Anime Reviews (The '80s): Zillion: The Complete Series (a Neo-Tokyo Anime on Blu-ray Review)

“Zillion” may not be anywhere near one of the best anime series from the ’80s but for old school anime fans, it may be a series worth checking out if you love sci-fi action about three teenagers with super weapons vs. an oppressive alien race trying to wipe out humanity.

TITLE: Zillion: The Complete Series

DURATION: Episodes 1-31 + OVA (825 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (4:3), Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: Funimation

RATED: TV 14

Release Date: October 9, 2018

Chief Director: Nishikubo Mizuho

Directed by Watanabe Akira

Series Composition: Sekijima Mayori

Art Director: Tada Kikuko

Character Design by Iguchi Chuuichi, Okiura Hiroyuki, Kise Kazuchika, Goto Takayuki, Mizumura Yoshio

Mecha Design: Ammonite, Ogawa Hiroshi, Okura Hirotoshi, Ono Takashi

Music by Irie Jun

Anime Production: Tatsunoku Production

Featuring the following voice talent:

Inoue Kazuhiko as Champ

Seki Toshihiko as JJ

Mizutani Yuko as Apple

Honda Chieko as Emi/Opaopa

Nakamura Daiki as Dave

Hayami Sho as Baron Ricks

Sawada Toshiko as Admiss

Fujimoto Yuzuru as Mr. Gord

The year is 2387, and humanity is at war with a merciless alien species—the Noza. Both vying for control of planet Maris, humanity’s best chance for survival rests upon three young soldiers wielding powerful handheld weapons called Zillion.

Back in 1987, the anime series “Akai Kodan Zillion” (Red Photo Bullet Zillion) aired on television.

Produced by Tatsunoku Production, the series is would lead to Zillion producer Ishikawa Mitsuisa and Tatsunoku Production to establish IG Tatsunoku, which would later become known as the well-known anime production studio, Production I.G.

Many became familiar with the series in America thanks to the Sega Master system video game and also an early VHS release. Also, the anime was featured in Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson’s “Scream” music video.

And now all 31 episodes plus the “Burning Night” OVA will be released on Blu-ray/DVD courtesy of Funimation.

The anime series is set in year 2387, in the planet Maris. Dark times are coming to the planet when the Nohzas civilization, led by Empress Admis, begins a genocyde program to wipe-out all humanity in order to have eggs layed on the planet for reproduction.

Humanity’s answer to fight back against the Nohzas are three mysterious guns known as the “Zillion Weapon System” which are operated by a task force known as White Nuts led by Champ and consists of Champ, their navigator Apple and the main protagonist, hothead/fighter and the youngest member of the group, J.J. and joined by his robot, Opa-Opa.

The series features White Nuts taking on the Nohza Empire, but are often pursued by Ricks, leader of the Nohza invasion troops.

VIDEO:

“Zillion” is presented in 1080p High Definition. Considering the series age, I was impressed of how good it looks in HD. While there are occasional flecks of dirt and scratches that can be seen in various frames, the truth is a lot of the older anime series were never thought to be released in HD media and many anime series were not stored or preserved. “Zillion” on the otherhand looks good considering its age and there is no evidence of significant damage.

Colors look good, black levels are nice and deep and the grain is visible and no digital noise correction was employed from what I can see from the series.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“Zillion” is presented in Japanese 2.0. Dialogue and music are presented crystal clear through the front channels and it’s important to note that the series is presented with its original Japanese soundtrack. The older Streamline Pictures English dub is not included.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Zillion” comes with the following special features:

Textless Opening Song
Textless Closing Songs

EXTRAS:

“Zillion” comes with the Blu-ray and DVD of the series plus a Funimation digital code.

My first experience of “Zillion” was when the Sega Master System video game was released.

I don’t think I have come upon any video game that frustrated me so much at that time, but it used a plastic gun and needless to say, the name stayed in my head (due to the frustrating nature of the video game) to the point that I actually wanted to watch the anime series and know what it was all about.

And by 1993, “Zillion – The Beginning” was released ala English dub on VHS (and the OVA was also available, but the VHS only featured three episodes). I have never seen the full anime series, nor have I watched it in its original Japanese presentation until now.

The Blu-ray/DVD release by Funimation is no doubt what old school anime fans have hoped and wished for.

While the storyline is banal in terms of an alien race trying to wipe out humanity, there is one thing different with “Zillion” than other anime series in the fact that it doesn’t involve a military faction, nor does it involve any major mecha robots.

“Zillion” is literally the name of the three laser gun weapons produced by humanity to take on the Nohzas. The guns can’t be duplicated and is considered humanity’s last line of defense. It doesn’t really make sense and to be truthful, the concept is quite cheesy and lame.

But somehow what makes the characters work, especially for an anime series of its time, is that it’s a space action series with your hothead/pervert J.J., a 16-year-old kid who often feels he is in competition with the group’s leader, Champ. He happens to have the hots for the group’s navigator, Apple. And you often wonder if the two will eventually hook up.

While each of the three members of the White Nuts are good at fighting, despite no matter how the odds are against them, while the White Nuts often get beaten up, somehow they manage to fight, win and no matter the injuries, they are right back and fighting again and again.

It’s important to note that if you are wanting an anime that is politically correct, “Zillion” is not be for you. Especially since the anime tends to feature J.J. trying to grab onto Apple’s boobs and often trying to see what color of panties she is wearing, these kind of things may frustrate or infuriate you.

“Zillion” is straight-up old school anime that doesn’t feature anything heavy or deep. So, you are not going to see the many human deaths that viewers experienced in “Gundam”, nor are you going to see many people getting slaughtered (’70s anime series “Gatchaman” did feature that).

But what I liked about “Zillion” is that it’s old school anime with a style and storytelling, also animation production that I grew up watching and enjoyed when I was younger.

The OVA “Burning Night” also had the ’80s J-Pop element as the White Nuts were a performing band and I actually enjoyed the soundtrack back then and hearing it today, it brought those memories right back.

Now, while I do recommend “Zillion” to old school anime fans, for those who want deep, captivating storylines, may not enjoy the concept and episode plots of “Zillion”. Some may say that it’s not as riveting or captivating as “Macross” or “Gundam”, but it’s not a mecha anime series, nor is it super deep. Also, the fact that the antagonists has heavy technology, awesome weaponry and vehicles but yet are unable to take down three people with laser guns, is a bit much.

The series finale is not great and I probably enjoyed the OVA much more than any episode from the TV series. So, it’s a series that’s not for everyone.

But I suppose what makes me enjoy it is nostalgia more than anything. The memories of me putting a name/face to the frustrating video game that I spent hours and hours playing when I was younger. I suppose that’s what made me more aware of “Zillion” and the fact that Funimation is releasing the entire series plus the OVA in one Blu-ray/DVD set at under $50 is awesome.

Overall, “Zillion” may not be anywhere near one of the best anime series from the ’80s but for old school anime fans, it may be a series worth checking out if you love sci-fi action about three teenagers with super weapons vs. an oppressive alien race trying to wipe out humanity.

Anime Reviews (The ’80s): Zillion: The Complete Series (a Neo-Tokyo Anime on Blu-ray Review)

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