Story: A simple but profound portrayal of human warmth and values (7/10).
A police comedy about the everyday life of two police officers, Natsumi Tsujimoto and Miyuki Kobayakawa, in the traffic division of the fictional Bokutou police station in Tokyo's Sumida district. The everyday cases may seem unspectacular, but they put the actors in exciting situations. Moreover, it is both believable and entertaining to see how the small everyday disasters are solved. One could argue that a policeman shouldn't come to work with a hangover, and that the tone is generally a little too light-hearted. But overall the series is a coherent whole, with fast-paced car chases, natural disasters, but no shoot-outs. Instead, bad guys are caught, people are saved and dates are enjoyed. Everything is resolved in a humane and understandable way, and maybe that's why I like the show so much.
Characters: Amusing and well portrayed, therefore likeable and interesting (8/10).
The characterisation is well done, focusing on how the two very different women become friends and how working together helps them grow personally and professionally. This is also the summary of the OVA. If you were to ask me for a recommendation, I would say watch the first four episodes (OVA) and if you don't like them, skip the series.
Tsujimoto Natsumi:
She's outgoing, fun and tends to see everything as a competition to win. She's the kind of woman who's a sidekick, which sometimes leads to some very funny scenes. She is straightforward and kind-hearted, very believable and endearing in her own way, a true friend.
Kobayakawa Miyuki:
Serious, patient and a damn good mechanic, she is the perfect counterpart to Natsumi. Call me old-fashioned and typically male, but a woman with whom you can spend a whole day in the workshop repairing a motorcycle or a car, and who also has a great taste in classic cars and privately drives a 1968 Toyota Sports 800, you just have to fall in love with her ;)
The secondary characters, although clichéd, are well-structured and fulfil their roles well. In addition, the variety of characters keeps the story interesting and exciting until the very end.
Kachou (Captain):
At first glance, he appears to be a stern and distant superior whom everyone respects and trusts, but who is also feared. He fulfils his role very well and over the course of the series, which by the way is very well done, his character is gradually revealed and his nature becomes more and more tangible to the viewer.
Fox Oshou (Temple Priest):
Of the supporting characters, he is my personal favourite. I don't want to give too much away. But if you watch the series (especially the OVA), you'll understand why I think the priest is super cool.
Nakajima, Ken:
He is 100% a cliché, but his character is so brilliantly described that it fits perfectly. He is a decent man who respects the law. A bit naive and so delightfully awkward with women (especially Miyuki) that you can laugh heartily about it. Nevertheless, his character develops slowly but steadily. You don't notice it at first, and in the end you think: Oh! What happened?
Nikaidou, Yoriko:
She's kind of cute, but she's also the worst gossip. She's often the cause of misunderstandings and additional problems.
Aoi, Futaba:
Next to Natsumi and Miyuki, one of the most interesting characters in the series. The way she is introduced may be a bit awkward at first. However, as the series progresses, her character development is excellent. Her extraordinary personality has all the human facets, the character and motivations are very well developed from the situation.
Visuals: The art and animation are very well done (8/10).
The artistic design of the anime still shows a lot of skill, time and dedication. Fujishima-san is a fan of cars and motorbikes, so the vehicles have a very high level of detail and recognition. The same goes for the character drawings of Atsuko Nakajima in the OVA and Atsuko Nakajima and Tokuyuki Matsutake in the TV series, which are also very well done and bring the characters to life, making it easy for the viewer to identify with them. The colour palette is not very extensive, but for a cel-animated series it is very even and without any colour defects. There are also some nice shadings and the colour transitions are well done. The animation, especially of the chases, is brilliant for a time when computer animation was in its infancy. Great examples of this are the many chases in bad weather, these passages are simply brilliant.
Sounds: BGM, voices and sound effects are well suited to the series (8/10).
The BGM for OVA episodes 1 to 4 was composed by Kō Ōtani and provides an excellent background to the action. His arrangements do not push themselves into the foreground. They allow the characters to develop through their facial expressions and actions alone. It is a sign of professional creativity to give the characters room for complexity and let the audience interpret what they see without the influence of the background music.Yasunori Iwasaki joined the team for the musical design of the following TV series (Ep. 5-51).
OVA theme songs (Ep. 1-4)
OP: "100 mph no Yuuki", a happy song performed by Seiyū Hiramatsu, Akiko [Miyuki] & Tamagawa, Sakiko [Natsumi]. The melody is a bit like an idol song, but the lyrics and music do a great job of conveying the happy mood.
ED: "Arittake no Jōnetsu de" is also sung by Seiyū Tamagawa-san & Hiramatsu-san. It is a nice, soft closing sequence. The graphics and animation of the two theme songs are impressive, considering they were made in the mid-90s. The two very similar sequences revolve around the two policewomen and impress with their natural-looking movements, great use of light and shadow, and beautiful character design.
Theme songs of the series (episodes 5 to 25)
OP: "Boku de Aru Tame ni" by Flying Kids, the title is a really catchy tune.
ED: "Thank You, Love", sung by Terada and Keiko. The beautiful musical arrangement with Terada-san's delicate singing is one of my favourite songs.
The theme song from episode 26
OP: "Love Somebody" by Fukui, Mariko. A beautiful and lively title and the singer's debut song.
ED: "Sora o Miagete" sung by Shirai, Takako. It's a beautiful song with a great melody and a very charming voice. The animation is somewhat basic. But the character art is incredibly beautiful.
The Japanese voice actors are generally very good. There are many amusing scenes with typical Japanese puns and culture jokes. Given the show's age, the occasional lack of lip-synching is a minor gripe. However, I particularly enjoyed the voice of Kobayakawa Miyuki, voiced by Hiramatsu, Akiko. She brought a very feminine and caring softness to the character that fitted well. Matsumoto, Rica as the voice of Aoi, Futaba was also a very good choice with its pleasantly soft sound. Also impressive is the performance of Kozakura, Etsuko, as the voice of Nikaidou, Yoriko, giving the character such a fitting timbre. The English dubbing [AnimEigo] is not faithful to the original, but surprisingly the English subtitles are, so I would recommend the original with English subtitles.
Taiho Shichauzo focuses on its characters and their personalities rather than entertaining audiences with excessive bloodshed and gunfights. Charming and entertaining at a good pace, this series is well worth watching.
Thank you for reading and have fun watching.
