Dirty Pair

In my last review I covered a highly obscure anime that nobody has ever heard of. Today, I'll be looking at an underrated anime that most people have heard of, but relatively few have actually bothered watching. Dirty Pair is a 24-episode TV anime from 1985. It was animated by Sunrise, which is why it looks a lot like Zeta Gundam and other top tier Sunrise anime from the mid 80s. That's also why it uses stock Gundam sound effects in every single episode. Dirty Pair is considered a classic by Gen X and Millennial anime fans around the world. Sadly, the series never received ... an English dub and never aired on American TV. This is a shame since it would have done very well on Adult Swim. A dub project was successfully kickstarted a few years ago and has been in production Hell ever since. Hopefully it's released in the next couple years.

Rather than being based on a manga, Dirty Pair was actually based on a series of pulp novels. It was created as a love letter to "girls with guns" exploitation films, Golden Age science fiction, and women's professional wrestling. The original novelist REALLY likes women's wrestling. That's why the Dirty Pair have the outfits that they do. It's where he got the name "Lovely Angels". The organization the girls work for is the WWWA, which in real life stood for the now defunct World Women's Wrestling Association. If you haven't guessed by now, Dirty Pair isn't the most highbrow anime in existence. This could explain its unfortunate MAL score and hilariously bad Anilist score. Despite what the haters say, this series is very fun.

Dirty Pair is an episodic action/comedy about 2 female bounty in space. That's about as deep as the plot goes. In every episode, Yuri and Kei are hired to do some ridiculous job, kick serious ass, then accidentally cause an absurd amount of collateral damage. Their tendency to cause disaster is why they are feared throughout the galaxy as the infamous Dirty Pair. By the end of the series and OVAs, they have canonically destroyed at least 10 planets and are responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of people. All of this completely on accident due to horrendously bad luck. It's never really their fault, which is what makes it funny. The episodes have a great deal of variety with a couple horror episodes, a jail break episode, a cowboy episode, a serial killer episode, and of course an episode where they need to find a super powered cat that ate a super strength serum. All of these episodes manage to work because Yuri and Kei have great chemistry together and are just plain fun to watch!

Kei is the fiery loud-mouth and tomboy of the duo while Yuri is the more effeminate one. They manage to play off each other very well and their friendship is rather endearing. Yuri and Kei are far from perfect heroines. They're greedy. They're constantly lusting over hot guys. They don't lose sleep over the immense amount of destruction they cause, which would put most Shonen villains not named Lord Freeza to shame. However, they're also highly competent badasses who are cool and confident in their abilities. They're likeable in the way that James Bond is likeable. Old anime often has a bad reputation for being sexist, but Yuri and Kei are never infantilized or put in compromising situations where they constantly need to be rescued. They're the polar opposites of Yuria from Fist of the North Star. While the series does have some fanservice, it's always done in a very light and playful manner that doesn't come across as lurid or creepy. Some of the most explicit fanservice in the whole series is in one of the first few episodes where Kei shows off a backless dress that's cut so low it shows the entirety of her ass crack. It's actually rather charming and funny that she struts around in that outfit with utter confidence and authority!

Should you watch Dirty Pair? YES! Absolutely you should! This anime is packed with solid comedy, cool action scenes, and very good animation for its time. If you like that classic 1980s anime AESTHETIC, you definitely want to watch Dirty Pair! In fact, just drop whatever seasonal you're watching. Do you really need to watch Overlord S5 when you could watch 2 bounty hunter chicks accidentally blow up a planet? I didn't think so.

Genre: Science Fiction/Action
Published by: Nozomi/LuckyPenny
Running Time: Part One (325 min.) Part Two (325 min.)
Format: Japanese Audio (Dolby Digital Mono), English Subtitles
Release Dates: Part One (6/4/2013) Part Two (8/6/2013)
Media: DVD

It’s easy to be adamant about cherished childhood memories; particularly those revolving around beloved TV shows that shaped our imagination and oftentimes influenced our future career pursuits. I still remember feeling timelessly connected to the eighties He-Man cartoon which sparked my passion for illustration and animation. I also remember re-watching the first few episodes not too long ago, dumbfounded by just how poorly the show aged. It’s as if a piece of me was shredded to pieces…leaving ... me wondering where I saw the appeal in the first place. Then there are shows like Dirty Pair, which to this day feel as fresh as they did decades ago. From the neon-lit disco-style opening to the absurd action sequences and charming humor, Dirty Pair is a nostalgia trip worth taking regardless of how much time passes.

Dirty Pair was one of the first in bringing the popular “girls with guns” sub-genre to Anime. Its immediate success was soon followed up by classics like Bubblegum Crisis, Gall Force, and the now legendary Ghost in The Shell and Appleseed. The two ladies have become genre idols, influencing most female anime action personas we see today. While their prominence in Japanese animation is unquestionably admirable, it’s how relevant the show feels almost thirty years later that truly impresses. The balance between hilarious eighties cheesiness and masterful animation is remarkably inviting, making the episodes feel like something that could have been released a few years ago. Yes, there’s the unpleasant 4:3 aspect ration and occasional loss in color, but Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s art style is as electrifying as ever.

This latest collection is being released in two parts, but it would be foolish not to grab both sets at once. Every part comes packed with thirteen episodes (3 discs per set), each in its original Japanese audio and Litebox-style keepcases. The audio quality is surprisingly well preserved (particularity during the louder action sequences) and the video is top notch. Colors are crisp and vibrant with very subtle discolorations in a few scenes and nearly unnoticeable artifacts and frame distortions. I ran the DVDs via my PS3 with the upscaling mode set to on, which gave the overall contrast ratio and color saturation a significant quality boost. Considering the show originally aired in 1985, it still looks and sounds surprisingly contemporary.

The show revolves around Kei and Yuri, two enticing members of the Trouble Consultant Team 234. The code named “Lovely Angels” are disaster magnets, always leaving a trail of utter chaos and madness…hence their nickname Dirty Pair. Despite their destructive temperament, they somehow always end up catching the bad guy, even if it means destroying half a city. Dirty Pair can be best described as a Cyberpunk action-comedy inspired by classics like Blade Runner and Mad Max. While the tone is clearly more lighthearted, fans of such films will absolutely devour the show’s diverse sci-fi aesthetic. The action sequences in nearly every episode are nothing short of amazing. The spectacular battle set pieces give Dirty Pair an impressive cinematic quality and while most of the series feels somewhat episodic in nature, the charming duo keeps each narrative segment thoroughly entertaining and captivating.

Whether you’re an Anime enthusiast or simply enjoy quality animation, Dirty Pair is a fantastic look back at one the finest eighties cartoon classics. Despite being nearly three decades old, Kei and Yuri are as lovable and hilarious as ever and the superbly preserved source material guarantees for a collection of the highest quality. Dirty Pair was a blast then…and it’s an absolute blast now!

What a fun ride that was. Two 80s chicks work for a Government Agency and create havoc almost everywhere they go. But they get the job done. The artwork is probably good for its era, but not great compared to today. The sound was fine nothing overwhelming. There is no real storyline, most of the episodes are stand alone, except for a couple of 2 parters. What really stands out though are the two main characters, they are almost constantly arguing or insulting each other, frequently blackmail their boss for raises and bonuses, they also cause a lot of property damage most of the time, ... and they work well together. They are fun to watch, they wear 2 piece outfits that are pretty much hot pants and cleavage inducing tops, along with cowboy boots. If it wasn't for their antics I probably would have dropped this one. This is a great action comedy, so if you are looking for that sort of thing and can tolerate the 80s vibe this is for you.

There is just something fascinating and absolutely special about Dirty Pair and it really is a shame it never became a long running anime like some other shows of the time. The relatively limited episode count may be linked to the sheer quality of the animation however, I do not think there are many Tv anime that can match Dirty Pair in fluidity, consistency and the art direction. Every episode is OVA quality!

But of course pretty animation isn't always enough to make an anime special. Dirty Pair at first glance just looks like a shallow, sci fi romp but there is something that belies the ... sheer eye candy of the show. Dirty Pair supposedly depicts all of these utopian looking societies that are not far off from being an expy of economic boom Japan of the time; and the spectacular formula of the show is to have their entire fabric and institutions destroyed by one surgical mishap, courtesy of the iconic protaganist duo Kei and Yuri. Of course it is to be noted that their antics are all in the course of tackling the crime and intrigue that sharply contrasts with the supposedly perfect looking high tech settings.

I think Dirty Pair represents the fragility of the Japanese Miracle as built upon the fleeting shifts in western economies towards neo liberal financial practices. It can be watched as a top tier pulpy sci fi adventure show on par with Crusher Joe and Space Adventure Cobra, but it is also a window into the issues of our real world that remain relevant to this day. It is like Star Trek in this regard though whilst Star Trek is more about solving external problems, Dirty Pair brings our attention within to our own internal problems. Facing an intense economic recession at the time of writing of this review, Dirty Pair reminds us that the illusion of prosperity should not be taken for granted when it is propped up by such fragile economic institutions, political systems and social dysfunction. It could all come crashing down at any moment just like anything Kei and Yuri gets involved in!

This show will leave a lasting impression on you despite the ludicrous and seemingly dumb amounts of chaos and destruction in it. This powerful but subtle message, is the reason why. Highly recommended for sci fi and 80s anime fans.

Sunrise brought about, for arguably the first time, two interactive women characters that were both strong and sexy. What more is needed, except maybe an insane amount of action, humour, and things always running out of control.

Humanity has spread across the universe and where there is a crisis, a corporation called the World Welfare Works Association (3WA), in which our two main girls, Kei (red) and Yuri (blue) work for get called upon to solve the issue at hand. The 3WA then send “trouble consultants” like Kei and Yuri to solve various problems, and in grand fashion, the two called the “lovely angels” cause nothing ... but destruction and mayhem wherever they go.

Besides being one of the first to bring about “girls with guns” to anime, Kei and Yuri bring with them an almost cyber-punk Blade Runner-like universe. Each episode is episodic, and shows all of the different aspects of the world(s) the two visit, and their overall day-to-day lives: working, wanting vacations, meeting men (hopefully rich and handsome), and shopping. Unfortunately for Kei and Yuri the universe is a rough place, and they always find themselves in awkwardly dangerous situations ranging from bodyguard duty to covert ops missions.

The Lovely Angels play off of each other exceedingly well in each and every episode. However, there are a few areas where the anime falls short. There is little to no back story on the characters, nor is there really any character development. Music, besides the catchy intro song, is lacking, but action sequences hold up enough for the time. Animation becomes somewhat choppy in some areas, much like anime from the early 80’s (Ideon and Yamato). Luckily, Kei and Yuri pull the show together so much, all of it matters that much less.

Dirty Pair is a fun ride to enjoy with Kei and Yuri on their daily work adventures. It is full of action and comedy throughout each episode never leaving a dull moment.

For the record, Kei is the best.

This is my first re watch of Dirty Pair since watching the show for the first time in August. So I'm gonna give a couple reasons why you Should watch Dirty Pair & then give a review.

You have Saeko Shimazu Voicing Yuri. Who voices Shinobu in Urusei Yatsura, Four in Gundam Zeta, Megumi in Creamy Mami and has voice a character in all of Rumiko Takahashi most popular anime series. Who I absolutely adore that sweet voice she does for Shinobu and Yuri, as soon as I heard her voice I had to check watch this show!

It's the original Girls with Guns Anime ... that has influenced a lot of imitation. Yes! it's a girls with guns anime but also a Buddy Cop Anime with these two kick ass attractive girls. A hot headed redhead Kei and the girly blue hair Brunette Yuri. The Buddy Cop genre being one of my favorite genres. This was right up my ally.

The Episodes start off good, very influence by a 2001 a space odyssey with hints of James Bond. Around episode 5 the plot of each episode do get better and become their own, the action and humor all improves. The episode are from very good to great with a hand full of episodes I found to be average. It all depends what you like in the plot.

The Humor has a lot of Buddy cop traits with silly humor relying on our two main characters personalities. There's a funny gag with Yuri and Kei seeing that they cause a lot of collateral damage they are Nicknamed Dirty Pair. Which is so funny cause it just pisses them off. They destroy so many things sometimes accidentally or on purpose.

Now as to who I like the most I was Leaning a lot to Yuri. Cause the voice actress, the character design, the personality and her hair style . Which has become my favorite hairstyle. Then in the middle of the series I was leaning to Kei due to her being so funny and her tom boyish Nature. By the end of the series I ended up liking both. Yes Yuri and Kei do argue a lot it being a Buddy Cop trope. But there are moments where they do appreciate each other

This isn't just a "good for it's time" show, this is a great and hugely entertaining for today. Every episode is like a 20 minute action movie, there's always an interesting plot or mystery and tons of shootouts, fistfights and explosions. Kei and Yuri are hilarious but also well-written, badass action heroes. The artwork is gorgeous and while some of the animation might be a bit stiffer than a modern production there's clearly a huge amount of effort in the parts that matter the most. I love the super-detailed backgrounds that bring this world to life, and while we don't get a ton of specifics ... on the state of the universe, most episodes take the pair to some unique and interesting locale. Additionally, the show's age works to its benefit, as everything from the music to the style just oozes 80's retro sci-fi cool. I can't wait to check out the OVAs and Movies.