Video Backlog: "009-1"

Publisher: ADV Films (USA)
Format: Region 1 DVD, NTSC, Japanese Dialogue with optional English Dub and English Subtitles
Length: 13 Episodes x 24 mins
Production Date: 2006
Currently in Print (as of writing): Yes (Funimation re-release)

Story Outline: In an alternate world, the Cold War has continued on for 140 years. In this world, countries are divided up between the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. Mylene Hoffman, code named 009-1, is a female cyborg who is a spy for the Western Bloc. Part of the Nine Number Group, one of the ten groups in the Zero Zero Organization, Mylene is ordered to take on various counter espionage missions, some of which involve the killing of other agents or other morally ambiguous tasks such as using her body to gain secrets. Though Mylene chose this profession without any pressure, she sometimes wonders if it was the right choice and has difficulties dealing with some of the moral dilemmas the job raises.

Mini Review: In recent times I have discovered the back catalogue of works by Shotaro Ishinomori. In particular “Cyborg 009”, “Kamen Rider” and “Kikaider”. This show is based on a short manga series which began in 1967 and is a kind of successor to “Cyborg 009”, though in name only; it’s not really related to that manga. I didn’t really have high hopes for this one, but was really surprised by the quality of the show and how mature it was. Although rather James Bond-esque, it mostly forgoes the gadgets and goes for the “morally ambiguous dilemma” angle. This comes to a head towards the end of the show with Mylene disobeying orders and even her superiors questioning her methods and if she is really suited to the job. There’s also a very nice origin episode for Mylene. Number of the other girls from the Nine Number Group are featured, but unfortunately we don’t get much information about them (albeit some info on ADV’s liner notes). The designs are quite nice and it’s a real surprise to see the character designs for all of the women look so “chunky”. In other words more like real women. While the majority of the show is rather good, I found some parts of episodes dragged a bit. There was also a tendency for standalone episodes rather than any real arc, but by the three episode finaly you realise that there has been a thread weaved though most of the episodes. Surprisingly actress and model Yumiko Shaku (“Sky High”, “Princess Blade”, “Godzilla X Mechagodzilla”) plays Mylene, the only anime character she has ever voiced. And after watching the 2006 “Sasami” series, I am so glad to hear some excellent voice acing. The ADV version of this series looks quite impressive. Not only did it come with full colour booklets in each volume, but the “series box” was a metal suit case. Seriously way over the top for a series like this. I can’t imagine they sold all that many copies. While the content of the show was reather good, I can’t see why ADV thought this show needed special treatment while other shows they released didn’t. 7.5 out of 10.

Remaining Backlog: 21 months (it's much easier this way than listing the number of discs).