Project A-ko...
Anime, in the form we all know and love, didn't really begin to appear until the early 90's. The first uncut, unedited, subtitle-only anime that came home with me on VHS was Project A-ko...
An interesting side note turned up while I was researching Madox-01. It seems that AnimEigo had a choice between releasing Madox-01 and Project A-ko. And, the rest as they say, is history. Project A-ko is fast-paced, funny, action-packed, and features great music (in English!). I even picked up the soundtrack CD and still play it even to this day. This was the first anime in the form we all know and love that I purchased. There are three sequels and a spin-off (Versus). The sequels don't capture the same magic that the original had (only hard-core A-ko fans should consider getting these). The Versus (Grey-side and Blue-side) take place in a parallel universe (same characters - different situations) and are almost as good as the original.
I used to have the movie, the sequels and the Versus series on subtitled VHS. I enjoyed the movie so much that I repurchased it on DVD. Sadly (or fortunately, depending on your point of view), the sequels and the Versus series are all included in the Project A-ko DVD box set. So, you don't really have a choice, like I did, to select which portions of the Project A-ko universe to collect or not. And, for this reason, I do not expect to repurchase the sequels, but, I did repurchase the Versus series on DVD. I gave Project A-ko a 5 out of 5.
The Project A-ko soundtrack CD has 12 tracks and I liked 10 tracks for a total of 83.3% which works out to a rating of 4 out of 4.
Start Spoiler... Read on at your own risk...Earth - The not-too-distant future... A city is miraculously reborn just sixteen years after being completely destroyed by a giant meteor. Our story begins in the prestigious Graviton High School for Girls as the teacher, Miss Ayumi, introduces two new students - A-ko and her ditzy sidekick C-ko. A-ko is a lively seventeen-year-old, no different from any other... except that within her diminutive frame lies superhuman strength. The trouble begins when B-ko, the spoiled, brilliant daughter of a business tycoon, decides she wants C-ko for herself. And what B-ko wants, B-ko gets. Unless A-ko is standing in the way. B-ko becomes the irresistible force and A-ko the immovable object as the action explodes across this unsuspecting city. B-ko goes up against the invincible A-ko with her arsenal of powered robot-suits, including the most powerful of all, 'Akagiyama 23.' Meanwhile, a monstrous alien spaceship plies its way towards Earth, in search of...? What is the connection between the girls and the alien ship? Who is the mysterious 'D?' What is the secret behind A-ko's power? What dark past fuels B-ko's rage? Why is C-ko such a space-case?
Movie
Part 2
Sequels
A Plot of the Financial Group Daitokuji Summer vacation comes to Graviton High School, and the girls can't wait to get out of school! They each have big plans for vacation. A-ko, a high school student with incredible superpowers, vows to lose a few inches off her waistline. The wealthy and beautiful B-ko will not rest until she can get A-ko out of the way, and have the adorable C-ko all to herself. And C-ko happily makes a list of all the cool things she'll buy during vacation. B-ko starts working on her summer plans right away by designing a giant anti-A-ko robot. But her father, head of the powerful Daitokuji Financial Group, has other plans for his daughter's designs. By programming the robot to attack the alien spacecraft that has landed in Graviton City, he hopes to gain control of the ship's advanced technological secrets for his company. Meanwhile, the aliens have asked A-ko and C-ko to help them get back to their planet. C-ko appeals to B-ko, who, eager to please C-ko, agrees to help them repair the ship. However, B-ko's father has already sent off a group of soldiers to attack the spaceship, and in the lead is his new weapon - The Daitokuji Intercept Space Reserve Golden Cherry Blossom Mark -III, or Marilyn for short - a monstrous robot programmed for destruction!
Part 3
Cinderella Rhapsody
Boys! Boys! Boys! That's all the girls can think about. A-ko is lost in her dreams of the perfect man as she tries on a most outrageously expensive dress. Meanwhile, C-ko gets so bored with A-ko that she throws a tantrum and rushes out of the shop. Dashing blindly across the street, she barely misses getting run over by K, an extremely handsome motorcyclist. A-ko takes a part-time job at the local fast food restaurant so that she can afford to buy the dress. Working behind the counter, she comes face-to-face with K who she immediately recognizes as the motorcyclist from the day before. It's love at first sight! Her dreams are shattered when B-ko threatens to expose her job to the school officials and at the same time becomes infatuated with K. When A-ko's handsome suitor invites her to a fancy party, she knows exactly what to wear... or does she?
Part 4
Final
During an archaeological dig on Earth, a mysterious hexagram symbol found engraved on a wall causes the scientists' guide to flee in panic. Meanwhile out in space, this same symbol is evident on the flagship of a huge fleet of spaceships heading straight towards Earth. Back in Graviton City, Mr. Daitokuji has offered to introduce Miss Ayumi to prospective husbands. While Miss Ayumi is away, C-ko, angered by A-ko, storms out of the class and stumbles upon her teacher holding a mysterious pendant and reciting a strange prayer. Just as Miss Ayumi's meeting with a possible suitor is about to begin, they are spotted by A-ko and C-ko, extremely distraught, barges in on the meeting because the suitor is none other than K! While Miss Ayumi admonishes her behavior, she announces her plan to marry K the very next day. But why has Miss Ayumi been seen reciting strange prayers while holding a hexagram marked pendant?
Grey Side
Versus
C-ko's birthday celebration is interrupted when she is kidnapped by two pirates from her father's spaceship during the festivities. Enroute to the rendezvous with her kidnapper's boss, their ship breaks apart in mid-air and C-ko plummets to the planet below. Fortunately, she lands right on top of a huge pack of equipment carried by A-ko, one of the planet's monster-hunters. A-ko arrives at the home she shares with her partner B-ko, and, famished, quickly changes for dinner. But before she gets to the table, C-ko has devoured everything in sight. A-ko is incensed but is somewhat appeased when B-ko points out the reward that they could collect for returning C-ko. When C-ko is re-kidnapped, A-ko and B-ko take off in pursuit. Their rescue attempt is foiled by the pirates' boss, Gail, who strikes B-ko down with a single blow. Left to mourn her colleague, A-ko doesn't know what to do. Is all hope lost or will Maruten, a six-inch high member of the Space Patrol, have the answer?
Blue Side
In pursuit of the 3-headed dragon, A-ko, B-ko and Maruten board the enemy's base and are pounced on by the pirates. While A-ko is battling Liza, B-ko encounters Gail and instead of destroying him is overcome by her attraction to him and lands up joining forces with him. Just as the base is about to be blown up, Gail, B-ko, and C-ko escape but find the military forces of the Kotobuki fleet hot on their trail. C-ko, now possessed by the spirit of master Xena, summons the dragon to destroy the fleet. A-ko and Maruten, having somewhat survived, are in pursuit of Gail when they learn that C-ko was adopted and may be from the same race as Xena and Gail. They manage to sneak aboard Gail's ship and a battle between A-ko and Gail ensues. Just as he is about to fire off that one deadly shot B-ko arrives. Whose side will she take? Meanwhile, the dragon is out of control and destroying all planets in its path... can it be stopped before it's too late?
What would happen if Superman and Wonder Woman had a child? If you didn't catch that scene, check near the end of the movie - just before A-ko comes downstairs to grab C-ko. You'll catch a glimpse of Mom and Dad. You'll also see more of A-ko's parents in the sequels. Also, note, while Dad's identity as Superman is pretty well established in the movie. Mom's identity as Wonder Woman is more circumstantial in the movie, as Mom looks more like Diana Prince than Lois Lane and also A-ko's bracelets are reminiscent of Wonder Woman's. It's not until the final sequel that we get a brief glimpse of Mom in a star-spangled apron...End Spoiler...
An interesting side note turned up while I was researching Madox-01. It seems that AnimEigo had a choice between releasing Madox-01 and Project A-ko. And, the rest as they say, is history. Project A-ko is fast-paced, funny, action-packed, and features great music (in English!). I even picked up the soundtrack CD and still play it even to this day. This was the first anime in the form we all know and love that I purchased. There are three sequels and a spin-off (Versus). The sequels don't capture the same magic that the original had (only hard-core A-ko fans should consider getting these). The Versus (Grey-side and Blue-side) take place in a parallel universe (same characters - different situations) and are almost as good as the original.
I used to have the movie, the sequels and the Versus series on subtitled VHS. I enjoyed the movie so much that I repurchased it on DVD. Sadly (or fortunately, depending on your point of view), the sequels and the Versus series are all included in the Project A-ko DVD box set. So, you don't really have a choice, like I did, to select which portions of the Project A-ko universe to collect or not. And, for this reason, I do not expect to repurchase the sequels, but, I did repurchase the Versus series on DVD. I gave Project A-ko a 5 out of 5.
The Project A-ko soundtrack CD has 12 tracks and I liked 10 tracks for a total of 83.3% which works out to a rating of 4 out of 4.
