Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040
Publisher
ADV
Director
Hayashi Hiroki
Production
AIC, TV Tokyo, Victor Entertainment
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes
Year
1998
Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 volume 1: Genesis
By John Huxley
27th Apr 04  Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040. The first two words of that title will undoubtedly be all too familiar to many of you. From Bubblegum Crisis, Crash, AD Police right through to this more modern remake, the Bubblegum universe has kept fans enthralled for well over a decade. As a classic cyberpunk adventure, the Bubblegum universe is one of towering neon-lit skyscrapers, overpopulated streets and, of course, robots. If you've seen any of the earlier Bubblegum series, you'll know that robots (or Boomers) invariably play a central role - usually going nuts and killing their masters. This is where the AD Police step in - a special unit created specifically for the task of eliminating rogue Boomers despite lacking the proper equipment necessary for stopping a crazed killing machine intent on ripping limbs from torsos for no real good reason. Thank the heavens for the Knight Sabers, an all-girl vigilante group with state of the art mechanical suits, funded by an eccentric young lady named Sylia and led in battle by fanboy favourite Priss. Almost identical to the original series, then? Yes and no. While the story is reminiscent of the original, everything else including the characters and settings have been altered, giving Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 a very different look and feel to its older sibling. The artwork and the designs have, of course, been given a more modern look than the 1987 series, no doubt influenced by a whole variety of things from the intermitting years. This new style shouldn't deter longtime fans, however, as the crux of the series remains faithful to its origins; this is every bit a worthy successor to that classic series. Those fans should ignore the rest of this review and go get their hands on this remake if they don't own it already. Those of us not smitten with the ageing series are going to need a little more convincing. Beneath the familiar plot Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 is a modern series with modern production values to match. As well as improved animation, updated artwork and more detailed scenery, this quality also extends to the character design. Over the course of the four episodes on this disc we're introduced to the Knight Sabers; Sylia, owner of a boutique and lingerie shop and group leader, eighteen year old Nene, AD Police communications officer and all-round technical whizz and Priss, lead vocalist for a local rock band and the toughest fighter of the group. Finally there's Linna, a young office worker who joins the Knight Sabers over the course of the first few episodes. Each of the four Knight Sabers has a life and a job outside of the vigilante group that sees them tackle more pedestrian (yet no less exciting) difficulties other than mad Boomers. The alter-ego lifestyle gives our heroines a little depth, though this is never really expanded upon as much as I'd hoped. The action has also benefited from a more modern outlook. The Knight Sabers' hardsuits are mechanical costumes that give the girls unbelievable strength and fantastical powers. Their small size and high manoeuverability lends a fast pace to the action sequences, distancing this from more popular mech series with cumbersome combatants. Although the direction of these sequences is far from groundbreaking they remain an entertaining distraction that helps bring a little excitement. For a series that has so much to live up to, Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 has got off to a great start. There's a good amount of nostalgia here to please the fanboys and enough new content to help this series carve its own identity. At the risk of annoying a few fans, I'm willing to admit that I liked this series better than the orignal.
R2 DVD Notes
Features: English and Japanese Audio, English subtitles, character profiles, ADV trailers
Notes: As you can see, this disc really doesn't boast anything special in the extras department. The regular audio and subtitle options are present and correct, along with a selection of character profiles accompanied by a few images of that character. The audio and picture quality are generally excellent, and the menu design is simple and easy to navigate. A solid package, but nothing compared to more recent ADV releases.
-- John Huxley 27th Apr 04
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