Overall: 9.0
Slower than the previous two discs, "Aboard the Nautilus" maintains a high quality of animation as the story veers from its jet set, action pace to focus on the life of its characters in comparative tranquility on the Nautilus.
Story/Character Development: 9.5
Though outside demeanors vary little, emotional layers well up under "Nadia's" cast, making the episodes more about how they integrate into a transformed life and grow as a result.
Art/Animation: 9.5
Gainax's early success is golden, a testament to the quality of their work even at the very beginning. Innovative, cost-cutting still work jimmied between beautifully fluid spurts of action give the illusion of seamless movement.
Translation/Acting: 8.0
Jean's accent wavers, yes. But he's still a charming boy. The Japanese and English casts do well. And the fact that so many cultures reside on the Nautilus, the script avoids having to awkwardly attempt to translate cultural allusions.
MPAA Equivalent: PG
A little violence and some sexual innuendo make this a harmless offering, but the issues that "Nadia" tackles may take an older audience.
Format: 6.5
DVD. Easy navigation. Scene selection (Acts 1 and 2); English, Japanese, subtitles; textless opening and closings; trailers for Nadia; and a preview of Vol. 3. The disc also includes trailers for other ADV releases.
X-Factors
One Small Step for Man, One Slack-Jawed, Stumble Back for Womankind: 10.0
Electra presents Jean, the little French boy, access to her extensive library of scientific journals and great works of literature. Electra presents Nadia with a broom.
Swimsuit Issue Factor: 0.0
When it's time to go to shore, Nadia sports a one-piece, Grandis sports a bikini, and hope reigns that Hanson and Sanson will cat walk their duds down the sandy runway.
