cokesque

Synopsis

Hired to as guides for author Sumiregawa Nenene on her trip to Hong Kong for a book signing, Michelle, Maggie and Anita of the Three Sisters Detective Agency end up saving Nenene’s life, even if their supernatural ability to manipulate paper makes final explanations a bit difficult when Nenene’s plane returns to Japan.

In no hurry to return home, the three sisters are retained as low-pay bodyguards by Nenene’s editor and begin worming their way into Nenene’s life whether she likes it or not.

Impressions

Anyone who thinks the producers won’t be able to match the slick animation of the original OVA need look no further than the very first episode of the TV series for budget-blowing action sequences.

Things then settle down a bit to allow the animators to catch their breaths and flesh out the characters some more. But this is, after all, Read or Die; don’t expect penetating psychological explorations. Expect action and fun.

Also, OVA fans can expect some revelations about the world of R.O.D, the British Library, and the I-jin. Bringing R.O.D to TV was a potentially lucrative but equally perilous task. While there have been some disappointing instances where the animation is sloppy and the characters are off-model, JC Staff has done a pretty good job.

The viewer is asked to set aside an exorbitant amount of disbelief, enough to turn off some people. Even so, I don’t think the show asks too much of fans who are already familiar with the somewhat bizarre world of R.O.D. It’s a fun ride.

Random Thoughts

Nenene is Yomiko’s friend, though she appeared only in the manga (where they were both teenagers). Apparently, Yomiko saved her after she was kidnapped by an obsessive boy, and the friendship continued from there. In the OVA, the Post-It notes in Yomiko’s apartment are signed “Nenene.”

She (Nenene) is voiced by one of my favorite seiyuu, Yukino Satsuki (Kagome in Inuyasha, Kaname in Full Metal Panic!, Milly Thompson in Trigun).

The official name appears to be “R.O.D – The TV -”, but I don’t know whether the “D” is for “Die” or “Dream.”

- 2004-04-23 19:11 -