Dominion Tank Police...
I've been revisiting Dominion Tank Police lately. I picked up Dominion Tank Police some time in the early '90s when anime in the form we all know and love was still new to the world beyond Japan.
There are two different series - an original series and a "New" series. The original series has a stylized look where the buildings have a rounded mushroom shape which is not entirely in keeping with the manga. The new series has a more realistic look and is more faithful to the original manga. Despite this fact, I still prefer the original series over the new series.
The original Dominion Tank Police series has held up surprisingly well over the years. My favorite part is, believe it or not, the opening dialogue between the Chief and the Mayor. I also like the cat dance, the interrogation scenes, the whole Red Commando incident, the romp through the sewers... in fact, I liked the entire original series. There isn't a bad episode in the bunch.
On a side note, after comparing the vintage original series VHS to the original series DVD, I've found that CPM changed the ending animation for the DVD release.
The New Dominion Tank Police series appears to have had its original opening and ending animation replaced. The animation quality is not up to the standard set by the original and the fact that the new series was released in the US in a dubbed only format with poor quality dubbing didn't help.
I used to have all four of the original subtitled VHS tapes and all three of the new series on dubbed VHS tapes. I liked the original series enough that I repurchased it on DVD. Many years ago, I had an opportunity to get one episode of the new series in its raw untranslated form, but sadly, the $70 price tag was a major obstacle that I couldn't seem to overcome. Ultimately, I gave it a 3 out of 5.
I have the Dominion Tank Police and New Dominion Tank Police soundtracks. The Dominion Tank Police soundtrack has 22 tracks and I liked 11 for a total of 50% which works out to a rating of 3 out of 4. The New Dominion Tank Police soundtrack has 24 tracks and I only liked one track, Just Falling In Love, for a total of 4.1% and a rating of 1 out of 4.
According to the Anime Movie Guide by Helen McCarthy (page 85/86). ISBN# 0-87951-781-6:Original Series
Act I
Crime Brigade
In the year 2010, the earth has been encircled by a toxic cloud so noxious as to require the population to wear gas-masks. Human morals have fared no better-a violent crime is committed every 36 seconds! Leading the attack on society are the cat sisters Annapuna and Unipuma. Sexy but ruthless, these bioengineered commandos ally with grotesque half-human, half-cyborg gang leader Buaku in ceaseless, naked aggression.
Enter the Tank Police, Led by "Mr. Squad Commander" Britain, this space-age law and order patrol welcomes its newest member, Leona, during a round of "grenade golf' which puts the "terror" back into their Interrorgation" of a suspect. However, these extreme tactics are necessary against the notorious Buaku Gang. This gang stoops so low as to terrorize a hospital in order to steal the urine samples of people unaffected by the toxic atmosphere. They only escape the fearsome Tank Police by virtue of a deadly striptease performed by the feline crime sisters.
Don't miss this action-packed tale of a girl and her tank, fighting the forces of futuristic terrorism. (While you're at it, don't miss the terrorists themselves-you never knew evil could be so sexy!)
Act II
Crime War
Newport City, 2010 - a deadly bacterial cloud encircles a world of violent crime. The ruthless Buaku gang is still at large, and still committed to stealing that ever so precious commodity urine of "healthy" people It's a good thing the Tank Police, with their crime crushing monster machines, haven't yet been pulled from the scene for the collateral damage inflicted upon the city in their (slightly) unorthodox pursuit of the bad guys.
This elite squad - helmed by Captain Britain who can not be described without mention of his lifetime subscription of How to Kill magazine - hounds Bauku and the wicked (but rather sexy) "Cat" sisters as they try once again to rob the "hospital for healthy people" of its valuable collection of human excretions. This time, as the Tank Police pours after them, Buaku unleashes his new secret weapon (with phallic potential) that he's sure will stop the tanks in their tracks. Will Leona (the new female recruit who forever embittered Britain against her by destroying his sweetheart tank) be the only chance to circumvent Buaku's trap?
Dominion Act II - more great action, more exciting characters, and yes, more titillating female 'toons!
Act III
Crime Ethic
The Earth of 2010 AD, it you didn't know, is not even a nice place to visit. The air is a poisonous bacterial soup. Vicious underworld organizations have the run of the cities. The governments are virtually helpless. The last line of defense against utter chaos? The Tank Police!
Leona Ozaki, the newest member, is assimilating well to The Tank Police's none-too-gentle style of handling criminal suspects. It's a good thing, too, because she is about to experience the "hospitality" of the vicious Buaku gang firsthand. This time, the gang is not out for stealing the urine of "healthy" people, Rather, they're after an 80 year old nude painting of Buaku, himself - the last known artwork created while the world was still environmentally healthy.
What is the secret behind this mysterious painting? How will Leona escape the deadly trap Buaku has set for her? Will the foxy, hard-bodied Cat woman gang members score anything with their liberal machine gun fire?
Dominion, Act III - it ain't over yet!
Act IV
Crime Factor
We have followed the acts of the deadly Buaku gang in the devastated Newport City, year 2010 A.D. We have seen the Tank Police - crime busters extraordinaire repeatedly match the fierceness (if not the ruthlessness) of Buaku and the machine-gun-happy, cleavage-bearing Cat sisters. We have watched Buaku change his villainous focus from urine to fine art, risking life and limb to remove a nude painting of himself from a heavily guarded auction warehouse. Finally, we learn the truth about Buaku's origins.
Could there be something noble in the half-human, half-cyborg blood of this renowned gang leader? Will Leona, the newest member of the Tank Police, be able to breathe again without Buaku's help? How can she possibly thwart the intrusion of the Red Commandos while trying to handle Buaku on her own?
Dominion, Act IV - what's really going on around here!?
New Series
Kobe, Japan - 2100 A.D. - Terrorism runs rampant in the biochemical ruins of Newport City. An elite tank squad is established in an effort to put an end to the chaos. Led by Leona and her tank Boneparte, the Tank Police strike back using any means possible to save the city. Thrown into the mix are the mercenary Puma sisters, who will side with anyone willing to pay their price.
Episode 1
Launch Tank Police
Ignoring the mayor's direct orders to tone down their law enforcing tactics, Leona and the Tank Police blast their way into the middle of a mysterious terrorist attack involving the chief of police.
Episode 2
Charles Britain, Master Detective
Leona's friend and former co-worker is murdered. Bent on revenge, Leona quits her job to track down the killer, and finds herself captured by the terrorists responsible for her friend's death.
Episode 3
Limit the Tube Way
A Dai Nippon Giken truck is charging out of control towards the heart of Newport City, destroying everything in its path. Its cargo is the deadly explosive compound: Liberium W23, enough to obliterate a whole city. Dai Nippon Giken headquarters attempt to shut down its automatic pilot system, but realize that unknown terrorists have intercepted the transmission and taken control of the truck via satellite. Police enforce evacuation measures, realizing they are unable to stop the truck before it reaches the gateway to the city, and their only chance is to summon the Tank Police!
Episode 4
The Chase
Under the cover of the biochemical smog engulfing Newport City, the cunning Cat Sisters manage to steal Boneparte on behalf of a mysterious gang. The gang plans to dispose of the Cat Sisters after retrieving secret information hidden within Boneparte. The gang is apparently being supported by a powerful corporate organization... and only Leon, Leona, and the Tank Police have the capability to crack the case.
Episode 5
Conflict City
Leona and Britain find out that the mayor of Newport City has been assaulted. When they arrive at the mayor's house, they see a high-maneuver combat robot. Leona rescues the wounded mayor and heads toward the hospital. To their surprise, they find out the robot is the property of the Dai Nippon Giken Corporation.
Episode 6
End The Dreaming
With the news that the mayor is still alive, the military research corporation plans an all-out assault on Newport City Hospital. The Tank Police surround the building and wait in anticipation for a surprise attack by the Coldsman's combat robot. Will the Tank Police be destroyed defending their mayor? Will Leona ba able to stop Coldsman before he escapes? It's all or nothing for the Tank Police in this gripping final episode.
Shirow wrote Dominion as a bit of a giggle, a diversion from his 'serious' works such as Appleseed. The title [Dominion Hanzai Gundan lit. trans. Dominion Crime Corps] is a joke - the 'crime corps' refers to the Tank Police, as much a problem for the good folk of ... Newport City as the pollution which makes the air all but unbreathable and the criminals they pursue with such lunatic determination.
The original Dominion Tank Police series has held up surprisingly well over the years. My favorite part is, believe it or not, the opening dialogue between the Chief and the Mayor. I also like the cat dance, the interrogation scenes, the whole Red Commando incident, the romp through the sewers... in fact, I liked the entire original series. There isn't a bad episode in the bunch.
On a side note, after comparing the vintage original series VHS to the original series DVD, I've found that CPM changed the ending animation for the DVD release.
The New Dominion Tank Police series appears to have had its original opening and ending animation replaced. The animation quality is not up to the standard set by the original and the fact that the new series was released in the US in a dubbed only format with poor quality dubbing didn't help.
I used to have all four of the original subtitled VHS tapes and all three of the new series on dubbed VHS tapes. I liked the original series enough that I repurchased it on DVD. Many years ago, I had an opportunity to get one episode of the new series in its raw untranslated form, but sadly, the $70 price tag was a major obstacle that I couldn't seem to overcome. Ultimately, I gave it a 3 out of 5.I have the Dominion Tank Police and New Dominion Tank Police soundtracks. The Dominion Tank Police soundtrack has 22 tracks and I liked 11 for a total of 50% which works out to a rating of 3 out of 4. The New Dominion Tank Police soundtrack has 24 tracks and I only liked one track, Just Falling In Love, for a total of 4.1% and a rating of 1 out of 4.
