Sokihei M.D. Geist (Japanese: 装鬼兵MDガイスト Hepburn: Sokihei M.D. Gaisuto, literally "Demon-Garbed Soldier M.D. Geist") is an anime and comic series about a post-apocalyptic world where Geist (the "hero") is MD-02, a Most Dangerous Soldier, genetically engineered to function as a killing machine, but every one of the MDS units went homicidally insane. As a result, Geist was placed in suspended animation
in a stasis pod orbiting the planet Jerra until it crashed several
years later, awakening him and bringing him into another war on the
planet. The overall mood of the 45 minute OVA is basically violence and more violence. It's funny how most of the OVA released in the second half of the 80's seem to have directly, or indirectly influenced what would happen in the 90's pop culture: Dark & violent were the new definition of "cool" in the entertainment industry, and most fans would consider graphic violence, f-bombs and grittiness a synonym of a quality product. Believe you me, I was there.
M.D. Geist was originally released on May the 21st, 1986 in Japan by Nippon Columbia and re-released under the Denon
label. In 1988, a trailer of the OVA under the title "Thunder Warrior"
was produced by Gaga Communications along with a string of other anime
titles the company was hoping to sell to the North American market. M.D. Geist was released in North America by Central Park Media
in 1992 (six years after the original release!); two years prior, the company used Geist as the logo for their
mainstream anime label U.S. Manga Corps. Curiosity by fans over U.S.
Manga Corps' logo boosted domestic sales of the OVA and prompted Central
Park Media to collaborate with co-creator Koichi Ohata in producing a
sequel. In 1996, Central Park Media released M.D. Geist - Director's Cut (this review is based on this edition of the OVA) ,
featuring roughly five minutes of additional footage - including a new
introduction and epilogue that paved the way for the sequel. Months
later, CPM released M.D. Geist II: Death Force. In addition, the company commissioned Ohata and American artist Tim Eldred to illustrate the comic book adaptation.
Funded and co-produced by Central Park Media, M.D. Geist: Director's Cut
includes over five minutes of footage added to the original 1986
release, including new introduction and ending sequences that lead the
way to "M.D. Geist II: Death Force". Moreover, M.D. Geist himself has been the corporate mascot (a.k.a. "spokesmecha") of U.S. Manga Corps since day one.
Blonde Rambo.
Looks that kill.
In the United States, the Sci Fi Channel premiered M.D. Geist I and II during their Ani-Monday block at midnight E.S.T. September 29 and October 6, 2008 respectively. Following the closure of Central Park Media, M.D. Geist was re-licensed by ADV Films and was re-released on DVD in July 2009. It is currently available for streaming on Hulu and digital download on iTunes by Manga Entertainment, along with Now and Then, Here and There, respectively.
M.D. Geist has been described for ages as one of the worst OVAs of all time, and I don't blame you if you agree with that statement too. However, once there was an interest for developing the sequel, there came some sort of revised edition that featured the important missing bits of information that made the original version (the one from 1986) seem like a collection of non-sensical scenes of one guy going against the other just because. Fortunately, the "Director's Cut" from 1996 course corrected what the original had left out: a clear plot. Geist is the sole survivor of a "bio-cloning" for your eyes only military project. Once he was used & abused, their creators discovered these M.D.S (most dangerous soldiers, LOL) were too unstable to keep them around waiting for the next mission, so they were disposed of. Unfortunately, Geist survived, and once he woke up for a long unwanted nap, he woke up looking like Kurt Cobain in a future where even Grunge was no more. Still, he didn't forget the sons of bitches who betrayed him, and as you may have already guess, he's hungry for revenge and justice. Despite the general belief M.D. Geist is the offspring of Kenshiro, Cobra & Duke Nukem, meaning the OVA is full of that sweaty macho attitude that may seem dated today, there is a couple of heres and theres that prove this little movie does have something to say: 1: Vaiya, the only female character from the story seems to be a slut desperately craving cock, yet once she encounters with Geist he tells her, and I'm not kidding, that "he wants her for what's inside her mind only." Probably one of the most everlasting feminist lines ever to come out from an 80's Animé. Although her character represents the clichéd (slutty) damsel in distress, Geist is not into Netflix and chill. 2: Team work is good. Geist simply can't do it alone. Going against an entire super technological fortress is too much even, for an enhanced soldier. While the reasons as to why the Mad Max wannabe gang and the military decide to help Geist are not the most befriending (they fear him, that's why they're on his side) you can still appreciate the helping hand.
Rated R.
Who's a good boy?
Artwork wise I'd say the mecha, vehicles and armors look pretty cool and they don't really resemble designs from other Animé. The character design is also varied, every single one of the main characters have unique features. The background art is also good. The scenery, and futuristic landscapes are OK in my book. On the other hand, the sound production didn't pull off such an original job since M.D. Geist has many sounds you'd probably heard before in American cartoons, other Animé and even Star Wars. However, "Hijoh no Soldier (Soldier of No Mercy)" & "Honoo no Violence (Violence of the Flame)", the opening & ending themes respectively, are really good at reprising 80's Glam Rock. Both songs are skillfully performed by Hironobu Kageyama.
Obviously, what made this OVA known overseas, was basically the graphic violence and never ending thirst for battle the main character has, and the awful dub plus a non existent plot that was somehow hidden until the director's cut explained everything the original version didn't. Like Angel Cop, this OVA requires a particular state of mind (or lack of) as to thoroughly enjoy or hate what director Koichi Ohata did here. If you search for opinions around the web, you'll find most of them are significantly negative, because they're allegedly based on the original edition, and/or written by younglings who lack the connection of experience that is required to understand older Animé in my opinion.
Hey violent guy, wanna fuck?
I'm on duty dear damsel.
Just when you think people couldn't criticize M.D. Geist anymore, one of the recurrent critics became reality: Geist ripped off Mad Max (as its
creators admit to in the notably entertaining commentary track from the DVD set). Though
Director credit was initially given to Hayato Ikeda, the truth is that it was really Koichi Ohata's
work all along, and he was so young and inexperienced that the
producers brought Ikeda in for appearances. In fact, Ohata was only 23
when he made Geist, and he pretty clearly had no idea how to tell a
story. He and screenwriter Riku Sanjo
pretty much approached the production as a collection of stuff they
found to be "cool" without much regard as to how it came together. The
animators, Ohata admits, were frustrated to the point of mutinous. Some
scenes, such as the ultimate final battle, are so poorly laid out and
colored that it's almost impossible to figure out what's happening.
Indeed, in its original state M.D. Geist
was downright funny: it made almost no sense and had numerous
registration errors. Characters erratically jump around the screen at
least five times because the cells weren't properly aligned. One shot is
so awkwardly animated that Geist's head appears to be flapping in the
wind. Another features a guy being stabbed in the head, but then
bleeding from his eyes. And then there's the ending, which crams such a
ridiculous twist into the last 5 seconds that it seems like a mistake.
Seven years later, Central Park Media
sponsored a Director's Cut edition along with a sequel. Scenes were
added and rearranged, the mistakes were smoothed over with video
effects, and something resembling a coherent story emerged. (The
American comic book adaptation by Tim Eldred
was apparently used as a guide.) This elevated the show from "horrid"
to "not so good:" the new animation simply looks nothing like the older
stuff and it's actually even worse in quality, but the story actually
kind of works.
Yes, there were specials about M.D. Geist.
Original artwork.
Overall, M.D. Geist is a product of it's time. Made in the heyday of OVA, the whole story feels rushed, and the ending is a sorry excuse for an underdeveloped opportunity, which is the reality most OVAs faced from 1985 to 1989. Even some of the ones considered a masterpiece followed the same sorry pattern of limited time schedules and most importantly, limited budget. I can't help to mention this because it was the way things happened back then. Anime exploded in America, hence the rest of the world, and I really don't blame all of the artists that took advantage of that brief five year period where, anything made in Japan would become an object of interest overseas.On the contrary, I thank them, because there's not one, but many great OVA that are now cult classics that paved the way for the future of Animé in the 90's and beyond. Strangely enough, for an Anime everyone seems to hate, the M.D. Geist/Death Force DVD is out of print and the prices are around $60 Dollars!
The "Thunder Warrior" classic trailer: The restored M.D. Geist trailer:
The Central Park/ U.S. Manga Corps. trailer:
The "Soldier of No Mercy" opening theme/main theme: "Violence of the Flame" ending theme:
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