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| If you're going on a date, do it in Mecha style! |
Today's entry will leap forward from the fantastic 1980 OVA we previously reviewed, to a year where Japanese artists have discovered the craze for straight to video Anime: 1987. This year had 43 OVA released, not to mention the 23 Anime series released the same year. Some of the animated fun went on to become masterpieces that inspired well known newer animation and most of them stayed there in oblivion until, the 90's happened and American companies brought most of these unknown gems to the western world of avid fans.
The 1980’s had a landfill of OVA’s that people mostly rented from their local video stores and took home their evening entertainment in the company of themselves or with a group of like minded anime fanatic individuals. All they had to do was press play and the creative force of an animation studios hard (or cheap) works will fill the eyes and ears of its audience for a mere hours worth of enjoyment (or pain, depending). Now, granted in America, they have a direct to video market also, but it has had no where close to the same impact that it had in Japan during the 1980s. The testament to this market came down to an individual in Japan who had the use of a VCR to watch their anime, and VCRs over the years became just as standard to households like an oven is to the kitchen, as well as a TV is to the living room.
Some of the first companies to license and distribute OVAs in America
are still around, or have faded away into obscurity. One company in
particular that is still around is AnimEigo, which released in 1988 Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 (today's OVA in review) and Vampire Princess Miyu in the same year. There, users can pay for the Blu-ray releases of AnimEigo’s current licensed properties. So far Bubblegum Crisis and Otaku no Video
have been funded successfully. On the other hand, some distributors
have faded away into obscurity. In the 90s, Book Nippan shut down the U.S Renditions’ label in America. U.S Renditions released Gunbuster and Dangaioh
in March 1990 as their first titles. These were not complete releases,
but the first OVA episodes of each series to be put out in the American
market. As much as I would love to talk about anime companies and their
history in publishing their anime titles, I shall save that story for a
future upcoming post in due time.
The first account of anime being made for direct to market purposes goes back to anime director Mamoru Oshii with titles such as Dallos (1983) and Angel’s Egg (1985) (both will be reviewed here very soon). Traditionally, since anime became a medium in Japan in the early 1960’s with Astro Boy and Tetsujin 28 appearing on television, it seemed to be that, unless you made shows for Toei or Sunrise, the only way anime could get your shows approved was for committees to financially back them. With the help of smaller anime studios getting the funding they needed thanks to the huge economic bubble Japan was gloriously living under at the time, the OVA market flourished into a creator’s paradise. Anyone could make whatever they wanted to, which resulted with the good, the bad, and the bizarre. Regardless of the OVA’s that hold up and are remembered today, or are lost through the piles of obscurity, anime fans must owe a great deal of attention to this time period on how anime has changed from then to now.
The 1980’s had a landfill of OVA’s that people mostly rented from their local video stores and took home their evening entertainment in the company of themselves or with a group of like minded anime fanatic individuals. All they had to do was press play and the creative force of an animation studios hard (or cheap) works will fill the eyes and ears of its audience for a mere hours worth of enjoyment (or pain, depending). Now, granted in America, they have a direct to video market also, but it has had no where close to the same impact that it had in Japan during the 1980s. The testament to this market came down to an individual in Japan who had the use of a VCR to watch their anime, and VCRs over the years became just as standard to households like an oven is to the kitchen, as well as a TV is to the living room.
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| 80's Mecha action! |
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| Here's a hot red hair lady that can pilot a super cool armored tank. |
The first account of anime being made for direct to market purposes goes back to anime director Mamoru Oshii with titles such as Dallos (1983) and Angel’s Egg (1985) (both will be reviewed here very soon). Traditionally, since anime became a medium in Japan in the early 1960’s with Astro Boy and Tetsujin 28 appearing on television, it seemed to be that, unless you made shows for Toei or Sunrise, the only way anime could get your shows approved was for committees to financially back them. With the help of smaller anime studios getting the funding they needed thanks to the huge economic bubble Japan was gloriously living under at the time, the OVA market flourished into a creator’s paradise. Anyone could make whatever they wanted to, which resulted with the good, the bad, and the bizarre. Regardless of the OVA’s that hold up and are remembered today, or are lost through the piles of obscurity, anime fans must owe a great deal of attention to this time period on how anime has changed from then to now.
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| The real MADOX-01! |
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| The VHS. |
メタルスキンパニックMADOX-01, AKA, Metal skin Panic Madox-01 is one of those Ova´s
that was just ´out there´, in the VHS stores and you just couldn't say no to the great artwork featured in the tape cover. Anyway, in my case as an old-school anime nerd, I was lucky to find a copy of it in one of my local rental stores. Obviously, Madox-01 was inspired by some of the greatest Mecha animé from preceding years, like many other OVA and Anime from the late 80's, so if you're expecting a fresh storytelling adventure, this isn't the right OVA for you. However, if you are like me, and enjoy seeing high tech robots & mecha action, this little movie won't disappoint your hunger for metal.
As above mentioned, Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 is a 42 min. OVA from 1987, directed by Shinji Aramaki, who also wrote the story. It was released by Animeigo outside of Japan and to this very day you can still find the 15th Anniversary DVD edition if you look hard enough. The OVA was produced by
three companies: AIC, Pony Canyon, and SOEISHINSHA. In Japan, it originally aired for the first time on December the 15th, 1987. Outside Japan, I think the VHS tape was one of the first OVA ever to be released within months from the original Japanese release date. In 1988 Gaga Communications promoted the first VHS edition of the OVA by using the "City of Steel"name instead of the original. (If you go to our video section at the bottom, you'll see their trailer)
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| Full time Ace pilot! |
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| Full time babe! |
Among Animé connoisseurs, MADOX-01 is not considered worthy, because a big majority feels it's pure clickbait, due to its promising excellently animated opening sequence that drastically changes quality right after its over, and also because the story practically makes no sense: Random guy, finds a military secret, gets away with it because he has to meet his girlfriend one final time before she leaves to study abroad, and in the meantime he's followed by an expert solider who wants the exoskeleton destroyed just because he lost a test battle to it. Oh, and there's a girl that can actually pilot the MADOX-01 but she isn't piloting it for no reason at all. I for one, think what makes this little 42 minute story worth a shot, is the fact that it's also one of the earliest officially licensed releases ever in the Western animé industry. So, while it may not have a strong developing story like Toward The Terra (see our previous entry) has, at least MADOX-01 was released completely unadulterated, as it was meant to be. No English dubs, no newly created Western soundtrack, no character name changes, no plot changes, nothing! As a matter of fact, I still remember the first time my dad rented it for me. I was so convinced this was the first episode of a series, that I spent a lot of time renting other similar Mecha OVA looking for the remaining episodes. Little did I know, this was only a one time show, and that the abrupt finale, it's the actual end of the whole story.
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| Technology overdose. |
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| You really shouldn't get in the way of the MADOX-01. |
Anyway, the story is quite simple yet effective, it doesn't challenge the viewer intellectually (Does any Animé do that?) but it is still thrilling and keeps you looking
at the screen until credit end titles pop up. However this might be the
weakest point of MADOX-01, as, at least in my case, it leaves the
sensation that five to ten minutes more of footage could have improved
the overall result. A bit more of character development, exposition
about the world in which the action takes place or whatever that could
have enriched the story line
surely would be welcomed. In any case, it's just an
appreciation, I am OK with the story for the most part. The main story
concept is still pretty cool and badass and the characters are
sympathetic even if a little bit stereotypical, specially the villain. Some of the characters here acted a bit one-sided and stereotypical, but Kouji Sugimoto (the main protagonist) at least had a more emotional and
uplifting role, same for 1st Lt. Kilgore (the villain), though he acted more like a standard macho-sweat asshole. The remaining 3 characters (yes, it's a five character story), I'd say only MADOX-01 test pilot Ellie Kusumoto had a bit more to do once she started looking for the missing toy and befriended Kouji for no apparent reason at all. The other two, Shiori Nagura (Kouji's girlfriend) & Haruo Onose (kouji's friend) appear briefly and only Shiori is somehow connected to the plot. You see, she's going overseas and wants to see Kouji one last time before she leaves.
The visuals and design are alright, the MADOX-01 armor is pretty cool (it reminds me of the Keratos armor worn by Keel on the Quake Champions game) and the plot leaves enough place to show off properly all the blaze and guns, the character design is nothing special yet not bad, mildly above average. Animation itself goes the same way, not the richest you'll see but actually good for a production of this scale, with cool chases and fights, explosions, city destruction and all that. Still, its short length (42 minutes counting the opening and ending) makes you feel you're actually watching the first episode from a series of OVA or an Anime, rather than a single story.
Enjoyment wise, and as above mentioned, here is where Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 excels.
Despite it small scale, recurrent setting and lack of depth, the fast
pace where there is no window for a breath prevents from distracting and
the coolness and 80's charm also do their work on making the viewer
overlook the OVA flaws.Obviously, this isn't the definitive anime, it doesn't even come near to be a
classic, but that is part of the play.
MADOX-01 is rated PG13, so you won't be getting any graphic violence nor nudity, so if you're looking for a family rated OVA, this little story will suffice. However, the destructive powers of the MADOX-01 plus all the military power involved in the capture of their missing investment, obviously suggests there were many fatal casualties in the process.
The visuals and design are alright, the MADOX-01 armor is pretty cool (it reminds me of the Keratos armor worn by Keel on the Quake Champions game) and the plot leaves enough place to show off properly all the blaze and guns, the character design is nothing special yet not bad, mildly above average. Animation itself goes the same way, not the richest you'll see but actually good for a production of this scale, with cool chases and fights, explosions, city destruction and all that. Still, its short length (42 minutes counting the opening and ending) makes you feel you're actually watching the first episode from a series of OVA or an Anime, rather than a single story.
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| Military secrets can help you have lunch more securely. |
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| I hate losing to test pilots! |
MADOX-01 is rated PG13, so you won't be getting any graphic violence nor nudity, so if you're looking for a family rated OVA, this little story will suffice. However, the destructive powers of the MADOX-01 plus all the military power involved in the capture of their missing investment, obviously suggests there were many fatal casualties in the process.
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| The sad girlfriend. |
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| Or the ace pilot? |
Overal, Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01, it's not a disappointing experience. The oldschool animation style is there, the 80's pop music is there, the cool Mecha are there, pop culture references are also there, and ultimately, it's a little movie that doesn't take itself seriously, so why should we be reviewing from a scholarly perspective? After all, it's only Anime! and it's meant to be an entertaining experience! Just make sure you invite some friends, grab some beer, and press play while beer hydrates your melting brain!
Stay tuned for our next OVA review! Hint: One of the most popular, yet freaky OVAs ever seen in the 80's!
Until then, enjoy our little video section:
The rare 1988 "City of Steel" trailer:
"Sandstorm" the ending theme by Darude:
The odd Japanese warfare weaponry documentary featured in earlier editions of the OVA:
Too tired to even watch 42 minute of classic 1980's Anime? Don't worry, here's the whole MADOX-01 plot in a two minute song:
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