Area 88 Season 1 Episode 1 Sky Blue - Desert Wings

Sky Blue – Desert Wings is the first episode of the anime series Area 88. The series is an action-packed anime about fighter pilots and military warfare, based on a manga comic by Kaoru Shintani. The story is set in a fictional Arab country called Asran, embroiled in a civil war, with two factions fighting for control.

The first episode introduces the main character, Shin Kazama, a skilled pilot who gets dragged into the conflict against his will. Shin is a Japanese national who has come to Asran to work as a pilot for a private airline company, Yamato Airline. He is supposed to fly commercial flights for tourists visiting Asran.

However, things take a dark turn when his friend, Makoto Shinjou, lures him to a shady recruitment process for mercenaries at a local bar. Shin mistakenly signs a contract with the mercenary group, Asran Liberation Army, who provides support to one of the factions vying for control.

Caught in a web of lies and deceit, Shin finds himself trapped in Asran, unable to escape. He is forced to join a group of foreign pilots at a secret military base, called Area 88. The group is made up of pilots from all over the world who have come to Asran to fight as mercenaries.

At Area 88, Shin is introduced to the desert as the pilots undergo training to prepare for missions across the Asran border. The base is run by a ruthless commander named McCoy, who demands absolute obedience from his soldiers. Shin quickly learns that in order to survive, he must follow orders, no matter how brutal they may be.

Shin is assigned to fly an F-5 fighter jet, called the Freedom One, which he has never flown before. He struggles to get used to the controls, but he is determined to master it. The pilots' training includes navigation exercises, air combat simulation, and target practice.

As the pilots train, they are tasked with different missions, ranging from reconnaissance flights to actual combat. The first mission is a reconnaissance flight to gather intel on an enemy base. The pilots fly over the desert, dodging enemy fire, and taking pictures of the enemy positions. Shin manages to capture some stunning aerial photos, impressing his fellow pilots and McCoy.

As the episode progresses, Shin's inner conflict intensifies. He is torn between his duty as a mercenary and his desire to escape. He misses his old life and the woman he loves, Ryoko Tsugumo, whom he left behind in Japan. Shin starts to question his decision to become a mercenary, wondering if he will ever be able to escape this war.

The episode climaxes with a daring mission to destroy an enemy airfield. The pilots fly in close formation, dodging anti-aircraft fire and enemy planes. Shin manages to shoot down an enemy fighter, but he is also shot at and narrowly avoids a crash landing. He returns safely to the base but realizes that his life will never be the same again.

Overall, Sky Blue – Desert Wings is an exciting introduction to the Area 88 anime series. The episode is fast-paced, filled with action, and introduces the main character and the other pilots. The animation is fluid, and the aerial battles are breathtaking. The episode does a good job of setting up the premise of the series and keeping viewers hooked until the end.