Dirty Pair is a fun,
action-packed, and surprisingly
well made classic anime series. It focuses on two central characters,
Kei and
Yuri (known to all as the "Dirty Pair" or "Lovely Angels"),
who are kick-butt action-heroine girls who work for the World Welfare
Works
Association. This special organization takes on tasks to bring down the
baddies
and help return intergalactic order within the universe by hiring out
(as the
organization describes them) "trouble consultants". There doesn't
seem to be a group as well known and established as the Dirty Pair and
with
good reason.
Kei is
a redhead
with a tough attitude and a firm compassion for others. She tends to
take
things more seriously than her partner does when it comes down to
making sure
the mission is completed as it was planned. Yuri is a blue-haired,
comical, and
sometimes more joyful girl. She sees a positive in a situation when Kei
simply
can't seem to find one. The lovable anime duo works together and
utilizes their
unique individual strengths towards any of the many missions they are
sent on.
It's these character interactions that drive the show into great
territory and
which separates it as a distinctive, enjoyable, and ultimately
heartfelt story
worth watching.
It would be
understandable for a viewer to sit-down for a viewing of Dirty Pair
with
some apprehension about what this is going to actually be like as a
show. There
have been so many "girls with guns" anime productions and most of
them simply fail to grasp anything truly unique or interesting enough
to seem
thoroughly worthy of the time it takes to invest in watching them.
Well, Dirty
Pair isn't like all the rest.
The
characters
make the show a wonderful joy and the writing is several notches above
most of
those other, similarly-themed, creations. Where other anime series have
faltered in relying on unnecessarily heavy fan-service, little or no
characterization, and weak animation, this series offers an almost
entirely
different view of the genre. One watches Dirty Pair because it
has
wonderful characters, plots, moving storylines, and absolutely
beautiful
hand-drawn animation. It also doesn't hurt that the show features an
interesting opening and closing theme song (and accompanying
animation). There
isn't a downside attached to viewing the show... unless you can't stand
non-serialized television.
The
basic setup
of the show is that each episode features Kei and Yuri being assigned
to a
mission that will be solved by the end of the episode. The story is
never
complex, always simplistic, but the area of storytelling that is
covered is
always well-told with solid scripting, great characterization, and fun
ideas.
Each
episode is
like a mini-movie with a story that has a beginning and an end. This
means that
Dirty Pair is an easy series to watch a random episode of and
still
remain interested in. It satisfies fans looking for a worthy storyline
without
also requiring a huge investment be made. The show is lighthearted and
a
positive delight from beginning to end. For fans of classic-era anime
series,
this is sure to entertain. It features great craftsmanship on every
level and a
unique style that sets it apart. Enjoy the direction, animation, music,
and
storytelling it offers.
The DVD:
Video:
Nozomi
Entertainment (a RightStuf company) presents the original Dirty Pair
OVA
episodes with remastered video that was previously exclusive to the
Japanese
re-releases on DVD. It's nice to see that the company has gone to some
worthwhile length to help bring North American fans a presentation that
is
worth our time. The image is certainly upgrade-worthy with a nice
film-like
feel for the anime. The show has better definition than expected given
the age
of the source-material and it properly presents the animation-style.
The
animation is so wonderful to behold here. There aren't any prevalent
compression issues at all. This set spreads the ten episodes across
three
discs. Dirty Pair remains in its original television aspect ratio of
1.33:1
(full frame).
Audio:
The
audio doesn't
sound bad at all. Given the show's age there isn't a lot to be expected
from a
television mix. However, just because the sound design isn't as stellar
as
modern productions it doesn't mean it has to sound completely
underwhelming.
The dialogue is a notch easier to understand than expected. It is clean
and
clear. The music sounds nice on this release too. A word on the
dubbing: the
English language version is one of the weaker dubs I've heard and I
wouldn't
recommend it. The original Japanese audio is the way to go. The English
subtitles are easy to follow and the series has been well-translated.
Extras:
Not
many extras
can be found on this release. The only included bonus materials are
clean
opening/ending credit sequences, translation notes, U.S. Trailer, and
trailers
for other DVD releases from Nozomi Entertainment.
Final
Thoughts:
Dirty Pair was way more fun than I was expecting. It's
definitely considered a classic anime series with good reason. The
characters
are a joy and the stylistic aspects of the production excel far beyond
any
ordinary series. This DVD rerelease by Nozomi Entertainment contains an
impressive presentation and it is well worth adding to any anime fan's
growing
collection. Highly
Recommended.
Neil Lumbard is a lifelong fan of cinema, and a student who aspires to make movies. He loves writing, and currently does in Texas.
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