亜空大作戦 スラングル / Mission Outer Space / Gorilla Force

Yes, another space team and their toys.

They say the mecha genre is dying. They say a lot of things, don't they? Today's magnificent entry will take us back to our beloved Giant Robot/Mecha genre ,so popular in the late 70s, and so massive in the 80s. Economy in Japan was blooming, and animation studios were working day and night to deliver a tremendous catalog from the most varied genres to all ages audiences from all over the world.

The giant robot genre premise of having a team of teenagers piloting the most awesome transforming/non-transforming robot, sold as much as Coca-Cola does even today. Then, with Mobile Suit Gundam, a more realistic take on the genre was born, and people would call it the "mecha genre".  This time the robots would need maintenance, and even repairs that would have them non-operational for most of an episode. The Late Yuzo Yamamoto, who created the J9 trilogy (Braiger, Baxinger, and Sasuraiger), and worked in the above mentioned Gundam, was also a creative force in today's post: 亜空大作戦　スラングル  / Mission Outer Space / Gorilla Force.

Gorrilla Force, or "Comando Especial Gorila" as I've originally experienced it in my home country decades ago, is yet another story of a team of brave men and women with a set of special skills, and fantastic vehicles to fight corruption in space.

Sexy is much more than her name implies.

Secret information is still kept in cassette tapes.

Obscure

Now, it's amazing how obscure this 1983 Animé is even today with all the global access the internet has given us. First of all, the synopsis you google are all describing the Macron 1 Animé that combined Go Shogun with Srungle into a single show in 1986. Common practice back then due to TV syndication. 

the correct synopsis for Mission Outer Space Srungle is as follows: In the 26^th century humanity has colonized the stars and settled in the Garrick Space in a special area known as the Outer Space Zone. This special area is in between two stars that conveniently have oxygen and gravity. Humanity has built a large city known as Garrick Space Town and inhabits many asteroids in the area as well and is protected by the United Garrick Space (UGS) and the Garrick  Police. However the large evil organization known as Crime disturbs the peace; however Doc Mandy of the Garrick Police has gathered six pros and created Gorilla Force to oppose Crime. 

Gorilla Force crew is led by Captain Chance, who was previously a member of the Galac Police graduating from the Galac Space police academy and leading a special team in the past. Chance works a lot on collecting the data and is cool and composed.  Jet is the marksman of the team and previously graduated from the military academy he forms a friendship with Super Star. Super Star is the expert pilot of the team, Sexy is the explosive expert and ends up naked a lot in the show and she’s not shy about it at all, Babyface despite his large intimidating appearance is a very gentle person and a mechanics expert, Magician is the espionage expert on the team and the oldest member he can pull of magic which is the only way to describe his ability to turn into anyone despite body shape and fit right in. The team chemistry reminds me of The A-Team, which also premiered in 1983 in the US, but of course, that's nothing but a mere coincidence.

Sexy would always rip her clothes after battle.

More than meets the eye 

The tone of Srungle is that of an adult audience. Espionage, corruption, blackmail, graphic violence, space narcs, politics, nudity, death, death of important characters, you name it. All themes that now may seem like nothing, but back then even the Animé industry refrained from going all in in order to reach wider audiences.  Another element that set a realistic perspective in this futuristic world is that all their vehicles, including the Srungle transforming robot, need repairs. While this concept was introduced earlier in the above mentioned Mobile Suit Gundam, it added the extra tension that would make you jump out of your seat and root for the team once they were ready to go into battle.

On the other hand, each member of the team not only have their own particular set of skills, but also different personalities that would sometimes make tasks easier,  more difficult, and sometimes reveal their past and struggles. While the show seems to have an episodic narrative, don't be fooled! Each story, and every character counts! Our team progresses one step at a time in the battle against Crime. Which brings me to that frequent critic of "why would you name your super secret organization crime?" In Japanese, the word hanzai (犯罪) has no phonetic resemblance to the English word.  

Another important element that plays a major role during the 53 episode run of this animation, is the fact that our characters visit different worlds with episodic pace. This serves a purpose with us, the viewers: We're experiencing a larger world where corruption has expanded to the farthest places in the universe. Very much like the original Star Wars trilogy implied. 

 

Our dedicated team of experts.

 

Team work is greatly appreciated by the Gorilla force.

Tough competition

By 1983 the mecha genre was well established in Japan. On the other hand, the Western world was still a few years from experiencing it in full power. Some people attribute the "Western robot fever" to The Transformers (1985), which one way or another were deeply linked to what was going on in Japan. A year earlier Voltron was already on TV offering a formula that a year later would be reprised by Harmony Gold and their beloved Robotech. Nevertheless, Srungle was released partially in 1986 in the US as part of the above mentioned Macron 1 series, and it would later be seen in full form in Latin America in 1991. While the series seem obscure to some, it was quite popular in South America, being re-run in 1995, 2004 and 2017 respectively.

Sadly, the animé experience would take longer for Western audiences to catch up, and since the toy industry was tightly related to the latest cartoon craze, not every great animé from the 80s premiered simultaneously outside Japan. After all, the 80s had amazing American cartoons as well. Thundercats, Masters of the Universe, She-Ra, Jem & The Holograms, Silverhawks, to name a few, and they all sold thousands of toys, and some still do today. Srungle did have a toy line as well, with transforming vehicles and model kits, but Clover,  the company producing the toys, went bankrupt halfway during the production of the series. What's ironic about this is that Clover produced the first toys for Mobile Suit Gundam. TV moguls may have been too busy worrying about which cartoon was Toyetic, and which one wasn't, as to pay attention to every Japanese animation being imported back then. Besides, multicultural openness would take some years to reach out to everyone.

The disgusting leader of Crime.

Srungle in full attack mode.

 Worth the watch

Living in the 21st century is great. No longer do you need to wait for your local TV station to air your favorite shows. Moreover, there's no need to go to your friend that knows a friend that made him a copy of the latest unsubbed OVA. The internet changed everything! Even access to information of obscure Anime can be found, if you know where to look. In addition, most of these shows have been remastered and released on DVD and Blu-Ray with subtitles, and audio tracks in your language of choice. Again, thanks to the internet you don't need to fly to Japan to get a physical copy. Western companies have also made the effort to release local versions of a vast catalog of Animé from decades past.

Some people tend to say that once you've seen a mecha animé, you've seen them all. Although there are shared elements in the genre, there are some notable differences in some of them. Srungle arrived a bit too late in the "Japanimation" fever. A lot of people dissed the show and called it derivative, formulaic, and so on and so forth. This show was made in 1983! even before other shows that people label influential, groundbreaking and practically "the show that brought Anime outside of Japan". Unfortunately, like a vast list of Animé from the 80s, there were no official releases outside of Japan until decades later. Moreover, there were neither English dubs nor subbed releases of the series. Even today, the official Japanese Blu-Ray does not feature an English track or subtitles. Of course, you can find bootleg releases that have fansubs. The show is also on youtube in TV quality but, only in Spanish and Italian. Today, could be a good day to practice your foreign language skills.

 

Enter Dolly the PG-13 version of Sexy.

 

Gorrilla Force 2.0

Please, hear me out 

Srungle is the story of a politically charged special force that serves a government that took centuries to build up a peaceful civilization in space. Commitment is a strong word for the team. The first story arc ends by episode 26, and boy what a ride it is! The team not only loses their boss Doc Mandy, but also Sexy is crippled and Superstar sacrifices himself to let the rest of the gang escape enemy fire while abandoning their headquarters. Moreover, there is a path the show never really explores by the second half: What if the bad guys were only trying to recover what was once theirs? Humanity's arrival to subspace may have meant that they encountered Volklazer's people and had to make the "necessary adjustments" to settle in. I guess, we'll never know.

The death of important characters was always a plot twist that may have seem unexpected or shocking for Westerners, but for the Japanese it was  just another Sunday ice cream truck passing by. New characters, Sugar & Dolly are not exactly a carbon copy of their former, and a character return from the death will also shake the team dynamics. 

 

With Sexy out of action, her "battle damaged" scenes ended.

Super makes the ultimate sacrifice.

Not the same magic 

Nostalgia is a bit of a tricky word. Shows that you swear were magnificent masterpieces the likes of Shakespeare's greatest plays, would have you falling asleep and take the best nap of your life once you've become a fully functioning adult. I say this, because timing is definitely of essence, when our memory decides to add that extra value just because we experienced it in our long gone childhood where responsibilities were non-existent. That flavor from the past is what is missing in Srungle, and many other animé that took years to make it overseas. So, can you watch , a 42 year old show you've barely heard of? Adult criticism can be severe, while your inner child would always take a lighter read from your past. Try watching a Masters of the Universe episode without falling asleep, I dare you. Nevertheless, here is where Mission Outer Space Srungle excels. Episodes matter. There are no random enemies never to be seen again. Crime is such a gigantic organization, that on any episode you'll find nuances that will directly lead into the conclusion of the show. The destruction of the Crime base proved brutal, and the retaliation was even worst. Our heroes not only lost their home, but also key team members. Exhaustion and desperation could be felt in every animation cel from episode 25 and 26. 

So?

The mecha genre is not for everyone, and we know it. Regardless of all the things I can write here, it's a matter of personal choices. Older people like me, would certainly be a tad more driven into Anime with robots and space dogfights, but the Anime audiences have changed and there is no one-size-fits-all choice. I for one, think Mission Outer Space Srungle while offering mostly the same experience that other shows from around the same time do, you get better animation quality for 1983 standards. Also, the nature of the show isn't episodic. Consequences do have an impact on following stories as above mentioned. Moreover, characters are not stereotyped. Every character gets the chance of displaying its skills, thus making it clear why they're needed in the team. Even Sexy has a job to do. Her occasional nudity occurs randomly and is nothing but moderate fanservice. Another thing I think it stands out, is the fact that you don't get the impression Srungle is a one man show. The more episodes you watch, the more difficult it is to say "this is Jet's anime". The team dynamic is to blame. They work as a unit, and that means you root for the whole team, instead of a single hero, like it happens with other similar shows where it is clear a main character is essential for a team to work. 53 episodes may be a bit too much, tough.

Original Japanese Opening:

 

 

International Opening: 

 

 

Project A-Ko 4: Final

The end of an era.

Project A-ko 4: Final (プロジェクトA子 完結篇) is a 1989 Japanese anime OVA release directed by Yuji Moriyama. It is the fourth installment of the Project A-ko series. 

Back in the day, very few film projects were made with sequels in mind. Perhaps, Star Wars and the Superman movies are early examples of long term planning. As a result of this, the viewers would get the immersive experience of being part of a world of characters where time passes, and in doing so, characters grow and face new challenges until we reach the inevitable climax, and the story is completed.

Animé connoisseurs know Project A-KO is one of the essential OVA films every fan must watch and hopefully, add to their home library. They also know, the original was a parody on some of the popular Animé from the late 70s/early 80s. No one was expecting a developing story, or an expanding universe that would continue to tell the story of A-Ko, B-Ko & C-Ko. However, popular demand is a strong force that drives producers and artists alike to push their ideas to the limit. 

A-Ko & B-Ko continue the fight.

Their teacher is getting married!

Let's do some recap, before we continue reviewing the final installment of the A-Ko saga. The Alpha-Cygnans, a powerful alien race with advance technology and a great army that resembles SDF Macross' Zentradi (or Zentraedi if you think Robotech) come to Earth searching for their missing princess. Eventually it turns out, C-Ko is their long lost princess, and this leads to  War in which A-Ko & B-Ko are part of it as well. Of course, mankind triumphs, and this leads the surviving aliens to adapt to Earth's customs, and they end up transforming their mother ship into a giant shopping mall with B-Ko's help (Project A-Ko 2). Fast forward to Project A-Ko 3, where we find A-Ko & B-Ko fighting over the love of Kei Yuki, a handsome biker. The aliens now rebuilt their mothership into a luxurious hotel, and as you can probably guess, the setting for the final battle takes place right there.

Recap aside, part 4 goes back to part 1 for the most part: A brand new armada from the Alpha Cygnans return from space to reclaim their princess for once and for all. In the meantime, nothing has changed between our school friends. However, Miss Ayumi is getting married with Kei! Confusion will lead to chaos, as the main fleet of the aliens show up to stop the wedding because they think Miss Ayumi is their long lost princess. Meanwhile, an archeological team in Iraq, is deciphering some apocalyptic writings at an ancient site that may have something to do with the approach of the Alpha Cygnans. It reads that Alpha-Cygni's alien princess will be claimed and demons will be unleashed on the earth for ten days. Also it has a connection to the star of David. Suddenly the wall begins to part revealing a statue (which looks like C-ko) that causes the temple to collapse on the archeologists. 

A war is coming and B-Ko knows it.

The military force enters the action.

The aliens finally arrive and explain that their princess must come with them. C-ko's mother reveals herself and convinces her daughter it is time to go home. C-ko agrees since she feels she never really fit in with any of her classmates anyway. Miss Ayumi is outraged that nothing special happened to her because of her lucky charm pendant and smashes it while the Captain and D lament that they've been left behind because the Captain wasted time getting there by picking up a few more alcoholic drinks. A-ko and B-ko chase after the alien ship in B-ko's giant robot...

I don't want to spoil the ending to a 35 year old OVA, but we all know Project A-Ko  is about the neverending battle between A-Ko & B-Ko to conquer C-Ko's friendship and ultimately answer the Who's C-Ko's best friend forever? question. Moreover, the comedic drive the saga has, is somehow changed for a more adult, civilized solution to the permanent childish pointless bickering of the main characters.

War is coming lieutenant.

Suspiciously familiar crafts return.

As above mentioned, Project A-Ko 4 attempts to deliver fans of the saga, a much needed sense of closure. C-Ko finally asks herself what's her role in the relationship she has with A-Ko & B-Ko, and even though she's supposed to be the youngest of the trio, her realization is a very adult one: She has been a tool, a puppet, an object for too long. So, in learning this  truth, she discovers she better returns to her mother and to space with the Alpha-Cygnans where she belongs.

With C-Ko out of the scene, A-Ko & B-Ko discover their lives, and ultimately, their fight, has little to no meaning at all. Differences set aside, they team up to go after C-Ko for the final time. Also, let's not forget the prophecy the archeological team unraveled: If the aliens take their princess home, Earth will spend 10 days fighting demons. So the situation escalates to world proportions.

The A-Ko giant robot!

Princess C-Ko.

Project A-Ko was always a comedic effort, and while this final installment does include a few jokes here and there, the attempt at providing a dramatic ending, goes against the whole reason why people became fans of the saga. Ecchi content is toned down to a minimum, as well as panty shots and other cartoonish visual jokes. I get it, it's the end, producers have to  deliver a satisfying ending, and yet they don't. While part 4 teases us with a variety of fake endings, the actual ending leaves us, and the characters in a neverending loop where history repeats itself over and over. However, this is how most franchises are built. They take the best parts, and reuse them in sequels with subtle modifications, leading us into thinking "wow, that's new!" while it actually isn't.

One reason I, a 42 year old man still watch 1980s and 1990s Anime and OVAs, is because Japanese artists were always the daring kind. They would push boundaries every time. Even the most obscure and forgotten Animé/OVAs had something original to say, something original to show, not giving a damn at what animated content should or should not touch. Project A-Ko certainly pushed boundaries, but when they decided to get serious about the story, they became Project A-Ko 4: Final, a completely decaffeinated parody of themselves.

 

A-Ko says good-bye.

B-Ko always ready for action.

Final thoughts

As above mentioned, the Animé phenomenon was built on groundbreaking ideas that had never been seen before in American animation. Pushing boundaries with their stories, and graphic violence, nudity & sex, this granted a legion of fans tired of stupid cartoons with no exciting content. Project A-Ko was originally intended to be a  Hentai film. A sequel to the 1984 Cream Lemon series. A few rewrites later, it became the science fiction adventure comedy we know it is today. Sequels can be a pan in the ass for sure. Being able to maintain the integrity of the original OVA is a gigantic task that the even the best have failed at. Perhaps, one sequel would have been enough. Maybe keeping all the sleaze and crazy ideas until the very end of the saga, could have made Project A-Ko 4: Final a fitting ending to a saga that is cherished by many 80s Animé enthusiasts, myself included.

Happy new year!

Movie trailer:

Campus Special Investigator Hikaruon

30 minutes of fame.

学園特捜ヒカルオンAKA Campus Special Investigator Hikaruon is a 30 minute OVA from 1987. Quick action, fan service, a cool theme song, and a motorcycle dude who transforms into an armored superhero no one's heard of before. What's not to like?

A strange series of apparent suicides is occurring at a Japanese private school; Campus Investigators Hikaru Shihodo and Adzumi Hadzuki infiltrate the school to investigate the cause of these student deaths. Adzumi goes undercover as a business-suit wearing bodacious-babe teacher. Hikaru, back in school and posing as a newly enrolled student, is picked on by big, bad, bully Gomi and his gang, but quickly turns the tables on Gomi with his “too cool for school” attitude. After some “I-am-the-man” posturing between Gomi and Hikaru, pretty student council vice president Yayoi Shina becomes enamored of “Shihodo-kun”.

Through Shina, Hikaru meets suave, stuck-up, delicate featured, anemic looking student council president Amakusa (evil incarnate). Manipulative brainiac Amakusa is really a student’s soul-eating monster from another dimension. Amakusa takes Shina captive and puts Adzumi under mind control, and then he changes into a giant monster. It’s up to Hikaru to transform into the metal super-hero HikaruOn to rescue them. 

 

Hikaruon looks like a VR Trooper.

Average 1980s hero style.

 

Hikaruon was produced by AIC studios, veterans in the Animé industry producing a respectable amount of 133 OVAs ranging from hentai to sci-fi. Some of them, covered in past reviews here: Guy, Project Zeorymer, Dangaioh, Call Me Tonight, and the legendary Megazone 23 just to name a few! Moreover, it's directed by Kazuhiro Ochi, who's worked on Dragon Ball Super, Mobile Suit Gundam & Fist of the North Star. 

 

As above mentioned, Hikaruon is not trying to deliver an original story at all. In fact, it was conceived as a tribute to the "Metal Hero" (tokusatsu) genre from the 80s. This is a short one-episode. There's no backstory or character development at all (probably a good thing, actually) and very little characterization for our cardboard cutouts; the villain's motivations are also unclear. Granted, plotting and character nonsense is not usually the main factor drawing people to series like this, but it does help to have some kind of hook to keep the viewer interested—the appeal is the shortness and fast-pace, fun imagery, and a few bits of interesting animation. There is a mishmash of effective elements, but not one thing that is done enough or consistently well to make this anything more than a forgettable time waster.

 

Hikaruon main characters.

Vintage poster.

The storyboarding is often pretty good, with the chosen shots being quite dramatic (love the bit with the car trying to run over the protagonists). This was a period of animation where they weren't afraid to incorporate background animation somewhat regularly, and there is a bit of that. Hideki Tamura's running sequence is nice, though short. Both Shinya Ohira and Yoshinori Kanada animate parts of the final fight scene. Not really among the best work of either, though some of the effects animation predict stronger efforts of Ohira's, such as his scenes in Angel Cop or Akira. Kanada's scenes are probably the most stylish—especially those great silhouette light shows, and he was always a shining light in the darkness for so many of these old TV series.

The biggest standout, other than exposure to obscure work from a few industry veterans, is probably a much darker atmosphere than is usual for a show of this nature. It starts with a suicide, depicted in a creative fashion, and they even use unshaded and colorless bystanders to good effect. The multiple dimensions also lend this a bit of a surreal touch, with the chessboard setting being the most notable. Most of the scenes outside of the short school segments are nocturnal urban scenes that are well-rendered and moody.

 

Hazuki Adzumi, more than a teacher.

Brave Hikaru's friend.

 

Back then in the 80s, the few chosen ones who were lucky to witness some of this material, would frequently label it as an "adult form of animation". Nevertheless, this wasn't because of the occasional nudity & sex some of these OVAs included. This label, quoting a legendary 1980s franchise, referred to Animé as being "more than meets the eye". Think about it for a second, Adzumi Hadzuki (pictured above) infiltrates the school to investigate teenage suicide. How hardcore is that for an animation? He-Man and Optimus Prime only dealt with soft moral issues, never with depression and eventually death. I for one, can say this was groundbreaking to me, as a young impressionable and susceptible boy. Suicide is definitely one of the most difficult themes that society experiences, sadly, everyday. So, yes, I think we can agree the Animé industry was decades ahead of what the American cartoon industry considered suitable for children. No wonder, concerned families wanted to ban Animé because of its "satanic/perverted" content that would poison young kids minds. Moreover, Hikaruon also includes a couple of scenes where rape is involved. Although, our hero gets there just in time, the matter is teased twice. Considering, this is a 30 minute story, producers wasted no time in implying the demons hiding in the school are the very evil cause behind the issues that are destroying the students' lives. Once Hikaru arrives in school these demons have already infiltrated school with their minions posing as regular students. 

What's in it for the demons? Well, they feed on teenage flesh and blood, so it's only natural they target a high school full of them. Sadly, we don't get an explanation as to why they do it, and how Hikaru became the superhero he is. 

VR Troopers!

What could have happened to Hazuki.

All in all, Campus Special Investigator Hikaruon is a quick story that pays homage to the tokusatsu genre, and that's pretty much it. Remember that the 80s boom for animation had hundreds of companies producing as many OVAs as they could. The thirst was real, and honestly, producers didn't care if their stories would remain unfinished forever. They wanted the cash, and they got it.

 

Here's the opening in full HD glory:

 

 

The ending in full HD as well:

And a movie clip, also from the recent HD remaster:

A Wind Named Amnesia

Philosophy for the otaku.

Continuing with our post apocalyptic reviews, we'll give some rest to the 80s, and talk about the 90s. As a matter of fact, today's OVA will celebrate its 23rd anniversary in a few days.

A Wind Named Amnesia, is yet another story that is part of a great list of animated films focused in the aftermath of a giant cataclysmic event that leaves mankind at its weakest and most vulnerable.  The cold war was still a theme when the 90s began, and it influenced a variety of art genres and formats. Philosophical questions like "What do we do now?",  "How can we go on?", "Will it ever happen again?" inspired novels, films, albums, video games, and of course, the animation industry. 

Death & technology.

it's always a good time for a cup o' joe.

The OVA was produced by Madhouse studios in 1990, and directed by Kazuo Yamazaki, famous among connoisseurs for his work on Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku, two classic titles no worthy Otaku can  miss. The movie is an adaptaion from Hideyuki Kikuchi's 風の名はアムネジア(The Wind of Amnesia) . Other Kikuchi's works include Vampire Hunter D, Demon City Shinjuku, & Wicked City.The screenplay was written by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, known for directing titles like Ninja Scroll, Biohunter, & Cyber City Oedo 808. But don't be fooled! "A Wind Named Amnesia" is the exact opposite of those titles. There is neither gore, nor ultra violence of any kind, which is a credit to the people involved in the production of it. They demonstrated they could get out of their comfort zone to deliver quite an unexpected story.

Plot wise, In the year 1999, the world has been reduced to an apocalyptic wasteland due to an inexplicable gust of wind that wiped even the most basic memories, such as speech and civility, from the minds of the world's populace. Wataru (our protagonist) befriends a young man named Johnny who, prior to the incident, was part of a government experiment designed to expand the memory capacity of the human mind and, therefore, was able to retain his memories. Johnny helps Wataru regain his speech and teaches him other basic functions. However, as a result of the physical toll his body endured due to the government experiments, Johnny dies after encouraging Wataru to travel the world. Wataru encounters a strange woman named Sophia after she helps him escape from an encounter with an unmanned Police Mech Unit and agrees to take Sophia to New York City. Together the two travel to Los Angeles where they try to help as many people as they can until they reach their final destination.

 

Wataru wants to unravel the mystery.

Action is needed sometimes.

Amnesia wouldn't be released in home formats overseas until 1996, where Central Park Media, now defunct, released it on VHS tape. Other releases by CPM, include M.D. Geist, Urotsukidoji, Record of Loddos War, the complete Project A-Ko series of OVAs. Moreover, their most celebrated achievement in North America, is they were the first to publish Hentai titles.

Without a doubt, A Wind Named Amnesia takes its time to tell the story. People have criticized it for this . However, the plot moves in and out from different stories as Water & Sophia meet new people on their way to New York. For an OVA directed and produced by artists that are largely associated with ultra violent content, you'd expect a lot of action and blood to be spilled on screen, yet the story focuses more on characters and their personal struggles. There is a major plot twist near the end of the story, and the revelation won't go unnoticed, yet the world seems to be beyond saving, leaving a taste of cynical reaction from our main characters.

Boobs are part of the end of the world.

Did I say boobs?

One funny thing Amnesia has, is the odd setting. While everyone speaks Japanese, to story is actually set in the USA. This is how it feels when Hollywood makes movies set in different countries and eras, and yet characters speak perfect English! 

Animation wise, backgrounds are highly detailed, and look like beautiful watercolor paintings. From the Rocky Mountains, to some valleys, and lakes and streams all of it looks amazing. Character designs ditto. Soundtrack wise, it feels generic. 

Ultimately, Amnesia is a hard to swallow pill. The story is slow paced, and some of the revelations and interactions Wataru goes though, make him remain unchanged despite the implications these have as major plot points, and this is a big flaw, because he is supposed to be the only human who has his memory restored. How come people dying, and Aliens deciding our fate randomly don't have any effect on him? Moreover, the final sex scene, which is perhaps the most unnecessary sex scene ever filmed in the animation industry, makes no sense at all. Would you have sex with one of the people responsible for the  catastrophe that doomed your planet? Moreover, when Wataru asks Sophia why they did it, and if they're planning to undo the results, all she answers is "I don't know". 

Johnny   brought Wataru back to the world.

Violence.

All in all, A Wind Named Amnesia is a one time watch experience. While there is value in the people involved in the production of the OVA, the final product leaves much to be desired in a variety of aspects. Maybe watch it when you're drunk, or playing beer pong or something. 

 The movie trailer in full HD:

D・N・A²

Vasectomy: The anime.

Hello fellow few people who still read reviews. It's been a busy semester for this professor, hence the lack of reviews during the year. However, this isn't a post about my sorry real life struggles, it's a  post about another 1990s Animé that is worth revisiting today, almost 30 years after its  original release date.

D・N・A², is a 12 episode Japanese animation based upon the same manga written  & illustrated by Masakazu Katsura, who also created Video Girl AI which we reviewed previously.  Romance, comedy and Sci-Fi blend to tell the story of Momonari Junta, a high school student who has terrible luck with women, and also an axiety disorder that makes it nearly impossible to establish any kind of physical contact with them. Kurimoto Ami is his childhood friend and classmate. Nothing out of the ordinary for a standard animé, right? Fast forward to the future, and the world is awfully overpopulated. A mysterious man nicknamed the "Mega-Playboy" is to blame, and the only way to stop him from getting hundreds and hundreds of women, is to travel back in time, and find him before he becomes the sexual beast women can't resist. Enter,  Aoi Karen, a DNA Operator from the future. Her mission: shoot down the Mega-Playboy with a special DCM (DNA Control  Medicine)  bullet that will obviously, as you've probably guessed by the Anime title,  modify his genetic structure and keep him a normal man forever. While the concept of genetics is not developed to the point  of being a biology class, the word DNA is mentioned several times by a variety of characters implying it's impossible for them to change their nature. Discussions of nature versus nurture, have taken place for centuries in science, novels, philosophy and family discussions. Can you turn the tide, and decide for yourself? Well, that's one of the questions this little Anime will try to answer in 12 episodes.

 

Junta and his women.

Ass from the future.

 

Although D・N・A² tells a story that has been told hundreds of times in both Manga and Anime, the kid who never finds a girl because he's too troubled to dare, is presented here in a hopeful manner despite all the unexpected changes about to unravel when past and future meet for a common goal: The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few. Junta is a kid who means no harm. He's never been popular with girls, and his friends are part of the same stereotyped group. As above mentioned, he probably has an anxiety disorder by current standards in medicine: He throws up whenever he gets aroused. Although this happens rarely on his life, he's decided to maintain distance with women to avoid the humiliation. Kurimoto Ami, his best friend is the submissive stereotyped friend who secretly loves him but is too shy to reveal her true feelings to him. If you can pass the stereotypes that have been ruining the romantic lives of millions of people who grew up watching either Anime or soap operas, then this Animé could be for you.

Once the inevitable future meets the past happens, Junta falls in love with Karen, who will eventually feel the same way. Comedy is all over in the first 6 or 7 episodes. Junta's condition, along with the fact Karen will shoot the wrong bullet, turns Junta into a mega playboy. However, this condition will basically be temporary until he makes love with one of his many admirers. Enter Saeki Tomoko, and Takanashi Kotomi. The first one is of the most popular and beautiful girls in Junta's school, and the ex-girlfriend of Ryuji (the antagonist). She falls in love with Junta because of his Mega-Playboy powers. The second one, is a friend and classmate of Ami's who has an embarrassing problem similar to Junta's allergy: she farts whenever she gets nervous. Kotomi develops a crush on Junta due to his Mega-Playboy DNA. She and Junta spend some time together trying to help cure each other of their problems. 

So, now that the bullet has been shot, it will be up to Aoi Karen to stop Junta from making love with one of his female admirers. If she fails, his transformation will be complete, and the future will remain the same with its overpopulation problem.

Junta's condition.

The power of the mega playboy.

Fan service wise, D・N・A² the scenes are mild, neither nudity, nor sex. These scenes serve the purpose of displaying Junta's problem whenever he's about to move to the next level. This serves as a sub-plot when Kotomi and Junta decide to solve their problem by training at the high school gym. Kotomi is perhaps the girl that gets closer to fully transforming Junta in the mega playboy. On the other hand, Tomoko also attempts to take Junta to her bed, which introduces the antagonist: Ryuji, a spoiled rich kid who's irresistible to women, and the one we could say is the mega playboy Karen is trying to stop.However, he's just an annoying character meant to get into an eventual final fight with Junta just because "her girl" had a thing for him. A sexist son of a bitch from the 90s.

Speaking of themes that haven't aged well, we can't overlook the fact that each character has some degree of obsessive compulsive behavior when it comes to getting what they want regardless of consequences. Moreover, by today standards, these characters would probably spend some time on therapy. On the other hand, I  know this is fictional story telling, and each of these exaggerated character traits serve a comedic purpose, while others are simply not acceptable. Two examples I can think of:

Ami's submissive behavior towards Junta, and the all the crap he brings to her, looks like someone with no self-esteem. Love has never been about giving up your personality, and needs in favor of someone else, that simply isn't love, and it's annoying all these mangakas keep on perpetuating this wrong concept even today. No wonder why some kids have serious difficulties letting their feelings out. In addition, whenever Junta is late for school or skips classes, Ami's ready to bring her class notes to him whenever necessary. In the final episodes, this trait reaches critical mass when she tells him she'll love him regardless what happens when he becomes this mega playboy. Seriously?  Will she stay home with dinner ready until he gets sick of fucking random women until he comes home? That cliché crap was already worn to death in the 90s.

Aoi Karen.

a woman with a mission.

Second example: Ryuji. While his misconduct is somewhat justified by the random DCM bullet he gets shot with, this guy is a potential rapist, an egotistical maniac, and someone with no ethics and morals whatsoever. I get they want you to loathe him because he is supposed to be the bad guy, sure, I get it! This guy is every sexist stereotype feminist movements can't stand today.

Plotwise, the story is quite weak, unless you apply suspension of disbelief. The whole mega-playboy problem could have been solved with a more competent DNA operator, and a vasectomy. No need for special bullets. Once the story reaches its climax, viewers are no longer interested. The comedy is gone, and the Dragon Ball-like fight between Ryuji & Junta makes no sense at all. Two episodes before we had no idea these bullets would give them superhuman strength, and a black belt in martial arts. The rushed finale led to a 3 OVA grand finale, or dare I say the actual ending of the story?

Taking showers is essential.

Gymnastics has its advantages.

Overall, D・N・A² starts off great. The first 7 episodes are the best, comedy and entertainment wise. From episode 8 on, the story is rushed and all the sci-fi added elements don't add up in the end. If you want to see how the story ends, you have to watch the 3 OVAs because, that's where the actual ending is. The problem many viewers found while watching DNA, is the fact that it seems the producers didn't know where to go after episode 7. The rushed final episodes, and all the elements they tried to cover, worked for the worst. The premise wasn't bad, yet the development and ending are perhaps the weakest. Animation wise, the art is beautiful, you can't deny that, and last but not least, the best part of this little anime is its main theme song: