Burn Up! W

BURN UP W! puts you in the shoes of Tokyo's special law enforcement team, TEAM WARRIOR.

This four episode OVA is hard to review since the first two eps are completely different the the second two but here goes.

first off, the art is pretty typical anime style, but they did a good job with it. The characters arn't plain at all, and the colors and overall artwork a really good.


First half:

These first two episodes are solely for introducing the characters and getting to know them. They are definately comedies with minimal amounts of action, but within all this, there is a plot building in ... the background which will come into play later.

There is no character development or any intricate interactions, relational or otherwise, these episodes or more or less just some fan service and entertainment.

Second Half:

This is where the anime turns into something cool. These episodes build upon the plot that was revealed in the first couple, and which will come about later in the full series. These two episodes are packed with action and fighting and death.

The series takes on a serious and dark tone and makes it all the better. Still no character development but who cares, this show IS about babes with guns. This show probably doesn't actually deserve a 9 rating but i though those last two episodes were pretty bad ass.

Girls and guns, fun to watch but dont expect a masterpiece.

and as a note, i definitely recommend the sub since the dub is pretty crappy.

Burn Up! W is slightly better than the comedy-filled eccentricities of Burn Up! Excess, due to the dramatic tension and pay-off in the final OVA. Excess is like a fun, languorous romp with a bunch of slap-happy cops; whereas, W is more earnest in its endeavors for an inflexible, punchy OVA. The labors of the director and staff's love for the project are craftily sewn into the seams of this short, but sweet mini-series!

This review of Burn Up! W is spoiler free!

—Story/Characters

Synopsis: When crime and terrorism go out of control in Tokyo, the police unleash Team Warrior - a band of highly-skilled and completely reckless ... band of female cops. Featuring loose cannon Rio, trigger happy Maya and ace hacker Lilica, Team Warrior will get the job done, regardless of the budget of the mission.

The first act of the series begins with Mr. Negishi's prowess for good-looking sakuga, as well as his notorious, ecchi-filled taste in humor! Rio is dropped from a helicopter, in place of an idol, as a body double in a nude bungee jump! The following episodes, before the climax, center around Burn Up's referential comedy, with a touch of Robot Carnival's mechanical brand of existentialism. Rio gets explored more intimately than ever, as well as Nanvel, which is implied to be a transsexual! Or a hermaphrodite! The show doesn't go any further than the lecherous Yūji making a bewildered expression when her dress flies up.

Excess excelled in expositing the characters to the viewer and creating an atmosphere to laugh along with their crazy hijinks, but W is much more about the hardships of being an underpaid cop with gruesome missions towering over one's daily life. There's an arc where Rio goes to sell her underwear to a seedy shop and her roommate has a touching moment with her, when she asks her to have more integrity in herself. I can't dive any deeper into this, without giving away a few of the most scathing cuts that this OVA has to offer!

The framing of friendship and sentimental scenes like that is what hit this OVA out of the ballpark, boosting it up from a 6/10 to a 7! Like how the visual iconography of Gall Force would compel someone to buy a t-shirt that has blobby moe girls with guns, the scenes of W carry that same kind of paradoxical phenomenon that would inspire an avid fan to collect the memorabilia like hotcakes! The fighting scenes are vivid and create an intense amount of satisfaction as the girls battle Cerberus!

—Technical

Hiroshi Negishi (director)
* Ai Tenchi Muyō
* Bakegyamon
* Bounty Dog: Getsumen no Ibu
* Chōon Senshi Borgman, localized as "Sonic Solider Borgman"
* Divergence Eve and Divergence Eve 2: Misaki Chronicles
* Kei Ō Seiki Bīsuto Sanjūshi, localized as "K.O. Beast"
* Legend of Duo
* Makyō Gaiden Le Deus, localized as "Ladius" (OVA)
* Nanako Kaitai Shinsho, localized as "Amazing Nurse Nanako" (OVA)
* NG Knight Ramune & 40
* Maburaho
* Mahoraba: Heartful Days
* Popotan
* Tsuyokiss
* Venus Versus Virus
* Weiß Kreuz (OVA)

Commentary: Upon reading what Mr. Negishi has done other than this iteration of Burn Up! I can easily say that his collective filmography is a mixed bag. I really liked Divergence Eve and Nanako Kaitai Shinsho, but Maburaho and Ai Tenchi Muyō are among some of the worst series that I've ever seen. With this series particularly, some of his best visual staples are employed, like his psychedelic, color-wash overlay that he's known for using during dramatic, action scenes. He also has perfected what I like to refer to as the "anguished moe face," he has similar shots of Misaki from Divergence Eve; Negishi usually angles the perspective to where the character looks doleful from the viewpoint of a profile shot.

John Ledford (executive producer), ADV dubs that he produced:
Good Dub: ✅
Bad Dub: ❌
The series that I haven't seen in English are left blank.
* 009-1
* Ah! My Goddess: Sorezore no Tsubasa, localized as "Ah! My Goddess: Flights of Fancy" ❌
* Abashiri Ikka, localized as "The Abashiri Family"
* AD Police
* Ai Tenshi Densetsu Wedding Peach DX
* Air (series) ❌
* Air Gear ❌
* Akame ga Kill ✅
* AKB0048, and AKB0048: Next Stage
* Akihabara Dennō Gumi, localized as "Cyberteam in Akihabara"
* Amnesia
* Angel Beats!
* Another
* Aozora Shōjotai, localized as "801 T.T.S. Airbats"
* Appleseed (movie) ❌
* Appleseed Alpha
* Aquarion Age: Sign for Evolution
* Arc the Lad
* Arcana Famiglia (series)
* Area 88, and Area 88 (TV) ✅
* Aura: Maryūinkōga Saigo no Tatakai, localized as "Aura: Koga Maryuin's Last War"
* Azumanga Daiō ✅
* Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto (series), localized as "Intrigue in the Bakumatsu: Irohanihoheto"
* Bannō Bunka Nekomusume, localized as "All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku"
* Birth
* Black Bullet
* Blue Drop: Tenshitachi no Gikyoku
* Blue Seed, and Blue Seed 2
* Bōnen no Zamudo, localized as "Xam'd: Lost Memories"
* Break Blade (series)
* Btooom!
* Bubblegum Crisis 2040 ❌
* Buki yo Saraba, localized as "A Farewell to Arms"
* Burn Up! (series) ✅
* Byōsoku Go Senchimētoru, localized as "5 Centimeters per Second" ✅
* Can Can Bunny Extra
* Canaan
* Capricorn
* Casshern: Robot Hunter ❌
* Chameleon (OVA)
* Chrno Crusade ❌
* Chūnibyō demo Koi ga Shitai! (series), localized as "Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions"
* City Hunter (series)
* Clannad (series) ❌
* Colorful ❌
* Comic Party (series) ✅
* Compiler (series)
* Cosplay Complex ❌
* Coyote Ragtime Show
* Crying Freeman
* Devil May Cry (series)
* Diabolik Lovers
* DRAMAtical Murder
* ef (series)
* Eiyū Densetsu: Sora no Kiseki, localized as "Legend of the Heroes: Trails in the Sky"
* Elfen Lied ❌
* Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya (series)
* Final Fantasy: Unlimited ❌
* Gambo
* Gachaman Crowds
* Gekkan Shōjo Nozaki-kun, localized as "Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun"
* Genei Tōshi Bastof Lemon
* Ginga Kikōtai Majestic Prince
* Gintama Movie 1: Shinyaku Benizakura
* Girls & Panzer
* Gokujō Seitokai
* Gokukoku no Brynhildr ❌
* Golgo 13 (TV) ❌
* Guin Saga
* Gunnm, localized as "Battle Angel Alita" ✅
* Hakkenden: Tōhō Hakken Ibun
* Hakuōki (series)
* Halo Legends
* Hamatora: The Animation
* Hanayamata
* Hi no Yōjin
* Highschool of the Dead (series) ❌
* Hiiro no Kakera (series), localized as "Scarlet Fragment"
* Hitsugi no Chaika
* Hokuto no Ken: Raoh Gaiden Ten no Haoh ✅
* Hoshi wo Ou Kodomo, localized as "Children Who Chase Lost Voices"
* Hotaru no Haka, localized as "Grave of the Fireflies" ❌
* Hyakka Ryōran
* I: Wish You Were Here
* Ice
* Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaō
* Ikoku Meiro no Croisée: The Animation
* Innocent Venus ✅
* Inu to Hasami wa Tsukaiyō
* Inu x Boku SS
* IS: Infinite Stratos (series)
* Jigen Sengoku Shi: Kuro no Shishi Jinnai-hen, localized as "Black Lion" ❌
* K-On! Movie
* Kagaku Ninja-tai Gatchaman
* Kaibutsu Ōjo, localized as "Princess Resurrection"
* Kaichō wa Maid-sama! ❌
* Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai (series), localized as "The World God Only Knows"
* Kami-sama Dolls
* Kami-sama no Memo-chō, localized as "Heaven's Memo Pad" ❌
* Kanon (2006)
* Kidō Tenshi Angelic Layer ❌
* Kill Me Baby
* Kiseijū: Sei no Kakuritsu
* Kobato.
* Koi☆Sento
* Kokoro Connect
* Kono Danshi, Ningyo Hiroimashita (series)
* Kono Naka ni Hitori, Imōto ga Iru!, localized as "My Little Sister Is Among Them!"
* Kotetsu no Daibōken
* Kotonoha no Niwa
* Kyōkai no Kanata
* Kyōkaisenjō no Horizon
* Le Chevalier D'Eon ✅
* Little Busters!
* Loups=Garōs
* Mahō Sensō
* Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!
* Mardock Scramble (series) ❌
* Maria†Holic (series) ❌
* Mawaru Penguindrum ✅
* Mayo Chiki!
* Medaka Box (series)
* MM!
* Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sō Desu yo?
* Mōretsu Pirates
* Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse
* Nazo no Kanojo X
* Needless
* Neon Genesis Evangelion ✅
* No Game No Life ✅
* No. 6 ❌
* Nobunaga the Fool
* Norageki!
* Nyan Koi!
* Oda Nobuna no Yabō
* Outbreak Company
* Persona 4: The Animation
* Phi Brain (series)
* Planzet
* Queen's Blade: Rebellion
* Queen's Blade: Utsukushi Tōshi-tachi
* Ra/Radio Noise*Planet
* Red Garden (series) ❌
* Robotica*Robotics
* Rozen Maiden: Ouvertüre
* Rurōni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Roman-tan—Shin Kyoto-hen ❌
* Saiyūki Gaiden ❌
* Sakamichi no Apollon
* Sakigake!! Cromartie Kōkō ✅
* Seisenshi Dunbine
* Sekaikei Sekai Ron
* Sengoku Otome: Momoiro Paradox
* Senkō no Night Raid
* Shin Angyo Onshi
* Shin Hokuto no Ken
* Shining Hearts: Shiawase no Pan ❌
* Shinreigari
* Shinsekai Yori ❌
* Short Peace Opening
* Sidonia no Kishi ❌
* SoniAni: Super Sonico The Animation
* Special A
* Tamako Market
* Tasogare Otome x Amnesia
* Tataku Shisho: The Book of Bantorra
* Tears to Tiara
* Towa no Quon (series)
* Tsukumo
* UN-GO ❌
* Upotte!!
* Utawarerumono
* Vampire Hunter D ✅
* Venus Versus Virus ❌
* Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dō Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui!, localized as "No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!" ❌
* Yōma
* Yumekui Merry ❌
* Yūgo: Kōshōnin
* Yūwaku Countdown
* Zettai Bōei Leviathan

Commentary: Since W is less off-the-wall funny, there's less creativity with the ADV script. Still, a really tight rendering of the original material though!

Yūji Ikeda (animation director, character design)
* Arslan Senki (art director)
* Please Save My Earth (art director)
* Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: Fūin Sealed Card (art director)
* CLAMP School Detectives (art director)
* Di Gi Charat (art director)
* Dragon Ball (character design)
* Dragon Ball Z (character design)
* Fushigi Yûgi (art director)
* Gensōmaden Saiyūki (art director)
* Gosenzo-sama Banbanzai! (art director)
* Great Teacher Onizuka (art director)
* Kōtetsu Tenshi Kurumi 2 (chief animation director, character design)
* Yū Yū Hakusho (art director)

Commentary: Mr. Ikeda has very crisp, memorable designs. I wasn't sure if I was particularly going to like the style in this series, because the protagonist Rio, has the big-hair syndrome that is prevalent in a lot of other series. But, coupled with the animation style and the angling of the shots, the designs are very charming and expressive.

Toshifumi Takizaki (script)
* Big Wars (director)
* Crusher Joe OVA (director)
* Cyborg 009 (episode director)
* Densetsu Kyojin Ideon (episode director)
* Dirty Pair (director)
* Dirty Pair: Flight 005 Conspiracy (director)
* Samurai 7 (director)
* Seisenshi Dunbine OVA (director)

Commentary: Mr. Takizaki is a very big name in the industry, mainly known as working on storyboards for really famous mecha series, like Sōkō Kihei Votoms and Kidō Senshi Zēta Gundam. The writing and the storyboarding in this series is very clean and succinct, it goes to show that having a veteran in the industry on a project can bring a series to life.

Mitsuyo Suenaga (script)
* Cobra: The Animation (script)
* Cross Game (script)
* Patalliro (script)

Commentary: From the series I've watched, that he's had involvement with, Cobra: The Animation and Paralliro both have snappy comedic timing and a certain quirkiness in their scripts. Burn Up! Excess conveys that same kind of snarky humor.

I watched Burn Up! Excess with the ADV dub, so I will list the Japanese seiyū, but comments will be on the performances of the English voice actors. An interesting tidbit about this particular series is that it also has an Italian and Spanish dub!

Yuka Imai as Rio Kinezono, notable roles:
* Scarlet Ohara, Wedding Peach
* Renamon, Digimon Tamers
* Marie Ange, Doki Doki PreCure
* Yū Hayakawa, Final Fantasy: Unlimited
* Eiko Randō, Geobreeders 2
* Misaki Matsuya, Excel Saga
* Nabuca, Now and Then, Here and There
* Yuki, Ojamajo Doremi
* Futaba Āsu, Puni Puni ☆ Poemii
* Otaru Mamiya, Saber Marionette J
* Junior Virey, Saber Marionette R
* Eden Orion, Saint Seiya Omega
* Jinto Linn, Seikai no Monshō
* Wakaba Shinohara, Shōjo Kakumei Utena
* Tomochika Shibuya, Uta no☆Prince-sama♪

Amanda Winn Lee as Rio Kinezono, notable roles:
* Mimiru, .hack//SIGN
* Momiji Fujimiya, Blue Seed
* Reimi, Burn Up!
* Pandy, Dead Leaves
* Mika Seido, Geneshaft
* Gally, Battle Angel Alita
* Rally Vincent, Gunsmith Cats
* Rei Ayanami, Neon Genesis Evangelion
* Yukiko Amagi, Persona 4: The Animation
* Titaniva Mu Koshigaya, Plastic Little
* Nancy Makuhari, R.O.D: Read or Die
* Saki Asamiya, Sukeban Deka

Commentary: Amanda Winn Lee has always been a favorite voice actor of mine. She always gives a clear, heartfelt performance and her role in Burn Up! Excess is no different. Rio is a lazy, good-for-nothing, self-serving jerk—who's likable, despite her insufferable demeanor. Watching her character interact with people and the world is like watching an episode of Seinfeld. Ms. Lee makes the character true to her vices, but immensely likable and funny, at the same time. Great performance!

Maya Okamoto as Maya Jingu, notable roles:
* Megumi Amano, Chōjin Densetsu Urotsukidōji
* Lambda Nom, Haja Taisei Dangaiō
* Haruka Minato, Kidō Senkan Nadesico
* Fanna, Armed Dragon Fantasy Villgust
* Liza Hoyly, Macross Dynamite 7
* Emma Sheen, Kidō Senshi Zēta Gundam
* Orihime Soletta, Sakura Taisen
* Yuki Saiko, Silent Möbius

Lani Minella as Maya Jingu, notable roles:
* Dolce Saito, Geneshaft
* Rouge the Bat, Sonic the Hedgehog

Commentary: Ms. Minella is very good at making Maya have a fractious, tougher than nails, tomboyish demeanor with a slightly Southern tinge to it. I didn't understand the casting choice completely, until Episode 4: Gokudō Father, where it reveals that Maya is a country yokel, whose father heads a biker gang. Lani Minella did a good job of expressing the subtle inflections of the character's voice. Great job!

Sakura Tange as Lilica Ebett, notable roles:
* Sakura Kinamoto, Cardcaptor Sakura
* Jack the Ripper (Assassin), Fate/Apocrypha
* Nero Claudius (Saber), Fate/Extra: Last Encore
* Mill Varna, Maze☆Bakunetsu Jikū

Kimberly Yates as Lilica Ebett, notable roles:
* Yuka, Burn Up!
* Leena, Dirty Pair Flash
* May Hopkins, Gunsmith Cats
* Azusa Kanzaki, Mamono Hunter Yōko
* Yomiko Readman, R.O.D: Read or Die
* May Jessica, Sol Bianca

Commentary: I was less impressed with Ms. Yate's performance than some of the others. Her voice just sounded like a Monica Rial-esque, nasally high-pitched character impression. I typically am not a fan of the simplicity used to voice feminine, or young-sounding, characters in English dubs. Though, Rial did a really good job voicing Lumière in Kiddy Grade.

Yuri Amano as Nanvel Candlestick, notable roles:
* Berthier and CereCere, Sailor Moon
* Mother Togashi, Chūnibyō demo Koi ga Shitai!
* Kallen's Mother, Code Geass
* Kawai Kawai, Iczer-Girl Iczelion
* Aki Kokonoe (Rin's Mother), Kodomo no Jikan
* Alcyone, Magic Knight Rayearth
* Rain Mikamura, Mobile Fighter G Gundam
* Yuriko Star, Musekinin Kanchō Tylor
* Sayo, Mushishi
* Lashara Moon, Photon
* Lorelei, Saber Marionette J
* Kiyone Makibi, Tenchi Muyō!
* Makiko Nagi, Tenjō Tenge
* Asaka Nakamura, Ushio to Tora
* Moemi Hayakawa, Video Girl Ai
* Keiko Yukimura, Yū Yū Hakusho

Carol Amerson as Nanvel Candlestick, notable roles:
* Sayoko Mano, Devil Hunter Yohko
* Hikari Horaki, Neon Genesis Evangelion
* Nakoruru, Samurai Showdown

Commentary: I prefer Nanvel being voiced by Keith Allison in Burn Up! Excess, but that may be because I'm a huge fan of Ms. Allison as Misato Katsuragi in Neon Genesis Evangelion. Ms. Amerson being cast as such a sassy, cute science nerd is kind of plain, when you compare the two. Especially, with Allison jubilant performance commanding the attention of viewers in Excess.

Mami Kingetsu as Maki Kawasaki , notable roles:
* Nagisa Shiozaki, Yume de Aetara

Tiffany Grant as Maki Kawasaki, notable roles:
* Suzume Sakurajosui, Akihabara Dennō Gumi
* Moffle, Amagi Brilliant Park and Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
* Kaori Azumanga Daiō
* Chocolate Misu, Bakuretsu Hunters
* Koume Sawaguchi, Blue Seed
* Maki, Burn Up!
* Stella Harvenheit, Chrno Crusade
* Daichi Sawaguchi and Densuke, Dennō Coil
* Kanato Sakamaki, Diabolik Lovers
* Asuka Langley Sōryū, Neon Genesis Evangelion
* Sella, Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya
* Mai Tokudaiji, Ginga Ojōsama Densetsu Yuna (Galaxy Fräulein Yuna)
* Laura Bodewig, IS: Infinite Stratos
* Nōmi Kudoryafuka, Little Busters!
* Kuriko Kazetsubaki, Maburaho
* Rika Anju, Magikano
* Christiane Friedrich, Majikoi!
* Susumu Tsukumo, Wandaba Style
* Ellyse Aldomordish, Plastic Little
* Haruka, Sister Princess
* Morgan, Tears to Tiara

Commentary: I enjoy Tiffany Grant as Maki Kawasaki, more than Carol Amerson voicing her in Burn Up! Excess. Whenever Maki would say anything sarcastic or satirical in Carol Amerson's rendition, it would just sound like a woeful teacher scolding a child, while Ms. Grant's version comes off as lively and playful. I am biased though, because I grew up with the ADV dub of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

* Emi Shinohara as Ruby, notable roles:
* Makoto Kino, Sailor Moon
* Mokuren, Please Save My Earth
* Kaho Mizuki, Cardcaptor Sakura
* Ophelia, Claymore
* Mari Īmura, Hajime no Ippo
* Michiru Satomi, IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix
* Kagero, Ninja Scroll
* Migiri Yasuri, Katanagatari
* Sanae Araki, Kaze no Youjinbō
* Kekkō Kamen, Kekkō Kamen
* Yōko Mizuno, Maria-sama ga Miteru
* Kushina Uzumaki, Naruto
* Biko Daitokuji, Project A-ko
* Angel Rosewater, The Big O
* Natsuhi Ushiromoiya, Umineko no Naku Koro ni
* Charlotte Elbourne, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
* Arashi Kishu, X/1999

Paula Tiso as Ruby, notable roles:
* Ouka, .hack/Legend of the Twilight Bracelet

Commentary: I have the same opinion of Ms. Tiso's role as Ruby, as I did when I watched .hack/Legend of the Twilight Bracelet. She sounds too old for her role. Paula Tiso is typically cast as sexy character, but the roles sound very low energy, rather than vivacious and heartfelt.

Conclusively, Burn Up! W is recommended for fans that miss good 'ol hard-hitting, cyberpunk OVAs! I would give a more concrete recommendation if you're a fan of Divergence Eve, Neon Genesis Evangelion, or My Dear Marie; there's an entire episode full of Evangelion references: Episode 2! W fulfills the obscure, robot-shaped hole that has been left by the lack of proper alternatives in the genre. Not to mention, impressively adhering to the "badass girls fighting battles and looking cute" niche! Definitely give this one a try, if you haven't already! I give Burn Up! W a 7/10!

Rating: ★★★★☆

Other Burn Up! Rankings:
Burn Up! ★★☆☆☆
Burn Up! Excess ★★★☆☆
Burn Up! Scramble ★☆☆☆☆