Cluster Edge

Cluster Edge is a shonen ai-lite show set in an alternate steampunk world. Cluster Edge Academy (Cluster EA) is a school for the children of the elite, where they learn the qualities that will make them worthy and capable leaders when they graduate. In this world, man-made soldiers (clones) have been used in wars, but are now hunted as inhuman killers. Various groups – runaway man-made soldiers, rebel army groups, religious types – move around and have conflicts with each other. The main character, Agate Fluorite, is a mysterious young man attending Cluster EA – he has special powers and may be related to the man-made soldiers. (Most of the main characters have names related to minerals – Agate Fluorite, Beryl Jasper, Sulphur, Lode (which for some reason is usually translated as ‘Rhodo’).)

Character designs and action animations are good, but layouts and backgrounds are really drab and uninteresting.

Sound is okay, nothing special. The OP/ED themes are banal and forgettable.

Story is potentially interesting, but the script is banal and stereotypical. Possibly the original Japanese was more interesting – I did notice one bit in the sub which may have been a bit of shonen ai humour, but generally this aspect didn’t come out (if you’ll pardon the pun).

Character – along with the drab art, this is the main downfall of this show. The characters are cliched and, worse, dull. Their interactions pad out the show but just aren’t very interesting. The quality of the voice-actors doesn’t help.

Overall there’s not much value or enjoyment here. It’s not a show you’ll feel particularly about one way or the other. It’ll kill time for you, but there are better shows for that purpose.