I'll tell you now, I'm not sure how to translate 潜脳調査室. 潜脳(Sennou) 調査(Chosa)室(shitsu) comes out to be like Potential Brain\Memory Investigation\Examination\ Inquiry\Survey Room. I think 室(shitsu) has to be room since it's being used as a suffix in this word/phrase. The same kanji can be used for むろ(muro) which means greenhouse\icehouse\cellar. Nonetheless it's an odd ass word. Kanji is confusing -_-.


Ep1:


Ahhhhh, honestly I was lost lol until I saw the second episode. Though, I'm still lost. So Divers are tasked to enter the 'metal' and use their sensory perception to navigate and fix anomalies. lol it's fucking odd. I felt like I was getting mind-fucked by Shirow Masamune when he gets all psycho-cyber-nut.

The play-by-play is this: A diver(aquatic) named Haru Masamichi goes into the sea to observe/research something for a scientist named Kushima. In so doing, he witnesses a phenomenon that scars him and knocks him out.

Shoot forward 50+ years and the young diver is now an elderly man. He is now disabled in a wheelchair and searching for the phenomenon again with the assistance of a droid/cyborg named Holon. The droid has to go away for some time for maintenance and a young girl named Aoi Minamamo comes to replace her. Shortly after her arrival the phenomenon reoccurs.

The event caused the island they are on enough trauma to stop the electricity. With Haru seeming well enough to be alone, Minamamo looks for a way to restore electricity to the island, if not the hospital they are staying at. While she runs off, Haru enters the Meta-Real (I presume through his consciousness. In this era people can be outfitted with 'cyberbrains') and from there, we see Haru as his younger self. The metal appears to Haru as a sea.

Meta-Real and Metal are used interchangeably throughout; they are the same thing.


Ep2:


This episode opens with a child Minamamo. It gives some background info on her and continues with her arriving on the island slightly before we last saw her introduction with Haru. After a recap of her arrival with Haru it moves forward to Minamamo running to the transformer that handles the islands electricity. It appears to be FUBAR'd.

The islands plight is known to Kushima. He redirects (cyber)divers already in the metal to fixing the 'B.B.L' which is their connection to the transformer inside of the metal. The divers sent to fix the B.B.L. by Kushima fail and Haru arrives to take over.

Haru attempts to fix the B.B.L.; however; there isn't a way for him to complete his fix since the transformer on the island no longer exists. He needs a back-up generator on the island to become active so he can fix the B.B.L.

Minamamo sees the back-up generator and heads there to restore electricity. Unknown to each other, Minamamo and Haru assist each other in their goals to fix the island's problems. With power restored through the back-up generator Haru is able to finish his recovery of the B.B.L. and restore power to the island.

When Minamamo returns to Haru at the hospital, they trek out to see the sea once more. Kushima has arranged to pick up Haru (the Kushima scene is after the end credits btw).

A definition of the B.B.L was given at the very end:


Scenes like this are very GITS/2:





Ep3:


Haru and Minamamo are taken to the EISF (Electric Industrial Science Research Facility) headquarters where Kushima is director. It is explained that Haru accessed the Meta-Real illegally thru his cyberbrain (via consciousness). While speaking with Kushima Haru learns that Kushima is researching the same phenomenon he is seeking.

Kushima allows Haru to test (cyber)dive to see if he qualifies to be an EISF diver. During an attempt to qualify, Haru succumbs to "LMC" (Loss of Meta-Real Control) which causes him to blackout. Haru fails multiple times thereafter. Kushima stops him from continuing with a warning that if he pushes further he will suffer from "decompression sickness" and offers a final test in 12 hours. In that time Minamamo tries to figure out what Haru is missing so he can pass the simulation.

While taking a break with her friends, Minamamo figures out what Haru needs to pass his test. Upon her return to the EISF HQ and telling Haru what he needs to pass, an emergency occurs. A diver currently in the metal has 'brain-downed' and is sinking deeper into the metal. This divers drowning presents the risk of his consciousness leaking/escaping into the metal (I would assume this means he suffered from LMC or something similar and will go brain dead in reality if his consciousness is not safely retrieved and removed manually from the metal). Kushima requests a diver for retrieval but none are available. Haru volunteers and is allowed to enter the metal.

Haru takes Minamamo's advice and works to retrieve the drowning diver. Haru eventually retrieves the drowned diver and makes for the exit. There is a key scene where Minamamo praises his achievement and acknowledges he is only half way through. It was established during Minamamo's break with her friends that she does not have a cyberbrain; however, Haru's consciousness within the metal responds to her acknowledgement. The spiritual(?) link between Haru and Minamamo has now been observed by Kushima.

During Haru's ascent an "ES" occurs and disconnects Haru's consciousness from being monitored/observed by the EISF team. Kushima comments there is nothing they can do in reality to reconnect the link between them and Haru except waiting out the 'ES' disturbance. Through Minamamo's worry she rushes to the chamber where Haru is linked to the metal and calls for him. This event may have reconnected Haru back to the monitoring system and/or cleared the 'ES' disturbance. When we next see Haru he is his younger self and continuing the retrieval of the downed diver. Kushima witnesses this change through vocal and visual recognition and Minamamo experiences a moment where she sees the younger Haru in reality; Minamamo and Haru's spiritual bond has been emphasised.

Haru and Minamamo are taken to a location called "Dream Brothers" and shown to what is to become Haru's new office. We learn Kushima had it created the day Haru woke from his 50 year coma. Kushima gives Haru permission to dive hence forth as an EISF investigator and Haru requests Minamamo to stay as his emotional(spiritual) support. The episode ends (after the credits) with an unknown man arriving at Haru's office dock/wharf.


While Minamamo was researching to find a way to help Haru pass his diver test, we are given this info:

The Meta-Real Network was designed as an observation system which converts human consciousness and memory into data, and accurately feeds back external stimuli to the brain.

There are also 2 chapter excerpts on the screen:

Meta-Real System

Chapter 1 - Converting Memory and Consciousness to Data

The Meta-Real Network is a high-level data conversion system that was originally designed as an ocean simulator. Through the use of molecular receivers implanted in the individuals brain, the system monitors the movement of water molecules through the brain to determine a subjects consciousness and memories and then transmits them to the Meta-Real Network as data.

Not all memories and consciousnesses are transmitted to the Meta-Real, as the data can be altered by changing the filter settings of the transformer molecules.

A memory or consciousness upload to the Metal is converted into units of thought called B.B.L. (Bubbles). These B.B.L.s are not the memory data itself, but rather they function as a link gate to the individual's memories. Thus, even if the B.B.L. are damaged in the Metal, the memories and conciousness within the individual's brain will not change.

Chapter 2 - Feedback of External Stimuli

When an individual receives external stimulation, a bubble is also created in the Metal to reflect this. The memories created by this stimulus are given precedence as data, and the human body functions by prioritizing the feedback of this information.

It is now possible to create a variety of sensations by manufacturing artificial versions of the external stimuli within the Metal.

By sharing B.B.L. which contains artificial data that stimulates the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, it is possible to stimulate a variety of experiences. As these experiences perfectly mimic their real-world counterparts, they are occasionally set to have an otherworldly feelings to them.

[incomplete image]

Ep4:


This episode expands on the event that occurred in the last. We learn the technological advancement of the Meta-Real Network was due in part to the all powerful porno! Since in the metal you can create your own fantasy with manipulation of memories you can experience anything. The sexual exploration and desire to experience every possible orgasm was pursued by many.

In the last episode Haru rescued the downed diver Ayumu. Ayuma was attempting to retrieved the brain-downed consciousness of a person named Bob Zhouen; however, Ayuma became brain-downed himself in the process. Brain-down was defined as the following:

Unknown cause ... consciousness is lost from the cyberbrain and the victim becomes comatose.

Haru has been tasked to rescue Zhouen.

Turns out the downed diver is a partner in Dream Brothers and works above Haru's office. The downed diver, Ayuma, describes his rescue attempt of Zhouen's consciousness and explains when he went to retrieve it a huge whirlpool knocked him out, causing him to brain-down. The moment before going down he saw (a glimpse of Zhouen's memory and described it as) a big breasted babe similar to the metal avatars one can purchase in Hanamachi.

On Minamamo's pursuit to find information that could aid Haru's dive her brother Souta turns her away from Hanamachi to protect her. He continues the investigation of the metal avatar that Ayuma saw in Zhouen's memory.

Haru finds Zhouen's consciousness and discovers it is masked with a fake memory. When he gets through to the real memory he finds Zhouen indulging in sex as a female avatar with multiple women pleasuring him.


Diving into Zhouen's consciousness Haru finds the whirlpool that brain-downed Ayuma. Haru is cautioned to not enter the whirlpool; however, Zhouen's avatar becomes drawn into it and Haru chases it. Upon touching the avatar Haru becomes disconnected again from the EISF monitoring system. Haru is locked into a different memory, absorbed into the avatar or has entered the whirlpool (it is unclear what has happened at this point).

Souta finds the creator of the avatar Zhouen purchased. He was paid to modify it to reach a higher form of stimulation (super orgasm!). The program implemented into the avatar was to induce an artificial death experience. lol so homie wanted to be in a snuff film and get off on it.

While inside this new state of mind, Haru is embraced by Zhouen's avatar and infected. His consciousness is becoming invaded with thoughts (the snuff program).



Kushima explains where in the metal Haru is. Minamamo tries to call Haru back from the deep. Kushima sends Minamamo's cries as feedback directly into the metal and it beckons Haru out. Strengthening Haru's consciousness with her call, Minamamo is able to help Haru fight Zhouen's desires and Haru can surface both himself and Zhouen out of the metal.

The final scene of the episode is of a masked man breaking out of confinement.



This show had one thing I noticed that started to bug me: It looked like Production I.G. had hired the artist of Initial D 'cause all the women in the show had big hips and pornstar lips; not so bad in moderation but every girl is annoying. If the initial three episodes weren't adequate enough for you, may be things will make more sense in upcoming episodes. You can check out the official website and wiki for the info these episodes may not have supplied.

Real Drive (ＲＤ 潜脳調査室 RD Senno Chosashitsu?) is an anime TV series, created by Production I.G and Masamune Shirow. Real Drive is produced in collaboration with Japan's largest commercial broadcaster Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV), and premiered in Japan on NTV on the 8th of April 2008.

Did I call that mind-fuck or what? Shirow has his lil octopus balls in this series.

This show and Macross F aren't getting deleted off my HDD lol; they're too good to watch and forget and may need multiple viewings!


Parting shot:

Is that flan on ice cream?! omg I'm hungry.