With a style and sensibility very close to Now and Then,
Here and There and Barefoot Gen, this short sci-fi OAV is not afraid
of putting its young characters in very intense situations. A boy named Ran meets
a girl named Aira in a post-apocalyptic Mad-Max version of Earth, and becomes
embroiled in the conflict between various rebel groups and some mysterious aliens.
However, the plot that starts out decently enough never really manages to answer
any of its own questions, and the ambiguity of several secondary characters makes
it very difficult to figure out what's going on most of the time. While the series
definitely has some good ideas, the specific action scenes tend to outdo the story
as a whole, and the furious pace leaves little time for adequate reflection.
The
simple designs certainly help in some respects, making the characters almost instantly
appealing, but this aesthetic also extends to the backgrounds and effects and
everything else, making the show look cheap by current standards. The characterization
is good, though development is pretty limited. Ran and Aira are likeable, if a
bit over-idealized, and the minor players frequently manage to show signs of depth.
Though it has its serious moments, Green Legend Ran never has quite the
impact that similar tales achieve. The weaknesses of the story keep this an ambitious,
but more or less benign action show.
(3.5)
