BUBBLEGUM CRISIS 2040
A classic gets a facelift
Review by: Stan
Length: 26 episodes
Genre: Sci-fi, Action
Watched: All, dubbed
First, there was Bubblegum Crisis, which was good but unfinished. A few years later we got Bubblegum Crash, which wrapped things up, but not very well. So after 7-odd years we FINALLY get a proper telling of the Bubblegum Crisis saga in Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040, a remake of the original.
Remakes have always been a crapshoot of sorts that winds up being one of two things:
1) A total raping of the original that hardly resembles what begat it,
2) A half-assed rehash that treads through the same formula which fanboys of the same old, same old will eat up.
Both of these cases lead to the same thing, something that is nowhere near as good as the original. But imagine for just one moment, what would happen if there was a remake that actually lived up to its reputation? What if it went above and beyond its predecessor, threatening to destroy it in the process. Such a thing is called 'a remake done right', which is precisely what BGC 2040 is.
Plot Synopsis: Mega Tokyo in the year 2040 is a place where man and machine live side by side. Megacorporation GENOM has manufactured bio-mechanical life-forms known as "Boomers" work amongst human kind, replacing them in all sorts of dangerous labor activities. But when these Boomers start going rogue, it's up to the Knight Sabers to stop them. Their journey to end the Boomer plague takes into the depths of a conspiracy that runs deeper than any of them could imagine.
Artwork: One of the best things about 2040 is its sleek presentation. The character designs are varied and exciting and they animate really well. Just look at the screenshots, they're practically dripping with goodness. Special note goes out to the whacked-out, over the top designs of the Boomers themselves. Some of them are downright freaky. Once glimpse of this and it is apparent that this isn't your dad's BGC.
Music: 2040 also shows an evolution in the sound department. The music consists of techno/rock fusion and electronica. The actual soundtrack does a good job of running the gamut of everything the genre has to offer, from pulse-pounding sonic assaults to ambient, atmospheric pieces, this soundtrack kicks and is guaranteed to deliver. The vocal tracks are very well done, as well, though not as classic as the original (that's forgivable, because "Konya wa Hurricane" is damn hard to top). All in all the music is much more fitting to the "Cyberpunk" billing of BGC and it only serves to augment the excellent presentation mentioned earlier.
Characters: Like I said, this isn't your dad's Bubblegum Crisis. If you think you can go to my review of the original and read that Character section you've got another thing coming. Some things are the same, others are drastically different. The leader of the Knight Sabers is Sylia Stingray. She head the group under the cover of running a female apparel store called the Silky Doll. She emits a cool demeanor and a genuine care for her team-mates, but her psyche slowly begins to break down over the course of the series. The breaking-down of her calm veneer really hooks you in. Nene is a computer genius who works a boring desk job at the AD Police (a special police division dedicated to stopping Boomer crimes). She's still cute, and still sucks in combat, but she's not as wired as she was in the original (she also has a cute little stuffed weasel she talks to at work). Linna is a country girl who has moved to the city to get away from her parents. She has long dreamed of becoming a Knight Saber and her dream became a reality. In early episodes she's a total n00b, but she gets better as the series goes on. This is another one of those character evolutions that keeps the viewer engaged. The final member of the Knight Sabers is Priss Asagiri, who Christine Auten (Priss's English voice actor) best described as a "female Clint Eastwood". She sings in a rock band on the side and is the real hard-ass of the group. The Knight Sabers are assisted by their mechanic, Nigel, who has a close relationship with Sylia. Sylia also meet her younger brother, Mackie, who may or may not have more to him than he is letting on. Rounding out the Knight Sabers camp is Sylia's butler Henderson, who is like family to her. On the AD Police side is where you'll find Leon McNichol (a big lug who means well and has eyes for a certain rocker chick) and Daley Wong (who thankfully is much less fruity this time around). Delving into the depths of GENOM there is Quincy Rosenkreutz, who is being kept alive by machines and loves his Boomers a little TOO much. Quincy's underling is Mason, who gives off that creepy sort of evil. The characters are very interesting and well developed, and it's really something to see how they evolve throughout the series.
Plot: The biggest thing 2040 has over the original is the plot. It could be argued that the original didn't even HAVE a plot, as it is essentially a series of standalones. This is good, but some people want more. 2040 goes much...MUCH deeper into Sylia's personal history, the history of the Knight Sabers, and the origins of the Hardsuits. If you're a die-hard fan of the original who's been digging for these answers, you'll find them here. Be warned, you may or may not like what you find. Having a deeper plot in this case means being a bit of a mindfuck. Fear not, this is not something along the lines of Akira or Eva. Most of the plot points and events, no matter how weird, only require a bit of pondering before you go "That makes perfect sense." 2040 is something that can be understood the first time around, but needs to be watched a couple of times before one can actually 'get' it. Since 26 episodes is more than 8, the pacing has slowed down significantly (so you don't get borderline-apocalyptic explosions every episode), but the plot itself never gets dull. There's always great action or something gripping going on that will make you want to watch the next episode. I personally put in a good deal of emotional investment, and in the end it was well worth it.
CHICKS!: What more can I say about Priss that hasn't been said already in my reviews for BGC and BGCrash? Well, since 2040 features a new character model and a new version, a LOT more (and you thought you could escape my rabid drooling over my favorite rock goddess, HA!). Though Priss can be downright bitchy, I can truly appreciate her badass attitude and tough-as-hell way of living. It goes hand-in-hand with my own bad temper and chaotic personality bred from years of headbanging to Judas Priest and MegadetH. If we were together, the nights would begin with throwing furniture and end with throwing each other's clothes. Heck yeah! The Kings of Metal say we MUST be together! Ahem...back on topic. Sylia has apparently traded in her combat abilities to become hot. She never did anything for me in the original, but DAMN! she's definitely doing a hell of a lot for me now. Still, she's classy, a lady that you gotta finesse (not my strong suit, I don't think she'd take to kindly to furniture flying around). Nene continues to run neck-and-neck with Priss for the title of 'My Favorite Knight Saber', she's just so darn cute. That weasel puts her over the top. Though it probably wouldn't work out between me and her because I'd try to make some sexual innuendo that relates to Computer Science. Linna...poor Linna. She's just not as sexy without that aerobics background. At least she's a good down-home girl for those of you who want someone a little more normal.
Overall: Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 took me in with its slick, techno presentation and the plot and character were enough to keep me on the wild ride for the duration. The main selling points of the original BGC were great action scenes, hot chicks, and kick-ass music. 2040 maintains those core elements and around them builds a tangled web of interesting characters and an intricate plot. Despite my several comparison's to the original, you don't need to be a fan of BGC to enjoy 2040. It's an all-around awesome sci-fi series that strikes a perfect balance between style and substance.
IN A NUTSHELL
+ AWESOME presentation
+ Great music
+ Well-developed, interesting characters
+ Engaging plot
- A little bit of a mindfuck
Overall Rating: 10/10
Note: The screencaps for this review were used without permission from Bubblegum Crisis 2040. Go visit them if you're interested in the series and want to know more!
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