Mini Yon Soldier Rin!

“Mini Yon Soldier Rin” is a one episode gag comedy/parody centered on racing a kind of toy car called “Mini 4WD.” These toy cars were once extremely popular in Japan, and a number of other anime and manga have been made about them, including “Dash! Yonkuro” and “Bakuso Kyodai Let’s and Go.” “Rin” was released as a low-cost VHS during this time in an attempt to cash in on that fad.

The OVA stars the titular Rin Shiguma (whose name is a pun on “four wheel drive”), the undisputed champion of the Mini 4WD racing world. His rival, Wakaouji (literally “young prince”), is a rich kid ... who, using his daddy’s money, enlists a professor and the professor’s minions in his quest to finally defeat Rin. The minions look more like a goofy rock band than evil toy car racers, and the main one to challenge Rin is named Mr. Mecharic. He is based off of the real-life magician Mr. Maric, and often says Mr. Maric’s signature phrase, “hand power,” when using his powers.

The plot is fast-moving, has a clear beginning, middle and end, and is easy to follow. The characters are all one-dimensional, if even that. It’s just a 30-minute one-shot original OVA, so there’s not much room for development. They are all essentially walking tropes.

The writing is witty and self-aware. I believe the writer opted to go all in on the gag/parody elements, as that route makes the OVA more entertaining than it would be if it tried to play things seriously, especially since they had so little time/budget to work with.

Speaking of budget, the art and animation reflect the fact that this is a low-cost OVA very well. Characters look hastily drawn and unoriginal, and some look off-model. One in particular looks like the head of a teenager pasted onto the body of an eight-year-old. The colors and shading are simple; animations are recycled often. I will give “Rin” credit for at least keeping things moving, and not resorting to slideshow tactics.

The voice acting is decent, although Wakaouji’s voice doesn’t suit him that well. The background music is surprisingly good, and the ending theme is rather catchy. Direction is average.

Overall, considering its limitations, “Mini Yon Soldier Rin” is not a bad OVA. It doesn’t pretend to be anything more than it is — an entertaining 30-minute short cashing in on a toy fad — and it succeeds with clever writing. Recommended if you want to watch something different.