The first anime that I found actually entertaining rather than mystifying, chaotic, or just simply dull (which pretty much sums up my opinion of Perfect Blue). Apart from the obvious anime that I didn’t know (or care) was anime at the time. To me it was the one that justified me watching this stuff, because to be fair, what I had seen thus far had pretty much put me off watching any more of what I was starting to look at as a puerile type of animation.

It is almost obvious from the outset that the filmmakers had no intention of letting any kind of seriousness enter into the world that they had created, a city built on the ruins of another, after being hit with some space junk seems to be standard anime fair, until the ludicrous timeline that the new city was built in is stated.

By then of course we all ready to start the madness, as the air-headed C-Ko rings the seemingly everyday girl A-Ko’s doorbell who realise that they are going to be late for their first day at their new school. What do you do in each situation, especially when the school is at the top of the crater that outlines the city? well in A-Ko case grab on to friend and move at super speed across the rooftops (as well as through some).

Once at school both girls meet up with B-Ko a spoil rich girl with way too much time on her hands and a hack for designing giant robots. Falling for C-Ko on sight, she becomes determined to get her to be her friend; for some reason this involves getting rid of A-Ko (permanently). When a simply confrontation with the strong Mari doesn’t work, and B works out her past links with A then the giant Mechs start coming…

While all this insanity is going on we learn that the thing that crash to Earth was a space ship and the aliens who own it are looking for it; well in actuality they are looking for their long lost princess and they are prepared to send out a immense ship to go look for her. Which is seen as a act of near war by the Earth defences.

The first time I saw this I was sure that A-Ko was the alien princess long since lost, it would certainly explain her superhuman abilities. Then again super powered heroines did seem to be a stable of anime from what I’d seen, as the film goes on, it becomes more and more daft. Even today I don’t think this has ever been matched for sheer execution; fast paced it maybe, but its plot is kind enough to let blink and still let you follow. Certainly when compared to Excel Saga, the speed that Project A-Ko runs at seems somewhat mundane.

The animation is well realised throughout, especially for anything from the time period, the mid-eighties. If I have any niggles it that the film style is never quite sure of itself at times. Though this may have more to do with the director letting his animators get away with adapting the characters to fit their own vision; as well as adding toward the comedic element. Some of the scenes are wonderfully animated, particularly the battles between A and B, and then with the aliens. A-Ko hopping from missile to missile is one of the most recognisable and iconic parts of the film thanks to its use in advertising here.

The dubbing is notable for not only being decent, in the fact that a comedy can get away with being absolutely over the top, but also because it's mostly successfully at following the script of the original Japanese dialogue, meaning that little has been lost in translation. the music is more forgettable, though some themes stick to the memory of this reviewer.

Although this is a parody film that references many different shows, anime and manga icons, you will not need any knowledge of anime or manga to enjoy this movie. I didn’t have much when I first saw it and managed to enjoy myself hugely; it is essentially just enjoyable throughout and one anime that despite myself, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

This is the film which restored my interest in anime, though it was made in 1986 and I didn't see it until about 10 years later. A-Ko is a schoolgirl with superhuman powers. Her best friend is the hyperactive brat C-Ko (who turns out to have an unusual hidden identity). Meanwhile, her uber-rich schoolmate B-Ko decides she wants C-Ko to be her special friend (though God only knows why). What results are a prolonged series of encounters with B-Ko building enormous mecha robots and pitting them against A-Ko's superpowers, generally in the schoolgrounds, and generally causing mass carnage.

Meanwhile a fleet of aliens is en route to earth for their own dangerous purposes. I don't suppose it would hurt to mention that the captain of these aliens is a drunken transvestite (or maybe transexual. Who can tell these things?)

This causes A-ko and C-ko to form an unlikely alliance.

'Project A-Ko' is a send-up of the anime genre, much in the same way as 'Exile Saga' or, to an extent 'FLCL' - but unlike these two, it doesn't rely on an encyclopedic knowledge of anime series. It's funny in its own right. I put ths down to the fact that 1986 anime hadn't become as elitist and in-bred in the west as it has since the mid 90's. The film has a story whch shines through regardless of the anime references - even though it doesn't hurt to realise that the cross-dressing aliens is a clear send-up of Robototech. But back then, most western teenagers had probably seen Robotech without being anime fans.

I've seen the sequel, which was good too, but none of the ensuing sequels beyond that, which I gather became less and less remarkable.

If you have even the slightest acquaintance with anime of virtually any era (even westernised dubs of Japanese series from the early 80's), Project A-Ko is fall-down laughing funny. If you're an anime fan and for some reason haven't seen this, you've probably missed the boat, but give it a look. Even if you've never seen anime in your life, this is still a strong, ridiculous and funny film, worth watching in its own right.

I think it was anime parody aimed at a general audience, rather than anime elitists. That's what made the difference.