Battle Angel (OVA)
| Battle Angel | |
Battle Angel OVA
|
|
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銃夢 (Ganmu) |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Cyberpunk |
| Original video animation | |
| Directed by | Hiroshi Fukutomi |
| Music by | Kaoru Wada |
| Studio |
Animate Film Madhouse |
| Licensed by | |
| Released | June 21, 1993 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes (each) |
| Episodes | 2 |
| Gunnm: Image Album | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album | |
| Released | May 21, 1993 |
| Genre | Anime soundtrack |
| Length | 44:16 |
| Label | KSS Records |
| Gunnm: Another Story | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album | |
| Released | June 21, 1993 |
| Genre | Anime soundtrack |
| Length | 41:38 |
| Label | KSS Records |
Battle Angel, known in Japan as Gunnm (銃夢 Ganmu), is an original video animation based on the Battle Angel Alita manga by Yukito Kishiro. The OVA comprises two episodes, Rusty Angel and Tears Sign, that serve as a compressed preview for the manga. They correspond respectively to volumes 1 and 2 of the manga, with some differences. According to Kishiro, only two episodes were originally planned. At the time, he was too busy with the manga "to review the plan cooly [sic]", nor was he serious about an anime adaptation. There are no plans to revive the anime.
The OVA spawned a memorable soundtrack including the theme song and "Cyborg Mermaid". Although it received a lukewarm reception in Japan, U.S. critics held it to be one of the best anime to be translated and brought to America in the 1990s. Manga Entertainment's UK and Australian version is just a single movie.
As he scavenges the Zalem dump heap for useful parts, cyberphysician Daisuke Ido comes across the remains of a female cyborg, who is still alive. Ido takes her home and decides to restore her, transferring her into a new cyborg body.
Shortly after, Gally becomes interested in Yugo, a local boy who is performing maintenance work for Ido. After Ido returns home late that night, the following day Gally notices his injured arm, which he explains away as the result of a fall. After introducing herself to Yugo, he convinces her to go with him and the two leave just as Chiren arrives.
Yugo and Gally try to climb onto the roof of an abandoned factory, but they both fall. Instinctively, Gally manages to catch Yugo and land safely. On the roof, they contemplate Zalem as Yugo discusses his interest in the floating city. Gally makes her interest in him known, but Yugo's obsession with Zalem blinds him to this.
Ido and Chiren go out for a drink. Chiren is obsessed with returning to Zalem, and views being in Scrap Iron City and Ido's acceptance of his lot in life as a waste. He warns her not to get involved with The Factory, and says he has no regrets about what happened in Zalem.
That night, Gally is awakened by Ido going out. Curious, she decides to follow. Elsewhere in Scrap Iron City, a lone woman on her way home runs into the criminals Rasha and Grewcica. Before they can do anything to her, Ido appears and attacks Rasha with his rocket hammer, slicing off his left arm, but getting stabbed in the shoulder. Gally then arrives, killing Rasha by punching his head off. Grewcica, enraged at Rasha's death, manages to deflect one of Ido's attacks. He then fights Gally, who slices off his right arm with a kick before knocking him into the sewers. Surprised at Gally's abilities, Ido also notices her bloodlust and regret at not being able to finish Grewcica off.
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Wikipedia