Ouka Kenran Sakura Taisen

	©1997 Sega Enterprises, Ltd. / Bandai Visual / Animate Film ©1996, 1997 Red All volumes 28 minutes digital stereo CAV ¥5800		—by Maria M. Rider Based on the story by Hiroi Ohji, the long awaited Sakura Taisen (Sakura Wars) OVA series which is also a very popular Sega Saturn dating/strategy simulation game has finally been released. With the stunning character designs done by Fujishima Kousuke (AA! MEGAMISAMA and TAIHO SHICHAUZO), fans of the Fujishima art style cannot miss this OVA. Akahori Satoru, the Series Editor, is also a famous manga artist with credits such as SABER MARIONETTE J, BAKURETSU HUNTER, NG KNIGHT LAMUNE, and BAKUEN CAMPUS GUARDRESS. The first episode takes place in the Spring of 1919 (Taisho-8), before Fujiyeda Ayame is the one in charge of travelling to gather together those young girls with exceptional psychic skills into the Imperial Floral Assault Unit. Ayame is well-versed in many foreign languages, including English, French, and Chinese.
			Count Hanakouji and Yoneda Ikki are recovering from the last Demon War which ended a year ago, by working with Kanzaki Heavy Industry of Kawasaki to construct arms and weapons for the Imperial Floral Assault Units. Kanzaki Sumire, the young and snobbish granddaughter of the president of Kanzaki Heavy Industry, opts to test out the prototype "Oubu", the first generation of steam mecha units. Kanzaki is also constructing the airship "Shougei-maru" (Flying Whale) and the underground bullet train "Gourai-gou" (Rumbling Thunder). In order for the "Oubu" to work, the pilots must have good psychic powers and control them easily. The current members of the Imperial Floral Assault Unit, Maria, Kanna, Iris, and Kohran all have exceptional psychic power and this first episode introduces them. Maria Tachibana was born in Russia to a Japanese father and a Russian mother. She is an adept marksman and is one of the older of the Imperial Floral Assault Group. Kirishima Kanna was born in Okinawa where she learned martial arts from her father. She is quite large for a girl and is sometimes mistaken for a man. Ri Kohran was born in Bejing, China. She is a budding scientist and develops the weapons and armaments for the Imperial Floral Assault Group. Iris Chateaubriand is from France and she is the only daughter of a wealthy family in Champagne, France. She is the youngest of the Imperial Floral Assault Group and always totes Jean-Paul, her teddy bear, with her everywhere. Iris, although the smalles and youngest of the group, has the strongest psychic skills of all of them. The second episode continues with a young Sakura trying to learn the Kaji Kansei Houka Houshin. This is a powerful psychic attack that her father, Colonel Shinguuji Kazuma, mastered and showed Sakura long ago. Throughout this episode, Sakura tries to find that inner power and frame of mind to call up the powerful attack. With this task accomplished, she will be ready to go to Tokyo to find her destiny. Meanwhile at the Imperial Floral Assault Unit Headquarters, the Flower Group is being trained to control their psychic powers. As a cover, the Flower Group is being schooled in the performing arts. Dancing is the first lesson, and unfortunately Kanna isn't catching on very well. The Imperial Floral Assault Group is secretly headquartered at the Imperial Theater. Yoneda travels to Sendai to bring Sakura to Tokyo to join the Flower Group and begin her training. Sakura's heritage precedes her as her father fought in the Demon Wars (1915-1917). Will Sakura be ready for her destiny? Only time will tell.
			The future captain of the Flower Group who has two short cameos in both episodes, Oogami Ichiro, is the only male group member and is travelling on a slow Naval Boat to Tokyo where he will be stationed with the rest of the Flower Group. The music by Tanaka Kouhei (composer for various games like SAKURA TAISEN and anime like SPIRIT OF WONDER, TOP O NERAE! GUNBUSTER, BASTARD!!, and DRAGON HALF) is composed beautifully and comes straight from the SAKURA TAISEN game. The somber piano pieces and the robust marching tunes that play gives this OVA quite a mix of music. The opening song, "Manifest! Imperial Floral Assault Group" sung by Yokoyama Chisa, is the same as in the opening of the Sega Saturn game. The song has a driving and fighting beat to it, very appropriate if you should ever want to karaoke it. "Manifest! Imperial Floral Assault Group" is one of those songs that calls forth memories of those 70s fighting robot opening songs which had a small amount of words sung, but a large amount of feeling to it. The ending song is a slow, blues/jazz-type song and it makes one feel as if they are in an elegant restaurant with a dance floor and a bar. Very remenicent of the 1920s which is what era this story takes place. A stunning vocal cast round off the fun, yet interesting Sakura Taisen OVA series. Famous voice actresses, Yokoyama Chisa (Sasami from TENCHI MUYO!) as Sakura, Tomizawa Michie (Linna from BUBBLEGUM CRISIS) as Sumire, and Orikasa Ai (Ryouko from TENCHI MUYO!) as Ayame are just a few of the voice actresses that play their roles very well and to their characters. The SAKURA TAISEN OVA series is slated for four volumes with first two already released and the next two to be released in May and in the summer of this year. This series will be a fan favorite for both those who enjoy the game and those who enjoy Fujishima's art.