Back to FireReaverX's Profile FireReaverX's Profile

An OVA released in 1990, Nineteen seems to have slipped into the vast abyss of overlooked anime.

Story

Well, with it's story alone, I don't think that Nineteen will win over too many fans. It is presented as a somewhat standard coming-of-age teenage love story the likes of which has been told many times through both live-action and animated film. It's nothing groundbreaking, but we are at least given a coherent plot with a proper climax and resolution.

Art

Backgrounds are all very detailed and well done. It's fun to see all of the name brand products and familiar places that are included. There are also a ... few creatively directed scenes set to only clips of music which I found to be quite enjoyable. The characters have the standard late 80s/early 90s OVA design so nothing in that department particularly stands out. If you're a fan of the style, you'll be a fan of what's here as well. Overall, a great job by Madhouse that's still looks good 18 years later.

Sound

The music of Nineteen is what will make this OVA memorable. It's soundtrack consists of mostly dance/pop tracks from the late 1980s. As this was distributed by Victor Musical Industries, I can only assume that the music was considered to be an important part of the production. The result of this is a highly successful soundtrack with my personal highlight being the use of Sabrina Salerno's "Boys (Summertime Love)" in a very memorable sequence. The voice acting is also above par with the entire cast providing convincing voice work. Additionally, we get to hear an early performance by Kikuko Inoue as the lead female, Fujisaki.

Character

This OVA has a very small cast which places the focus on only our two main characters, Kubota and Fujisaki, his love interest. Since the story is told through Kubota's perspective, we don't get to know much of what Fujisaki feels beyond what she makes obvious to Kubota. This is an aspect that left me slightly frustrated and disappointed, but on the other hand, I can understand the reason for this as it made me sympathize with Kubota a bit more than I otherwise would have. There was some character development for both and I liked that they behaved realistically in their situations. The remainder of the cast play minor roles and are really nothing more than set pieces. However, with there being only 45 minutes available, I think that you can't ask for much more than we were given.

Enjoyment

I went back intending to view just one particular scene again and ended up re-watching just about the entire show. That is, in fact, what prompted me to write this review. Therefore, I can say that there is certainly some replay value here.

Overall

Nineteen is an above-average OVA which seemed to have been lost in the large sea of mediocre videos produced at the time. Hopefully, as I myself was only able to discover it recently, others will also follow suit. It is definitely worth a look.

Rampant nudity? Superheroes? Nazis? The Big Toenail of Satan? If any of this sounds exciting, then Kekko Kamen is likely the series you've been waiting your whole life to see.

Story

Absurd is the first thing that comes to mind. Don't be fooled into thinking of this as a bad thing though. Kekko Kamen is the type of series that works because of its absurdity. The humor is very well executed and makes the show into something worth watching. It is a bit of a one trick pony with each episode revolving around a different "Punishment Director" finding a way to strip students naked as punishment. ... However, the short length of the series doesn't allow for things to truly become tiresome and repetitive.

Art

If you've ever seen a Go Nagai show, you know what to expect in this department. Characters are attractively designed and backgrounds are sufficiently detailed. Great attention is paid to the abundance of naked bodies and nothing ever seems out of proportion. The animation quality may be a little below par, but it's nothing that makes you take notice of it as being particularly poor.

Sound

The background music is pretty generic and forgettable. Kekko Kamen's theme song is also rather bland musically, but the over-the-top hilarious lyrics make up for that. The same must also be said about the ending theme "Morodashi Heroine Kekko Kamen (Naked Heroine Kekko Kamen)." Brilliant writing. Sound effects are put to good use in battle as well as for comedic effect. As far as voice acting goes, the Japanese cast does a great job. Jokes are delivered well and in the case of certain characters, every sound made is side splitting. The dub actors change around a few too many lines, but overall they created a solid track as well.

Characters

Mayumi is the star here, but really doesn't have much personality aside from being a below-average student. Kekko Kamen is well done as the mysterious heroine. A naked superhero who delivers lines such as "nobody knows my face, but everybody knows my body" is hard to erase from your memories. The Principal Toenail of Satan. This guy is a master of perversion. The show is worth viewing for his involvement alone. Each episode's "Punishment Director" is also unique and I enjoyed watching them demonstrate their special techniques. There obviously isn't much character development to be found here, and if that is honestly what you're expecting from something like this...I don't know what to tell you.

Enjoyment

I found myself laughing out at loud at countless scenes especially when characters were using one of their ridiculous techniques (OPEN THIGHS JUMP!). The rewatch value on something like this probably isn't very high though.

Overall

While this OVA is by no means a masterpiece, it is definitely worth a look. Its short length of four 22-minute episodes will surely provide a fun and memorable diversion from your standard anime.

6.5 out of 10

With its masterful balance of action-packed battles, intense drama and a touch of romance, Gundam 0083 is required viewing for any anime fan.

Story

Gundam 0083 gets started with a bang in the very first episode and the momentum carries through all the way to its dramatic end. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked and waiting for what's to come. Both drama and action are given equal screen time and presented with equal intensity.

Art

For an OVA from 1991, the animation quality in this series is simply amazing. In fact, Gundam 0083 still shines by today's standards. The design of the artwork itself ... is also a highlight with great detail being put into backgrounds and things such as uniforms.

Sound

There is quite a bit of the typical background music you'd expect to hear in a war story. However, also included are some well-composed atmospheric pieces that set the mood for certain dramatic scenes. The opening themes are upbeat and catchy, with the second in particular being a highlight with it's brilliant guitarwork. Both endings are slower ballad type numbers. The contrast works well here as it fits with the anime's ability to balance dynamics. In terms of voice acting, the main vocal cast cast does a great job conveying the emotions of their characters. The English dub is also surprisingly well done and on par with the original.

Characters

We are the shown the perspective of both the Zeon and Earth Federation with the main focus being on Anavel Gato and Kou Uraki, respectively. The characters of Gundam 0083 are all adult which makes this series stand out from most other Gundam stories. Don't take that mean there ins't as much room for character development though, as plenty of growth occurs during the course of the OVA.

Enjoyment

As the series progressed, I was drawn in more and more by the characters and found myself torn between the two warring sides. Every episode left me in anticipation of the next.

Overall

As someone who isn't extremely fond of mecha series in general, Gundam 0083 was able to keep me entertained and make me wish there were more shows like it.

9.5 out of 10

Story

The highlight of this manga is it's story. It's not necessarily completely unique in premise, but the way it treats its subject matter is what makes it stand out from the pack. Motoi Yoshida presents Koshiro and Nanoka's relationship in a realistic and powerful manner. Humor is also provided whenever appropriate.

Art

The character designs are all pleasant looking and very distinct from one another. Expressions are always drawn well enough that you can know how a character is feeling. The backgrounds don't show much detail for the most part, unless a scene is being introduced. Overall, the style is a bit simplistic, but this fits ... the story and setting well.

Character

The two main characters are both fleshed out well throughout the 5 volumes. Readers are able to get to know them and understand their emotions. The supporting cast is small, but each character was given a unique personality without resorting to stereotypes. As Koshiro and Nanoka are the main characters, there are only a handful of scenes which don't involve one or both. However, everyone in the cast plays a role in their development.

Enjoyment

Motoi Yoshida keeps the story going at a leisurely pace and allows the manga to use it's 5 volumes to their full extent. Nothing feels too rushed, but I never had the desire to skip ahead a few pages or got bored either. It's very consistently written, so after reading a couple chapters, you should be able to decide if it'll hold your interest.

Overall

I'd highly recommend this manga to anyone who is looking for a refreshingly new and realistic take on romance.

7.5 out of 10