May 22, 2010
This is an odd sort of an OVA. For starters, it has the most hilariously, tastelessly historically inaccurate alternate history plot you could imagine, but plays it so tongue-in-cheek you can't help but be swept along in the stupidity.
Essentially, aliens invade at the height of WW2, and it falls to a Japanese/German/American super robot team to fight them. It's led by Eva Braun and Albert Einstein.
Let that sink in. One of the main characters of this OVA is EVA BRAUN. Who built a super robot to fight aliens WITH THE HELP OF THE AMERICANS.
To be honest, this makes Hellboy, Wolfenstein and Captain America seem like
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tasteful and accurate depictions of the Second World War. But it is hilariously awesome in a pulp sci-fi way.
The human villains are evil Chinese/Japanese, and later on actual Nazis led by a stylish general taking fashion cues from Revolutionary Girl Utena rather than any military. It's quite amusing to see a super robot fighting Panzers in Western Europe, and when the ultimate Nazi secret weapon is revealed, it gets quite awesome, even if the plot has pretty much jumped the shark.
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The soundtrack is pretty forgettable, although its use of military marches to accompany super robot combat is reminiscent of Gunbuster and similar shows, which is a highlight. The art design tries to mimic a more Western style, with sharp angles, square jaws and bulging muscles, and mostly succeeds, although at times a more elegant style is used for characters which doesn't quite fit. You also won't be able to unsee Barreio, one of the super robot pilots, as a female Guy Shishio.
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All told, this should not be half as fun as it is. The plot is completely random and feels like it was written on the back of an envelope at 3am after a party, the soundtrack is nothing special and the art style is inconsistent (as is the tone, veering from semi-serious military mecha to full on super robot heroics with plucky kids but mostly staying as an attempt at Indiana Jones-esque pulp cheese.)
But at the same time, it's a WW2-era super robot show set during the war, and is about the closest thing you'll ever get to a Wolfenstein film/show. And for that, it gets a lot of marks for trying something completely off the wall and different. The mech designs are refreshing, too - very Big O/Giant Robo inspired.
And yes, there are actual Nazis, using all the symbols you'd expect, not the fake Hitler villains seen in shows like Mazinger, Getter, Zambot and so on. So I definitely feel I should close this review by saying once again that this takes massive liberties even for a "Weird WW2" or alternate history show, and as a result might not be to everyone's taste.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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