Ogy Anime Reviews: Prefectural Earth Defense Force

Show Index:

Other Names:

• Kenritsu Chikyū Bōeigun
• Prefectural Earth Defense Force: The Subtitles Strike Back

Date Released: March 21, 1986
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Comedy (Gag)
Age Range: +13
Runtime: 50min 48 sec
Original Creator: Kouichirou Yasunaga
– Other work from Kouichirou Yasunaga:

• D-Cup Hunter (manga)

Director: Keiji Hayakawa
– Other work from Keiji Hayakawa:

• MAPS 1987 (OAV)
• Belle and Sebastian (T.V. Series)
• Pepperpot

Script Written by:  Kazunori Ito
– Other work from Kazunori Ito:

• DOT .hack//(Series)
• Magical Angel Creamy Mami (Series)
• Patlabor (Series)
• Twilight Q (OAV just episode 1)

Sound Director: Masahiru Komatsu
–Only Work
Music: Kentaroh Haneda
– Other musical works from Kentaroh Haneda:

• Barefoot Gen 1 & 2 (Movie)
• Sherlock Hound (T.V. Series)
• Space Adventure Cobra (T.V. Series)
• (The) Super Dimension Century Orguss (T.V. Series)
• Thunderbirds 2086 (T.V. Series)

Production: Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions
Other Media Chronology:

-Manga: Title: Kenritsu Chikyū Bōeigun. Written by: Kōichirō Yasunaga. Published by: Shogakukan. Magazine: Shōnen Sunday Super. 1983. 4 volumes. Licensed by: None in the U.S. but has had a re-release in Japan well if you can import and can read Japanese.

Licensed by (previously from) ADV films.

Beginning Story:

 

-Story Insight:

A teenager has been captured and turned into a cyborg, someone called the Governor on a pay phone and threw a party ball at is face, and the town is on fire. Who is responsible for this? Why it’s that evil organization The Telephone Pole Group!!! Their foul goal is to take over the world, but who is there to stop them?

Only three high school teenagers can gather to form the Prefectural Earth Defense Force!!!

Hiroaki Morita, a quick tempered and rash blonde who comes up with the quick hair brained schemes. With his charm this virgin lothario will lead the squad as him and Sukekubo will get into all sorts of mischief.

Sukekubo Takei, the calm and relaxed muscle man of the group. Is loyal, gullible, and a gentleman. He tags along with his best friend Hiroaki as best as he can.

Akiko Ifukube, she is a smart spunky women who is the serious one in the group. She points out the more obvious in their clumsy situations. Akiki is also a woman of the female gender variety.

GO PREFECTURAL EARTH DEFENSE FORCE AND SAVE THE DAY!!!

Characters:

A.)

Name: Baradagi Ryūko Harataki
Age: High School
Gender: Female
Personality: Sweet, Cunning, and never full
Role: Main Character, Part timer for the Telephone Pole Organization, Spy for The Telephone Pole Group
VA: Hiromi Tsuru
(Japanese)
Other Roles:

**Theme Songs:

• Golden Boy (OVA) ED
• Karura Mau (OVA) ED
• Kishin Corps (OVA) insert Amatsu Paradise

**Characters:

• Dragon Ball (Series) Bulma and some others
• Ghost Sweeper Mikami (Series) Reiko Mikami
• Kimagure Orange Road (Series) Madoka Ayukawa
• Nineteen 19 (OAV) Masana Fujisaki
• Ranma ½ (Series) Ukyo Kuonji
• Silent Möbius (Series) Kiddy Phenil
• Trigun (Series) as Meryl Stryfe

 

B.)

Name: Karmi Santin
Age: High School
Gender: Male
Personality: India Indian, over angst, and he only likes Oolong Tea damn it only Oolong Tea!!!
Role: Victum, cyborg, cause for calamity
Arsenal:  Missles
VA: Hirotaka Suzuoki
(Japanese)
Other Roles:

**Theme Song:

• Ranma ½ (TV) ED 4 Lambada Ranma

**Characters:

• Ai City (Movie) Kei
• Dragon Ball (Series) Tenshin-han
• Dream Hunter Rem (OAV) P.E. Teacher in episode 2
• Mobile Suit Gundam (Earlier Series and a slap) Bright Noa
• Pokémon (Series) Sakaki or Giovanni
• Ranma ½ (Series) Tatewaki Kuno

 

C.)

Name: Hiroaki Morita
Age:  High School
Gender: Male
Personality: Hair Brained, Hick, Leader-like
Role: Leader of the trio, comes up with sappy plans, smooth guy
VA: Tohru Furuya
(Japanese)
Other Roles:

**Theme Songs:

• Dragon Warrior (TV) OP

**Characters:

• Dragon Ball (Series) Yamcha & others
• Kimagure Orange Road (Series) Kyosuke Kasuga
• Mobile Suit Gundam (Earlier Series) Amuro Ray
• Sailor Moon (Series) Mamoru Chiba and his many identities
• Saint Seiya (Series) Pegasus Seiya
• Ultimate Girls (T.V. Series) UFO-Man

 

D.)

Name: Takei  Sukekubo
Age: High School
Gender: Male
Personality: Gentle as an ox, lover boy, silly
Role: The friend who acts slow but isn’t, muscle, best friend of Hiroaki Morita
VA: Tesshô Genda
(Japanese)
Other Roles:

**Characters:

• Dragon Ball (Series) Shu the fox ninja
• My Love Story!! (T.V. Series) Yutaka Gōda
• New Getter Robo (OAV) Tamonten
• Project A-Ko (Series) D
• Transformers (Series) Optimus Prime /Convoy
• Urusei Yatsura (Series) Rei
• Violence Jack (OAV) Violence Jack

E.)

Name: Akiko Ifukube
Age: High School
Gender: Female
Personality: Calm, Smart, and points out the more obvious
Role: The reserved one, the female of the trio, only has lines in the first 3rd
VA: Rica Fukami
(Japanese)
Other Roles:

**Theme Songs:

• Make-Up! Sailor Senshi (Movie) OP
• Sailor Moon R Movie: Promise of the Rose (Movie) ED
• Sailor Moon S (T.V. Series) 2^nd ED

**Characters:

• Crest of the Stars (Series) Spoor
• Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (T.V. Series) Helen Jackson
• New Cutey Honey (OAV) Daiko Hayami
• Sailor Moon (T.V. Series) Mina/Minako Aino/Sailor Venus
• Weather Report Girl (OAV) Kaori Shimamori

F.)

Name: Scope Tsurusaki
Age: Mid 20’s to mid 30’s
Gender: Male
Personality: Smart, silly, managerial
Role: Side kick in The Telephone Pole Group, inventor, smart employee
Arsenal: Scope Vision, Infrared Vision, X-ray Vision
VA: Takeshi Aono
(Japanese)
Other Roles:
**Characters:

• Basilisk (T.V. Series) Azuki Rousai
• Gray-man (T.V. Series) Bookman
• N.Angel (T.V. Series) Daiki Niwa
• Dragon Ball (Series) Kami-Sama
• New Hurricane Polymar (OAV) Joe Kuruma
• One Piece (Series) Dracule Mihawk and many others
• Puppet Princess (OAV) Head of the Deathless Ninjas
• Tenchi Muyo! (Series) Katsuhito Masaki & Nobuyuki Masaki (Dad & Grandpa)

G.)

Name: Shogun Chilthonia or Chilthonia Bunzaemon Kisoya Jr.
Age: In 20’s somewhere
Gender: Male
Personality: Serious, egotistical, and do not mess with his milk
Role: Main Antagonist, Leader of The Telephone Pole Group, Owner of lumber yard
VA: Shuuichi Ikeda
(Japanese)
Other Roles:
**Characters:

• Dallos (OAV) Alex Leiger
• Dream Hunter Rem (OAV & NEW Movies) Kidou Kaimaru & Umimaru Kidō
• The Heroic Legend of Arslan (OAV) Hermes/Silver Mask
• The Legend of the Galactic Heroes (Series) Ulrich Kessler
• Locke the Superman: Lord Leon (OAV) Lord Leon
• Mobile Suit Gundam (Old Series) Char Aznable … Also Gilbert Durandal from that Seed series
• One Piece (Series) Shanks and others
• Project A-Ko (Series) Captain Napolipolita

H.)

Name: Toshiyuki Roberi
Age: Dirt
Gender: Male
Personality: Lazy, Perv, Slezy
Role: Poverty, High school math teacher, advisor of the Prefectural Earth Defense Force
VA: Hideyuki Tanaka
(Japanese)
Other Roles:

**Theme Song:

• Angelique: Twin Collection (OAV)OP5

**Characters:

• Allison & Lillia (T.V. Series) Acacia/Fran Stork/Oscar Whittington
• Angelique (Series) Clavis
• Cardcaptor Sakura (Series) Fujitaka Kinomoto
• Cleopatra D.C. (OAV) Shorty
• Gunsmith Cats (OAV) Bean Bandit
• Kinnikuman (Series) Terryman and other voices
• The Legend of the Galactic Heroes (Series) Jean Robert Lap
• Magic Knight Rayearth (Series) as Rayearth
• Mobile Suit Gundam (Old Series) Woody Malden
• One Piece (Series) Donquixote Doflamingo
• Rayearth (OAV) Lexus & the Narrator
• Record of Lodoss War (OAV) Slayn
• Riding Bean (OAV) Bean Bandit
• They Were 11 (Movie) King Mayan Baceska

I.)

Name: Yūko Inoue
Age: High School
Gender: Female
Personality: Over Angst, Over emotional, Stubborn
Role: Victim, robotically enhanced, cause for calamity
Arsenal:  Missles
VA: Toshiko Fujita
(Japanese)
Other Roles:

**Theme Song:

• Andersen Monogatari Match Uri no Shōjo (Movie) OP
• Dororo (T.V. Series) OP
• Ikkyū-san (T.V. Series in 1975) ED
• Kiteretsu Daihyakka (T.V. Series) ED5
• Puss ‘n Boots (Movie) OP

**Characters:

• Allison & Lillia (T.V. Series) Corason Muto
• Deltora Quest (TV) Thaegen
• Digimon Adventure (Series) Taichi Yagami (Tai)
• Jigoku Sensei Nube (Series) Hiroshi Tateno
• Junk Boy (OAV) Yuki Oda
• Locke the Superman (Series) Cornelia Prim
• Outlaw Star (T.V. Series) Hot Ice Hilda
• Puss ‘n Boots (Movie) Pierre
• Silent Möbius (Series) Rally Cheyenne
• Wicked City (Movie) Makie
• Zatch Bell (T.V. Series) as Zofis

 

Some how with my modern sensibilities this is the best way I can describe Shogun Chilthonia.

 

Production quality:

-Animation:

The animation does not use today’s quick smear techniques and Flash tools. Instead, it uses primitive sketch, paint, and the animation cell is shot by each millisecond. With that much effort applied behind the scenes this OAV looks and feels more alive and vibrant. It is amazing to watch as the whole feature is constantly moving like a roller coaster ride.

Effort aside it also looks like the animators had fun working on this or maybe they had to do as instructed to stay in spirit with the manga. Either way, when an event like an explosion happens in most shows it will have an explosion, black screen, and scene transition. Here in Prefectural Earth Defense Force an explosion is followed by either a picture of an idol or what the sound effect is before transitioning to the next scene.

Bottom line the techniques are not commonly used today; this trip to the mid 1980’s is quite enjoyable.

Animation Rating: 3.8/5 (B)

-Sound:

Sound effects are spot on. The tonalities of the song lyrics in use do match the situations and story of the OVA. The opening song does have a subtle reference to The Rocky Horror Picture Show with how the lyric ‘Science Fiction’ is performed. Another quirk about the opening is the use of a harmonica which instantly gets me to think of the television sitcom Roseanne. This OVA has nothing to do with Roseanne bitching at Darlene and this angers my flannel wardrobe. Also the songs are performed in a slow tempo. It doesn’t drag, but it fits the chase scene.

One other detail I would like to mention is the sound quality on different media. When compared to a digital version like on Anime Network the hard copy has the better sound.

Sound Rating: 3.7/5 (B)

Overall Production Rating = 3.75/5 (B)

Pros, Cons, and Other Thoughts:

-Pros:

• Entertaining
• Enjoyable
• High quality voice performances

-Cons:

• Cost
• Rarity
• Some characters get weeded away too quickly

-Other Thoughts:

I found Prefectural Earth Defense Force to be very enjoyable and upon multiple views the OVA just gets better and better.  This OVA is one whole episode, but it’s split into 4 chapters which the show likes to refer to them as “episodes”.

The story is straight forward, but some details can be easily missed upon the first viewing. The confusion is not because of how complicated the scenes are, but how fast some of the scenes go. Like with Ifukube. She doesn’t appear in the second third of the show and did baffle me as to why. After a quick re-watch I learn that Roberi calls Morita and Sukekubo too expendable which excuses Ifukube from the mission. I do feel bad for Rica Fukami for voicing Ifukube due to not having many lines.

Speaking of voice actors, the commentary said this OVA has an all-star cast. Well after citing mentionable series in the character section I have to agree this OVA does have an all-star cast and the performances are very well done. The ending however is simple and heartwarming which adds as to how remember able it can be.

One other issue I have with them is the OVA starts out with a full cast and slowly narrows to a hand full and then just two. If money might come as an issue for this project well I can see why, but this is almost like the look-at-me formula you would see characters do in a video game anime movie; however, all of the characters have a purpose.

For this show being an OVA,  at some segues even though it explains how they got to point A to B it felt like more was suppose to happen in between. Then again at this time an OVA was generally use to promote the manga it’s supporting.

I do recommend people to watch this, but as scarce as it is and for what price people pay it would be just like that conversation scene in ‘Pulp Fiction’ between Vincent and Mia about a $5.00 milkshake. This OVA is good but it’s not the greatest of all known existence. In the History section I’ll go over what I’ve gathered as to why this DVD is that limited.

-History:

Prefectural Earth Defense Force was inspired by Ultraseven and is the first gag OVA to be made back in March 21, 1986. This out dates Project A-KO with its release of June 21, 1986. A side note for Project A-KO is the first one is a movie that spawns a series of OVAs. Because the amount of OVAs are greater than the one movie of Project A-KO released many rather call the Project A-OK movie an OVA. Why point this out? Because Matt Green Field, David Williams, and Janice Williams from the audio commentary got that detail wrong.

The release of Prefectural Earth Defense Force over here in DVD region 1 Eagle Land is a strange story. Matt Green Field, David Williams, and Janice Williams are the top people who run ADV Film wanted to release this series in the U.S. as love note from their days of being in an anime club. This is touching to know, but the trio was shocked to know that this title was subbed only and encourages the viewer to buy multiple copies and give them to your friends.

The strange bits of the story is the sales portion of ADV did see this title as too old and less profitable to release, so to order this DVD you had to go to ADV’s site and order it as a promotional item. I’m aware that Amazon has a listing, but it’s for people reselling the DVD. (Thank you Kevin)

Three years later (2009) from this OVA’s release (2006), ADV due to financial issues splits up into different companies. Thus losing that promotional item offer ADV had on their site. Another three years later (2012) Funimation sues ADV Films for a thirty title licensing agreement with the ARM Corporation and their debt keeping them from further business in the U.S.

Why is this important? From this lawsuit spawns a document of how many prints of what titles were made by ADV Films. I wish I had the document to confirm this, but by many spectators Prefectural Earth Defense Force had a print run of around 300 copies.

Due to a low printing ADV Films had stock of this title left and could not sell this item, but had to destroy their products that didn’t sell. Thus they poked a hole in the bar code and these copies fluttered away from the former company. These copies are referred to as Slain Copies where as the ones that were originally sold are referred to as Virgin Copies.

 

*Pro’s, Con’s, and Other Thoughts Rating: 3.5/5 (B)

Looks like these boy’s style influenced Jack Burton out of a heap of trouble.
Jack Burton is from Big Trouble in Little China.

Pace:

-Was there meaningful action in the episodes?

Yes, all details were explained as some details were a bit subtle to follow at first watch due to the fast flow of the conversations.

-Did the actions and situations occur at a tempo natural to the genre?

They did and provide constant action and flow of movement for this OVA which results into being a fun watch.

-Did the resolution of each situation affect the flow of the episodes?

Prefectural Earth Defense Force provides a story that left no detail unexplained with minimal exposition as possible.

Pace Overall Rating: 3.6/5 (B)

Overall ratings:

• Plot: 3.25/5 (C) Story is told well yet some bits of it felt more was missing from the source.
• Performance: 3.8/5 (B)All-star cast aside, each character has a personality and is enjoyable to observe.
• Pace: 3.6/5 (B) Properly done, but the first scene with a ‘date’ felt stretched.
• Characters: 3.3/5 (C) They were enjoyable, but were quickly dropped from the story.
• Production Quality: 3.75/5 (B) Animation: Fascinating. Sound: Radical Man!
• Pro’s, Con’s, and other thoughts: 3.5/5 (B) An enjoyable blast from the eighties, yo.
• Overall total: 3.53/5 (B) Give it a watch and beg for a re-release.

Note: Due to my own belief and further defining anime as a pop art, no rating will ever receive a 0, 1, or 5 (a Z, F, or A in my book). For this reason is that times will change as opinions. Anything can be far greater or worse than before. That’s just human triumph and error.

What was needed?

• A desperate re-release
• The manga brought over
• A re-boot

 

Oh My God that Minion’s face!!!

Demographic:
+13 Shōnen
Has a slight showing of boobies with nipples and comedic violence

Similars:

• Project A-KO
• Shinesmen
• Excel Saga
• Puni Puni Poeme
• Ranma 1/2

Misc: Questions from Jimmy the Reader

Jimmy: What’s an OVA?

Me: OVA stands for original video animation. It is a straight to home video release without a prior release like at the Movie Theater or Television. They usually are made to either promote the ongoing manga at the time, or a Television series before/after the run, or serialize a project.

Jimmy: What does a prefecture mean because I hear that word while watching anime every now and then?

Me: A prefecture is like a state in the United States and sub-prefectures are like the counties from that said state. They’re more detailed articles out there that can better explain and detail what the term “prefecture” means.

Jimmy: What does the DVD Menu & other features look like?

Me: Here you go the picture that you asked for is below. The top menu scrolls multiple squares of different scenes then loops.

Jimmy: Okay you explained that this OVA is rare, but why regard the “rarest” one much more when their other series like Nobody’s Boy Remi or The Law of Ueki and possibly more titles out there not being mentioned?

Me: That is a good question and I’ll do my best to answer. Each of those listed are from a previous licenser who has stopped distributing anime series in the United States and are a really good watch.
Nobody’s Boy Remi is another sort of Belle and Sebastian (or ‘Meiken Jolie’ for those who want to look this series up on Anime News Network) but a bit harsher in plot events. An English subtitled  version of Nobody’s Boy Remi was released from ImaginAsian Entertainment. ImaginAsian Entertainment was a television station in the New York area which began in 2004 till 2009. Only known in the smaller part of the United States this station decides to distribute their own anime series that they broadcasted. Hence three anime titles that they released: Cats Eye, Orguss, and Nobody’s Boy Remi. Since it only was released or known in this area many people were unaware of these releases.
The Law of Ueki is a sort of Zatch Bell/Mar shonen variant from that same time which is awesome to watch. Released late in Geneon Entertainment U.S.A.’s late life span they had to let a competitor distribute some certain titles. I’m still unclear if all of the singles were ever released, but I do know and own the complete collection in its entirety.  It’s issue is how it was produced makes it confusing to know if you have everything since this 2 box collection has the same cover with no detail explaining a different volume and the hard plastic coat just made some retailers open the plastic wrap for the package and separate them which they regrettably got complaints for an incomplete series or dumb founded some for having just the first season. If it’s truly “rare” I’m not for certain.
For each stated they were from companies that finally gained a name, had a short life span, and their advertising was weak (even though I still think it’s barely there with anime licensors from then to today).
Does rarity matter? No, rarity doesn’t matter because there many titles available and unlike video games titles anime titles can be re-licensed and better circulate.

Extra: To get a re-release requires time, numbers, and a company to listen. Just follow this list:
1. Find a way to contact licensor (digitally if possible)
2. When contacting a company give the series name, year made, production studio, director, and original creator.
3. As you write try to keep your message civil, simple, and to the point.
4. Remember when you write your message gotta put some love into it because the reason why is the persuasion to do it.

This may not work for everything but this worked for Dallos to get a re-release.

Jimmy: Can you give the credit crawl?

Me: Sure, here you go.

 

Jimmy: Where have you been? You haven’t posted as often… Are you okay?

Me: Finishing my bachelor’s degree and finding a meal to eat. The work load got way too overbearing to juggle what I could do with my time. I do apologize for the absence and delay of this article. I will post more articles!!!

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For other reviews related please click any bold blue titles below:

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• Ogy Anime Reviews: Dream Hunter Rem

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  (Karakuri no Kimi)

This OVA was ranked number zero on my top ten anime rescues:

• Please Save My Anime Top 10 Titles