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4. Bugmaster  
Ok, so I finally got to watch Iria - Zeiram The Animation (after several
false starts due to missing Netflix DVDs). I think the feature I like
best about this OVA is the fictional universe. The world of Iria feels
very ornate, intricate and yet solid at the same time. I mean... if you
were building your own personal one-man flyer, obviously you'd make it
in the shape of a giant umbrella. And obviously you'd make it mostly of
energy shields and internal combustion engines. It just makes sense,
doesn't it ? In fact, all the technology of Iria is built according to
these principles: it's whimsical and sensible at the same time.
Amazingly, all of these weird creations -- air-pumping hover tanks,
transfer gates, crystalline shields, etc. -- fit together absolutely perfectly. The same design elements (such as the aforementioned
umbrella, or onion-shaped energy emitters, or the engravings on the
weapons, or...) pop up everywhere, and form a sort of interlocking
puzzle. After a while, one can almost discern the underlying laws which
shape that fictional world.
Needless to say, the art quality is extremely high, especially in the
little details, such as the bouncy little fuzz-critters that live under
the tiered giant mushrooms, or the streaks of rust on the broken-down
mecha in the slums. This attention to detail really helps reinforce the
"show, don't tell" principle that all good movies are built on.
Unfortunately, Iria is still just an action show. The action itself is,
naturally, superb -- but there isn't much in the way of plot or
character development. There's a bit of corporate intrigue, a bit of
betrayal and such, but it's nothing we haven't seen before. Iria is more
like Spriggan in this regard; it's not Cowboy Bebop and it never will
be. Still, the OVA is definitely well worth watching -- it's not every
day you get to see escape pods which are shaped like ancient Chinese
riverboats that are made space worthy by strategically placed force fields.
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| 3. Iodine
Based in a live-action film of the same name, this OAV is essentially
a prequel that tells the tale of how our heroine first became a bounty hunter.
The plot is very solid, starting with a mission gone bad, and is played totally
straight. Not a hint of of fluff or fanservice is there to get in the way as an
inexperienced Iria tracks the monstrous Zeiram across the galaxy, proving herself
to friends and enemies alike as she goes. This is also one of the rare series
that acknowledges and deals with sexism, but carefully and with restraint. More
is said through Iria's growth into an action hero worth watching than any pretentious
speeches ever could. All the characters break out of their cliches very nicely,
with help from some no-nonsense writing. The action is spectacular and the plot
holds just enough twists to keep the audience on their toes. Easily
the best thing about the series is the top-notch visual work. The animation is
high class and the designs are built to do one thing: move. The worlds Iria fights
her way through are magnificently imagined and realized, from the weapons and
accessories to the interstellar starscapes. The characters fit their environment,
a more rough-and-tumble bunch than the norm to match the rugged, unfamiliar alien
worlds. Iria herself is only moderately attractive, but a striking figure nonetheless.
On the other side of the coin, Zeiram is a nearly tangible menace, who practically
drives the entire story by himself. And note must be made of the minor characters,
particularly Bob, Fujikuro, and Iria's little sidekick Kei, who all turn out to
be more than what they appear. Iria is a great example of what an action
series can do, and the only real problem is that it's only six episodes long. |
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