| Gundress OAV |
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Manga Max Article:
In the year 2100, in the multicultural city that was once Yokohama, a special task force is formed to prevent robot crime. The Bouncers, as they're known, are led by an ex-terrorist cyborg by the name of Arisa Takakura. The other women (yes, they're all female) are fitness fanatic and ex-Los Angeles cop Marcia Asano, tough Osaka kung-fu girl Sylvia Kakihana and ex-army tae kwon do mistress Yun Kei. Not forgetting specky teen Michelle Iga, who taps keys and pushes buttons on back-up. Directed by Katuyoshi Yatabe (who gets another name-check this issue for Shin Hakkenden), Gundress is the new movie from the ORCA group, who brought us Landlock. It features very unusual cast (few anime actresses are involved) and "planning asistance" from Masamune Shirow. There are definite echoes of Shirow's Ghost In The Shell and Dominion, but the Bayside Bouncers will have to do a lot of work to atone for Landlock. Released in Japan this month. (March 1999)
Taken from Manga Max Number 4, March 1999. So, Copyrights are theirs! Lucas: Manga Max (previously Manga Mania) is a very good UK based manga and anime magazine. They write really good articles (well, most of the time!). Therefore buy or subscribe it! I like the part about Shirow's role, "planning assistance"! How true! |
| Year 2100AD, in the coastal city of Bayside. |
Crime dominates even the streets, leading up to the assassination of the mayor. The new mayor, Won Hike, decided to create a special division of armed security that will use landmates to carry out the work that the police is incapable of handling.
The chosen ones are those with the best results in the police academy. Not happy with the performance of the police force, the group Angel Arms was formed. The members are Kei, Arisa, Marsha (or Marcia), Michelle and Silvia, each one a professional in their field. The mayor of the city has high confidence in the leader of this SWAT team. Thanks to the contacts of the unit, they obtained some information of a serious criminal activity in the city. Apparently one of the boats moored in the coast is used for illegal smuggling of arms. After putting up a hard fight against the criminals, they managed to apprehend the head of the smugglers, a man called Hassan.
During interrogation, Hassan alleges that he has knowledge of a high official of the Central Government involved in the black market of Bayside City, but if they want to know the name, they must guarantee his safety. Meanwhile, the government decided to set up an anti-terrorist division at the city council.
Hassan turns out to be full of surprises. Apparently 2 years ago he was a member of a terrorist organization (Sekun Daty) along with a certain Jean Ruck (Jean Luc) Skinner. Takako (the Government connection of Angel Arms) has orders for Arisa to shoot and kill this person. Unknown to the others, Arisa is actually a former member same organization, and had a romantic relationship with Jean. But the Jean whom she knew died in an explosion while carrying out a mission... how could he had survived?
The following morning, Arisa was not seen by anyone, seems that she had left the group. However, a new wave of crime is on the rise and it is the top priority of the Angel Arms. Arisa finally showed up sometime later.
Jean Ruck commands his subordinates to infiltrate Bayside City and they begin to go on a crime rampage all over the city. Chaos reigns and the government declares a state of emergency.
Jean tries killed to Hassan in his cell with two of his last and most powerful Landmates, Grey Fox and Zonker. But instead of this, he was confronted by Arisa. After a tough hand to hand combat, the fight was interrupted and Jean escapes to look for Hassan in an Arab town.
Meanwhile, in the port, the military are confiscating landmates. Arisa confesses her secret to the rest of the members of the Angel. If the fight continues, she would not have let him escape, only that she does not have the heart to kill her ex-fiance.
In the meantime, Jean Ruck begins attacking all Arab towns randomly, reducing everything to ashes. The girls resist as hard as they can, especially trying hard to protect the children.
In the middle of the attack, Hassan tries to escape in a truck and Jean Ruck tries to intercept him. In the chase, a boy was in the way of the truck, forcing Hassan to abandon the vehicle when Jean Ruck prepares to shoot with his plasma rifle. Luckily the landmate Dolce piloted by Arisa arrives and protects to the boy and Hassan. Then it is Zonker vs Dolce. The outcome of the battle is obvious- the Zonker is much more superior than Dolce. However, re-inforcements begin to arrive in the form of helicopters.
Arisa and the members of the Angel are able to escape. The Special Anti-Terrorism Unit (code name Pandora) enters into action. They have the latest security technology systems and is very powerful... but will they be able to do anything against Zonker?
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Staff:
Original work: Akinori Amazawa (ORCA) and Media Works genzaki bunkokan with the collaboration of Masamune Shirow. Producer: ORCA Character Design: Akio Aoki and Yuki Iwai Mecha Design: Kouji Watanabe and Akira Shishido |
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| Gundress Original Soundtrack CD |
 Sourced from Manga Max #14 Reviews Section. Reviewer Julia Sertori gave it 2 / 5 stars and I believe her to be correct! ^_^ |
The Gundress Original Soundtrack CD, in case anyone is interested. This is not something new, and it was released around the time the anime premiered in Japan. I understand that there is also a Hybrid version CD, with bonus images and cards included with the OST, but I have no further info on that. The theme song is 'Close to Me' by R-Orange, and the music for the CD is credited to Yutaka Tominaga. Honestly I don't know what else to write... the anime flopped in Japan and has disappeared without a trace since.
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26th March 2000- The Gundress PSX Game [Click on the Link]