is a three-part
original video animation
, abbreviated as OVA and sometimes as OAV (original animation video), are Japanese animated films and series made specially for release in home video formats without prior showings on television or in theaters, though the first part of an OVA s ...
produced by the
Anime International Company
, often abbreviated as AIC is a Japanese animation studio founded on June 15, 1982 and located in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan. On December 10, 2015, AIC RIGHTS Co., Ltd was established through a company split, in which AIC Rights received the transfer ...
and IMAGICA Entertainment, and written by
Chiaki J. Konaka
is a Japanese writer and novelist. He was the head writer of the anime series ''Serial Experiments Lain'', ''Digimon Tamers'', and ''Hellsing'', as well as the television drama ''Ultraman Gaia''.
Personal life
Konaka gave himself the middle ini ...
and
Kazuto Nakazawa
is a Japanese character designer and director of numerous anime series and video games who also goes by the pseudonym . His directorial work includes ''Parasite Dolls'', the anime sequence in '' Kill Bill: Volume 1'', and the Moondrive segment ...
. The series is set in the ''
Bubblegum Crisis
is a 1987 to 1991 cyberpunk original video animation (OVA) series produced by Youmex and animated by Anime International Company, AIC and Artmic. The series was planned to run for 13 episodes, but was cut short to just 8.
The series involv ...
'' universe and takes place after the events of the original OVA series. It is set in the city of Megatokyo, and focuses on a group of
A.D. Police officers known as the Branch. They are tasked with stopping terrorist activities as well as
Boomers (androids) that have become harmful to society.
To date, this is the most recent entry in the ''Bubblegum Crisis'' universe to be released.
Plot
''Parasite Dolls'' is set in the original ''
Bubblegum Crisis
is a 1987 to 1991 cyberpunk original video animation (OVA) series produced by Youmex and animated by Anime International Company, AIC and Artmic. The series was planned to run for 13 episodes, but was cut short to just 8.
The series involv ...
'' universe, taking place shortly after the events of the original OVA series. It focuses on a division of A.D. Police called Branch that is tasked with stopping terrorist activities and destroying Boomers that are a threat to society.
Characters
; Basil "Buzz" Nikvest
Lieutenant Basil "Buzz" Nikvest is a member of the Branch special task force of the AD Police. He was transferred to Branch five years before the story for shooting a child he thought was a boomer. Due to his mistake he is reluctant to carry a sidearm, despite being a gifted marksman. He was made a widower when his wife was killed by a rogue boomer.
; Reiko Michaelson
Sergeant Reiko Michaelson is the heavy weapons and vehicles expert in Branch. She flies a helicopter and is usually at the front lines for fighting Boomers.
; Kouji Takahashi
Kouji Takahashi is the Inspector in charge of Branch operations.
; Rod Kimball
Sergeant Rod Kimball is a
Boomer who serves alongside Buzz in Branch. While he cannot hold an official rank, he is treated as a Sergeant. He was also able to identify Reiko's romantic feelings for Buzz. He was killed while saving Reiko from a helicopter assassination.
; Elza "Angel" Lynch
While technically a member of Branch, Lieutenant Elza "Angel" Lynch spends most of her time undercover, investigating the Genom Corporation. She has silver hair and a dark complexion.
; Bill Myers
An electronics and computer hacker, Bill Myers serves as the Branch's Boomer expert. The only person he seems to get along with is Buzz.
Cast
Additional voices
Japanese: Kouichi Kuriyama,
Hajime Iijima
(born April 29, 1973) is a male Japanese voice actor from Kanagawa Prefecture affiliated with Office Osawa. He was formerly affiliated with Office CHK.
Voice roles Television animation
;2001
*'' Motto! Ojamajo Doremi'' (HR Professionals)
*'' Su ...
, Hiroaki Yoshida,
Kenji Nomura
is a Japanese Seiyū, voice actor from Okayama Prefecture affiliated with Aoni Production. Known for playing characters large in size, he has starring roles in anime shows, including Mitsunori Kugayama in ''Genshiken'', Chairman Harabote in ''Kin ...
,
Mitsuru Ogata
is a Japanese voice actor. He is affiliated with Mausu Promotion.
Filmography
Television animation
;1998
*''Detective Conan'' (Kenichi Hirai)
*''Maico 2010'' (Kacchin, Katsuo)
;2001
*'' Baki the Grappler'' (Ian McGregor)
;2002
*'' Mao Dante'' ( ...
, Tadahisa Seizen, Toshitaka Shimizu, Yuko Kagata, Yuna Iwaki
English: David Born, Gene Tognacci,
George Manley
George Edmond Manley (born September 17, 1965) is an American voice actor, novelist and screenwriter. He attended San Jose State University, majoring in theatre arts, University of Nevada, Reno, majoring in journalism and holds his associate o ...
, James Reed Faulkner,
Jay Hickman,
John Gremillion
John Michael Gremillion (born 1967) is an American voice actor who works for Funimation and Seraphim Digital/Sentai Filmworks. He has provided voices for a number of English-language versions of Japanese anime series and video games; notable credi ...
,
John Swasey
John Allan Swasey is an American voice actor, ADR Director, and script writer known for his work at Funimation, ADV Films and Sentai Filmworks.
He has provided voices for English-language versions of Japanese anime series and video games. His ...
, John Tyson, Jovan Jackson, Kevin Charles,
Mark Laskowski
Mark X. Laskowski (born March 15, 1968 in Parma, Ohio) is an American voice actor. He is known for many roles in anime dubs for ADV Films and Seraphim Digital/ Sentai Filmworks, such as Shinpachi Shimura from Gintama the Movie, Kobungo Inuta fro ...
, Matt Culpepper,
Mike MacRae
Mike MacRae (born July 29, 1977) is an American actor, stand-up comedian, producer, director and writer.
Early life and career
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, MacRae moved to Houston, Texas, in 1995 where he graduated from Rice University in 1 ...
,
Nancy Novotny
Nancy Novotny is an American radio personality and voice actress working with ADV Films and Seraphim Digital, known for her roles in English-language dubbed anime, such as Yomi in Azumanga Daioh, Yuka in Elfen Lied and Madlax in Madlax. She c ...
,
Rob Mungle
Robert Louis Mungle (born October 19, 1967) is an American voice actor for Funimation, ADV Films, Seraphim Digital/Sentai Filmworks, and OkraTron 5000. He is also a stand-up comedian, having been known as The Reverend.
Filmography
Anime
* ''00 ...
, Robert Anderson,
Sasha Paysinger
Sasha Paysinger is a voice actress for ADV Films and Sentai Filmworks for English-dubbed anime titles. Her major roles include Hatoko Kobayashi in ''Angelic Layer'', Asami in ''Mezzo DSA'', Nana in ''Elfen Lied'', Marie in ''Sister Princess'', ...
, Shawn Taylor,
Tiffany Grant
Tiffany Lynn Grant (born October 11, 1968) is an American voice actress and script writer who is known for her English-dubbing work for ADV Films on such anime films and television series as ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', in which she voiced the cha ...
, Victor Carsrud
Episodes
Reception
Critical reception of ''Parasite Dolls'' has been generally positive. Nicoletta Christina Browne of
THEM Anime Reviews
THEM Anime Reviews, otherwise known as THEM or T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews, is an Anime, anime Review, review website that writes about current and past anime in any form, including Original video animation, OVAs and Original net animation, ONAs. The ...
gave the series a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. She found the installment to be "a good series that doesn't pull many surprises but does make a satisfying if sometimes a bit graphic watch. If one comes in without expectations of greatness and prepared for the violence, you'll likely enjoy it just fine." Browne recommended it for fans of cyberpunk, and also that it would be for mature teens and adults for its graphic violence and implicit sex.
Chris Beveridge of the Fandom Post found the audio and video for the collection to have no major issues, but disliked the cover artwork. He liked that the series featured some of the "dark underbelly" of the ''Bubblegum Crisis'' universe and without the bubblegum or the pop of the previous series and OVAs. He wrote: "This is a cop drama of a sort set in the future that tells three engaging tales and lets the third one really play with the world we’ve come to know. This is the kind of show I want to see as a series, not that other AD Police TV series. This is the good stuff."
Notes
References
External links
*
*
{{Anime International Company
A.D. Police
2003 anime OVAs
ADV Films
Androids in television
Anime International Company
Bubblegum Crisis
Cyberpunk anime and manga
Erotic thriller anime and manga
ja:A.D.POLICE#PARASITE DOLLS