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Sort of a Saikano side story...
The thing I liked about this is that was was a lot more fixated on the
Science Fiction elements I had initially expected from Saikano. This 2 part OVA succeeds in delivering that.This OVA introduces another character of the military side of the story, explaining (but also kind of making confusing) the military point of view in it's exploitation of the Ultimate Weapon and their justifications for doing so in the first place.

So, my point is Shuuji and Chise's point of view -> Military point of view = a very good thing.

Bottom Line: Watch this if you've watched Saikano.

Saikano is a tragic love story, but not "tragic love story" as in Romeo and Juliet (I'm not sure about the anime), but somewhat the opposite/reverse/inverse. This story (or "Love Song") is enjoyable and dramatic.

Animation was by Toei and Gonzo (2004), and that should give you an idea of the quality. Artwork changed from normal to a comical form once(1 time), I believe, for the sake of comic relief.

The background sounds did their job (though I hardly noticed until the last episode where it changed the music genre), and the opening and ending songs were good. The English voice dubs are sub-par/mediocre (especially for Chise(the ... heroine)).

The Characters were well suited for this story (though I can't personally say that I enjoyed each and everyone of them). I can't really imagine any other personality on any of the main characters. The supporting characters were diverse and close to the main characters.

Enjoyment....

Pros: It's a good, dramatic story that reminds you of the transience of life. Hopefully the OVA will answer some of the questions left pondering from the series' epic ending.

Cons: Too tragic for my tastes (but still managed not to cry).
Science Fiction (SF) elements were over-shadowed (for me).
I didn't feel that some of the scenes were entirely necessary.

~So, if you happen to be a little bit more sensitive than I am (doesn't take "A Dog of Flanders" to cry), and Romance/Tragedy/Drama is your thing, I'm sure you'll be able to enjoy this series more than I did.

I thought it might be proper to define "Otaku" before the actual review.
In the following case, an Otaku (if you don\'t already know), is a Japanese term for a fan/person who is obsessed with any theme/topic/hobby. (The "portraits" are about anime/manga/military/hentai Otakus).

Otaku no Video is a fairly fun video/OVA to watch. Not necessarily for the actual animation, but the Otaku interview bits(called portrait of an Otaku) in between the actual story, where they have interviews with all sorts of Otakus(Manga,Anime,Military,True,Foreign, "Garage Kit"). Of course, this OVA is fairly outdated (~24 years before time of this review). Opinion: Otaku\'s have changed over time, so the same ... (Portrait of an Otaku) can\'t necessarily be applied to modern ones.

As for the Story, it only becomes worthwhile when he emerges into the Japanese anime industry(episode 2). The first part, I found fairly mediocre.

The art is outdated, but not to the point where it is distracting. GAINAX (a couple years before the Shin Seiki Evangelion.

The Opening themesong, I found quite catchy. The video\'s background music was undistracting to the point where I\'m not quite sure whether it even had background music or not.

Characters both story and portraits were mainly Otakus, some of which seem to be hard to get along with (in the portraits not the anime).

As for Enjoyment, this OVA is one of a kind, even with it\'s outdated(ness), I still managed to learn alot (and a bit about about myself), statistics & surveys "out of 100 otakus) are given so you have an idea regarding otaku.

As a result, this OVA is one to be watched. People can look into this and say.... "That\'s how Otaku were in the 1980\'s, things have changed", "Wow, I didn\'t know that", or even "Oh, I see, that\'s why I talk to myself" (you\'re not alone!!). I\'d recommend this to most Otakus, and maybe anyone who happens interested in Otaku(ism?).

If you haven't already heard, this film Toki o Kakeru Sh?jo (a.k.a. The girl who leapt through time/Tokikake) was awarded "Animation of the Year" by 6th Annual Tokyo Anime Awards/Fair in 2007. Now that that's down, this anime appealed to me because of the interesting concept and theme of "going back in time". I really enjoyed it but, not as much as I should have for some reason. The animation and sounds were theatrical and sufficient. Characters were interesting and easily affected by what is happening. There were some moments however, where the story seems to recount another story and expect you to know it. ... This is in fact because this film is a continuation of a book, that was only written in Japanese, called Toki o Kakeru Sh?jo (unofficial translation: The Little Girl Who Conquered Time). Plot twists, great SFXs, and a good concept to begin with, are what makes this movie great.

Overall, gunslinger girl (GSG) was a fairly enjoyable anime. I gave it a seven for story simply because the ending was perplexing and somewhat inconclusive. There was plenty of shooting, but not as much as I have hoped for, then again I might as well be asking for a series based solely on shooting and action with no actual plot. I had no problem with the animation and sound, the opening song popped up in that it was the first anime I\'ve seen with an English opening song. As for characters, there are many \"fratello\"s (teams consisting of a GSG and a \"handler\") and their ... GSG\'s character is all based on the handler. In the end, it\'s a little less shoot-em up than I had initially hoped for, but if you\'re into this sort of thing, then you shall not be disappointed.