Eureka Seven: Good Night, Sleep Tight Young Lovers

Bones Studio and Bandai produced an anime series titled, “Eureka Seven” aired on Adult Swim.Set many years in the future, the show centers on a teenage boy named, Renton Thurston. The son of military scientist Adrock, who sacrificed himself saving the world. Renton dreams of joining the Gekkostate. An anti-government organization led by Holland Novak. Their goal is to combat an evil military group led by Holland estranged brother, Dewey. One evening, Renton meets a pale girl his age named, Eureka. Renton immediately falls in love. Renton joins the Gekkostate. The team pilot giant mechas on surfboards. Like a cross between a Gundam and Silver Surfer. As the story progresses, Renton & Eureka form a close bond while enduring moral dilemmas involving the Gekkostate, Holland, war and other serious issues.

Eureka Seven officially aired in 2006 on Adult Swim earning praise from critics and viewers alike. I remember watching this when I was 13. It became one of my favorite shows. Three Years Later, Bones Studios and Bandai collaborated again. This time producing a movie based on the show known as “Eureka Seven: Good Night, Sleep Tight Young Lovers.”

Released in 2009, (same year Coraline came out) it was panned by fans labeling the movie inferior to the show. Four Years Later, Funimation dubbed a follow sequel, “Eureka Seven: AO.” I haven’t seen it. The most recent entry to the Eureka Seven series is a trilogy called, “Hi Evolution.” I also haven’t seen all three parts. Anyway, Bones Studio produced My Hero Academia’s final season. Before I watch the grand finale, I wanna share my thoughts on Eureka Seven: Good Night, Sleep Tight Young Lovers.

If you haven’t seen all 50 episodes of Eureka Seven. There will be SPOILERS comparing and contrasting the show and movie. If you’re curious to watch Eureka Seven. Watch the show first. It’s a requirement.

Right & Wrong

Right: Voice Actors reprise their roles from the show and they all did a terrific job for their respective voiceover performances.

Animation retains the show’s style.

Action Sequences are pretty good.

Random Thought: First time I heard about Eureka Seven getting a movie, was a promo by Fathom Events screening a one night only event on September 24, 2009. I wanted to see it, but I was in high school at the time during my third year as a junior.

Space Rock plays during the End Credits.

Wrong: Stock Footage from the show is often recycled.

Rather than continuing after the series finale with Renton & Eureka having another adventure or a prequel focusing on Renton’s father, Adrock, the movie takes creative liberties of the source material. Not in a good way. Feels like a slap in the face to fans. Don’t give me that excuse. “But, Nick this is supposed to be a movie set outside the show’s main universe.” I hate to break it to ya, but Eureka Seven isn’t set in the multiverse like Marvel and DC Comics.

Renton & Eureka have known each other as kids. This never happened. They actually first met as teens.
Eureka’s the same age as Renton. Due to her alien physiology the former’s actually older than the latter. She was allies with Adrock prior to meeting Renton. She stays as a teenager. Like Wolverine who’s always in his 30s thanks to his healing factor.
Unlike the show, Eureka’s a robot instead of a Coralien.
Eureka’s adopted kids, Maurice, Mater & Link are absent.
The movie lacks core themes from the show such as anti-war and environmentalism, but not in an Al Gore way. The movie’s just a straight-up alien invasion story.
The lore is butchered rearranging elements that don’t seem interesting. Made it kinda boring. Made me not care about every single character. Which is its greatest drawback besides characters not acting like themselves.
Renton & Eureka’s chemistry didn’t recapture the show’s magic. Over the course of 50 episodes, you get to know them taking their time on their friendship. They eventually become lovers. Their relationship in the movie didn’t seem quite right.
Holland and the Gekkostate were done dirty. Why? Because imposters from another planet pose as them. What happened to the real Holland? He’s dead. I’m gonna have to Triple Town Points. Bones Studio & Bandai effed up Holland. He’s one of my favorite anime characters besides Eureka herself.
Holland & Dewey are brothers. In the movie, they’re not related. The latter’s surname is Sorenstam. Although Dewey had a crucial role experimenting on the imposters who acquired rapid aging, he’s dead.
Holland and the Gekkostate plan to reenact a global catastrophe to change the world into some sort of place based on Peter Pan’s Neverland where people don’t grow up. Unlike their actual selfs, they intend to commit genocide. The real ones would never annihilate humanity.
Holland and his crew suffer from rapid aging. Wait a tic? It’s that one god awful movie, “Jack.” The late Robin Williams played the titular character who ages four times faster. He has the appearance of a 40-year-old man. EGADS! Bones Studio and Bandai took inspiration from Francis Ford Coppola’s work movie!
Anemone behaves nice. She’s supposed to be Eureka’s polar opposite exhibiting psychotic tendencies. Anemone’s a natural born human who was experimented to become a Coralien.
Nirvash is depicted as a small Larva. Some sort of Pokémon knock off. Its OG form is a giant mecha for crying out loud! Nirvash’s polar opposite, TheEnd is also a small larva instead of a giant mecha.
Somehow, Nirvash can talk. Doesn’t speak (with a feminine voice) until the series finale.
In the final battle, Eureka sacrifices her memories to save Renton. Some random plot armor BS that never happened on the series finale. The pair have a happy ending holding hands.

The Final Verdict: F, FOR FAKER!

Eureka Seven: Good Night, Sleep Tight Young Lovers is the poor cousin of the show. I think it’s the worst anime movie of 2009. If you’re a fan of Eureka Seven, this movie doesn’t deserve to exist. The show already had a great story spanning a total of 50 episodes. I hope someday us fans of the show get a proper movie like a prequel focusing on Adrock or a continuation with Renton & Eureka going on another adventure.