Reviews

May 21, 2020
Mixed Feelings
I've talked about the Neptunia anime. It was okay. Definitely designed for fans of the games and with a real problem over-condensing, but decent enough. Well, last July they put out a one episode OVA. There's been speculation that it may be a harbinger of a second series for the anime. But, for now, let's just look to see if it's any good. 

Story:

Gamindustri is experiencing a very hot summer. Neptune decides that this would be a perfect time to meet up with the other goddesses and play, as the alternative would be doing her work. Which Histoire would prefer, but Neptune being Neptune doesn't listen. Things go a bit awry when Nepgear and the other sisters find themselves inadvertently  going through a gateway to another world. 

The biggest issue with the OVA is that it's too short to do much with the concept. So, kind of an extension of the issue with the anime proper overly condensing things and not developing them well. Except this isn't based on anything from the games, unless it's part of a newer one I haven't played.

Just like it has the same major issue as the main anime, it also has the main positives. A strong sense of fun and good comedic moments. It is fairly enjoyable to watch and seeing Nepgear interact with a more serious, responsible version of her sister is interesting in its own right. 

Characters:

There's not that much in this OVA that's new for the franchise, aside from the other dimension Neptune. It's mostly the characters that fans will recognise being themselves. Which is fine. The cast of Neptunia is a lot of fun and they have compelling interactions that are also very very gay. Other dimension Neptune is largely based around being a foil for the regular Neptune. Which works nicely. 

Art:

It looks like the anime proper. Which looks like the games. So, it looks good with strong character designs, great action sequences and a slight fan-service problem. 

Sound:

The actresses in this franchise as a whole are just really good. And this OVA gives both Tanaka Rie & Kanai Mika a chance to shine by giving them other dimensional versions of their characters to play who both sound enough different to make them really believable as different characters but also similar enough that they're believable as different versions. If that makes sense. The music is very much like you'd find from the games with the theme tunes from the anime mixed in. So, that's good. 

Ho-yay:

There's not that much considering the source material. There's a little bit betwixt Uni and Nepgear as well as some between IF and Compa at the start. I guess with the limited time and focus on the sisterly dynamic they just didn't have room to Red it up. 

Areas of Improvement:

Give things more time for proper development. This was a problem with the twelve episode anime as well. And if this is the precursor to a second series for the anime, that would be my primary advice. Take things more slowly and develop them really well. Because both this OVA and the anime proper could have been paced so much better. 
If you're going to bring up the idea of a slacker Noire and a serious Neptune and then show a serious Neptune, at least give us a glimpse of a slacker Noire. 
This should have been longer. This goes along with the pacing thing. A part of the problem is that they make this basically the length of a single episode but you can't really do much with a whole new dimension and building up the characters therein while also showing the regular dimension in that amount of time. Honestly, this probably should have been an hour long. That would have given them enough time to really do something compelling.

Final Thoughts:

This OVA, like the anime it's based off of, is fine. If you're a huge fan of the franchise, you'll find some things to enjoy. If you're not, this isn't going to change your mind in the slightest. If you don't know anything about the franchise, you'd be better off trying the first game. Just because its pacing is so much better and you get a stronger sense of the characters. Ultimately, I give this a 6/10 and if it is leading up to another series of the anime, I'll watch it but I don't have much hope of it being better than decent under the circumstances. 
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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