Angel Cop

Sometime in the future, terrorism in Japan has become commonplace, and the police have become almost as brutal as criminals. A member of the Special Security Force known as Angel, is the best of the best, stopping at nothing in her fight for justice.

Things get interesting for Angel and her partner, Raiden, when they begin investigating a series of murders in which the victims were known criminals, killed in very unpleasant ways. This trio of killers known as Hunters, is a group of psychics that have banded together to hunt down the lowest scum in the city and bring them to justice.

After a couple of encounters between the cops and the psychics, two of the psychics begin to think that maybe they're not the good guys after all; but the third prefers killing to morality. Augmented by cybernetics from a mysterious source, this third hunter heads out on a killing spree, with the Special Security Force as the first target.

Even with help from the other two psychics and her newly cyborged partner (after an unfortunate accident), Angel is going to have her work cut out trying to find the rogue psychic and the organization behind the Hunters.

Mikawa, Angel Main

Doi, Mika Japanese

Sakada, Isamu Main

Ebara, Masashi Japanese

Lucifer Supporting

Hironaka, Kumiko Japanese

Asura Supporting

Sasaki, Nozomu Japanese

Haishyo, Taki Supporting

Utsumi, Kenji Japanese

Ichihara Supporting

Kitamura, Kouichi Japanese

Freya Supporting

Mizutani, Yuuko Japanese

Togawa Supporting

Genda, Tesshou Japanese

Tachihara Supporting

Seki, Toshihiko Japanese

Maisaka Supporting

Saka, Osamu Japanese

Itano, Ichirou Director, Episode Director, Script, Storyboard, Screenplay, Animation Director, Original Creator

Aikawa, Shou Script

Wolskel, John Script

Kitakubo, Hiroyuki Storyboard

Reviews

Jan 12, 2020

Voivodian

Recommended

Angel Cop at a surface level is in extremely poor taste; snuff p*rn of fanatical communists, mind r*ping, not so subtle Japanese nationalism, muscle woman tiddy and an infamous rant that would bring down the full wrath of a certain anti defamation group. Beyond all the crazy rants and nihilistic shock value however, are clearly the creative minds of very politically conscious and well informed people.

Sure the conspiracy thriller is ridiculous and utterly overshadowed by any Oshii political thriller. Like Oshii however, it is all tied to very very relevant and to use a meme; 'redpilled' geo/political discourse. No better example of this is seen ... in the closing monologue about Japan's true status in the world and relating it to 'being another Kuwait'. Genuinely intelligent and deep, far moreso than many acclaimed philisophical/art anime out there.
This is indeed the type of message too dangerous for societal elites and the commercial mainstream; the only way it could of slipped past the censors? You guessed it: by also being a hyperviolent retro anime ova. Angel Cop delivers amazingly on this front. In addition to the things already mentioned, we get:
- The infamous Angel Cop headshot
- Cool helicopter and powersuit designs, true staples of a cyberpunk diet
- Enough firepower to fill out a sweet IMFDB page
- Golgo 13 expy with even broader shoulders and somehow even less emotions (see:personality)
- Glam rock psykers
- The handcannon that breaks your arm and calls you banana
- The absolutely beautiful MangaUK dub.
- Last and not least, Angel is one SASSY action heroine!

Yes, Angel Cop is easily up there with 'terrible' ovas like MD Geist, Apocalypse Zero and Battle Royale Highschool as an unapologetic, absolutely badass and awesome action anime. Essential MANime viewing. Also a much more intelligent anime than it looks; quite a biting critique of the potential neo imperialist mechanisms of foreign investment capital and strong themes on state sponsored terrorism/destabilisations.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Jan 21, 2016

lawlmartz

Mixed Feelings

"Unless you want a .45 caliber lobotomy real fucking back, you better tell your friend over there to put the fucking knife down." - Angel

I have returned once again, from the gratuitously ultraviolent era of anime past... the 80s OVAs! For those who aren't yet in the know- the 80s are now famous for having produced some of the most outrageous, over the top bloody, gory, and violent anime ever. Back when you had to get anime on sketchy bootleg VHS tapes that cost $40 a pop just to see an animated titty. Back when blowing heads off and turning characters into meat fountains was ... chic. This turned a series of widely varying in quality and appeal anime into cult classics.

Titles like Violence Jack, Genocyber, Mad Bull 34, Wicked City, and our very own Angel Cop will forever be remembered for their contribution of an obscenely ridiculous plot with dubs to match.

This is not to say that Angel Cop is by any means a good anime, no matter what the underground following says.


Sound and Voice Acting: 6

The dub is not as hilariously bad as it was described to me, but decidedly hilariously average, and probably even a good quality production for the time. Sure, there's a few memorable one liners that sound like something someone from another planet who'd studied only extremely dated euphemisms and idioms from 20 years before this anime was even made would say... or just ad libbing. I did once read about the ADR director that worked for Central Park Media at the time- named "One Take" Tony Scorlietti. He had a thing for making every character have a thick NY accent and cursing as much as possible. SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT... PIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSS!

Sometimes it felt like Tourettes Guy was the scriptwriter for this series, no lie.


Artwork and Animation: 8

What was decidedly above average was the art in this OVA. Its contemporaries Violence Jack and Mad Bull look like ASS in the animation department. They're straight up terrible. Angel Cop, surprisingly, looks really nice. It's fluid for the most part, and the animation of the characters and their models are fleshed out and not recycled over and over, or with horrible drops in detail level. Angel Cop keeps the gore level high, and there are some pretty squishy, grotesque killings. Cool factor +2 for disgusting displays of viscera.


Characters and Story: 4

The characters are as follows: Robocop, Impossibly Badass Female Supercop, Steve Perry mixed with Steven Tyler, complete with an enormous 80s glam rockstar-do, Doll Girl, Dick Tracy, and Arnold Schwarzenegger with boobs and psychic powers.

Do with that as you will.

The story is a snoozer, and I didn't even care enough to go back and listen to what was supposed to be happening, and it didn't much matter. What matters is that a psychotic psychic bitch named Lucifer is going on a rampage for some suits who want to turn Japan into a nuclear waste pit, in the vein of Fallout. "When kids start growing two heads, you don't think people will notice that shit?" Dick Tracy says.

So, in order to stop the suits, their psycho test subject has to be subjugated to reveal the really poorly planned get rich quick scheme behind the murders. It's up to Angel and her partner Robocop to shut that shit down... and totally annihilate everyone in their way. Yay for drama. Yay for murder.


Enjoyment and Overall: 7, 6

While not nearly as crazy or funny as Mad Bull, nor as graphic as Violence Jack, Angel Cop falls somewhere in the middle. The dub is classic Central Park Media, and worth watching for that alone, but the actually decent visuals are a plus too. Imagine if Mad Bull had half the budget of Akira, and you've got something in the ballpark of Angel Cop.

There's also an unintentionally hilarious scene where a guy gets shot multiple times because another character can't aim with the other hand that basically makes the OVA.

This is must-see TV for 80's OVA fiends like me, or anyone who enjoys a short romp in the realm of the bloody ridiculous.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Apr 2, 2015

Luquillo

Not Recommended

Angel Cop is not a great anime by any stretch of the imagination to me, nor is it anywhere near close to the worst anime has to offer either. I have heard many point of views on this anime, and for the most part it appears to be either a love it or hate it; I have heard legit reasons from both sides, but to be completely fair there is some room for gray area, and I mildly fall right into there.

Angel Cop definitely has a few good features and some really bad ones too. It's similar to Ninja Scroll in a way. It knows ... exactly what it is and doesn't try to deviate from it. Foremost, this is a very brutal action series with a very dark setting to compliment the serious nature of it.

When creating a series or a film with a truly dark atmosphere. It's not only important to create the character personalities that properly meshes with the environment. The film should also maintain its identity throughout. This is the main area Angel Cop truly excels in. You never forget you're watching a serious and violent series. There is no comedy relief or random jokes just tossed out there to lighten up the mood. Nor will you see the exaggerated big faces with the over sized tear drop. This for me is one of the biggest attractions to Angel Cop. I simply have a hatred for series and films that are suppose to be truly dark and serious, then you'll have random comedic segments that completely ruin the atmosphere. Hellsing: Ultimate is one series that falls victim to this clashing of genres.

The action and violence in Angel Cop can either be its strength or achilles heel all depending on the person. The death scenes are disturbing and well animated. The gore is in good detail from people taking bullets to the head on to being fried like lobsters. I was taken by surprise a little bit when I first saw this many years ago. There is one sick torture scene that truly brings out the cruelty in humanity to the fullest.

Angel Cop is an entertaining series in some ways but it definitely has its huge, glaring flaws. The writing definitely deserves a mention. The first half was pretty good and the story was a bit gripping. Later on, it takes a turn and becomes only a splatter fest and characters you already didn't care about are being taken out as if they were so important. One character even dies an undeserved dramatic death, and after learning next to nothing about them it was very hard to care about the person.

The animation is hit and miss. The visuals can be pretty good, and the gore isn't the only thing well done: character designs, landscapes, and the use of lights were well detailed and animated. However, by the last two episodes, you can see it suffered from budget restraints; resulting in the animation and artwork being inconsistent and downright dreadful.

I also have small issues with the setting. The series is suppose to take place somewhere in the future, and some of the technology concerning some weapons such as high powered guns, heavily armed motorcycles, and cyborg suits back up its futuristic claims; but the people's mannerisms such as taste in garments, hairstyles, and the fact disco is alive and well takes away that futuristic feel to me.

The series also suffers from some crude dialogue with a lot of forced cursing. I'm a fan of cursing toons but the profanity even grated on my nerves, and reached the dark realm of ultra annoying. There is also a lot of bad voice acting and cheesy lines too. The stand out line definitely has to be, "If this is justice, then I'm a banana". Seriously... Who the hell would say that?

Angel Cop does have a decent plot and it's not completely mindless. There is a slight bit of character development on the part of the main character Angel. She's also a likable character in some ways due to her fearless and cold demeanor. The series also touches on themes such as patriotism and government conspiracies. Plus, the death scenes can be imaginative as well. The series goes out of its way to keep trying to shock the viewer with the death.

Overall, Angel Cop is wasted potential to me. I feel it was wasted because of a low budget and questionable writing. The budget was definitely the issue because the series was finished over a five year period through 1989-90 & 94. The effort was there, Angel Cop had some very good ideas, plot twist, and characters introduced; but the six episode format along with its other flaws nearly dismantles it. It definitely needed a longer run time since it does feel rushed. Overall, I recommend this only to the action starved. If gore and action is your cup of blood then this will most likely quench your thirst. To others, I recommend skipping it completely.

Highs: Lots of bloody and gory action, good pacing, consistent theme

Lows: Crude and sometimes annoying dialogue, inconsistent animation, writing is sometimes questionable

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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