Richard E. Rae (76174.1410@COMPUSERVE.COM)
Sat, 26 Sep 1998 09:48:19 -0400
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 09:48:19 -0400 From: "Richard E. Rae" <76174.1410@COMPUSERVE.COM> Subject: The OVAs
Date: 25-Sep-98 21:38 EST
From: Richard E. Rae > [76174,1410]
Subj: OVAs
Yun-Ching Lee wrote:
>>Now onto the OVA series... I watched all 4 episodes from a friend's
Chinese subtitled VCD last Sunday when I was too bored. :) The animation
quality is nice, I know recognize the opening theme and Hanasaku Otome
at the end of 4th ep. The story doesn't really follow the game's
storyline. There's hardly any fighting until the 4th (last) episode,
and the order of character appearance is different. Think of it as an
alternamte version of the story.<<
Well, the OVAs are NOT the Sakura Taisen story of the game- they are BACKGROUND
stories that precede the game! Past events referred to in the game dialogue are
shown here in several instances. The OAVs are actually made for knowledgable
fans and make little sense to most people who haven't played the game to know
what's happening.
The OAVs show how Yoneda and Count Hanakouji formed the Teikoku Kagekidan and
solicited weapon building from Kanzaki Heavy Industry, then how Sumire turned
out to be the first Oubu pilot. It also shows how Kouran was recruited (and
worked separately at the other division, not meeting the others until the
game), and how Ayame recruited Kanna, Maria and Iris.
They also show how Sakura was recruited by Yoneda, how Sumire had early
conflicts with Kanna and Sakura, and of the rise of Kuroki Satan and the
Kuronosukai. And how Kanna runs off back to Okinawa to rethink her situation.
The third OAV showed the first real battle of the untested Hanagumi, and how
they fought chaotically at best- Sumire jumping the gun and being too
self-assured, Iris finding herself unable to control her powers and her Koubu,
Maria losing command ability and being unable to restrain her temper, and
finally the fearful Sakura coming to everyone's rescue with her powerful
"hajakensei oukahoushin" attack. It then becomes clear that a real leader is
needed, and THEN Oogami finally is assigned!
The fourth episode I haven't yet seen, but I assume at this point it should
overlap with some of the events of the game. I'll be seeing it soon, so no
spoilers please!
--Richard E. Rae