anime abandon

In appreciation of the inbetweeners

OVA, also historically known as OAV (has since been dropped because AV now specifically refers to 'Adult Video' in Japan), means Original Video Animation which is specifically made for release in the home-video format. These 'OVAs' manifest creativity, gore, realism, scenarios and grit.

These films are not generally considered to be from the 'Underground' but these are under the radar and can be considered as hidden gems. Thanks to a lot of channels on Youtube, films like these are making their way back to the stream. I can't wait for Youtube to be the new incarnation TV in 2020.

When you think of "Anime Movies" your mind's eye would usually picture something by Studio Ghibli or a popular franchise Anime-series movie. Hardcore fans worship the likes of Paprika and Akira. But in between those are some movies that don't get the praise they deserve, and believe me, they are underappreciated in the fullest sense of the word.

Here I'll feature five of the last Anime films I've seen along with my personal ratings

These are ordered from least rated to greatest.

Demon of Steel: Battle of the Great Demon Beasts 1987

Directed by: Toshiki Hirano

Studio: Anime International Company

Original Title: Daimajū Gekitō: Hagane no Oni / 大魔獣激闘　鋼の鬼

In the year 1999, a team of UN scientists in an attempt to tap into a new energy resource on a deserted island called Samsara, unknownigly open a portal to another universe, unleashing dormant biomechanical entities. Three years later, Takuya Goroza returns to the island of Sansara urged by a mysterious request by college chum Haruka Alford. Little does he know, his old friend isn't what he appears to be...

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Comments: Seems like it ran out of time to make sense of everything, but overall still worth it to watch.

California Crisis 1986

Directed by: Mizuho Nishikubo

Studio: Studio Unicorn, Hiro Media

Original Title: California Crisis: Gun Salvo / カリフォルニア・クライシス　追撃の銃火

Noera is heading to work after drinking all night with a friend when he meets Marcia, a young biker heading towards Los Angeles. They abruptly get involved in a car chase and Marcia ends up retrieving a locked metal box from one of the pursued vehicles. Within it, a dark sphere. Many people want the orb at any cost forcing Noera and Marcia to desperately run away while trying to figure out what exactly is the strange object they are carrying.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Comments: Presents an overly westernized Japan which purists might hate on. I personally find the concept (which makes absolutely no sense) and the art style to be a bit fun and nostalgic even if it doesn't really have any other anime with the same art style.

Dragon's Heaven 1988

Directed by: Mizuho Nishikubo

Studio: Studio Unicorn, Hiro Media

Original Title: ドラゴンズヘブン

In the year 3195, there was a war between an army of robots and the humans. When Shaian, a sentient combat armor, lost his companion in battle, he shut down until his internal systems spotted a new human. It's now almost a 1000 years later, and Shaian's greatest enemy is still alive and doing battle in Brazil. With a new friend's help, Shaian may be able to stop this evil force before another war rages over the continent.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Comments: Like watching a Final Fantasy movie that was never made. I wish there was more content and merchandise from this show.

Outlanders 1986

Directed by: Katsuhisa Yamada

Studio: AIC

Original Title: アウトランダーズ

In the midst of a violent invasion of Earth by unknown alien forces, photo-journalist Wakatsuki Tetsuya comes across a scantily-clad alien woman, cutting a swath of death through the Terran ranks with her sword. After a chaotic struggle, Tetsuya is knocked unconscious, only to awaken aboard her starship. To his surprise, she turns out to be Kahm, the invaders' princess - and she has picked Tetsuya for a starring role in her upcoming wedding. As the groom....

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½ ☆

Comments: I absolutely loved this! If the previous movie was like a Final Fantasy movie that was never made, then this one is like a Chrono Trigger movie (that was never made-with more sleaze). I read in the Youtube comments section that the creators continued this show as a Hentai but searching for myself (for research purposes) yielded no results.

Battle Angel 1993

Directed by: Hiroshi Fukutomi

Studio: Madhouse

Original Title: 銃夢 GUNNM

Doc Ido, a doctor and mechanic who lives and works in the hellish, postapocalyptic "Scrapyard", finds the—miraculously preserved—remains of a female cyborg in a junk heap. After he revives and rebuilds her, the preternaturally strong, amnesiac "Gally" begins to forge a life for herself in a world where every day can bring a fight for life. Adapts the first two volumes of the "Battle Angel Alita" manga.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½ ☆

Comments: By far the best I've seen from the bunch. It's set to have a live action remake due out on February 2019. It goes by a lot of titles like Rusty Angel, Ganmu, and Hyper Future Vision: Gunnm. It's also the first time in a long while that I felt sick to my stomach after watching anything, and that's sick yo, I mean wicked sick.

I hope these comments and ratings spark your interest and will to get you searching. These films are in between the classics and the sell-outs and they deserve your attention.

And so I leave you with this trailer of Battle Angel Alita:

-outré-