SF Shinseiki Lensman

Star Wars meets Tron.

Lensman: Secret of The Lens (SF 新世紀 レンズマン SF Shinseiki Lensman) is a 1984 Japanese animated film loosely based on the 1940's & 1950's Lensman novels written by E. E. Smith. The OVA originally aired on July the 7th in Japan, and after mild success an animated series was comissioned under the title of Galactic Patrol Lensman. The Animé lasted only 25 episodes and it was broadcasted only in Japan. Later in 1987, Harmony Gold (the studio that brought you Captain Harlock & Robotech) planned to release Lensman to the western world, which meant, revamping the series, dubbing it, adding new music and white washing it, so the first home video release was Lensman, The Power Of The Lens a "movie" that comprised the first four episodes of the original Animé, maybe Harmony Gold was planning to release the entire series under the treatment they had given to other Animé and OVAs. Unfortunately, there is no official information about that, so I'm just guessing. What is true nevertheless, is that after this home video was released, they got the rights to the original 1984 film, so by 1988 they had "adapted" the OVA to western civilization standards (whatever the fuck that meant) the films was known then as Lensman, The Secret Of The Lens. Later in 1990 a "new" version of the film was produced by Streamline.

There are differences however between the two versions in terms of story and the length of the movie where the Harmony Gold version deleted some scenes that were kept in the Streamline version. Harmony Gold also arranged a whole new soundtrack for their version, with some tracks carried over from their previous movies Robotech II: the Sentinels and Robotech the Movie: the Untold Story whereas Streamline used the original Japanese Soundtrack.  

Now, if we think about the correct cronological order where the original film & animé happened, this is what you should read to not be confused (many respected websites have this info painfully wrong)

1. July 1984 "SF Shinseiki Lensman" the OVA or film if you prefer.
2. October 1984 "Galactic Patrol Lensman" the 25 episode Animé that only aired in Japan.
3. 1987 "Lensman, The Power Of The Lens" the first four episodes of the original Animé made into a movie by Harmony Gold.
4. 1988 "Lensman, The Secret Of The Lens" the Harmony Gold version of the original film
5. 1990 "Lensman" the Streamline version which added back everything Harmony Gold changed in the OVA (music, deleted scenes, different dubbing)

Not afraid of spaceflights.

I must not fap!

The story is about a dying Lensman who transfers his Lens to a young man named Kimball Kinnison. To his best knowledge, Kim wasn't aware of how big the responsibility of holding the Lens is. This Lens contains vital information that would enable the Galactic Patrol to face the deadly DNA weapon created by the Boskone Empire. The Arisians initially were the ones who created the Lens in order to stand up to the evil Eddorians, because in spite of their great power, they alone could not vanquish the Eddorian menace. Through the Lens, the Lensmen minds were merged with the cosmic conscientiousness of Arisia. On another side is Lord Helmuth, the ruthless, merciless Boskone leader, who would stop at nothing to get his hands on the Lens.

Kim finds himself escaping from the boskone battleships with the assistance of his friend Van Buskirk. Afterward, the Boskone blew up the Planet Mqueie (an agricultural planet) where Kim and his father Ken lived. Ken was one of the founders of the Galactic Patrol; however, he lost an arm during battle, and if he hadn't, he would have been a Lensman himself. Ken always dreamed of becoming a Lensman, so when he found out that his son became one, he sacrificed his life to save him.

The Millenium Falcon.

Chewbacca's update.

Through the movie's events, Kim meets Clarissa MacDougall, who is a nurse working with the Galactic Patrol and there is an immediate attraction between them.

Eventually Kim realizes that the Lens has the answer, and within it lies great power as well, providing the key to Helmuth's defeat, and he transmits the formula to the Galactic Patrol fleet that is waiting to attack, knowing that they will lose without the answer...

People don't seem to be giving Lensman enough credit where its due. A few issues have been overlooked which are key to understanding the Lensman experience.

The Year: For the year it was made in (1984) Lensman features some of the most stunning effects I've ever seen. As a person who watches a lot of early 80's animation Lensman is unique in it's use of what appears to be computer-generated imagery at a time when computers were extremely primitive. Kim's battle against the geometric cutter pods in the laser maze can be taken as an excellent example of this. Every time I watch that I have to keep repeating to myself that it was 1984 when it was made.

The Soundtrack: Lensman has one of the most insane soundtracks that I've heard, and this mad hysterical beat permeates every corner of the film. Lensman borrowed heavily on two western mistakes (as above mentioned) and managed to somewhat deal with the first one - the need to fill in every second of silence in a film with music and the need for a heroine. While the music is attuned well and galvanizes scenes such as the motorcycle battle in the Thionite Factory on Radelyx, the heroine theme fails due to the sheer annoyance value of Chris.

I'm a Lensman too!

I used to be a Lensman when I was alive.

Western Influences: Helmut - sounds like "helmet" and has roughly the same voice as Darth Vader. Clarissa Fairborn - has the same hairstyle as the princess of SW and her name sounds suspiciously similar to Marissa Fairborn of Transformers. Takes over Han Solos role by flying the ship and having some technical expertise. Buzzkirk - a definite improvement on Chewbacca. The lens - a nice concrete copy of the force that comes across less as a chance to preach Christianity at the audience than in the original SW. While the force relied on belief far more than concentration, the lens is a pure concentration tool. Theoretically, anyone could wield the lens. The lens is far more limited than the Force - being purely a defensive/offensive weapon.

Technology: The boskone alliance have interesting meatball sponge ships. They look like stormtroopers only with red uniforms instead of white. The idea of a DNA weapon was nice if only it had been developed. The Galactic Alliance looked like Starblazers (or whatever it was called - that 60's series where they were battling the Xylons). There weren't enough ship to ship battles for me - this is much improved upon in the second Lensman film.

Idle hands.

Original promo art.

Overall, a great piece of OVA from the beginning of the Animé madness that conquered North America in the early 80's. Depending on which version you watch the differences will be mostly about the soundtrack and a few deleted moments that do not interfere with the plot. There are some cool early CGI that make this the very first animated film to ever use this kind of technology. Also, do not be confused by sites claiming there are two Lensman movies, there is only one Lensman movie (read some paragraphs above) 

Now, let's get into the video section of our review.

Galactic Patrol Lensman, the opening of the impossible to find original Animé series:

Here the original Shinseiki Lensman Opening scenes:

The Harmony Gold version of the film:

The Streamline version of the film:

I hope you've liked this review since we'll be checking some of the most influential OVA and Animé from the 80's within the next weeks.