Video Backlog: "Bubblegum Crisis"

Publisher: Toshiba/Happinet Pictures (Japan)
Format: Region 2 DVD, NTSC, Japanese Dialogue with optional English dub and English Subtitles
Length: 2 Episodes x 45 minutes, 2 Episodes x 28 minutes, 1 Episode x 40 minutes, 3 Episodes x 50 minutes
Production Date: 1987 - 1991
Currently in Print (as of writing): Yes (AnimEigo single disc and DVD Box Set versions. All other English language versions out of print)

This is the third time I’ve bought a copy of this OVA series. Think I originally bought the AnimEigo tapes back in the mid 1990’s. Around 2000 or so, a friend lent me that awful “PC software box”release of the series that AnimEigo let some half arsed company sublicense and release (they later released a better version themselves). It was pretty shit with some awful video even by early 2000’s standard. I heard that back in 1999, Toshiba in Japan had released the series on DVD complete with AnimEigo’s English dub and subtitles. I didn’t pass the opportunity up, and paid a ransom for the three separate volume DVD releases, which came in CD jewel cases. Looking at the video today, it still looks pretty good, but is in need of a remaster for sure. In 2004, Toshiba rereleased the three discs as one gorgeous looking box set with an additional disc which only contained the rather forgettable “Holiday in Bali”, where the voice actresses sing a few songs in the land of where most Australian bogans choose to holiday. All the other BGC stuff like the two music video compilations had previously appeared on the original Toshiba DVD releases. As the current Blu-ray version of the series (from Bandai Visual in Japan) no having any English language options on it, and the fact I really wanted the DVD box version, I stupidly went ahead and bought it. Being an out print DVD box set, it cost me a pretty penny too…

I hadn’t the show for many years prior to watching this box set. Certainly it has aged. But you have to remember it’s going reach the ripe old age of 25 next year. The designs and concepts are still fantastic. Sure it’s a “Blade Runner” rip off (using the names “Priss and the Repilcants” and “Leon” was a bit too obvious in that regard) and the opening music sequence is a direct lift from ”Streets of Fire”, but hell, I don’t really care. It’s goddam fun, which arguably couldn’t be said for “Blade Runner” (however I do love that film). A big part of the series success can be attributed to Kenichi Sonoda, who not only did the immediately recognisable “80’s big hair” character designs, but the highly distinctive hard suits the Knight Sabers use. Looking at the feet of those suits, one can only conclude that Sodona has a massive high heel fetish. Of course the other important element of the show is of course the music. It’s big dumb 1980’s pop/rock anthems. Somehow this mix of “Blade Runner” filtered through 1980’s sci-fi anime design, the burgeoning OVA format and Japanese pop rock works brilliantly. No one has seemed to be able to copy the format, and none of BGC’s sequels, prequels or spin offs have ever matched the brilliance of the original. The characters are of course great too. Priss is gruff tomboy rock chick, however latter episodes soften and feminise her image too much in my opinion. I also love Leon for the fact he never gives up on trying get in to bed with Priss, despite the fact she brushes him off every single time. Sylia Stingray is also a great character, however I felt that we are never given much clear insight into her background. Her brother Mackie is also interesting, as in why in hell does he want to perv on his sister so much? I always found that weird. The ditzy and practically useless (well, in a battle at least) Nene is also a favourite character of mine. Strengthening my personal theory that Megumi Hayashibara pretty much appeared in all anime from the late 1980’s thorough to the late 1990’s, is the fact she also appears in this series, albeit briefly early on in episode 5.

Besides Sodona, the staff roster includes some really big names. Shinji Aramaki is credited throughout many of the episodes as a production designer. Masami Obari directed episodes five and six (“Moonlight Rambler” and “Red Eyes”), and Satoshi Urushihara’s (of “Plastic Little” infamy) influence on the character designs can be seen quite clearly in “Double Vision”, though most of the designs stay true to Sodona’s original designs. While the initial episodes are quite well done (perhaps the third episode “Blow Up” was a bit too similar in plot to the previous episode, “Born To Kill”), the second half of the series are some of the best OVAs ever made. The two Masami Obari OVAs, “Moonlight Rambler” and “Red Eyes”, change the look of the series with powered up hard suits, and techniques such as depicting making the Hard Suits transparent to the perspective of the audience so we can see the expressions on the Knight Sabers’ faces as they battle. And of course due to his mecha designs and style, it looks so very much like an Obari work. My personal favourite episode is “Double Vision” which embodies all the best elements of the series (mecha, girls and music) and turns everything up to eleven. I really liked the fact they directly linked the events between this OVA and the second OVA, “Born To Kill”.

Apart from the obvious fact that the show has aged visually, the major problem the series has is the lack of a continuing story throughout the eight OVAs. Certainly the Knight Sabers are in constant conflict with Genom, but their actual enemy rarely hangs around for more than two episodes. Still, plot points mostly dealing with Sylia Stingray brought up in episode five and six are practically ignored and forgotten in the final two episodes. I suppose with the fact this series was being planned only one or two episodes ahead, it’s not really surprising there’s no real overarching storyline. However I think the episodic nature works to their series favour most of the time. There’s some weird little in jokes spread out through the series. For example a scene of Sydney briefly includes a shot of a business woman with a koala attached to her shoulder. There’s also their weirdness of the 1987 Williams formula one car plonked in the centre of an operations room in Genom tower, or the fact that character and actor names from “Top Gun” appear on the computer screens in the same scene. The bonus material on the discs is as about as extensive as you’d expect for a series this old. First you have the two music video compilations. The first one is probably my favourite of all anime music video compilations. It contains a video clip called “Touchdown to Tomorrow” which contains all new animation. It’s rather cheesy, but incredibly fun. Other notable extras include a promo music video for “Hurricane Tonight by Kinuko Oomori (who plays Priss). There’s also a promo for the fourth OVA which features Oomori dressed in a mock up Priss Hard Suit. She looks incredibly uncomfortable in it. The box also comes with a 24 page full colour booklet. The only problem is that it doesn’t come with the same full colour promo artwork that the single DVD booklets came with. So in conclusion I still think it’s a highly entertaining series despite its age. Nostalgia might be clouding my judgement on the series, but I don’t care. 9.5 out of 10.

Remaining Backlog: 26 months (it's much easier this way than listing the number of discs).