservice title by Studio Fantasia about four girls aiming to become space aviators. In this fictional world, Earth is being bombarded by meteors, and it is up to an elite squad of pilots to destroy these meteors before they hit Earth. The show sports fun comedy, a good OST, likable characters, and even solid character development in its initial episodes. Stratos 4 touches upon the coming-of-age theme of finding one's goals in life.

Characters make up the bread and butter of any slice-of-life show; and Stratos 4 has a well-rounded, balanced cast. Mikaze sees excellent character development in the first three episodes. Initially she feels unmotivated and with nothing to strive for. As the story unfolds, she eventually finds the color in her life and a goal to reach for. In addition, the minor characters are solid. Tsubasa serves as a foil and rival to Mikaze but becomes a likable guy later on. Sayaka can be a stern teacher, but she has her own middle-age problems that make her vulnerable. Mr. Sako is a funny comedic relief character, but he can drive the plot at times. Even the cat is a character! The main crew besides the protagonist are rather weak though. Karin is the shy girl but does get some focus in later episodes. The other two girls are rather basic and don’t see any development: Ayamo being the hot-head and Shizuha being the smart girl.

The direction of scenes is good. One scene in particular that stood out to me is in episode 2. The color gradient swaps between full color and black-and-white to exemplify the lack of color, or motivation, in Mikaze’s life. The symbolism of the paper airplane shows how she wants to earn her wings. And the storyboarding of the whole tarmac scene helps to dramatize and contextualize Mikaze’s inner struggles. In another episode involving a cat standoff, the sunlight pans across the screen to create a dramatic lighting effect.

In addition, the soundtrack sets the mood well and is a key part of what makes Stratos 4 so enjoyable. Whether it’s hype during the action scene or relaxation if not boredom during the slower scenes, the music hits the right notes. “Challenge” is a beautifully orchestral track for when the pilots set for the skies. The saxophone play in “Friendship” is mellowing and creates a gentle relaxing atmosphere.

The art is detailed, and there are good special effects. Of note are the interfaces for the spaceships and command control as well as the special effects during the comet blast scenes (though the comet blasting scenes do have some reused animation). The resolution of the show does not hold up with time, and it looks quite grainy on big displays. I recommend viewing the show on a small display or in a home theater system from a distance. The jets in faraway shots are animated in CGI, and the 2007 CGI looks noticeably off but is not a deal-breaker.

It is worth noting the final arc of the show. Throughout most of its run time, Stratos 4 functions as a comedy slice of life, in which the audience gets to explore life on a military island base, follow Mikaze in her inner struggles, and explore the setting and characters – including the main cast’s families. However, in its final stretch, Stratos 4 takes on a dramatic turn. The events accompanying such a dramatic plot are too convenient and with too many plot holes to maintain one’s suspension of disbelief. For example, there's a chance encounter in the ocean despite the characters lacking any way to communicate their whereabouts. Unexplained timing coincidences exist, like when government officials arrive just as something happens. And antagonistic characters reveal key details without any particular motivation. However, the final arc does resolve Mikaze’s goal and fit as a satisfying conclusion to her character arc. (The accompanying OVA episodes also fit as a resolution to minor characters Tsubasa and Sora and double down on the growing up theme.)

As for the fanservice, compared to contemporary anime, Stratos 4 is tame. As an ecchi title, expect some fanservice. We get leering camera angles, brief panty shots, and some yuri kissing scenes. That’s about it though. There are no sexual overtones, and the nudity is mild.

Overall, I found Stratos 4 to be a pleasant experience. The likable characters, solid character development, and generally fun comedy make for a satisfying time.

B