Wow. From the very opening credits, you know that this is a very different production. I was led to believe that this series was a parallel to Walt Disney's Pinnochio; nothing could be further from the truth. While there may be several passing similarities, such as the low-lifes who want to take advantage of Key in the entertainment industry, and the naiveté that she shows to real world situations, but that's where the similarities end. Key the Metal Idol is a much darker, introspective look at our own society, and what motivates us. A well-written script presents itself in the first episode, with Sato Hiroaki doing a very credible job of putting the elements together for the screen. The opening animation could well be project for a film production class; the use of the city/machine metaphor has not been as well realised since Nakamura Takashi's entry in Robot Carnival, plus there are some really neat morph effects to boot.

Iwao Junko does a fine job as the somewhat naive but determined Mima Tokiko (Key), and she's skillfuly able to convey emotions without a great deal of vocal cues. This is trickier than you might think, since the animators don't help her in this regard -- Key is drawn suitably detached and relatively unemotional. Where the animators do lend a hand are with the supporting cast and some innovative use of flashbacks and some well-cropped shots. Several of the males are drawn with your typical "Charles Atlas" style bodies -- I do get tired of the stereotyping that so often happens in anime. Translations are very loose, with several lines being missed entirely. But overall, it's a fine production. Some suitably somber opening and closing songs with fine vocals help round out the story. - AN