There's an unwritten rule that cartoons based on video games often suck. This is doubly true if one is not familiar with the video game in question -- and I've never had the attention span or thumb-eye coordination to master anything more complicated than Tetris. Video games? Are not my friends. I've never played Xenosaga.

Because of this, I viewed Xenosaga: The Animation with some wariness. This initial sense of, "This might be really bad!" wasn't helped by the fact that there was an apparent bimbo in a crotch-length miniskirt, thigh-height boots, garter, sexy armor, and a really big gun on the cover of the DVD. I was all set to write a scathing review about it the lameness of it all.

But wait!

This is actually a positive review. Xenosaga was enjoyable. Dare I say I might actually, willingly, watch the next disk? Yep. I think I might.

Xenosaga is a fast-paced tale with interesting characters. Bad aliens are attacking, the odds seem overwhelming, and our heroes have to save the day. Gotcha. That's the plot and I don't think I need to elaborate much more. This was all established within the first few minutes, with a reasonably well done battle.

The setting, a fairly typical starships-and-soldiers universe at first glance, comes complete with android "Realians," cyborgs, plenty of intrigue, thrilling battle scenes and routine and prolific application of technobabble. There's nothing really original in this world but I'm not complaining about that -- I happen to like space operas.

I will note, however, for those readers who are not as fond of spaceships and ray guns as I am that there were a number of terms and concepts that were dropped into the world without much explanation. Realians, for example, are apparently androids -- but nowhere is it explained why there are androids, or what special powers or abilities they might have. Also, some of the Realians ("Series 100") look like small children. Again, I wondered what the reason for this was?

But ultimately it's a space opera. Willing suspension of disbelief is necessary for the enjoyment of any space opera -- the question Why an android? I suppose could also be demanded of Star Wars.

So I simply nodded, accepted the concepts that were thrown my way, and enjoyed the story.

The characters themselves I found very appealing. Shion, the heroine, is a rare creature -- an anime girl who is neither prone to hysteric fits involving throwing objects at her friends (wrenches, wooden swords) nor is she excessively cutesy or emo. She's intelligent, a good engineer, and quite likeable.

I will also note that the show deserves kudos for the scene in which Shion and one of the Realians, a little girl named Momo, are consigned to making dinner for the other (male) characters -- and she very quietly and with considerable dignity questions Momo why they are making dinner for the men. She does fix the food, but it was an interesting social statement.

KOS-MOS, the miniskirt wearing chick with the really big gun, mentioned above as being on the cover, is an android that Shion has been working on. She's dangerous, her motives are none too clear, and she could be either the salvation of mankind -- or its doom. Her loyalties are an open question. I was fascinated and wanted to know more.

The rest of the characters are equally interesting -- it's a full cast of vivid and memorable people. Also, I will note that this series has very clear and distinct character designs.

The animation itself wasn't awful. I have no extreme complaints about it, but no real gushing praise, either. At least I wasn't cringing in horror and wanting to give the artists anatomy lessons. (I'll forgive KOS-MOS's metallaboob corset, she's an android after all.)

Overall? I enjoyed the time I spent watching these episodes would and would recommend this series as a rental for anyone who likes anime and space opera. However, I'm not sure I would recommend it as a "buy" unless you're a serious fan of the video game.