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Set
in 2032 and following a huge Earthquake, Mega- Tokyo is controlled
by the ruthless Genom corporation and their android creations, the
Boomers. The Boomers were created with the reconstruction of the city
in mind, but are also used to replace mankind's involvement in mundane
or dangerous tasks. As the series progresses, it seems that the machines
are looking to replace us in other areas too...
The main protaganists are the Knight Sabers - four women in high tech,
high heeled armour who are fighting back, clearing up rampaging boomers
and striking out against the corporate control of the city. These
women are; Sylia Stingray, daughter of the scientist responsible for
creating the boomers, herslef the creator of the hard suits used to
fight them. Linna Yamazaki, a strong willed gymnast with her eyes
set on a corporate career, Nene Romanova, the cute, red haired young
runaway who acts as a mole inside the AD Police and finally, the series
central character, Priss Asigiri - rock singer, biker and all round
tough gal with more than her fair share of tragedies haunting her.
I can't understate just how good this series is, and what a milestone
in the UK anime scene it became. In the wake of Akira, it was Anime
Projects, the original UK rights holders, not Manga Entertainment
that provided the next high-octane cyberpunk thrills, and showed us
that there was more to Japanese animation than sex, murder and demons.
BubbleGum Crisis is intelligently scripted, leaves a lot of questions
unanswered (in the best possible way) and provides us with some of
the sharpest and most memorable pre-Evangelion mecha designs ever.
The series is driven by a pounding rock track, which was good enough
to spawn two music videos. It would be fatal to dismiss this as a
team-genre anime, as it's so much more. The arcs takes us through
the lives of the members, and the series concentrates on character
development as much as it does on the action quota. The earlier episodes
are okay, but tape five (or arc 2 following MVM's set) that really
pushes the direction, animation and mecha onto a higher level. The
first time I saw it I was stunned, and even now I find myself smiling
when I watch it because I know I've got a gem in a video-box.
OAV's 1-4 - 7/10
OAV's 4-8 - 9/10
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Looking for more plucky women dishing out punishment? Check out Noir
- sleek, stylish and with a soundtrack to die for!