Dirty Pair

Genre: Science Fiction/Action Published by: Nozomi/LuckyPenny Running Time: Part One (325 min.) Part Two (325 min.) Format: Japanese Audio (Dolby Digital Mono), English Subtitles Release Dates: Part One (6/4/2013) Part Two (8/6/2013) Media: DVD It’s easy to be adamant about cherished childhood memories; particularly those revolving around beloved TV shows that shaped our imagination and oftentimes influenced our future career pursuits. I still remember feeling timelessly connected to the eighties He-Man cartoon which sparked my passion for illustration and animation. I also remember re-watching the first few episodes not too long ago, dumbfounded by just how poorly the show aged. It’s as if a piece of me was shredded to pieces…leavingme wondering where I saw the appeal in the first place. Then there are shows like Dirty Pair, which to this day feel as fresh as they did decades ago. From the neon-lit disco-style opening to the absurd action sequences and charming humor, Dirty Pair is a nostalgia trip worth taking regardless of how much time passes. Dirty Pair was one of the first in bringing the popular “girls with guns” sub-genre to Anime. Its immediate success was soon followed up by classics like Bubblegum Crisis, Gall Force, and the now legendary Ghost in The Shell and Appleseed. The two ladies have become genre idols, influencing most female anime action personas we see today. While their prominence in Japanese animation is unquestionably admirable, it’s how relevant the show feels almost thirty years later that truly impresses. The balance between hilarious eighties cheesiness and masterful animation is remarkably inviting, making the episodes feel like something that could have been released a few years ago. Yes, there’s the unpleasant 4:3 aspect ration and occasional loss in color, but Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s art style is as electrifying as ever. This latest collection is being released in two parts, but it would be foolish not to grab both sets at once. Every part comes packed with thirteen episodes (3 discs per set), each in its original Japanese audio and Litebox-style keepcases. The audio quality is surprisingly well preserved (particularity during the louder action sequences) and the video is top notch. Colors are crisp and vibrant with very subtle discolorations in a few scenes and nearly unnoticeable artifacts and frame distortions. I ran the DVDs via my PS3 with the upscaling mode set to on, which gave the overall contrast ratio and color saturation a significant quality boost. Considering the show originally aired in 1985, it still looks and sounds surprisingly contemporary. The show revolves around Kei and Yuri, two enticing members of the Trouble Consultant Team 234. The code named “Lovely Angels” are disaster magnets, always leaving a trail of utter chaos and madness…hence their nickname Dirty Pair. Despite their destructive temperament, they somehow always end up catching the bad guy, even if it means destroying half a city. Dirty Pair can be best described as a Cyberpunk action-comedy inspired by classics like Blade Runner and Mad Max. While the tone is clearly more lighthearted, fans of such films will absolutely devour the show’s diverse sci-fi aesthetic. The action sequences in nearly every episode are nothing short of amazing. The spectacular battle set pieces give Dirty Pair an impressive cinematic quality and while most of the series feels somewhat episodic in nature, the charming duo keeps each narrative segment thoroughly entertaining and captivating. Whether you’re an Anime enthusiast or simply enjoy quality animation, Dirty Pair is a fantastic look back at one the finest eighties cartoon classics. Despite being nearly three decades old, Kei and Yuri are as lovable and hilarious as ever and the superbly preserved source material guarantees for a collection of the highest quality. Dirty Pair was a blast then…and it’s an absolute blast now!

I watched the Dirty Pair movie like, 10 years ago and that gave me a pretty good idea of what the TV series would be like. The main characters, Kei and Yuri, are the Lovely Angels who work for the World Welfare Work Association or WWWA as "trouble consultants", i.e. hired mercenaries who fix issues for profit. As per the movie, they are also known by their popular name, the "Dirty Pair" because every mission they solve results in huge amounts of collateral damage. The TV series was a little dissapointing in several respects. For one, it didn't bring out the total awesomeness of the DirtyPair's destructive powers like the movies did - there is no "destruction on a massive scale from a relatively minor mission" (except for the first episode). There is destruction, but nowhere in the scale of what is seen in the movies. The TV episodes are also very short so plot development feels very rushed in most episodes. The only positive is some additional character development. The episode about Billy Galet (Yuri's old love) was particularly well done, but it was an outlier as the rest of the TV episodes didn't go that deep. If you only watched the TV episodes you'd think Kei and Yuri were "girls" only interested in (1) Men (2) Dating (3) New Clothes (4) Bonuses and (5) Vacations. But in reality both women are much more complex characters than that and it didn't come through in the TV series. Additionally the animation is very sub par and "flat". It might have been ok in the 1980s or mid 1990s but when you take it into the 2000s it falls far short. The music is mediocre also. Overall, I am a Dirty Pair fan because the girls are "sassy" trouble consultants and it's always nice to see an anime where the heroines are sexy, good at their jobs and feminine without being overly cutesy. The only drawback is the TV series didn't exploit this fully. I am hoping that the updated "Dirty Pair Flash" or other OVAs will show the Dirty Pair to their full potential because as "we will fix things but oops we blew up (insert item, equipment, building, structure or planet here) something in the process" idea is a good one. All in all, if they made a live action Dirty Pair movie it would probably be great, if the correct actresses can bring the characters to life. The TV series in itself does not fully live up to its potential plot, character or animation wise.

What a fun ride that was. Two 80s chicks work for a Government Agency and create havoc almost everywhere they go. But they get the job done. The artwork is probably good for its era, but not great compared to today. The sound was fine nothing overwhelming. There is no real storyline, most of the episodes are stand alone, except for a couple of 2 parters. What really stands out though are the two main characters, they are almost constantly arguing or insulting each other, frequently blackmail their boss for raises and bonuses, they also cause a lot of property damage most of the time,and they work well together. They are fun to watch, they wear 2 piece outfits that are pretty much hot pants and cleavage inducing tops, along with cowboy boots. If it wasn't for their antics I probably would have dropped this one. This is a great action comedy, so if you are looking for that sort of thing and can tolerate the 80s vibe this is for you.

There is just something fascinating and absolutely special about Dirty Pair and it really is a shame it never became a long running anime like some other shows of the time. The relatively limited episode count may be linked to the sheer quality of the animation however, I do not think there are many Tv anime that can match Dirty Pair in fluidity, consistency and the art direction. Every episode is OVA quality! But of course pretty animation isn't always enough to make an anime special. Dirty Pair at first glance just looks like a shallow, sci fi romp but there is something that belies thesheer eye candy of the show. Dirty Pair supposedly depicts all of these utopian looking societies that are not far off from being an expy of economic boom Japan of the time; and the spectacular formula of the show is to have their entire fabric and institutions destroyed by one surgical mishap, courtesy of the iconic protaganist duo Kei and Yuri. Of course it is to be noted that their antics are all in the course of tackling the crime and intrigue that sharply contrasts with the supposedly perfect looking high tech settings. I think Dirty Pair represents the fragility of the Japanese Miracle as built upon the fleeting shifts in western economies towards neo liberal financial practices. It can be watched as a top tier pulpy sci fi adventure show on par with Crusher Joe and Space Adventure Cobra, but it is also a window into the issues of our real world that remain relevant to this day. It is like Star Trek in this regard though whilst Star Trek is more about solving external problems, Dirty Pair brings our attention within to our own internal problems. Facing an intense economic recession at the time of writing of this review, Dirty Pair reminds us that the illusion of prosperity should not be taken for granted when it is propped up by such fragile economic institutions, political systems and social dysfunction. It could all come crashing down at any moment just like anything Kei and Yuri gets involved in! This show will leave a lasting impression on you despite the ludicrous and seemingly dumb amounts of chaos and destruction in it. This powerful but subtle message, is the reason why. Highly recommended for sci fi and 80s anime fans.