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[ café reviews ]

Green Legend Ran

Episode 2: Green 5


[ production info ]

Copyright: © 1992 AIC / Pioneer LDC, Inc.
Length: 45 minutes
Rating: NR, parental guidance suggested
Format: English Subtitled (VHS)

Director: Saga Satoshi Screenplay: Yamamoto Yu Music: Yoshikawa Yoichiro Produced by: M.T.V.


[ plot summary ]

VHS jacket

Ran, unsuccessful in stealing about the Red Centipede, sets out into the desert on his in an attempt to locate the giant ship. Equipped with only a sand suit, hovercraft and basic supplies, Ran quickly finds himself in trouble, in the middle of a very inhospitable desert...

Aira, captured by Kiba in a surprise visit to Green 1, learns that she's one a group of people with similarily coloured hair... that her kind's destiny is in someway linked to the Holy Mother. Aira soon realises that Kiba is aware of this -- and she discovers the horrifying depths that the Hazzard leader will go in order to uncover the hidden secret.

Jeke and his crew happen across a nearly dehydrated Ran while following a mysterious pod-like object floating across the desert skies. When Ran discovers that Jeke plans to intercept the Red Centipede, he begs to be allowed to accompany them. But Ran's not the only ones who are interested in Hazzard ship -- The Rodoists, armed with four of their front-line cruisers, attack the mammoth ship. The quicker, more powerful Rodoist ships easily disable the larger Hazzard unit, but they are not after the ship -- but her precious cargo: Aira!


[ capsule review ]

The story kicks into high gear in this second installment, as we learn the true intent of Kiba's 'Fireball Operation.' But even that's secondary to the main plot line: the true destiny of Aira and her kind, and what their ties are to the Holy Mother. There's a degree of depth to this storyline that belies its humble beginnings -- did you know that the original concept script was only 12 pages long? What's clearly evident is that this OAV series was created with a clear ecological message in mind...

Several new characters are introduced in this episode, many of which are played by well-known anime veterans, including Aono Takeshi (Kiba), Tomizawa Michie (Honran), and Ogata Kenichi (Sue). Their talents are most welcome; Kikuchi Hidehiro's Ran still makes me cringe. The original storyboard called for Ran to be about 21 years old; that would have been much more preferable than this 12-year old gaki we're forced to contend with.

Animation has picked up a notch as well. There are some terrific battle scenes involving the Rodoist sand ships' attack on the Hazzard's Red Centipede; careful attention was paid to the mechanical motions of the craft. Even more impressive was the attention to detail of the two group's armaments -- it's pretty obvious that the Hazzard are a make-shift group of fighters; their equipment is simply no match for the technologically advanced forces of the Rodoists. Even the music has been picked up a notch -- at times reminicent of previous Alan Parsons' works, including some very effective use of solo acoustic guitar.

But it's the story and effective writing that continues to drive this series. Just what is her link to the Holy Mother? The psychic visions that confront the various players hint at much, much more than a simple civil war... How does all this relate to the Holy Greens? Just what are the floating, pod-like objects which bury themselves in the sand, deep in the desert? These are questions that stick to the back of your mind, as this series comes to its conclusion.
- AN, 98.11.08



[ café rating ]

Original: Subbed: Dubbed:
Story: N/A 4 stars N/A
Direction: N/A 4 stars N/A
Acting: N/A 4 stars N/A
Animation: N/A 4 stars N/A
Music: N/A 4 stars N/A
Translation: N/A 3 stars N/A
Overall Rating: N/A 4 stars N/A


[ café trivia ]



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Page last modified 1998.11.11