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Bubblegum Crisis Vol. 2 Customer Reviews (1 - 3 of 13 Reviews)

This is the original OAV series, which has inspired several knockoffs (Bubblegum Crash, AD Police Force, and most recently Bubblegum Crisis 2040). On the surface, it doesn't seem like a terribly original anime--"women in sexy uniforms stop malfunctioning and malicious robots" is what the plotline often boils down to--but there's some attention to detail and storyline that sets it apart from the crowd. There are, for one, the Blade Runner references and homages--it's pretty clear from the very first episode that this is really a homage to that great Ridley Scott film by the animators. Second is the animation quality--dated, perhaps, by current standards, but very high quality for its day. The action scenes are still quite well-directed, though so many animes have taken after BGC and stolen designs, concepts, and other aspects enough that watching it now makes it seem very familiar, much like reading quotes from Shakespeare that have now become cliches. As far as story and character go, the notable episodes are 5, 6, and 7, all which deal with some difficult decisions that the characters have to face. There's some basic emotional resonance there absent from the rest of the series, which are otherwise run-of-the-mill action plots. Characterization-wise, most of the main girls fall into well-known "types" one finds in action films and anime, so there's nothing to write home about in particular. Now, of course, one can't talk about BGC without mentioning the music, which is for the most part top-notch, then-state-of-the-art-produced 80s J-pop. The melodies are better developed than most of the dreck that topped the charts in that decade, though age has inevitably made some tunes sound rather "cheesy." But the music always fits the action on screen, and the DVD set includes some decent music videos for the songs (the non-live action ones, that is. The live concert videos, alas, are incredibly embarassing to watch now). BGC has, ultimately, become a classic and is well worth watching to examine the roots of many current anime tropes. You won't watch it to be emotionally involved or intellectually provoked, but it's lost little of its charm and fun over the years.

There's a Hurricane Tonight...
"It is the Year 2032 A.D. Like a Phoenix, the city of Mega Tokyo is rising from the ashes of a devestating earthquake. In the twisted canyons of the megalopolis, the Knight Sabers, a small band of high-tech mercenaries, fight a lonely battle with the evil GENOM Corp. and it's sinister Androids, the "Boomers."

With those words, the world of Bubblegum Crisis emerges like the city that suffered the earthquake 7 years before in the series.

The Bubblegum Crisis Storyarc encompasses 8 Episodes and two "Music" Videos and setups a world where 4 women fight a battle where the future might as well be now. Underlying tones of Man vs. Machine and Technology run amuck encompass thru a gritty Industrial Rock Soundtrack and "gritty" Animation style.

The 4 main characters that comprise the Knight Sabers (Priss Asagiri (Punk Rock Singer and main "Artist" for many of the Songs in the Series), Linna Yamazaki (Aerobics Instructor), Nene Romanova (AD Police Officer), and Sylia Stingray (Owner of "Silky Doll" Lingerie Shop and "leader" of the Knight Sabers) fight a war against varying Boomers and GENOM itself. From a Rogue USSD Programmer and his little Sister (Episode 1, Tinsel City); 4 "Sexy" Boomers after the murder of Linna's Friend Irene over the matter of some Black-Ops development (Episode 2, Born to Kill); a GENOM re-development plan that claims the life of someone "close" to Priss and GENOM's Executive Mason trying to find out the true identities of the Knight Sabers (Episode 3, Blow Up); the Knight Sabers try and stop a Man getting revenge with a Horrible Masterpiece of Revenge (Episode 4, Revenge Road); A breakout of Several Women from an orbiting Space Station and Priss befriending someone that hides a horrible secret that could spell doom for Mega Tokyo (Episode 5, Moonlight Rambler), A mysterious New Opponent stalks the Knight Sabers by defaming their name and Priss trying to atone for her actions before (Episode 6, Red Eyes); A singer get's revenge over her sister that was murdered in "Born to Kill" that draws the Knight Sabers into the foray (Episode 7, Double Vision); and a inspiring reporter tries to reveal the true identity of the Knight Sabers (Episode 8, Scoop Chase), you'll find at least one episode for you to pique your interest.

Whether it's for the underlying BladeRunner references (GENOM Tower, Priss and THE REPLICANTS, etc.) to the gritty and jam-packed soundtrack, there's something for everyone.