Glass Fleet

A crossdresser, a sarcastic space pirate, and a madman emperor all walk into a bar... sounds like the beginning of a joke, no?

Glass Fleet is a 26 episode anime series that is essentially the French Revolution IN SPACE! It follows the story of Michel Volban, the leader of the People's Army which plots to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the Holy Emperor Vetti Sforza. To do this, Michel attempts to enlist the help of Cleo, the captain of a very rare and very powerful Glass Battleship. The problem? Cleo has no interest in politics, despite the fact that he's apparently going to someday take over the universe with his ship.

Still, Cleo eventually decides to join sides with Michel against Vetti, but that's where things start getting tricky.

Filled with Narm, more plot twists than you can shake a stick at, and so many of these tropes, Glass Fleet is a fun romp of a Space Opera. But watch out for the angst!

Tropes used in Glass Fleet include:

• Abusive Parents: Vetti's foster parents. Michel's father is no prize, either.
• The Abridged Series: Ongoing by Unwardil
• Anti-Gravity Clothing: Rachel has a thick fur wrap that floats over her shoulders.
• Asteroid Thicket: The rebels hide behind one in the second-to-last episode.
• Barbie Doll Anatomy: Usually averted by finding a realistic way to cover up the naughty bits, but in full effect when Rachel tries to seduce Vetti.
• Batman Can Breathe in Space
• Because Destiny Says So: The prophecy that Vetti and Cleo both receive fairly early in the series.
• Blind Without'Em: Nowy.
• Bling of War
• Cain and Abel: Vetti and Cleo.
• Chekhov's Gun: The Black Cross.
• Corrupt Church: The Church of the Black Cross.
• Costume Porn: Some of the most trippy costumes anywhere.
• Different As Night and Day: Vetti and Cleo again.
• Dropped a Bridget On Him: Vetti is rather put out when he finally gets Michel in his clutches only to discover that she's a woman.
• Dropped Glasses: Nowy, constantly - and at one point intentionally as an effort to make Eimer laugh.
• The Empire: The Holy Empire
• Enfant Terrible: Ralph
• Fauxlosophic Narration: Each episode opens with some of this from Michel.
• Freudian Excuse: Vetti's sociopathy is forgiven due to his abusive background.
• Gender Blender Name: Cleo.
• Gravity Sucks: The Black Cross.
• Harmful to Minors: Vetti, one could also argue for Ralph's sake, but since that seems to be more implied than explicit...
• Karma Houdini: Vetti
• La Résistance: The People's Army.
• Love Makes You Crazy: Rachel's sanity rapidly dwindles after falling for Vetti.
• Luke, I Am Your Father: They found out they were related at the same time. However, a few episodes prior had revealed that Cleo did have a sibling, unbeknown to him, but did not say who that sibling was.
• Manipulative Bastard: Vetti.
• The Masochism Tango: Vetti and Rachel's later series relationship. Though Rachel's the only one dancing.
• Mismatched Eyes: Vetti has one purple eye and one gold one, the first clue that he's not exactly normal.
• Muggle Foster Parents: Vetti and Cleo were both raised by these. It went considerably better for Cleo than it did for Vetti.
• Ninja Maid: Sylua
• "On the Next Episode of..." Catchphrase: "A galaxy in revolution... Renaissance."
• Pimped-Out Dress
• Pretty in Mink: A number of clothing of fur or fur-trimmed.
• Promotion to Parent: Michel was the primary caretaker for his younger sister.
• Punch-Punch-Punch Uh-Oh: Happens to Eimer during the prison sequence.
• Ramming Always Works: One of Cleo's primary tactics with his glass battleship. Also how Gary and Nordeen destroy Gerald's flagship in the final episode.
• Rebel Leader: Michel Volban
• Red Eyes, Take Warning: Subverted by Eimer -- she can be a bit of a brat, but she's nowhere near evil.
• Room Full of Crazy: A somewhat unusual one (in that it's merely covered in roses instead of writing) shows up in "Like a House of Cards"
• Rule of Glamorous
• Shotacon: 21-year-old Vetti Sforza has a 8-year-old lover named Ralph.
  • Vetti was also in a relationship with his foster father as a small child.
• Samus Is a Girl: The person posing as Michel is a girl. The real Michel was not.
• Schizo-Tech
• Space Pirates: Cleo and his crew.
• Stalker with a Crush: Vetti to Michel.
• Sweet Polly Oliver: "Michel" is actually Racine Blanche Volban. She took up her older brother's identity after he died in battle.
• White-Haired Pretty Boy: Vetti from the beginning of the second-to-last episode.
• Woman Scorned: Rachel -- to the extent that she murders Ralph.