My anime recommendations.
(1989) Angel Cop [OVA]
"Sometime in the future, terrorism in Japan has become commonplace, and the police have become almost as brutal as criminals. One cop, known as Angel, is the best of the best, stopping at nothing in her fight for justice. Things get interesting for Angel Cop and her new partner when they begin investigating a series of murders in which the victims are other criminals, killed in very unpleasant ways.
These criminals, a group of psychics that banded together to hunt down the lowest scum in the city, and bring them to justice. After a couple of encounters between the cops and the psychics, two of the psychics begin to think that maybe they're not the good guys after all, but the third prefers killing to morality. Augmented by cybernetics from a mysterious source, he heads out on a killing spree, with Angel as his first target.
Even with help from the other two psychics and her newly cyborged partner (after an unfortunate accident), Angel is going to have her work cut out trying to find the rogue psychic and the organization behind him. ."
Totally rad! Brutal and serious, with great attention to detail. Cool looking, memorable characters and an interesting mystery, conspiracy story.
Shame about the utterly boring, disappointing exposition dump of an ending though (very redpilled, snowflakes might flip, just saying).
The crisp bluray release looks fenomenal. Give it a go.
Added on 2022.06.07
(1989) Baoh the Visitor [OVA]
"An innocent young man, Ikuroo, has a parasite known as Baoh implanted in his brain by an evil organization, Doress. The parasite makes him nearly immortal and gives him the ability to transform into a really powerful beastie when he's in trouble.
Doress intends to use him in some sort of ploy for financial success, world domination, or something along those lines, but when they're transporting him on a train, a young psychic girl, Sumire (who's being held by the organization due to her abilities), sets him free and the two escape together.
Of course, Dr. Kasuminome is the mad scientist behind the whole Baoh thing, and he isn't about to let his test subject get away and he has considerable resources (including some superpowered lackeys, as well as a small army) at his disposal."
A solid, action packed 1 episode OVA based on manga "Baoh" from Araki Sensei. Alright story, amazing animations and cinematography, interesting main character, lots of action and plenty of gore.
Added on 2021.09.03
(1990) Cyber City Oedo 808 [OVA]
"It is the year 2808. Three convicts are recruited as members of the Cyber Police to keep major criminal activity in Oedo (formerly Tokyo) in check. In return, their life sentences will be reduced by a few years for every mission accomplished.
However, to ensure that these convicts are doing their job, the police have secured special collars around their necks. If they attempt to remove their collars or fail to meet the time limit of their mission, the collars will self-destruct."
3 episode cyberpunk OVA from MADHOUSE that inspired many. If you're a fan of the genre and want to get into older anime, you might as well start here. Every episode is its own story, and the whole OVA lacks a definite ending, but depending on your preferences, you're gonna end up loving at least one of the episodes. Kawajiri Sensei did it again.
Added on 2021.09.04
(1989) Goku: Midnight Eye [OVA]
"Furinji Goku is a detective who has an “eye of god”.
While he was investigating the murder case of his colleague when he had been an officer, he was pressured to stop it by the police executives. However, he continue investigating, and he lost his left eye. When he was about to be killed, a mysterious group helped him and transplant an artificial eye. The eye was a super technological device that connected to the whole computer network in the world, and enabled him to control any computers."
A ridiculously dressed detective armed with Minbari fighting pike gets implanted with a supercomputer eye, allowing him to hack into any computer system on the planet. Who gave Goku this eye? Why him? You will not find those answers neither here nor in Goku II. In manga perhaps?
Cool in a cheesy kinda way and full of tech-noir aesthetics. Worth watching in anticipation for a better, in my opinion, sequel.
Added on 2021.09.12
(1989) Goku II: Midnight Eye [OVA]
"Goku, the lone wolf private detective is back, contracted by Ryoko, a mysterious, beautiful and very afraid woman, to find and save her brother, Ryu. Will Goku be able to protect Ryoko from her step father`s soldiers long enough to find her brother?
Meanwhile Ryu, the unfortunate subject of a military experiment gone bad, leaves a trail of bodies behind him and has no intention of being found or saved by anyone. Will Goku have to kill the man he is supposed to save? Will even his omniscient cybernetic eye and sceptre be enough to help him defeat this indestructible killing machine?"
A step-up story wise compared to the first Goku. Characters you actually feel for, and a powerful ending.
Visually still as amazing as the first Goku. Give it a go, it's great.
Added on 2021.09.24
(1987) Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 [OVA]
"In the first test of a revolutionary personal battle-suit, the MADOX-01, Ace female test-pilot Elle Kusomoto smashes an attacking tank force and humiliates Lt. Kilgore, Japan's most-macho tank-jockey, in the process.
Kilgore swears he'll get even, and he gets his chance when the prototype MADOX literally falls off the back of a truck in the middle of Tokyo.
Meanwhile, the MADOX, which fell off the back of one truck, off a bridge, and into the back of another truck, has found its way into the hands of college student Koji Sujimoto. Intruiged by the MADOX, Koji makes the big mistake of fooling with it without reading the manual first, and soon finds himself locked in the suit and zooming around downtown Tokyo."
After the opening intro I expected gritty military real robots anime with amazing mechanical design and detailed mechanical animation. Instead I got unfunny jokes, unfitting music (although kinda catchy), nonsensical actions by the main character... and amazing mechanical design with detailed mechanical animation.
The story is pretty bland and generic, which would be ok if at least the tone and atmosphere was on the spot, but it's really not. Story does get a bit more interesting 30 minutes in, but it's just too little too late.
The only reason I put this OVA here is because of the great mechanical design by Yamane Kimitoshi Sensei (Bubblegum Crisis, Cowboy Bebop, several Gundams), which might be good as a resource material for your own drawings or something.
Added on 2022.03.08
(1987) Wicked City [MOVIE]
"Beyond the boundaries of our ordinary existence lies a dreadful parallel world where demons dwell and humans dare not tread. For centuries, peace has existed between our world and theirs.
To preserve that fragile balance and to ensure the survival of humankind, a new deal must be brokered, but dark and powerful forces lust to destroy the accord.
When a militant group rises from the shadows, two elite agents are mobilized to counter the destructive forces and preserve the balance of our universe."
A twisted story about signing up a new peace treaty with demons from another dimension... plus a 200-year-old pervert. Memorable main characters, dark, foreboding atmosphere and a well written story with a really strange ending. Another good one from MADHOUSE.
Added on 2021.09.06