Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01, is a mecha OVA brought to life by a team of notorious animators and designers, who managed to deliver a competent action experience.
The story is pretty simple. The protagonist, a car mechanic called Koji Sugimoto, stumbles upon a top secret JSDF anti tank humanoid power armor called rhe MADOX-01, enters it and is unable to get out. Now he must escape from the military and go to a building to meet his girlfriend, confronting an officer called Kilgore on the way, and the original pilot of the MADOX, Eriko Kusumoto.
But let's be honest, MADOX isn't really about the story. At all.
What MADOX actually has to offer comes in the form of its visuals, particularly the mechanical animation. Shinji Aramaki (who also directed and idealized the project) provides the designs of the machines here, and while the MADOX itself is pretty iconic and cool, (also being a clear homage to Naoyuki Katou's Marauder Suit) it's the way it moves that really shines. The intricate movement of each of the components inside the cockpit, the power of its weaponry, its weight, all brilliantly conveyed through very detailed and carefully crafted animation. You can tell it was made with love for this awesome machine.
The character animation is serviceable, but nothing really mind blowing. Again, they were not meant to be.
Ken Yajima's music is appropriately energetic and stylish, bringing life to every tense chase sequence.
You can tell the crew was very enthusiastic about making this OVA overall, as its most important aspects were crafted with care.
It's like watching project made my a group of friends composed of sf nerds. Only this group of friends is also extremely talented at their respective areas, and made of talented animators and directors like Anno, Takahiro Oomori and Koji Ito.
Overall, MADOX-01 is an enjoyable experience, just don't expect anything spectacular.
