New Dominion Tank Police

Dominion Tank Police, that says it all; a metropolis so crime riddled that the police need TANKS to keep things under control and even then, barely. This second anime adaptation of Shirow's manga retains the wacky cast and the over the top action humour of the original but raises the stakes and introduces an overarching plot that makes for some tense moments throughout the OVA. Story - 8 A huge step up from the chaotic plot of the first Tank Police, NDTP has an overarching plot revolving around the attempts of a megacorporation specialising in armaments to undermine the tank police and assassinate the Mayor, whois trying to impose an embargo on weapons to the city. Most episodes are linked by the ominous background puppetering of the megacorporation and really gives you a sense of happening and high stakes. Plenty of great action sequences too from trying to stop an apartment sized truck to duelling with a relentless spider tank. Beneath all this action is the commentary on totalitarian martial rule through the irony that is the Tank Police. The Tank Police can be every bit as corrupt and arguably, even more destructive than the very criminals they fight against. If the anime took itself more seriously, we'd be seeing ALOT of civillian collateral. Overall, while more sophisticated than your average OVA plot, it is still 80/90s action anime to the core. Art - 8 There are better looking OVAs than this one, even from the 90s. But what these sort of OVAs lack in animation detail and smoothness, it always more than makes up for in art direction and designs. Being based off a Shirow manga, there is no way the character designs and especially the mechanical designs couldn't be anything short of awesome. The setting is your typical cyberpunk megacity but unique that, it is depicted with; a bright blue sky and an abundance of greenery! All the pollution a city like this would create mean that the two shouldn't ever go together; but so is giving the police battle tanks I guess. Utopian in look, a police state underneath, very interesting. Sound - 9 The sound effects are not too great; as far as an anime with police tanks go (so its still cool XD), the English dubs are great and bring the emotions across and draws the characters to life. What really sets this anime apart in the sound department are the amazing opening and ending themes. The opening is a poundingly intense pop metal song (No those two usually don't go together), one of the best in its genre I've heard, beating out scores of western pop metal songs I've heard. The ending theme is a rather hauntingly beautiful ballard, attributable to the great vocalist. It playing through the final airport sequence is a perfect culmination for all the emotions, hardships and motivations of the entire series. Character - 9 The characters are so loveable, each and every one of them; they are depicted well and perfectly compliment each other. Prior acquaintance with them however is preferable. Leona starts out as a fully fleshed out character, a hardened, made of steel veteran of the tank police force who's passion for her work is only surpassed by her love (and I mean love) for her tank. Her character is the driving force for the whole anime, filled to the brim with fiery passion and serious guts. Its good that they give her plenty of motivation too; revenge for her old partner's death. Is she too tough to like? No way! She's got plenty of vulnerabilities as well whether from her recklessness or the fear of losing her tank. The supporting characters are also great but I've hit a word limit! Enjoyment - 10 Police men with tanks; that very premise makes for some seriously entertaining stuff but add that with themes on excessive government control and megacorporations and great characters make this anime a must watch for cyberpunk, Shirow, police anime and retro action OVA fans alike. PG for mild violence and coarse language