The story of a young teenage girl believing she is and functioning as a robot who is on a quest to find 30,000 friends. With their support, she may finally become a real human being not unlike the story of Pinocchio. Only, in this story, there is no blue fairy. Just the dying words of her grandfather and faint images she receives in her sleep. [One curious note: though the story seems quite futuristic(and was released in the mid to late 90s), they use audio cassettes for music recordings which--along with the somewhat primitive animation(compared to other series I have seen)--really gives this an 80s feel to it.] Story and direction by Hiroaki Sato. www.viz.com
Though it has been available for some years now, I first sat down and watched this unusual series. It had been regarded as somewhat of a "must see" by numerous animation magazine articles and video store clerks. And, I will admit I took a mild interest in it at first sight. But, I was also a bit disturbed by the image of this "souless" figure and the eight or so volumes I would have to purchase at(was it $30 at the time?) such a price. So, I put it off like so many series. For some reason I was also under the impression the series ran much longer than fifteen episodes. But, as I went on a recent anime shopping quest, I stumbled upon the DVD set at a reasonable price and gave it a try. [Caution: Some spoilers ahead for those who have not seen the series.]
The story spends/wastes an enormous amount of time--essentially the first two discs/thirteen episodes--with Key sorting out the feelings of her immediate friends(Sakura, her first childhood friend now working several part time jobs to scrape by in Tokyo, and Shuichi, a young man who has connections in the music business and heads a fan club of the local idol star Miho Utsase) while while encountering various strangers who each respond to Key and Sakura differently. Some take a strange interest in Sakura, mainly for her body, while those who focus on Key seem to sense something special about her which they may be able to use. There is also Mr. Wakagi, an assistant of Key's grandfather, watching over her with a laptop computer from the shadows as she wanders through Tokyo. Gradually, confusion grows around whether or not Key is actually a robot or a traumatized girl repressing her humanity.
And, in the background of all this, we have a secret organization under the title of Ajo Heavy Industries Ltd. with ties to the entertainment industry as well as a robotics division building automotons for war use. These automotons are controlled by a virtual-reality interface which must be manned by one of a select few within the company and powered by a strange pink substance called "Gel." One of the men manning the interface, D, is revealed to be taking some of this "Gel" himself to give him strength and heal his wounds. As the story progresses, we learn that this substance is being drained from human beings. The problem with this concept is how primitive and stiff they make it even though this is supposed to be such advanced technology. It takes so much time and energy to run the system that even the viewer seems a bit drained watching the robots do very little but malfunction and shut down. Any time these robots come within a certain range of Key, they short circuit and emit a pink gas as she goes into a sort of trance. One such disturbance even seems to disrupt a concert of the idol singer Miho who is quickly dragged off stage when a rose penetrates her chest. We learn that the girl's grandfather, who worked in the field of robotics and filled his home with many mechanical dolls, was working with the head of this corporation at some point before being killed(yes, killed).
As if things weren't confusing or heavy enough, we enter the final two episodes of the series which happen to be two "movie length"(approx. 90 minutes each) stories. The first packs in an ENORMOUS amount of information through rapid, dense dialogue and static animation(sometimes several minutes spent on a single image as one or more characters discuss things in heavy detail or thought). [I won't reveal everything that is explained within.] Suddenly, everything we thought we knew is turned on its head. But, what never makes sense is: 1)why no government or police action is taken against these automotons or the corporation behind them, 2)why the robots are so advanced yet so primitive and useless, 3)why the users of the interface go through so much pain to work it, 4)why the corporation struggles to grasp the concept of Key and spend more time avoiding her than going after her, 5) why D spits out green marbles(and what are they?), 6)what Key is actually eating instead of food and 7)the abrupt ending--which seems to be typical of some asian cinema(among other details).
[Ending note/request] I ask anyone who reads this and has seen the ending to give their input as to how they explain it. How do you think Key accepts her status at the end? And, what do you think is going on when she finally meets Miho(after the final credits)? Also, if you can answer/explain any of the questions I listed above in the previous paragraph, please do so. And, what do you make of the lullaby? How do you explain the lyrics?
On the plus side, the story touches on some thought-provoking concepts about: power and the responsibility to use it, the power of the human mind, reality versus imagination, the value of friendship, being aware of others inside and out, etc. It has a well picked variety of characters with plenty of room for development and interaction. Emotions are explored well(though dialogue could have been handled better). [It is unfortunate it took so long for the mass amount of facts to be flushed out while the characters bantered back and forth somewhat unproductively--much like the activity of the automotons called PPORs. So many scenes are heavy on dialogue with little animation which could have provided the message/words in images.] I am personally fond of the Sakura character though I find it difficult to accurately conceive and accept her and the other characters' ages in the story. The openning theme is rather haunting(and like many anime songs, not easy to grasp in english/subtitles), and the openning sequence of animation is nicely laid out(though the image of blue marbles is never quite touched on in the series at all). [Technically, the first few episodes played with some minor shakes in the picture. I am not sure if this was a flaw in the individual disc or the transfer of material.]
Overall, a very intuitive series with all the elements of a classic with much replay value which unfortunately seems rough around the edges like a sculpture not quite shaved to perfection. It is as if the creative team had a brilliant idea but, like many of us, struggled to get it out clearly on "paper." [If I had the opportunity and staff, I would gladly revamp this story and give it the sharp edges it deserves to make it fly at a faster, smoother pace. I think there is still untapped potential in the concept. Although, I am sure there are many other series like it as well as anime creators use similar concepts constantly.]
Extras/features included in this version: English and Japanese language tracks(with basic english subtitles), Chapter access(which proved quite helpful), Concept art(though the images proved to be a bit small even on a 20" screen), Character info(the list expands with each disc), Typed interview with the director(who mentions ties/interest in another series I have recently taken an interest in called "Paprika" as well as working on other dream related series), Scriptless openning and ending sequences(the ending one is rather dull), Viz.com detailed database including a list of short trailers for other videos released by the company, and a 9-track CD soundtrack sampler(featuring the all-important openning song in long and short versions, closing song in long and short versions and Key's "Lullaby"--which to me made little sense other than the idea of putting her "to sleep."
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