Project A-Ko

CaptainSlow Jul 27, 2016

7.5

What I Liked: All the many references to old school (70's and 80's) anime and action movies, from subtle things like the teacher's character design mirroring that of Creamy Mami's to scenes that directly take off Macross. Combat choreography is smooth and fluid for the most part. The English dub as a whole is passable, with Julia Brahms giving a great performance as the obnoxious C-ko. Brilliant, energetic soundtrack with good insert songs dripping with concentrated 80's magic. Animation and set designs are high-quality considering the time period. What I Didn't: YMMV on Julia Brahms' performance as C-ko - she can be very grating. Some voice actors give really flat performances (e.g. Jay Benedict as the Captain). Due to the age of the movie, a lot of the aforementioned references can easily be missed. Some repeated footage is used. Wasn't too fond of the "aliens that look masculine but are all women" joke. The plot (or plots?) are rather simplistic. Final Verdict: Wacky, over-the-top and enjoyably silly, Project A-ko is a stunningly well-animated action-parody overflowing with delicious 80's sensibilities that bleed into everything from the synth-filled soundtrack to the multitude of pot-shots at older anime. Despite its age and its divisive English dub (and possibly some of the jokes), Project A-ko still has plenty of laughs and action to suit modern anime fans.

bunda6662 Jun 21, 2023

7.8

This movie has a very, very simple story and many nonsensical things going on. The origin of the MC's powers is never explained whatsoever. The whole A, B, C, Ko names are also never explained. What's left is a story filled with parodies of other anime and a very repetitive first part. However, the animation is excellent and fluid, managing to keep the viewer engaged with the crazy fights. The character design is charming, and the art direction is on point, showcasing great talent. Another high point is the sound, with enjoyable songs that perfectly match the craziness, especially the very emblematic song from the 90s (I finally found the origin—it's from this movie). The characters may be somewhat generic, but they are fun in their own way. All in all, this is a must-see, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it!