OZ

Loosely based on L.F. Baum's novel, The Wizard of Oz. Original manga done by Itsuki Natsumi.

A nuclear war has killed most of humanity and split the USA into six warring states. By 2021, a legend has grown up about the fabled city of OZ where everything still works. Scientist Felicia sets out in search of it with the mercenary Muto and android 1019. At the end of the quest they only discover a military base and a madman.

A mercenary was hired by a girl to bring her to the mythical Oz (a paradise) where her missing brother supposedly lived. Accompanying them was a cyborg sent by her brother. But Oz was not the paradise it seemed and her brother was not as sane as he was smart.

(Source: AniDB)

Mutou, You Main

Matsumoto, Yasunori Japanese

Epstein, Felicia Melissa Main

Minaguchi, Yuko Japanese

Epstein, Rupert Supporting

Saka, Osamu Japanese

Ordis, Nate Supporting

Yamadera, Kouichi Japanese

Epstein, Leon Konrad Supporting

Mitsuya, Yuuji Japanese

Dantley, Sidney Supporting

Ooki, Tamio Japanese

Android 1024 Supporting

Toda, Keiko Japanese

Kirk Supporting

Hori, Yukitoshi Japanese

Android 1021 Supporting

Yokoo, Mari Japanese

Mist, Vera Supporting

Mukaidono, Asami Japanese

Yamada, Katsuhisa Director

Honda, Yasunori Sound Director

Yoshikawa, Youichirou Theme Song Composition, Music

Tsurumaki, Kazuya Key Animation

Reviews

Jun 15, 2016

somaisbatman

Recommended

I'm really glad these early Madhouse OVAs are finally getting subbed. Last summer it was Download, and now it's OZ.

OZ is a two-episode OVA purportedly based off of The Wizard of Oz. I say purportedly because the connection is pretty flimsy. Instead, we've got a sci-fi thriller set in a post-apocalyptic North America. A young girl and her bodyguard set out on an adventure to find her brother, who supposedly rules over the mythical land of Oz. Except Oz is actually a weaponized fortress and the wizard is an absolute madman.

Along their way, they come across an android who aims to acquire humanity. And ... then another android, except this one wants to kill the first android for not being perfect. And then there's another android whose motives I can't even recall. Seriously, there are at least 3 androids that look almost identical and it becomes a confusing mess.

Probably the best part of OZ are the action sequences. They spring out of nowhere accompanied by a musical sting, don't last any longer than 12 seconds, and usually end with someone getting gruesomely stabbed or decapitated. A couple of times I laughed out loud at the sheer absurdity when one suddenly popped up out of nowhere.

This review may have seemed disjointed, but that's what watching OZ really feels like. Characters get introduced left and right (and killed off left and right in episode 2), and the overall goal of the protagonists is never very well explained. But that's alright. You don't watch an old OVA for the plot, you watch it for the hamfisted action and the unintentional absurdness. And while OZ certainly isn't very good when examined under a critical lens, it's an enjoyable watch nontheless. Its runtime of 70 minutes means you aren't spending too much time even if you don't like it.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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May 6, 2020

Thedude3445

Mixed Feelings

Despite having nothing at all to do with Oz and having the production values of, well, a 1992 anime OVA, there's some pretty funky stuff in this movie that makes it interesting to the point that if trashy late 80s/early 90s sci-fi is your thing, it's worth checking out. The second episode is much more interesting than the first, even if the ending isn't exactly gonna blow your mind or anything.

For some reason there's an actual transgender character in the story and a frank discussion about it, even going far enough to use the word dysphoria and everything. I mean, it's handled about as well ... as you'd expect from a 1992 anime OVA, but the fact that it is there adds another layer of funk to what should have been a super generic and edgy action movie.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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Feb 21, 2020

lethargilistic

Mixed Feelings

Starts off strong in both episodes, but can't really land in the second. It's about a girl named Filicia Epstein's quest to find her brother. Her uncle is killed when a plane crashes into his house, and a bioroid emerges from the wreckage. Also, there's a military guy who's given more focus overall, but is mostly a generic action dude.

It's pretty violent, as expected and desired from a 1992 action OVA, but the most interesting part is the psychology of a bioroid named 1019. They have a male body, but they are based on a woman's personality and, it turns out, they have that woman's ... personality inside them. So, with my 2020 brain, I'm thinking this movie is saying "trans rights." It's not NOT saying "trans rights," but I think it ended up being fairly transphobic because of the way this clone interacted with and was compared with the other clones. For one, the other clones just have female bodies and they are "superior" models because they do not have any dysphoria. For another, the female original personality within 1019 is a homicidal maniac who starts killing people left and right when she comes to the surface. The swift pacing may have prevented them from exploring this in a way that ended up affirming for trans people, but they also wasted time with some minor sideplots, so it's kind of a wash.

Only the first five minutes bear any resemblance to The Wizard of Oz. The Wicked Witch of the East didn't kill himself.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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	Poll: OZ Episode 1 Discussion Kuruwin - Jun 3, 2016	1 replies	by ruckes »» Nov 17, 2016 7:13 PM
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