LaMB Redux

Well, there they go again. And this time, they might have done it a bit better.

LaMB Redux is a 'redo' of the disastrously horrid LaMB animated feature Animax had funded a while back. Now, I'm sure if you're reading this article from my blog, the scathing review I gave is just a few posts back; check it out if you want to get an idea of how bad it was.

On to Redux.

Not much has changed, really. If anything, I suppose the animation was improved slightly, and voice acting was seemingly redone. I can't really concretely say that they have, as I have no access to the original material to compare, and I have mostly forgotten the details of a mostly forgettable production. The new format also makes for difficult comparison.

The format of Redux was made into a 5-minute short, usually highlighting a particular detail of the story, with accompanying infodump at the start.

This is quite surprising, as one of the complaints I made was that nobody really understood the background of the characters and the story itself. In the case that someone had visited the LaMB website and read the LaMB 'manga', they *might* have an idea, yet hardly enough.

Whether the infodump is a good thing or not is somewhat iffy. On the surface, it is a positive addition, as the obscure background information would be brought into the foreground, explaining things people may not have understood the first time around. Conversely, it is a bad thing because it means the source writing was so bad that it could not express the background info in the story context itself, instead relying on an infodump.

Now, of course, the fault doesn't only lie on the writers' shoulders; it might have really been the fault of the original material. The length of the overall movie is also to blame, since it could well have spent an additional 30 minutes (bringing the length to an hour and half) sprawling backstory and character development as they see fit.

Some things to note about the show proper itself.

The animation differences are difficult to pinpoint. My personal note on it is that it appears to be smoother. Rigging is still a problem, as exhibited by Eve when hanging her head. It looks like her head and neck are detached from her shoulders. Somewhat minor, but still highly illogical.

Voice acting just seems a tad improved, or at least clearer. I can't say if it was really improved or that I'm just less critical, but I believe the Directress' (can never remember her name) voice is easily the best of the bunch, not to mention the best rack... :D

The others, not at all prominently improved. In the words of Keiko Suzuki:

"You ruined EVERYTHING!!!!!"

Yes, Ms. Suzuki...and so did you.

Also suspiciously absent was the music (of the featured bands) from the 'Eve dress-up' segment. Two thumbs up.

Now, all I need to see are the fight scenes and the infamous 'conductor-baton-waving-style-of-shooting' part.

I guess I'll be seeing that in the movie.

New (and Improved?) LaMB

I just got word that Animax is going to be showing a remake of LaMB this September.

Appropriately named 'LaMB Redux', one can only assume that they actually found the time to improve or...(gasp!) actually finish the animation of the series.

Whether this does anything to improve LaMB's reputation or not remains to be seen. Personally, I don't have high hopes, but an improvement is always welcome.

LaMB - Of Vigilantes and Justice

In an earlier post, Revvie pointed out that certain individuals have begun liberating LaMBs from their prisons.

The Wolves at work

The Wolves.

How nice.

As much as I might agree with the report's statement that the Wolves do this for justice, which according to them, is subverted with the Lamination system, I cannot agree with their extremist goal of killing off LaMBs in the name of justice.

Think about it. True, most of these LaMB probably guilty, what about those who have not deserve their fate?

That's right.

Just like Sara Integra. 200 years for her crime is not justified. And now, someone wants to kill her for what she had done. Understandable, but not at all justifiable.

It is not our place to judge whether people live or die...but people like Keiko Suzuki seem to think otherwise.

We'll see what develops soon.

LaMB - Fate worse than death

Thanks to the research efforts of Alliance R&D (led by Revvie), more and more details about LaMB are coming to light.

Chief of which is how incredibly flawed, inhumane, and totally unacceptable it is.

Why, you ask?

First off, it is flawed, inhumane, and totally unacceptable (all at the same time) under the grounds that it is slavery.

"Yeah, but it's legal. The government sanctions it.", some might say. Hmm..let me think. Does history ring any bells?

Simon Legree and Uncle Tom; Uncle Tom's Cabin

Oh, right. The United States. *ding ding ding*

Just because it's legal, doesn't make it any less evil. You imprison the LaMB's mind and free will, and let his body do forced labor. They get nothing in return, not even the satisfaction of a job well done. They don't eat (not that it matters), so you don't need to feed them. And they get a nice automatic punishment if they disobey...and they never say no. Slavery is slavery, no matter how you dress it up and make it beautiful.

Second, in the same vein as the above, they never say no should already be an alarm bell. Why? Well, if the research is correct, they *must* follow orders of their handler, known as a Shepherd. Their minds aren't even involved. Just their nervous system.

"Okay, so at least they won't do anything bad." some might argue.

Right, they won't. But what about their handlers? What if the handler, say, picks a fight with someone and orders his LaMB to kill his opponent? Sure, the LaMB will get a nice electric shock, but since they cannot feel pain the way we do (I hear they feel pain in some other way), why would that stop him? The LaMB gets punished, the Shepherd doesn't (at least as far as the research finds). With a non-Laminated prisoner, they can opt to say no, or disobey orders that might be VERY harmful. It's a double-edged sword, yes, but far better than the alternative.

And besides, they'll also lack creative thinking that *might* be useful in certain situations.

A LaMB (Adam-0079*) doing manual labor

Third, of inhumanity. Okay, they're productive to society. Sure, I'll go with that.

But what about the LaMBs themselves? They're still people, albeit convicted of a crime and placed in a shell. The government would use them as if they were tools, strip them of their free will, and hold them for a VERY long time. Longer than any prison sentence. Possibly longer than the person's lifetime; longer than the lifetime of those of whom they love. And what about the guilt about any individuals they may have hurt/killed during their Lamination period?

See where I'm getting at? A person is in virtual hell for longer than any prison can keep them, and they will watch as their loved ones die. Sure, they might be *redeemed* (whatever that would mean after 500+ years, when those wronged would be dead anyway), but when the LaMBs wake up out of their shell? They no longer have family/friends, everything has changed, and they have nothing to go back to. They might as well just have killed him.

But they didn't. And that's what makes it so cruel and inhumane. At the very least, a conventional prisoner can have visits, where the prisoner can meet with loved ones, friends, etc, and hold them, touch them, talk to them. Best of all, a chance to once again be reunited with them if they work hard enough or reform themselves well (through the Parole system).

Aaaannnnnndd the list goes on. But it would be grinding on the brain to rant about them all.

Compare Revvie. Although she is bound by her programming to serve others, she does so with a smile on her face and joy in her *electronic* heart. It is her pride to serve; nothing makes her happier. But she has an even deeper side...though let us reserve that for next time.

As an alternative, I would suggest that a similar system be implemented, minus the removal of free will part. The government can assign handlers for each convict or group of convicts, and they can serve normally in society. Lamination and electric shocks optional, but highly discouraged. Or perhaps, just electric shocks for trying to attack the handler.

Lamination: a fate worse than death, indeed.

* The number part of Adam-0079 might be a reference to the Original Gundam, which was in U.C.0079

animax-lamb.com provides the same image as before, on behalf of the Alliance Network. Uncle Tom's Cabin image from wikipedia.org.

LaMB - A form of recycling?

On the planet Cerra, the previously posted concept of 'Lamination' is considered to be a form of recycling. Being a desert planet, Cerra must be able to utilize its limited resources as efficiently as possible if it is to sustain its inhabitants over a long period of time.

Pictured above: Cerra City

The Network's official stance on Lamination (the LaMB variant in particular) is strongly to the contrary. As Mr. Charles put it, the concept of LaMBs as a form of correction is 'actually far more cruel and inhumane', as opposed to standard means.

However, though our stance on Lamination is as is, there are other means of using resources efficiently and preservation of environment that can be done.

Mr. Charles has been able to come up with a list of several suggestions on the above mentioned:

1. Ensure that the primary energy source of the planet is renewable, or at least highly sustainable. Heavy resource mining is one quick way to destroy a planet's environment. This can take the form of Solar, or Geothermal energy, depending on the planet's environmental conditions.



2. Utilize efficient waste disposal. Even an advanced society will definitely have some form of waste difficulty, and it will be the government's duty to make sure that it is taken of properly. Recycling recyclable materials must be made into a law all citizens must follow, with appropriate sanctions for violators. As for non-recyclables, an alternative to landfills would be disposal into space, or possibly into a star for total incineration.



3. In connection to above, manufacture products only of recyclable materials. That way, waste is reduced at an increased rate.



4. If there are flora and fauna on the planet, create preserves and ensure that they are untouched. Enforce sanctions for those found to be poaching or destroying wildlife.



5. Viable water sources must be kept safe. Water is not to be wasted, and anyone found guilty of gross negligence regarding this matter is to be sanctioned.



6. As part of a viable alternative to Lamination, simply just utilize the convicted individual for all sorts of labor found in society. If necessary, assign a handler for each one/each group, similar to the Shepherd system introduced with LaMBs.
   
   
7. Make it every citizen's duty to be conscious and responsible of their own environment.

What about us?

(I hope you don't mind, Mr. Charles...)

Please look at this.

This is the third planet from the sun, our very own Earth.
It has been the cradle of mankind since the olden days, and it always be considered the birthplace of man, will it not?

Although I am a robot, I was also produced on this planet.
Though we can measure any attribute of the Earth,
there is no software in the world that can truly portray our planet's beauty.

Currently, there are so many problems and disputes in this world.
However, this is what I believe.
Mankind will be able to solve all of its problems, and will one day reach out to the world of the stars.


Thank you for being so patient with me. ^_^ *bows*

A special thanks goes to animax-lamb.com for the image of Cerra City.

LaMB - Lamination and LaMBs

According to research, Lamination technology was developed in the planet Cerra initially as a form of self-preservation, in particular one's physical appearance. It was promised as a procedure that would maintain one's physical form indefinitely.

A promotional poster for Lamination

Further on, the system was modified, allowing the use of nanotechnology with it, enabling additional features such as pain management and neurological control of the Laminated individual. This was integrated by Cerra's adminstrative body CABC (Central Administration Bureau of Cerra) as an alternative form of correction, as opposed to imprisonment. This appears to be part of an on-going effort by the CABC to recycle these individuals, making them productive to society while serving their correction sentence in their virtual prisons.

Individuals Laminated in this manner are known as LaMBs. The meaning of this is currently unknown (sorry, Mr. Charles!).

The following are the rules for LaMBs:

1. LaMBs cannot touch another human being unless ordered by their Shepherd.
2. LaMBs must only act upon instructions of their Shepherds.
3. LaMBs cannot speak but they can hear.
4. Every LaMB's neck brace and in-ear nano-chips are combined to translate the Shepherd's instructions into physical actions.
5. LaMBs will receive deep electrocution pain if they attack another human being.
6. LaMBs do not have any facial expression as their facial nerve signals are constrained.
7. LaMBs' eyes will glow red when their lamination suit electrocutes them.
8. LaMBs do not need food. They survive on a special fluid that provides energy and nutrients.
9. LaMBs cannot charge themselves. Only Shepherds can charge the LaMB's power system.
10. LaMB technology metabolizes human waste and converts them into H2O, which dissipates through the suit.

LaMBs at work

That is all I could find at this time. I apologize for any inconsistencies or gaps in the information. The information came from what seems to be a promotional campaign.

I hope you find this information useful, Mr. Charles~!

Material researched and gathered from animax-lamb.com, on behalf of the Alliance Network.