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{{Short description|1986 Japanese action-comedy science fiction anime film}} {{for|the convention|A-Kon}} {{Infobox film | name = Project A-ko | image = Project A-ko Poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster art | native_name = {{Infobox Japanese | kanji = プロジェクトA子 | revhep = Purojekuto Ēko }} | director = [[Katsuhiko Nishijima]] | producer = Kazufumi Nomura | writer = Katsuhiko Nishijima <br> Tomoko Kawasaki <br> [[Yuji Moriyama]] | screenplay = | story = Katsuhiko Nishijima <br> Kazumi Shirasaka | based_on = <!-- {{based on|title of the original work|writer of the original work}} --> | starring = [[Miki Itō]] <br> [[Michie Tomizawa]] <br> [[Emi Shinohara]] <br> Asami Mukaidono | music = [[Richie Zito]] <br> [[Joey Carbone]] <br> Toru Akasaka | cinematography = | editing = | studio = [[A.P.P.P.]]<br>Soeishinsha | distributor = [[Shochiku]] | released = {{Film date|1986|06|21|}} | runtime = 84 minutes | country = Japan | language = Japanese | budget = | gross = }} {{Nihongo|'''''Project A-ko'''''|プロジェクトA子|Purojekuto Ēko|lead=yes}} is a 1986 Japanese [[Anime film|animated]] [[science fiction]] [[action comedy film]].<ref name="LATimes">{{Cite news |date=1999-05-06 |title=Anime festival 2 - Project A-Ko |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-anime-festival-2/77356881/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |pages=305 |archive-date=2024-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622090206/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-anime-festival-2/77356881/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The film focuses on 16-year-old Japanese schoolgirl A-ko, who defends her best friend C-ko, as they face off against their classmate and rival B-ko while the Earth faces the threat of an alien invasion.<ref name="Davies">{{Cite news |last=Lynn Davies |first=Robert |date=December 1995 |title=Project A-Ko The Pocket Guide |url=http://www.sunteam.co.uk/magazines/j-fan1.html |work=J-Fan |publisher=Ebony Publishing |location=United Kingdom |pages=59–61 |access-date=2024-06-02 |archive-date=2024-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602162654/http://www.sunteam.co.uk/magazines/j-fan1.html |url-status=live}}</ref> It was directed by [[Katsuhiko Nishijima]] with [[Yuji Moriyama]] did [[animation director|animation direction]] and [[Character designer|character design]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Project A-Ko DVD |url=https://www.rightstufanime.com/Project-A-Ko-DVD-Hyb |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121230310/https://www.rightstufanime.com/Project-A-Ko-DVD-Hyb |archive-date=January 21, 2018 |access-date=January 21, 2018 |publisher=[[Right Stuf Inc.]]}}</ref> The film project initially started as part of the ''[[Cream Lemon]]'' series of [[original video animation]], but later became its own film.<ref name="Chapman" /> The film staff said they were motivated to produce a fun exciting film in contrast to the more serious anime films being produced at the time.<ref name="Ruh" /> Additionally, the film includes a variety of references and parodies a number of other works of [[anime]] from the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name="Swallow">{{Cite news |last=Swallow |first=James |author-link=James Swallow |date=September 1995 |title=High Speed Cute An Overview of the Project A-Ko series |work=[[Anime UK|Anime FX]] |publisher=Ashdown Publishing |location=United Kingdom |pages=20–23 |issue=6}}</ref> The film was largely well received by critics who praised the humor and action and considered it an anime classic. Outside of Japan, the film was seen by many fans of anime which served as an introduction to the medium.<ref name="Ouelette">{{Cite journal |last=Ouellette |first=Martin |date=May–June 1992 |title=Anime Story Project A-Ko |journal=Protoculture Addicts |location=Canada |publisher=lanus Publications |issue=17 |pages=20–21}}</ref> The film was followed up by several sequels and a spin-off, starting with [[Project A-ko 2: Plot of the Daitokuji Financial Group|''Project A-Ko 2'']] in 1987.<ref name="Davies" /><ref name="Crandol ANN">{{Cite web |author=Crandol, Mike |title=Project A-Ko DVD |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/project-a-ko/dvd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406180213/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/project-a-ko/dvd |archive-date=2016-04-06 |access-date=2016-02-14 |work=[[Anime News Network]]}}</ref> The original [[35 mm movie film|35mm film negatives]] were once thought lost until they were recovered in 2021.<ref name="Pineda" /> ==Plot== An alien spaceship crashes into Graviton City, wiping out the entire population and leaving a massive [[crater]] where the city is rebuilt 16 years later.<ref name="Davies" /> High school students A-ko Magami, a perky, fun-loving red-haired, sailor-suited teenage girl, and her best friend C-ko Kotobuki, a bubbly, carefree optimist, enter a new year of school as transfer students at the all-girls Graviton High School. Although A-ko possesses superhuman speed and strength, she considers herself an average teenager. She mostly worries about getting to school on time, due to her habit of chronically oversleeping her alarm clock each morning. The pair catch the unwanted attention of B-ko Daitokuji, a rich, snobbish, spoiled, and brilliant fellow student. B-ko develops an obsession in regards to C-ko, and is determined to win her over. B-ko's attempts to win C-ko over fail, however, and remembering that she was A-ko's rival back in kindergarten, B-ko creates a series of [[mecha]] piloted by her team of female followers to attack A-ko each morning. After losing each new and more powerful mecha, she eventually creates and dons the "Akagiyama 23", a powered suit that looks like a bikini. B-ko quickly escalates the fight across the school with no restraint. Trench-coated spy "D" has been monitoring A-ko and C-ko each morning and reporting back to a large spacecraft as it approaches Earth. The aliens' conclusion is that they have located a lost princess whom they have been looking for. The aliens finally reach Earth and begin an all-out attack against the Graviton military, which is outmatched by the alien technology. A-ko and B-ko's own fight continues across the big city even as the military and aliens do battle. C-ko is abducted in the middle of this confrontation by "D", who is revealed to be a member of the Lepton Kingdom of [[Deneb|Alpha Cygni]], an all-female race of aliens. C-ko is their princess. Witnessing the abduction, A-ko and B-ko set aside their differences. Infiltrating the spaceship, A-ko confronts D and the ship's alcoholic Captain Napolipolita, while B-ko rescues C-ko. B-ko then reneges on the truce and opens fire on A-ko, D, and the Captain, destroying the ship's navigation system. The vessel lands, precariously perched on top of the city's Military Command Tower (actually the remains of the previously crashed ship). Having survived the crash, both A-ko and C-ko find themselves on top of an unconscious B-ko. A-ko happily awakens the next morning, sore from the previous day's adventures, and walks with C-ko to school in their new uniforms. The girls pass by a disheveled D and the Captain begging for donations to repair their ship. The film ends with B-ko smiling as A-ko appears on the [[horizon]]. ==Voice actors== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Character !! Japanese voice actor !! English dubbing actor |- | A-ko Magami || [[Miki Itō]] || Stacey Gregg |- | B-ko Daitokuji || [[Emi Shinohara]] || Denica Fairman |- | C-ko Kotobuki || [[Michie Tomizawa]] || Julia Brahms |- | Ayumi Azumi || Asami Mukaidono || Liza Ross |- | Captain Napolipolita || [[Shūichi Ikeda]] || [[Jay Benedict]] |- | Spy D || [[Tesshō Genda]] || Marc Smith |- | Mari || [[Daisuke Gōri]] {{Small|(male voice)}} <br/> Sayuri Ikemoto {{Small|(female voice)}} || Anne Marie Zola {{Small|(female voice)}} |- | Asa || [[Akari Hibino|Yōko Ogai]] || [[Toni Barry]] |- | Ine || [[Yoshino Takamori]] || Anne Marie Zola |- | Ume || [[Megumi Hayashibara]] || Liza Ross |} ==Production== ''Project A-ko'' was directed by [[Katsuhiko Nishijima]] who would later go on to direct ''[[Agent Aika]]'' and ''[[Labyrinth of Flames]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Haverson|first=Dave|date=February 2002|title=Anime - Labyrinth of Flames|page=85|work=Play|location=United States of America}}</ref> The music for the film features music and songs composed by [[Richie Zito]] and [[Joey Carbone]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-03 |title=Project A-ko: Perfect Edition Blu-ray |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/project-a-ko/perfect-edition-blu-ray/.183739 |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=[[Anime News Network]] |language=en |archive-date=2024-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303105318/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/project-a-ko/perfect-edition-blu-ray/.183739 |url-status=live}}</ref> Nishijima said that he wanted to make a film that directors [[Mamoru Oshii|Mamorou Oshii]] and [[Hayao Miyazaki]] were not able to make which is a light hearted entertaining film without much deep [[social commentary]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=手 司 |first=土器 |date=May 1986 |title=西島克彦監督、怪気炎あげる |work=[[Animage]] |publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]] |location=Japan |pages=22 |language=JA}}</ref> Yuji Moriyama is credited with [[Character designer|character design]] and [[animation director]], and previously worked on the ''[[Urusei Yatsura (1981 TV series)|Urusei Yatsura]]'' television series, and the films ''[[Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer|Beautiful Dreamer]]'' and ''[[Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer|Only You]]''.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Davies |first=Julie |date=September 1994 |title=Project A-Ko is A-Okay |journal=[[Animerica]] |publisher=Viz Media |volume=2 |issue=9 |pages=6–10}}</ref> According to Moriyama, the crew of the film had mostly worked on ''Urusei Yatsura'', and felt demoralized after [[Mamoru Oshii]] left production of the series, and wished to work on a new project.<ref name="Ruh">{{Cite book |last=Ruh |first=Brian |title=Stray Dog of Anime: The Films of Mamoru Oshii |date=2004 |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |isbn=978-1-4039-6334-5 |location=New York |pages=45–46}}</ref> Moriyama also said that the motivation for making the film was to create a less serious and more entertaining film: <blockquote>The currents [at that time] were shifting favorably towards more serious works that were loaded with meaning and heavy themes. It was a frustrating time for animators who liked to animate. ''A-ko'' was a deliberate attempt to push all that aside, to provide some mindless fun, to make an action-packed film that would be fun to make and fun to watch. I guess you could say it was an animator's anime. Animators who wanted to animate big action but couldn't, came together on this project and let it all hang out.<ref name="Ruh" /></blockquote> Production of the film included several artists who would later create other popular works, including [[Michitaka Kikuchi|Kia Asamiya]] and [[Atsuko Nakajima]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}} The title itself is a reference to the 1983 [[Jackie Chan]] film ''[[Project A (film)|Project A]]'', although the film bears no resemblance to ''Project A''; the working title ended up sticking.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Ledoux|first1=Trish|title=The Complete Anime Guide|last2=Ranney|first2=Doug|date=December 1995|publisher=Tiger Mountain Press|isbn=0-9649542-3-0|edition=First|location=Issaquah, WA|page=62|chapter=Anime Genres|lccn=95062359}}</ref> ''Project A-ko'' was initially planned to be part of the ''[[Cream Lemon]]'' series of [[hentai|pornographic]] OVAs, but during the production of the series, it was decided to make it into a more mainstream title.<ref name="Chapman">{{Cite news|last=Chapman|first=Paul|date=May 4, 2021|title=The Fantastic True Story of How Project A-ko Was Lost and Found|work=Crunchyroll News|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2021/05/04/feature-the-fantastic-true-story-of-how-project-a-ko-was-lost-and-found|access-date=January 21, 2022|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921135504/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2021/05/04/feature-the-fantastic-true-story-of-how-project-a-ko-was-lost-and-found|url-status=live}}</ref> The only sequence animated during its ''Cream Lemon'' days left in the revised production is B-ko's private bath scene. In a nod to ''Project A-ko's'' origins as a ''Cream Lemon'' episode, the owner and several working girls from the brothel in the ''Cream Lemon'' episode "Pop Chaser" - where director Katsuhiko Nishijima was one of the animators - can be seen in one of the classrooms A-ko and B-ko crash through during a fight sequence in the film. Moriyama explains that the names "A-ko", "B-ko", and "C-ko" were initially [[Placeholder name|placeholder]] names that were kept throughout production rather than being replaced.<ref name=":5" /> The film's format uses a surface plot a high stakes action story, while at the same time making [[allusion]]s and [[parodies]] to a number of other works of [[anime]] from the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name="Ouelette" /> The classmate Mari alludes to ''[[Fist of the North Star]]'', and the character of the Captain Napolipolita is inspired by ''[[Captain Harlock (manga)|Captain Harlock]]''.<ref name="Swallow" /> Additionally the [[Bow (watercraft)|forward section]] of the alien spacecraft looks like the ship "Arcadia" from ''Captain Harlock''.<ref name="Ouelette" /> In addition, the series makes homage to [[Comics|American comics]] as well, as A-ko's parents resemble [[Superman]] and [[Wonder Woman]].<ref name="Swallow" /> == Analysis== ''Project A-ko'' contains themes and elements common throughout other anime storylines. Infatuation is a common theme in Japanese anime storylines, where it is typically between a male and a female character, but in ''Project A-ko'', the female B-ko is infatuated with another female, C-ko, and tries to separate her from A-ko.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gateward |first1=Frances K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywsajx7jqAMC&dq=%22Project+A-ko%22&pg=PA274 |title=Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice: Cinemas of Girlhood |last2=Pomerance |first2=Murray |date=2002 |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |isbn=978-0-8143-2918-4 |pages=274 |language=en |access-date=2024-06-13 |archive-date=2024-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622090518/https://books.google.com/books?id=ywsajx7jqAMC&dq=%22Project+A-ko%22&pg=PA274#v=onepage&q=%22Project%20A-ko%22&f=false |url-status=live}}</ref> Though there are hints that the infatuation may be of [[lesbian]] in origin, it appears to be [[Platonic love|platonic]] in nature.<ref name="Swallow" /> B-ko is primarily motivated her ego and desire to control C-Ko, and acts like a bully throughout the film.<ref name="Ouelette" /> The film contains satire of the kind of sentimental attachments females can have for each other in other anime, such as ''[[Gunbuster]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Levi |first=Antonia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Q7WAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Project+A-Ko%22 |title=Samurai from Outer Space: Understanding Japanese Animation |date=1996 |publisher=Open Court |isbn=978-0-8126-9332-4 |pages=133 |language=en |access-date=2024-06-14 |archive-date=2024-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622090237/https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Samurai_from_Outer_Space/4Q7WAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22Project+A-Ko%22&dq=%22Project+A-Ko%22&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live}}</ref> The relationship in the film has been described as a lesbian love triangle.<ref name="LATimes" /> During a screening of the film in 1993, Michael Flores explained the relationship as part of [[Japanese culture]] and common in Japanese television and film. In his analysis, women are separated from men until they are about 18 or 19, and women form relationships and have love affairs with each other before they become interested in men, a trope that is explored in Japanese films and TV shows.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Van Matre |first=Lynn |date=1992-02-16 |title=B Movie Mania |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-project-a-ko-b-movies/92951411/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |work=Chicago Tribune |pages=284 |archive-date=2024-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622090211/https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-project-a-ko-b-movies/92951411/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, it is common for anime and manga stories to include women who are independent and often powerful physical warriors, and A-ko is another example of this. Other examples include ''[[Battle Angel Alita]]'' and ''[[Ghost in the Shell]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Martinez |first=Dolores P. |title=[[The Worlds of Japanese Popular Culture: Gender, Shifting Boundaries and Global Cultures]] |date=1998-10-13 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-0-521-63729-9 |pages=104}}</ref> The destruction and rebuilding of the city of [[Tokyo]] is a common theme throughout Japanese media (including the ''Godzilla'' franchise and ''[[Akira (1988 film)|Akira]]''). In ''Project A-ko'', the Gavitron City is modeled after Tokyo and is rebuilt after the catastrophic destruction of the crashing space ship at the beginning of the film.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kroker |first1=Arthur |url=https://dspace.library.uvic.ca/items/d5c2863a-b804-4140-9128-936f5b15eb26 |title=Digital Delirium |last2=Kroker |first2=Marilouise |date=1997-05-15 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-0-312-17237-4 |pages=250–251 |language=en |access-date=2024-06-14 |archive-date=2024-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622090451/https://dspace.library.uvic.ca/items/d5c2863a-b804-4140-9128-936f5b15eb26 |url-status=live}}</ref> ==Release== The film was released to theaters by [[Shochiku|Shochiku-Fuji]] on June 21, 1986, alongside a shorter film titled ''[[Cream Lemon#Non-pornographic animation|Going on a Journey: Ami Final Chapter]]''. [[Pony Canyon|Pony Video]] distributed the film via [[VHS]] and [[LaserDisc]] later in the year. The film's soundtrack was released on [[LP record|LP]], [[Compact disc|CD]], and [[Cassette tape|cassette]] through Polystar Records on May 25 of the same year. "Dance Away" by Annie Livingston was released as a single simultaneously with the album, with the background music track "Spaceship in the Dark" as the B-side.<ref>{{cite web |title=プロジェクトA子 Dance Away/Spaceship in the Dark |url=https://muuseo.com/tetsu0079jp/items/890 |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=Muuseo |archive-date=2023-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215090449/https://muuseo.com/tetsu0079jp/items/890 |url-status=live}}</ref> A Japanese-language version of "Dance Away" and "Follow Your Dream" by {{nihongo|Project Sisters|プロジェクト・シスターズ|Purojekuto Shisutāzu}} was released a month later.<ref>{{cite web |title=プロジェクトA子 ダンス・アウェイ/フォロー・ユア・ドリーム |url=https://muuseo.com/tetsu0079jp/items/891 |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=Muuseo |archive-date=2023-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215090448/https://muuseo.com/tetsu0079jp/items/891 |url-status=live}}</ref> Outside of Japan, many fans of anime would watch the film without [[subtitles]] and serve as an introduction to anime films.<ref name="Ouelette" /> ''Project A-ko'' was [[Central Park Media]]'s first video release in 1991 alongside ''[[Dominion Tank Police]]'' and ''[[MD Geist]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Gurman |first1=Sarah |last2=Zahed |first2=Ramin |date=January 2006 |title=They made it through another year! |work=[[Animation Magazine]] |page= |pages=28–34 |issue=156}}</ref> They later released a dubbed version produced by [[Manga Entertainment]] to [[VHS]] in 1992.<ref name="Davies" /> Both ''Project A-ko'' and ''Dominion Tank Police'' were later shown in America on the [[Sci-Fi Channel]] during a "Festival of Japanese Animation".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Newitz |first=Annalee |author-link=Annalee Newitz |date=Fall 1995 |title=Magical Girls and Atomic Bomb Sperm - Japanese animation in America |url=http://www1.udel.edu/History-old/figal/Hist372/Materials/magicgirls.pdf |url-status=live |journal=[[Film Quarterly]] |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=2–15 |doi=10.2307/1213488 |jstor=1213488 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207192444/http://www1.udel.edu/History-old/figal/Hist372/Materials/magicgirls.pdf |archive-date=2022-12-07 |access-date=2024-06-13}}</ref> The album was released in the U.S. in 1994 by [[Central Park Media]] under their MangaMusic label and later included as a bonus disc the "Collector's Series" DVD in 2002.<ref>{{Discogs master|master=685180|name=Project A-ko: Original Soundtrack|type=album}}</ref> In 1996, a CD-Rom package called "Anime Hyperguide: Project A-ko" was released, including artwork, interviews with the creators.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Strauss |first=Bob |date=July 19, 1996 |title=Anime Hyperguide: Project A-Ko |url=https://ew.com/article/1996/07/19/anime-hyperguide-project-ko/ |access-date=2024-06-13 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=2024-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613232609/https://ew.com/article/1996/07/19/anime-hyperguide-project-ko/ |url-status=live}}</ref> After releasing ''Project A-ko'' on DVD in its original widescreen video format, Central Park Media later released a "Collector's Series" version in 2002, which features remastered video and coloring, a large number of ''A-ko'' related extras, commentary and interviews by many of the ''Project A-ko'' staff, and a free ''Project A-ko'' soundtrack CD. Central Park Media has released the three OVA sequels in a single-disc DVD collection, ''Project A-ko: Love and Robots''. In May 2011, [[Discotek Media|Eastern Star]] released a newly remastered R1 ''Project A-ko'' DVD. It contains many of the extras of the original CPM release, minus the soundtrack CD.<ref name="Douglass 2011">{{Cite web |author=Douglass, Todd Jr. |url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/50508/project-a-ko/ |title=Project A-Ko |work=DVDTalk.com |publisher=[[Internet Brands]]<!-- |publisher_rem=As of Sep 2007. See http://www.dvdtalk.com/welcome.html--> |date=June 20, 2011 |access-date=2016-02-14 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042935/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/50508/project-a-ko/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Discotek Media released the film on Blu-ray in December 2021. Originally, the footage for the film was to be sourced from the laserdisc release using the [[BBC Domesday Project|Domesday Duplicator]] to capture the footage at a higher quality than previous releases,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-14/discotek-licenses-rose-of-versailles-hajime-no-ippo-project-a-ko-anime/.163988 |title=Discotek Licenses Rose of Versailles, Hajime no Ippo, Project A-Ko Anime |first=Rafael Antonio |last=Pineda |website=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2020-09-14 |access-date=2020-10-27 |archive-date=2021-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427230528/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-14/discotek-licenses-rose-of-versailles-hajime-no-ippo-project-a-ko-anime/.163988 |url-status=live}}</ref> with a technology called AstroRes being used to [[Video scaler|upscale]] the footage and restore it to a higher quality.<ref name="Chapman"/> The film was instead sourced from the original 35mm [[Negative (photography)|film negatives]], which were previously thought lost.<ref name="Pineda">{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|date=March 8, 2021|title=Discotek Licenses Dear Brother, Sgt. Frog, Kashimashi, Nyanbo! Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-03-08/discotek-licenses-dear-brother-sgt-frog-kashimashi-nyanbo-anime/.170404|url-status=live|access-date=March 8, 2021|website=[[Anime News Network]]|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309062054/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-03-08/discotek-licenses-dear-brother-sgt-frog-kashimashi-nyanbo-anime/.170404}}</ref> The film negatives had been stored in a [[film laboratory]] but a [[clerical error]] had resulted in confusion as to where it was.<ref name="Chapman"/> == Reception == The film has largely been praised by reviewers who consider it a classic for fans of Japanese anime.<ref name="Davies" /><ref name="Shidoshi">{{Cite news|last=Shidoshi|date=May 1998|title=Anime Fan "Oldies but Goodies"|page=86|work=GameFan}}</ref><ref name="Autohead">{{Cite magazine |last=Autohead |first=Max |date=December 1995 |title=Anime - Project A-Ko |magazine=Hyper |location=Australia |page=19 |issue=25}}</ref> The film is considered to be a [[cult film]] in the west.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ernest |first1=Mathijs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dWX4AAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Project+A-ko%22&pg=PA310 |title=The Cult Film Reader |last2=Xavier |first2=Mendik |date=2007-12-01 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Education (UK) |isbn=978-0-335-21923-0 |pages=310 |language=en |access-date=2024-06-13 |archive-date=2024-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622090213/https://books.google.com/books?id=dWX4AAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Project+A-ko%22&pg=PA310#v=onepage&q=%22Project%20A-ko%22&f=false |url-status=live}}</ref> The film's humor was praised, with Max Autohead from ''Hyper'' magazine saying that the film hits with its "cheesy" humor.<ref name="Autohead"/> Reviewer [[Joe Bob Briggs]] praised the film, citing the more adult subject matter compared to [[Saturday-morning cartoon|Saturday morning cartoons]] and crazy action, giving it four out of four stars. He placed the film alongside others such as ''[[Gunbuster]]'' and ''[[Dominion: Tank Police]]'' which feature scantily clad women in [[science fiction]] adventures causing a lot of mayhem.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Briggs|first=Joe Bob|date=March 27, 1992|title='Annie Mae' cartoons: Saturday Mornings was never like this|work=[[The Orlando Sentinel]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77387549/anime-film-over-view/|access-date=January 20, 2022|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121055349/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77387549/anime-film-over-view/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''J-Fan'' praised the [[English dub]] and called it one of the best dubs from Manga Entertainment and a "near perfect" example of the genre.<ref name="Davies" /> ''[[GameFan]]'' writer Shidoshi considers the film a "must see" film for any serious anime fan, saying it rises above being a mere parody and stands on its own as a work. He also says that it is the best film in the series, with the sequels being the sort of work that the film set out to mock.<ref name="Shidoshi"/> ''Game Zone'' magazine commented that the film is low on violence, but high on humor and girly fight scenes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 1992 |title=Intergalactic Punk Rock Hip Hop |work=GameZone |publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]] |location=United Kingdom |pages=94–95 |issue=12}}</ref> Writer James Swallow in ''Anime FX'' praised the film's action and humor, and said that ''Project A-ko'' and its sister OAVs were an archetype of the genre.<ref name="Swallow" /> ==Sequels== ''Project A-ko'' spawned a series of sequels which were [[original video animation]] (OVA) starting with ''[[Project A-ko 2: Plot of the Daitokuji Financial Group|Plot of the Daitokuji Financial Group]]'' in 1987, followed by ''[[Project A-ko 3: Cinderella Rhapsody|Cinderella Rhapsody]]'' in 1988 and then ''[[Project A-ko 4: Final|FINAL]]'' in 1989.<ref name="Swallow" /> After this original series, a spin-off entitled ''[[Project A-ko: Grey Side/Blue Side|A-ko the Vs]]'' (1990) was created and released in the OVA format. In this two-part series (a "Grey side" and "Blue side"), A-ko and B-ko are partners hunting monsters in an extraterrestrial environment, with no relationship to the previous series. Central Park Media released it as ''Project A-ko: Uncivil Wars''.<ref>{{Cite web |author=See, Raphael |url=http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=339 |title=Project A-ko: Versus |work=T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews |access-date=2015-06-03 |archive-date=2015-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515232808/http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=339 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film also spawned an American produced comic series, and a [[Tabletop role-playing game|tabletop role playing game]].<ref name="Swallow" /> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Portal|Anime and manga|1980s|Film}} * {{Official website|https://www.shochiku.co.jp/cinema/database/04197/}} * {{IMDb title|0091794}} * {{anime News Network|anime|id=61|title=Project A-ko}} {{A-ko}} {{A.P.P.P.}} [[Category:Project A-ko| ]] [[Category:1986 anime films]] [[Category:1986 films]] [[Category:1986 action comedy films]] [[Category:1980s Japanese films]] [[Category:1980s Japanese-language films]] [[Category:1980s parody films]] [[Category:1980s rediscovered films]] [[Category:1980s science fiction comedy films]] [[Category:1980s science fiction action films]] [[Category:1980s high school films]] [[Category:Animated films set in the future]] [[Category:Japanese animated science fiction films]] [[Category:Japanese science fiction comedy films]] [[Category:Central Park Media]] [[Category:CPM Press]] [[Category:Animated films about impact events]] [[Category:Shochiku films]] [[Category:Films about alien invasions]] [[Category:LGBTQ-related anime and manga]] [[Category:1986 science fiction films]]
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