Movies / Animé and Toons

Chrome Shelled Regios Part 2

By Chris Zimmerman
February 25, 2011 - 13:14

Sitting down to watch the first half of Chrome Shelled Regios was a chore. It didn’t strike me as original and certain elements were just copped from other franchises. By no means was I looking forward to the second half but here we are.

The series is a heavily influenced by sci-fi. Taking place in a world that has been shattered by war and pollution, Chrome Shelled Regios see’s humanity taking refuge in mobile cities that are constantly under siege by giant insects.
The enigmatic Layfon had joined the military branch of his academy and displayed incredible aptitude in battle against armies of giant larvae. The groundwork was set with several missions that didn’t really add to the show’s plot.

Part Two introduces some new elements with the purpose of moving the story along but for the most part, leave the viewers feeling confused and wondering if they missed something. Chrome Shelled Regios seems to have the nasty habit of introducing these elements without rhyme or reason. They just kind of materialize out of nowhere, feeling forced and frustrating.

One thing the series succeeded was paying off on Layfon’s past. Throughout the first half and part of the second, viewers were made aware of something that had taken place that prompted him to leave his home and join the academy. Seeing the events unfold added layers of depth to his character.

The animation for the series is serviceable, if not unremarkable. The character designs are generic for the most part with a few exceptions and the movements are static. The choreography for the action wasn’t anything to write home about either. There are only so many times viewers can watch someone slicing through a giant bug without getting bored. 

Bonus features are minimal, with only clean music and trailers.
I wasn’t enamored with Chrome Shelled Regios.It’s not a bad series per se, but it is lacking in many areas. The pacing is just slow, taking forever to reach the payoff to what should be the center piece of the show. Everything else is erratic and either thrown at the viewer or seems out of place by contrats with what has already been established.   

It had some intriguing elements but not enough to account for its lack of originality or meandering plot. Layfon’s arc is the show’s strongest point but unfortunately fails to account for the mess viewers have to dig through to get to it. There are other, better sci-fi based series out there, that either originated these same plot elements, or used them in better context.

C

Last Updated: November 29, 2025 - 16:51