#hardsuits

Knight Sabers!

But redesigned to use technology from my universe!

Apparently my universe has infinitely-sharp swords and razor wire now!

ABSOLUTELY UNREASONABLY DETAILED breakdown below cut!

In 1959, Robert A. Heinlein published a novel that featured something that was to become a staple of science fiction everywhere. The novel was called Starship Troopers, and it starred the slightly impulsive youth known as Juan “Johnnie” Rico who signs up for the mobile infantry and his subsequent exploits. The mobile infantry military service branch are known for employing some really amazing high powered armors with long arms that make the user somewhat resemble a primate.

One thought, one tiny idea, set loose into the infinite space of creativity, sparked a massive number of franchises and variations. In short, the mecha genre was born.

Fast forward to the 1980′s, Toshimichi Suzuki ponders how he shall remake the 1982 movie Techno Police 21C when he stumble across Junji Fujita. Over a discussion, maybe even lunch, they get talking and eventually exchange ideas with one another and eventually they decide to collaborate. It’s not exactly what happened but the two of them did meet and they did exchange ideas which lead to the creation of Bubblegum Crisis.

Released between 1987 to 1991, Bubblegum Crisis ( sometimes subtitled as 2032 and 2033 ) is a OVA set in a Cyberpunk future of 2030′s where the Megacorp Genom is responsible for the creation of Boomers, which is the name for this universe robots and also used for androids. Mostly used for androids when I think about it when it comes to that series. It follows mainly the exploits of the all-female mercenary group known as Knight Sabers, armed with some serious high tech equipment in the form of power suits called Hardsuits that not even the military have access to. The best they and the AD Police can muster are the significantly inferior K-Suits.

Bubblegum Crisis is definitely a set piece of it’s time, taking a load of inspiration from other Cyberpunk movies such as Blade Runner and Terminator. They’ve also stated that the movie Streets of Fire played an inspirational role as well and while I haven’t watched that movie yet, the song Nowhere Fast from that movie, and BBGC’s Victory are so close to each other I wonder if it’s borderline plagiarism. The music is certainly one of it’s greatest selling points along with artistic value as it is just absolutely gorgeously animated, unfortunately this causes the story to lack in quality. Originally planned for thirteen episodes, they only ever completed eight because of legal problems.

Suzuki explained in an interview with Animerica back in 1993 about the title Bubblegum Crisis, in that it’s suppose to reflect a world in Crisis, “.. like a bubblegum that’s about to burst!” and if you’ve followed or heard anything in regards to our own world the past twenty years, then you’ve sure to have heard about a few bubbles bursting here and there! But in regards to BBGC, it reflects the inability of the AD Police to properly handle the problem, the supposed good guys who are mostly after to earn money, and the Genom Corp who keeps pushing out Boomers despite the issues that occur ergo - The bubble’s gonna burst.

I felt the need to elaborate on this all in order to properly do justice to the new, and for you to understand from where it comes from, and what impact it may have on Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040, and my view on the work overall. But let’s get down to it, this is;

Bubblegum Crisis - Tokyo 2040 - Episode 1 “ Cant’ buy a Thrill ”

Right away we are presented with a rock song called Y’know, which I assume is suppose to be performed by the character Priss who is the musician of the group. In the original show, her band was called Priss and the Replicants which was a clear nod to Blade Runner. The song itself seem to be about love primarily as it references Romeo and Juliet specifically with ‘Blind love’, but it also seem to be about lust really as it references the cool things clone dolls can do and things one can simulate. So I guess, in context of the song, Cybersex and how having real sex is better. But I could just be missing it completely.

After the opening, we are introduced to Linna Yamazaki who is new to Tokyo, having just moved here from the country, looking for the big break in the sales business. She accidentally stumbles into a Boomer and apologizes, but just like how Canadians are from what I’ve learned from How I met Your Mother, it’s the Boomer who apologizes. She does not however, get any donoot on the hoose. Her work buddy is shown to clearly harbor an almost racist dislike towards Boomers.

After getting lunch, Linna daydreams while her work buddy continues to express her intense dislike towards Boomers, some people have priorities I guess. This results in Linna stepping out into the road a bit just as a woman in red, driving a bike nearly runs her over, causing Linna to trip and drop her food. Well, such a challenge to a catfight can’t go unpunished after all, she’s from the country and she’ll be damned if she gets pushed around on her first day by the big city!

She does however, fail to impress the lady on the bike who just drives the other way instead of engaging in a tongue fight ( I can dream can’t I? ), so Linna throws her shoes because as we all know, that’s when things get serious in the modern times! Medieval ages, we hit each other with gauntlets - modern times, we throw shoes.

Linna gets chewed out by her boss who happens to be a Boomer, and even though Linna does say that she is starting to dislike Boomers, the boss simply says “ Yeah well, I’m not the one with a broken shoe. “ and sends her to clean the bathroom. Let that be a lesson to you, when the robot uprising happens, they won’t kill us - They’ll just make us clean toilets! However shortly after this, her supervisor / other boss drops by and asks to show her around later at night and she accepts the offer.

Now, we’re introduced to one of the worst characters in my opinion. Nene. I don’t know why but, I just really dislike her. She’s cute, but I guess it’s just her supposed genius to age that makes me dislike her. She’s a fine character in general. Immediately following that, we are introduced to Leon and his compadre and Leon has a huge anger boner against the Knight Sabers. Both Leon and his work buddy, and Nene all work for AD Police.

In the span of two minutes, we’re introduced to three characters, and I only remember the name of two, and immediately following that, we’re following Linna again walking across the nightlife in Tokyo with her boss, who just so obviously want to get into her panties. Unfortunately for him, Linna have hots for Priss who she recognizes from a poster as the woman who drove off.

He attempts to feel her up after being a rude asshole because some guys just think girls get turned on by that ( though I am sure some do ), luckily Linna is a country girl and people from the country are more likely to either talk sarcastically back, or punch you in the face when you do things they don’t like. However a Boomer who senses that there might be harassment arrives on the scene to destroy and kill everyone so the boss takes off, even throwing other people out of the way because he clearly wasn’t portrayed as sleazy enough.

The Boomer decides to chase after Linna, presumably because it heard about the shoe incident and decided that such a crime can’t go unpunished. Luckily, that’s the time the Knight Sabers decide to show up and save the day - or err, the night. Much to Leon’s dismay who arrives at the scene, just as the Boomer is destroyed.

The next day, Linna seeks out Priss to confront her regarding the audacity of making her drop her food and throw her shoe, but she also says that she knows Priss is a Knight Saber, and she wants to become one as well. Priss rides off without saying anything but she does give her a lingering look at she drives off.

Can’t buy a Thrill is an excellent episode that feels perhaps a bit quick. It throws out all these characters in rapid succession while focusing almost entirely on Linna who is the clear choice of main character for this series, unlike the original where Priss was the main character and Linna.. Barely did anything of note that I can remember.

I have to say that the show is just beautifully animated and the redesign for the characters are really really good. I really like the Motoko-style that Linna pulls off, perhaps because I’ve wanted to have my hair like that as well. I am not too keen on Sylia’s design though but it fits her character. Nene is pretty much the only one that didn’t change a whole lot. The hardsuits themselves look amazing!

Yet despite how much info it throws out, all of it sticks with you with perhaps the exception being certain locations and names. It does a very good job at giving you what’s relevant and why, and we’ll get to see how things go in next episode, Fragile.

Oh dear..