Reviews

Hyper Dolls is an archetypal over-the-top 90s comedy action OVA, complete with magical girls, giant monsters, and self-aware jabs at its own genre. While it doesn't necessarily break any new ground in regards to its general formula, it is still good old fashioned 90s fun, something for which the best advice is just to turn your brain off and enjoy. Beginning with the story, it's a simple, formulaic setup of two magical girls from outer space fighting giant monsters on planet earth, all while they maintain their secret identity from those around them at school and society at large, with one poor bastard who knows who they are and has to keep that secret at all costs- hijinks ensue. As for its quality, it feels kind of rushed, and drops you in right at the middle with little to no explanation, since it seems to be adapting from the middle of the manga's story somewhere. So, since you have no real context as to what's going on, the stakes feel kind of nebulous, but the show itself manages to deliver a good time regardless, with physical comedy and vulgar innuendo throughout. Beyond its baseline entertainment value, though, it's not really remarkable in any particular way. The art is the strongest aspect of this show, delivering on the indulgent color and high-octane action that 90s anime is often known for, making it a pleasure to watch in this regard. The sound is above average, with fun, multifaceted voice work that adds a lot of color and personality to jokes that might otherwise fall a little flat. It sounds like a project the voice actors had a lot of fun with. The characters are also pretty good, as while they're just filling archetypes such as the aloof heroes or the neurotic male lead, they're doing so in a way that is thoroughly entertaining. Of the cast, it's hard to choose a favorite, because they measure up just about the same to each other, and each have their own drawbacks as well. The Hyper Dolls Mica and Mew are the driving force of the show, bringing humor and cool fight scenes, but they're both so stubborn and dense it can get a little irritating at times. Shouko is eager and inquisitive, always so close to figuring out who the Hyper Dolls are, but she's given comparatively little screentime. Hideo is our longsuffering protagonist, whose constant trials force him to adapt, and are funny to watch, but his constant complaining can get old quick. Then everybody else is too secondary to even have any development in the first place. Overall, I'd say Hyper Dolls is best understood as a supplement to the manga rather than its own thing as an anime, which does impact its score, but doesn't really detract from the fact that it's good, simple fun regardless. I wouldn't go as far to say this is a hidden gem, but it's still a hidden something, maybe a hidden shiny penny or hidden cool rock. Give it a watch if you like 90s tropes and have some time to kill- you could certainly do worse than this.