Audience reviews
19 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
AeroGunz
“AD Police” is what happens when old school noir storytelling meets anime.
To be honest this whole OVA feels more like a proof of concept than anything else. It’s related to Bubblegum Crisis and could be considered its loose prequel. It’s dark, gritty and shows the bad parts of a cyberpunk future.
Before we start I would like to explain something. I will be talking about “plot” and “story”. Many people use those terms interchangeably. I’m not one of those people, so to make sure everyone is on the same page…
I use the definitions for “plot” and “story” as Lisa Cron describes them:
“What happens in the story is the PLOT, the surface events.”
“STORY is about how the things that happen affect someone in pursuit of a difficult goal, and how that person changes internally as a result”.
T…
Read at the sourceghostbishnu
AD Police aligns itself better with the noir aspects of the cyberpunk ethos than Bubblegum Crisis. You can feel the Bladerunner inspiration more here. The episodic nature of the OVA does not work against it. This is effectively world building for Crisis despite the tone being quite different.
Leon is one of the worst parts of Crisis in that he is actually a a low-key member of 'Dominion Tank Police'. He become far more human in exploring these 3 episodes. Along with this, the impacts of technology integration and augmentation are explored both on the level of the individual and to some degree on a societal level, which has and will continue to be an important topic for people to explore.
Definitely a worthwhile watch.
Read at the sourceBensonas
Well, after another small 90s OVA I am left with not much to say. This show is your typical anime sci-fi fair. Protagonist are some form of police. Antagonists are some kind of augmented human. On paper, should be decent, in practice episode one and two are decent, episode three is dull. But, despite this, I'll give this review a bash.
Animation is grea here. Everything you would hope it to be for the time. Looks really great with a nice varied pallet. Character animation is smooth and effort was put in to provide a varied character look. Which is NOTHING like the complete lack of effort that went into Mad Bull 34 with every women looking exactly the same. I am 100% happy with the animation here. I have absolutely nothing to complain about.
In the same vein, the music is also really grea…
Read at the sourcealbertbrown
Before the events that took place in the well-known anime “Bubblegum Crisis” comes a short form OVA in three episodes titled “A.D. Police”.
As someone that has seen this OVA last year, this mecha police, drama filled anime is what one would expect from the lifestyle of what Neo Tokyo has turned into. When it comes to the ficitional events that took place in the year of 2027, the relationship that surrounds Leon and Knight Saber was one that left me with both intrigue and unique flows of romance being shown in an area that looks bleak and left with many questions.
Having to deal with the enemy known as Boomers (ironic enough in this day and age), to even having to deal with the battle brewing Normal Police and AD Police as well as the arcs surrounding Paradise Loop and Billy being turned…
Read at the sourceKamuiX1999
Revisiting this for the first time in a decade, and I'm noticing there's a lot I either didn't pick up on at that time, or simply there are elements that have faded from memory over the years, as I've forgotten much of the deeper, weighty stuff going on in these three episodes. Old age strikes again!
Tone-wise, and not because it's far more gory, serious and R-rated, this is a completely different beast than Bubblegum Crisis, the series that this OVA spun out of. Sure, it's still action sci-fi, but these all ultimately boil down to morality tales with a cyberpunk sheen, showing what happens if you lose touch with your own humanity. The first two episodes are darkly sexual in nature, especially the second episode (the strongest of the bunch, it's perfect speculative sci-fi) that ends with…
Read at the sourceKamezuki
“AD Police” is an OVA that tells 3 self-contained stories about the blurry line between human and machine, and how this ambiguity affects people living in a futuristic Tokyo. Set in the same universe and a few years before “Bubblegum Crisis,” “AD Police” is an indirect prequel of sorts to that title, but it’s much grittier, gorier and explicit. It lacks the interesting characters and charm that “Bubblegum Crisis” has, and this OVA covers its themes superficially, thus not leaving much of an impression.
All three episodes feature Leon, who is a new member of the AD Police (and would later show up in “Bubblegum Crisis”), and his veteran partner, Gina. They get involved with three different cases related to either androids or cybernetically augmented humans going berserk. All of these cases…
Read at the sourceKryptonot_7471
Cybernetic Post-Nut Depression executed with Blade-Runner Esq' Thematic Story-Telling. Bubblegum Crisis was a very good Cyberpunk Series that had a lot of cliches from its period and overall lighter tone. This is a far-cry from that.
The Atmosphere is dark and brooding. The Sexual Overtones present throughout are not in the least erotic, rather completely horrific. More akin to representing the idea of humanity through a cold distant lense. A lense that is completely robotic and empty.
Following the titular Police Detective from the original Bubblegum Crisis series: Leon McNichol, it deals with his early days in the A.D. Police. However, other than the first episode, it doesn't really focus on him that much, rather on the events happening around him and their relation to everyday people.…
Read at the sourceMateus_snw
English Version:
The Spin Off/Bubblegum Crisis Prequel is what you'd expect from a Cyberpunk themed Noir anime from the 90s. As the name suggests, they are separate files from the AD Police where each one tells its own story, stories that however much simple has its discussions well implanted in the work.
"Phantom Lady" focuses on sex dolls called Boomer that for mysterious reasons have become aggressive with human beings, especially with men who use them for sex, those who are not able to satisfy them end up being murdered for bringing them frustrations instead of pleasure for them, which ends up being a dilemma brought by the work itself, which satisfies a humanoid machine that shouldn't even have feelings? And how do these distinguish sensations without even possessing humanity?
“The…
Read at the sourceRauLeCreuset
This anime was very strange. I loved the blood and gore part. But, the other parts were just boring. I absolutely hated it. It was only three episodes. That was really annoying. But, besides that, it just had nothing pushing this anime forward besides the sexual, nudity, and the blood and gore along with it. Otherwise, I just don't understand how this anime could gwt any rating higher than a four to be honest. I could and did not give this anime any rating higher than a four rating and that's yeah, I had no other desire. In order, to give this anime the rating then it deserved.
Read at the sourceKloser
Sexual Transhumanism:
This anime isn't exactly smart; don't expect to find hidden philosophic wisdom but the main theme is trans-humanism and sex. While Bubblegum Crisis relied on Blade Runner aesthetic with 80s anime badass girls and Parasite Dolls focused on hardboiled noir stories, this series deals with bizarre new sexual kinks brought about in this new cybernetic world.
The multiple stories presented to you will focus on things about people going into sexual frenzies and sexual frustration brought out in mulitple ways because of boomers or cyberization.
In theory this sounds like a good concept because its original and not relying too heavy on other influences but the problem is that the stories aren't exactly complex, fun or have anything intelligent to say. The series does succeed…
Read at the source_Akali_
I really don't know why you'd like this unless you're an edgy teenager that thinks some gore and some "adult topics" is enough, even though the dialogues are crap, the stories are crap and direction is really bad too.
It is the kind of thing that randomly throws some adult topics to look edgy, but lacking any depth at all. It is for teenagers in the same way Elfen Lied is edgy anime for teenagers.
This anime being old is no excuse. It is bad. It is really really bad. Direction is terrible, the ideas are terrible. Only the third OVA is kind of decent.
Go see some Ghost in the Shell. I love cyberpunk from the 80s and 90s, I grew up with it, but this just doesn't make it.
Read at the sourcenandesuque_c_est
More so than other shows I have seen, these three episodes are each self-contained stories that look at the same topic. It reminds me of what my high school art teacher said the painting portfolio I submitted to be judged should be like.
ADPF explores humanity using machines as a foil and sexuality as a vehicle of discourse. The course of each story did not stand out to me as much as a few telling scenes and circumstances. For me, the characters exist in a pristine condition. I feel the atmosphere even after I forget the plot.
The action sequences are much less flashy than those of BC and I do not understand them as literal representations of combat. They do however support the rest of the show seamlessly, blurring the line between peace and violence.
No character is the particular focu…
Read at the sourceGhost-Hardware
An unfinished and not particularly well known OVA series released from 1990. Despite some shortcomings, AD Police manages to do several things very well and overall gets a recommendation.
Pros:
-Fantastic art and animation. If you are a fan of Cyberpunk at all I would recommend the series solely based on the slick art and solid animation within the OVA. Its just a joy to look at.
-Thought provoking. Nothing mind blowing here, but I thought the questions it raised about body modifications (while not particularly deep) were still enough to give you something to think about after the show was over.
-Decent English dub. Now here's a shocker, a 90's English dub that isn't completely awful? Its still a bit cheesy as you'd expect, but it fit the show well enough.
Cons:
-Unfinished. Due to a leg…
Read at the sourcektulu007
AD Police is connected to another OVA I've reviewed. Basically, it's a prequel to Bubblegum Crisis that came out in the very early 90s when that OVA was nearing its end. Supposedly, it was intended to be longer but some legal problems between Artmic and Youmex resulted in it being cut short. But the big question for me is, is this OVA as strong as Bubblegum Crisis was?
Story:
The titular AD Police are a force that specialises in dealing with boomers, and humans with enough cybernetic parts. The story follows three different cases of theirs. The first involves them trying to find proof that one of their own didn't commit suicide by boomer, while being stalked by a sex boomer. The second involves a woman murdering prostitutes. The final one involves a cyborg fellow who can't feel anything…
Read at the sourceTheCompletionist
This anime is gory and raunchy and I absolute love it for it.
This is a cyberpunk anime in it truest form with regards to its upbeat music in a dark and dreary setting, grittiness, and atmosphere.
The AD police files is three separate stories focusing around certain members of the AD police force and they're fight against boomers.
You can't go into this anime expecting a deep experience because your not going to get it. This anime is violent, sexual, and in some ways tasteless but damn is it entertaining. There are some weird scenes regarding nudity and sexuality but it doesn't deter from the overall action packed experience. Beyond the tasteless action and nudity, there are some deep messages regarding humanity and its role in the world when the world is becoming more robotic. I just w…
Read at the sourceTheOmnipotent
I decided to watch this series after Finishing the A D Police main series, which I rated and wrote a review on it as well.
This series in particular was a 3 episode short OVA and I will go with a 7 rating
These 3 episodes are all different stories that involve the same main characters.
All three episodes were a little twisted and had a lot of moments when you will be like "WHAT??" because some of the scenes are very ridiculous , and personally i found it funny; however I'm not sure if they were intended to be funny.
nonetheless every episode its entertaining, and they all have some kind of a sick sexual twist to them, but nothing extreme. music was good for the anime and blended right with the setting.
before you watch this anime I recommend watching another Anime in relation to Boomers…
Read at the sourceShura-shurato
Definetly NOT for the lighthearted and teenagers! this is an cyberpunk cult classic prequel in the bubblegum crisis story ( though A.D police manga debuted in '89 named dead end city) its a good adaptation to it! and since this ova is from 1990 its seems that in anime at least japan has almost never left the 80's :). i saw this the 1st time back in 1996 on videotape.This 3 part storyline is damn violent as hell, dark, filthy and gruesome but cyberpunk as hell and even i REFUSE to watch the 2nd episode, just too tragic. Animation is quite mature for its time as some of the welldone robotdesigns and cybercity like backgrounds and violent sketches. Conspiracy as hell is involved no matter what
with an special eye to episode 3, wich story and mecha design is partly inspired by robocop 2 (1990)…
Read at the sourceRobdeFR
This is a prequel of Bubblegum Crisis and is set in Megatokyo year 2027.
In AD Police Files, we have a younger Leon McNichol when he was a newbie at the AD Police force and way before Knight Sabers came to be.
This is a lot more darker than Bublegum Crisis and carries the Blade Runner banner more properly than Bubblegum could ever carry with it’s comedy and Female cast. The animation gives a little help at turning the thing darker and it was made in a proper way. The music was just awesome and the ending music of the final episode made me want to look for it in the web (still hadn’t had any luck yet).
The story of its episodes, though not spectacular, can fit very well the dark atmosphere generated and it isn’t decidedly your light everyday story.
Definitely a must watch for cyber puk…
Read at the sourceBeatnik
A prequel to Bubblegum Crisis, set in 2027, AD Police Files drops the light-hearted humour of the previous OVA and replaces it with noir-esque crime thrills.
Someone saw more potential in the franchise and decided to take Blade Runner and blend it with Miami Vice. Inspired? Foolhardy? Definitely worth a shot. The cyberpunk genre can be blended with anything, and Bubblegum Crisis brilliant as it was, could have been taken in another direction entirely, and AD Police Files directs it into moody fatalistically romantic territory.
Leon McNichol is almost unrecognisable, not just due to a change in character art, but he's a jittery straight-laced rookie in the first episode. A far cry from the ladies man, with a penchant for showing up at the right time with a big gun that we saw in the previ…
Read at the source