LAST HOPE

About LAST HOPE

LAST HOPE (重神機パンドーラ) blends mecha and sci-fi by Satelight (2018). Below is a fresh retelling of what the story is about. At its core: In the year 2031, an experimental energy device known as the "Quantum Reactor" is created to help alleviate the problems stemming from Earth's dwindling fossil fuel reserves. Unfortunately, the "Quantum Reactor" goes out of control, exploding and bathing the world with unknown energies in an incident known as the "Shouryuu Crisis".

Further in, as a result of the catastrophic environmental changes that follow, humanity is pushed to the brink of extinction, and peculiar new organisms - part organic, part mechanical - known as the "B.R.A.I." emerge. Seven years later, Leon Lau - one of the scientists at the center of the "Shouryuu Crisis", is living in the wilderness near Neo Shouryou, one of the last remaining human cities. Leon has entered into a "family contract" with Chloe Lau, and together the two of them research their own methods of combatting the B.R.A.I. threat.

As a mecha title, robot design, combat scale and technical spectacle are the draw. Chloe Lau (Nao Touyama) and Leon Lau (Tomoaki Maeno) are two of the characters you will meet early. Think of it as a pick for fans of giant robots and large-scale battles. The run is 26 episodes in total, so you know what you are signing up for.

Production & Appeal

Production sits with Satelight, which means the visual identity of LAST HOPE follows that studio's craft. The mecha focus matters here: robot design, combat scale and technical spectacle are the draw. With a 5.8/10 score, it is more of a niche pick than a universal crowd-pleaser. On the casting side, Nao Touyama voicing Chloe Lau gives the lead role a recognizable voice. It aired in 2018, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.