Doomed Megalopolis

Publisher
Manga
Director
Rintaro
Production
Madhouse
Country of origin
Japan
Format
OVA
Year
1991

Doomed Megalopolis

By Denshou
18th Oct 05

In the beginning of 20th century, Japan is a nation in the middle of the Industrial Revolution…

Years have passed since Japan opened its ports to a new brave world. The Imperial Government has imposed a restructuring plan it leaves to change the antiquated old face of the country in the hope to become as the European capitals.
In 1908, Tokyo is in Turmoil and change has upset the mind of one man named Yasunori Kato, a representation of the past and continuity, member of a onmyoji family (mediums or wizards) and beholder of his own ideals: “conquer the city or by other way turn it in to ashes together with its inhabitants in sign of vengeance as soon as he can invoke the long-dead spirit of Masakado Taira, the legendary guardian of Tokyo who is asleep on an ancient tombstone right behind the Ministry of Finance. Things go bad and Masakado wakes in anger showing his mighty and terrifying power against Kato due to his profanation. Realizing the hostile scenario, repressed and rejected, Kato leaves the befog sacred place looking for a way to appease the guardian’s rage, but, to consummate his new ideals, unwittingly, he will has to wait some years more and take it easy for a while, not forgetting the sultry shame before Masakado.

Finally, the time has come and he has found the way to accomplish his yearnings. Due to her psychic powers, Yukari Tatsumiya, a young innocence woman, has been chosen for Kato as an unsuspecting pawn to engender in her body a first-born able to face the mystic power of Masakado. Kato constantly harasses her, ending up embarrassing the submissive and almost child Yukari… How? As a “fushiki mushi/kodoku” a powerful spell shaped as a parasite worm that the evil wizard introduces in her mouth.

Tatsumiya san would never be the same. Her visions about a destroyed Tokyo were the warning of a hellish unavoidable future. At last Yukari gives birth a girl and the obstinate and already well-known Kato returns to claim his daughter when she is 10 years old, feeling able to use her as a puppet against the wise Masakado. Yukari continues having no idea what’s going on and begins to remember a nightmarish tortuous past related with their brother; suddenly, Tokyo hopelessly turns in ruins as Yukari contemplated it in her visions, apparently by the Kanto Earthquake occurred in 1926. The city pays the price quickly in a disaster where everything points to that is of a Kato’s vengeance… but, who knows?
Fortunately, Yukari is no longer alone; helped by a group of unconditional friends that spring in to the action, she and her daughter Yukiko face their sealed fate bravely.
On the whole, several elements have been added to supplement the script, elements brought from reality like the La Grange Eternal Full Moon Theory, The Kanto Earthquake, the subway construction, the legend of Masakado, links among onmyojis families and so much more interesting historical things.

The animation presents problems here and there, and from time to time shows some static scenes and frames repetitions as well, but this seemed to turn out a little better forward. The characters design is the top of the OAV… “If I could find a Yukari´s model kit, I would be happy forever, I swear it for Masakado!” ^_^ . The stages reveal a gothic look mixed with traditional Japanese spots.

Doomed Megalopolis is a great story about innocence, friendship and flesh corruption, where characters evolve constantly until the end. Each situation along the four episodes keeps complex plots about the character’s humanity and the ways to solve their matters; I would dare to say that revolved around religious clans. The form how Kato emerges and suddenly disappears is worthy of a suspense thriller giving a proper exasperating and uneasiness atmosphere. If you are looking for a dark tale where the truth is subjective and heroes aren’t as you knew them before, here you got what you wanted.
The whole premise of this series is pretty hit upon, at first glance looks interesting but I suppose that isn’t for all tastes, so this can be a good series for just about anyone to watch and actually could seems like a dated animation with a bizarre plot; whatever, there were many real action adaptations at the end of 80´s (Teito Monogatari and Megalopolis Wars), but the Madhouse animated version is good so far from them, been a great horror classic anime.

ADVFilms DVD Special Edition

Compared with the original version, this time Advfilms presents a good enough edition in a two DVDs set including the Japanese audio for the very first time and an excellent historical documentary about the ancient Tokyo and its legends.
The DVD case is presented as a double pack format with a sole sheet inserted, illustrated with the art of the original edition and others Advfilms titles exposed over the almost same back cover art.

The audio is basic and very clear bilingual 2.0 tracks with no disturbing sound problems.

The video offers an average image, with bright colors but showing several scratches scenes due to the VHS tape transfer.

The menu is a simple animated blood-bath running in red color for disc one and blue for disc two (similar to the discs labels), alternated with the gloomy music of the series. Options are quite readable and transitions work immediately with no intermediate elements.

Almost everything is good, but isn’t enough to set up the production at the level of other currents Advfilms titles.

6/10

-- Denshou 18th Oct 05

Doomed Megalopolis Images