Baburugamu kuraishisu (1987) (V)

Directors:

Katsuhito Akiyama
Hiroaki Gôda

Writers:

Katsuhito Akiyama (writer)
Shinji Aramaki (writer)

Release Date:

25 February 1987 (Japan)

Genre:

Short | Sci-Fi | Animation

Plot:

A female mercenary team, armed with unique power armor suits, battle the forces of the corrupt mega-corporation, Genom in futuristic Tokyo.

Plot Keywords:

Power Armor | Anime | Cyberpunk | Mercenary | Organized Crime

Cast

Yoshiko Sakakibara	...	Sylia Stingray (voice)
Kinuko Ômori	...	Priscilla S. Asagiri 'Priss' (voice)
Michie Tomizawa	...	Linna Yamazaki (voice)
Akiko Hiramatsu	...	Nene Romanova (voice)
Nozomu Sasaki	...	Mackie Stingray (voice)
Toshio Furukawa	...	Leon McNichol (voice)
Ken'yû Horiuchi	...	Daley Wong (voice)
Shûichi Ikeda	...	Brian J. Mason (voice)
Kiyoshi Kawakubo	...	Quincy (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Arnold	...	Quincy (voice: English version) (as David J. Arnold)
Elizabeth Becka	...	Linna Yamazaki (voice: English version)
Nicholas Bottom	...	Executive B (voice: English version)
Jack Bowden	...	Sings Of The Replicants, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Joyce Leigh Bowden	...	Interviewer, Sings Of The Relicants (singing voice)
Pierre Brulatour	...	Largo (voice: English version)
Jay Bryson	...	Captain, Ebisu Worker, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Dick Bunting	...	Miriam (voice: English version)
Katherine Burton	...	Ann (voice: English version) (as Katherine Kopec Burton)
Marshall Carroll	...	Dailey Wong (voice: English version)
Shigeru Chiba	...	Dr. Miriam Yoshida (episode 8) (voice)
Sean Clay	...	Company Man B, Executive A, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Annabelle Clifton	...	Harmonies For The Replicants, Sings Of The Replicants (voice: English version)
Clifton Daniel	...	Frederick (voice: English version) (as Daniel Clifton)
Ted Davis	...	Sho (voice: English version)
Chuck Denson Jr.	...	Announcer, Newscaster, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Kevin Dowling	...	Professor Stingray (voice: English version)
Jemila Ericson	...	Sylia (voice: English version)
Hadley Eure	...	Meg, Sings For The Replicants, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Mark Fincannon	...	Mr. Chang (voice: English version) (as Mark Finncannon)
Marc Garber	...	Retort, Additional Voices (voice: English version) (as Mark Garber)
Nathan Gray	...	Guard 1 (voice: English version)
Susan Grillo	...	Nene (voice: English version)
Jon Gutman	...	Flint (voice: English version)
Kyôko Hamura	...	Sho (episode 3) (voice)
Zach Hanner	...	Gibson, Boomer, Kou, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Eddie Harrell	...	McLaren (voice: English version)
Maiko Hashimoto	...	Vision / Reika Chang (voice)
Megumi Hayashibara	...	Nam (episode 5) (voice)
Aya Hisakawa	...	Lisa Vanette (episode 8) (voice)
Tom Holmes	...	Doctor (voice: English version)
Geoffrey Honaker	...	Fargo (voice: English version)
Jean Hrdlicka	...	Irene Chang (voice: English version)
Miki Itô	...	Irene (episodes 2 & 7) (voice)
Hiroko Kasahara	...	Cynthia (episode 1) (voice)
Belinda Keller	...	Female Boomer, Nam, Naoko (voice: English version) (as Belinda Bizic)
Chuck Kinlaw	...	Kaufman, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
David Kraus	...	Chopper 3 Pilot, Police Chief, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Steve Lalla	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
J. Patrick Lawlor	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Barbara C. Lewis	...	ADP Commander (voice: English version)
David Long	...	Ebisu President (voice: English version)
Mindi L. Lyons	...	Naomi, Vision, Reika (voice: English version)
Tomoko Maruo	...	Meg (episode 5) (voice)
Loren Mash	...	Young Sylia (voice: English version)
Marc Matney	...	Bogey, Funk, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Yasunori Matsumoto	...	Kou (episode 7) (voice)
Michael McGovern	...	Manager (voice: English version) (as Mike McGovern)
Yûko Mizutani	...	Anri (episodes 5 & 6) (voice)
Brad Moranz	...	Leon McNichol (voice: English version)
Senri Nakajima	...	Sho's Mother (episode 3) (voice)
Sinda Nichols	...	Priss Asagiri (voice: English version)
Patt Noday	...	Deputy Commander, Outrider (voice: English version)
Kenichi Ogata	...	Raven
Teiji Ômiya	...	USSD Chief (episodes 1 & 2) (voice)
Eric Paisley	...	Mason (voice: English version)
Amy Parrish	...	Sho's Mother, Lisa, Harmonies Of The Replicants (voice: English version)
Eliot Preschutti	...	Ebisu Operator, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Steve Rassin	...	Checkpoint Guard, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Kevin Reilly	...	Staffer A, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Silivea Robinson	...	Sings Of The Replicants (voice: English version)
Masaharu Satô	...	Chief (voice)
Martha Ellen Senseney	...	Sylvie (voice: English version)
Kaneto Shiozawa	...	Gibson
Mayumi Shô	...	Naomi (episode 4) (voice)
Gray Sibley	...	Yamada, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Scott Simpson	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Michael Sinterniklaas	...	Young Mackie, AD Police Officer, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Kazuyuki Sogabe	...	Largo (episodes 5 & 6) (voice)
Tammy Starling	...	Lou (voice: English version)
Matt Sullivan	...	Company Man A (voice: English version)
Yoshino Takamori	...	Sylvie (episode 5) (voice)
Urara Takano	...	Kate Madigan (voice)
Amanda Tancredi	...	ADP Receptionist, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Michael Titterton	...	Dr. Raven (voice: English version)
Sophia Tolar	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Yumi Tôma	...	Lou (episode 5) (voice)
Frank Trimble	...	Mackie Stingray (voice: English version)
Hank Troscianiec	...	Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Steve Vernon	...	Callahan, Additional Voices (voice: English version)
Timothy J. Walsh	...	C&G Chairman (voice: English version)
Michael S. Way	...	Commander Swarz (voice: English version)
Cyndi Wheeler	...	Sings Of The Replicants (voice: English version)
Kôichi Yamadera	...	Fargo
Emily Young	...	Kate (voice: English version)

Also Known As:

Bubblegum Crisis

Runtime:

USA:25 min (8 episodes)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M (DVD rating) | UK:12 (episodes 4-8) | UK:PG (episodes 1-3)

Trivia:

When Sylvia whacks Mackie with a newspaper for ogling at her cleavage, the Japanese words "ecchi" and "sukebe" flash on the screen for 1/30th of a second. Both words can mean "pervert".

Quotes:

Leon McNichol: One of these days, I'll uncover the truth about you.
Brian J. Mason: Be careful what you say, little puppy.
Leon McNichol: Even a little puppy can nibble an sleazebag like you to death!

Movie Connections:

References Streets of Fire (1984)

Soundtrack:

Mad Machine

Well-made robot anime with many distinctive touches

I have recently finished watching 'Bubblegum Crisis' for the second time, on DVD, and I found myself both entertained and impressed.

The problem with most sci-fi and robot anime is that they are too heavy-handed and dark; as well, they often suffer from plodding and boring plots, to the point where they are not enjoyable to watch. Not so with 'Bubblegum Crisis'. The series is actually divided into two main storylines which comprise six episodes, and two side stories for the other two episodes. While the main stories require some concentration, they are interesting without being convoluted. _BC_ does not try to ponder the human condition or find the meaning of life, as other SF stories do, but simply creates stories that the viewer can enjoy. As well, there are some plot threads that are developed throughout the series, making events and characters more significant and more part of the story. While some may argue that 'BC' is nothing but science fiction lite, it keeps the viewer absorbed, which is more than I can say for most of the sci-fi anime I have watched.

I'd say that this series's greatest strength is its characters. Not only are they well developed, but they interact wonderfully with one another. Their differing and often conflicting personalities make the viewer identify with them, their lives, and their problems. We see people trying to cope with violence and destruction on a daily basis and simultaneously keep their humanity somehow. I believe that too many anime fall into the trap of trying to impress the viewer with things such as animation, sex, and violence, forgetting more important things such as character development and interaction. Like all the other best anime, however, 'BC' not only avoids this trap, but defines new standards.

'Bubblegum Crisis' also succeeds in its use of rock music, integrating it into the series and drawing the viewer in. Even though the songs are in Japanese, I still enjoyed them and was impressed by the quality of the songwriting. I should point out that these songs are some of the few I remember from any anime.

I thought the animation was excellent, especially for an OVA. The inevitable darkness of Neo Tokyo was nicely balanced by the brighter colors of the interiors of homes, shops, etc. This was another thing that kept the series from descending into sci-fi boredom. As well, the characters are animated according to their personalities, helping to develop them.

So I would call 'Bubblegum Crisis' a success because it manages to entertain all audiences, not just sci-fi and robot fans. In fact, it even entertained me.