In something of a radical departure for a man whose name is virtually synonymous with "giant robots," GARZEY'S WING finds Tomino Yoshiyuki returning to one of his favorite worlds — the fantasy land of Byston Well, from 1983's AURA BATTLER DUNBINE — for a decidedly primitive tale, in which swords and spears replace mighty mecha as the tools of war.
By removing the high-tech hardware from the equation, Tomino's other signature touches become even more obvious. The first episode of this three-part original video series is packed with all the grit, mysticism, plot twists and psychological punishment we've come to expect from the creator of RAIDEEN, ZANBOT 3, IDEON and the GUNDAM saga. The result is an offbeat little yarn that may pique the curiosity of any anime buff, and is guaranteed to keep the most jaded of swords-and-sorcery mavens guessing.
Echoing the premise of the original DUNBINE television series, the story begins as a hapless youth is snatched right off his motorcycle and transported to the otherworldly realm of Byston Well. But from the outset, the experience of Christopher Senshu is very different from that of his predecessor; swallowed by a giant, ghostly white swan, he is taken on a lurid voyage through dimensions unknown before being unceremoniously dumped into the middle of a bloody slave revolt. Buck naked.
Manifesting ethereal "wings of light" that spring from his ankles in times of peril, Christopher is accepted by the oppressed Metomeus tribe as their prophesied hero, gifted with the legendary wings of Garzey. Unfortunately, his status as savior cuts him no slack. He still has to carry his weight by hacking ineptly through the ranks of the tyrannical Ashicaba army, slogging through the beast-infested swamplands, and pushing refugee rafts down the river, all the while enduring sneers from the battle-hardened Metomeus warriors. Well, at least they give him a sword and a potato sack to wear.
Once Christopher gets over little details like being summoned to Byston Well by a bell-ringing priestess, accidentally dragging an equally-confused winged fairy along with him in transit, and being hunted like an animal by monster-riding Ashicaba troops, there is the rather bizarre revelation that he has not actually left Earth at all. Rather, Christopher has been split in two — one self remains on Earth, going about its daily routine, while the other is wandering through the marsh dodging arrows and crude gunpowder bombs. The two Christophers can even talk to each other, which is handy for researching explosives technology but does not do wonders for one's sense of identity.
By the close of the first episode, Christopher begins to get a handle on the situation and begins his transformation from a befuddled boob into the hero the fugitive Metomeus so desperately need. As unpredictable as the first installment was, I could not begin to speculate as to what is in store for the rest of the series. After all, how can you go home again if you're already there?
It is good to see that, even in the absence of the giant robots that characterize the Tomino oeuvre, we can still count on him to serve up big helpings of weird spirituality, bizarre plot twists, and unsentimental viciousness (lots of severed body parts and arrows-in-the-neck here). Simultaneously handling the direction, the screenplay and the storyboards, Tomino indulges his preoccupations to the hilt. There is an additional treat here for DUNBINE fans, since GARZEY apparently reveals the world of Byston Well before the advent of the biomechanical Aura Battlers, back in the days when soldiers rode dragons instead of insectoid robots.
The primitive setting thankfully shys away from traditional fantasy schtick. No taverns here, and no Renaissance Fairesque flutes and fifes on the soundtrack. While GARZEY does not evoke the kind of fully-realized alternate world presented by WINGS OF HONNEAMISE — or, for that matter, ORGUSS 02 — neither does it present rank cliche. Like the setting, the character design and costuming tend towards the minimalist; the Metomeus wear simple tunics, not lavishly detailed battle armor (all the better to contrast them with the Ashicaba generals).
One extra tidbit: at the end of the tape is a brief monologue from Tomino himself. See him at work, see him at play, see him launch into his patented digressions, and amuse yourself by picking out the toys and anime memorabilia scattered around his office.

TALES OF BYSTON WELL: GARZEY'S WING PART 1: ALIEN WORLD © Tomino Yoshiyuki, Garzey's Wing Production Committee CAV laser disc: BVLA-19 ¥5800 VHS video: BVVA-19 ¥5800 30 minutes 21 Nov 1996 Released by BMG Victor