I originally saw this show between February and May of 2001 when it originally aired on Adult Swim [Cartoon Network]. I decided to rewatch it in April, 2025. In 2001, I thought I had missed the actual ending of the show, so to return to it some 23 years later to learn that in fact that is how it ended is a bit of a let down.
The pacing of the show isn't terrible. And there aren't any characters that are particularly dislikeable. In so many ways, this show is just average, but it could have been so much better.
Plot Summary
The idea behind Pilot Candidate (which is the Americanized version, shortened down from The Candidate for Goddess) is that in Star Year 5030 there is only one habitable planet left, called Zion, after an alien species, called Victims destroyed the rest of the planetary systems in Star Year 4084. So, humans created Ingrids (i.e., super robots) that look like giant goddesses to fight off these aliens. The story follows a group of_candidates_, namely Rei "Zero" Enna (sometimes referred to as simply "88" as this is his pilot number), as they navigate the world they live in, and their training to become pilots at G.O.A. (Goddess Operation Academy).
The Good
Azuma Hijikata, the instructor overseeing the training of the main characters, is basically Auron (Final Fantasy X). Kind of a hot head, but ultimately wants his students to succeed.Zero isn't an unlikeable character. I think the fact that he is intellectually average makes him more human, and to an extent, more likeable. He more naive than he is idealistic, which I think is fairly refreshing in terms of main characters. Clearly this kid has been through some things, and he is struggling to navigate very adult themes while only having a military instructor as a parental figure. More than that, I think his character is an example on resilience, but also a lesson how toxic optimism can be an unhealthy coping mechanism for trauma. That said, he's got grit, and refuses to let the world around him set his destiny, and I think that's nice to see. (Also, Zero is basically Taichi "Tai" Yagami from Digimon.)Animation is exactly what you'd expect to see in an Anime made in 2000, to this end, it is consistent.
Probably the best part about this entire show is the music. The scores in the background are phenominal. Sometimes, perhaps, misplaced, but it's so good that I can't put it anywhere else other than the good.
The Mixed
Probably important to note that this show first aired in 2000 in Japan (January and March), and so we're seeing more utilization of CGI (Computer-generated Imagery) at this time. This show makes a good effort at mixing traditional animation (characters, and most scenes) with CGI (Ingrids, Pro-Ings, Victims, G.O.A. Ship, and the Goddess' vessel). That said, I would have liked to have seen more variety with the Ingrids, whereas I think a lot of effort (almost all, I would argue) was put into the Pro-Ings (which, might make sense as this story is about a training school).
This may be nitpicky, but I also think that some of the outfits make sense (student training uniforms, formal attire, and Repairer outfits), but the outfits worn by the Ingrid pilots make no sense what-so-ever. Most shows that revolve around mecha, and in particular space, have always captured the utility elements of the outfits, but I think this show misses the mark.
The Bad
There are so many things left utterly unexplained. Not an exhaustive list, but here are some that I have:
This is just a list of questions I'd have loved to have seen more answers to, and I think would have left viewers (or maybe just myself) with a better sense of what is happening in the world.
Conclusion & Final Notes/Thoughts
The single worst part about this show is that it ends on a cliffhanger. While a 13th episode was released, it failed to achieve closure. Ignoring this still leaves a lot to be desired with respect to the plot, pacing, and delivery. There is a manga series (that was the basis for this show, and adapted for American/English audiences) that I have only read one volume of. Perhaps those books reveal a bit more of this information that is lacking in the show.
Still worth a watch, but could have been so much more.
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