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: