Publisher: Geneon (USA)Format: Region 1 and 4 DVD, NTSC, Japanese Dialogue with optional English Dub and English Subtitles
Length: 47 mins (OVA 1), 28 mins x 3 Episodes (OVAs 2 to 4)
Production Date: 1995
Currently in Print (as of writing): No
I originally bought the subtitled tapes for this show in the late 1990’s. Pioneer released them in black clamshell cases with the translated LD insert folded up inside. It looked so damn good. Bizarrely the dub tapes just got the usual cardboard slip over the tape. Unsure why Pioneer did this. Anyway, as Geneon was breathing its last breaths, I decided I should probably rebuy this show on DVD (and keep the covers and inserts from the VHS tapes, which I always regretted not doing for the “Tenchi Muyo!” OVAs). Strangely the DVD versions lack the inserts and extras found in their LD and VHS counterparts.
This show is certainly cyberpunk to the core. The city on Mars looks so much like Los Angeles in “Blade Runner”. We also have “replicants” (the Thirds) and a Roy Batty lookalike (D’anclaude). I think this one of the last true cyberpunk anime made, discounting the woeful remakes and spinoffs of “Bubblegum Crisis”. “Armitage III” is also yet another great example of the great stuff that was being produced in the 1990’s OVAs market. While the first episode is pretty sketchy at times with some really absurd scenes, rather crappy and clichéd dialogue and some dodgy animation, overall it’s really well done and quite fun. The plot over the four OVAs is pretty entertaining. The action sequences are pretty damn good too. Despite the fact this is an AIC anime, the designs are pretty damn good. This was just before AIC decided they only needed a handful of character designs for every single anime they produced (come on, it’s true!).
Overall, this is one really fun OVA series. If only the format would rise up again. The big negatives here are there is a plot hole or two and the fact parts of the OVA show that it was done on a tight budget. When the Geneon logo came up, I was tricked into thinking that this disc was a remaster. It’s not. The video is quite watchable, but looks shoddy in numerous spots. 7 out of 10.
“Armitage III: Poly-Matrix”
Publisher: Geneon (USA)Format: Region 1 and 4 DVD, NTSC, English Dialogue with optional Japanese Subtitles
Length: 92 mins
Production Date: 1996
Currently in Print (as of writing): No
The mid 1990’s was a period where a lot of OVAs were given runs in cinemas with additional material. Stuff like “Macross Plus” as well as a lot of Gundam stuff (0083, Wing: Endless Waltz, 08th MS team etc). I’m unsure why the decision was made to release this series as a film. Even more strange was the fact that in Japan it was released in English only (with Japanese subtitles). Weirder was the fact they used to slightly washed up Hollywood stars, a pre “24” Kiefer Sutherland and Elizabeth Berkley (who only has the cinematic masterpiece “Showgirls” as her only claim to fame). Somehow I managed to get the Japanese VHS. I loaned it to the local anime club (according to flyer, it was late 1997) because they were playing shit. For two years they had played imported commercial subbed tapes and LDs as well as fansubs. But they were lazy pricks and weren’t getting anything new (one of the members who was supplying them stuff got shitty with them and left). So rather than watching dubbed “Fatal Fury” and “Toshiden” I decided to help them, for the sake of the sanity of those who came. I remember people laughing at the line “If you don’t leave, I’ll call the security gadget” in this film. Well, it was pretty stupid and 14 or so years on it still sounds dumb.
The reason for getting this film is three new major animated sequences. The first is the opening credits which introduce us to Armitage as she dispatches an assassin android with a bike. It’s pretty cool. The second is a hospital sequence where Eddie discusses the Thirds with Ross. The third is a postscript to the battle at the end of the film. I don’t think this last sequence is as good as the OVA ending. There’s also a number of minor new scenes and redone animation added to the film. Most of this was done for continuity purposes. The bulk of the film is made up of the first and last episodes. There still is a lot of rather dodgy and cheap animation left in, which makes the film not really look like a theatrical feature. With the exception of the two leads, I think the dub cast is identical and they mostly do a good job. Berkley is really good as Armitage, and at times is better actor than her Japanese counterpart (who sounded really flat in some parts of the first episode). I’ve heard people criticise Sutherland’s performance, but I think he’s pretty good. He underplays the part which I think suits Ross.
While the film is in widescreen, the disc itself is 4:3 letterbox which is highly disappointing. Oddly the film also comes with Japanese subtitles. Naturally there is no Japanese language track as none exists. The audio including sound effects were completely redone. Most of it works well, however some of it seems really out of place. The mecha sounds really weird and pieces of some action sequences don’t seem right. Luckily the music was kept the same, however there is a new end credit theme which is brilliant. Overall, surprisingly good, but several elements, mostly to do with the cheapness of the original production, let it down a bit. 7 out of 10.
Remaining Backlog: 24 months (it's much easier this way than listing the number of discs).
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