Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
13ad
The world of the future that we deserve or not?
Yoshiaki Kawajiri knows a lot about cyberpunk action films, but his talent is broken by the timing of Ova, not allowing him to reveal himself. My opinion about such ovas/films is that they are cool, but too short.
Another good work of his, a dark cyberpunk with the goals of "Kill you!" corresponding to the early 90s. Each episode tells the story of a prisoner who helps the police. In 40 minutes of the episode, the author manages to show each character from such a side that they evoke some sympathy. Drawing with attention to detail, looks impressive during action scenes, synth-pop soundtrack, simple plot, heroes - the dregs of society, cyberpunk atmosphere, a bunch of ideas - which now look as fantastic as possible.
I would gladly watch a sequ…
Read at the sourceCaeruleus_CCXVI
6/10 ~ When I say something is 6/10 I think of Cyber City 080
I cant remember how I stumbled upon this one as it is far before my time when I was young, well here I am. I did enjoy my time, and I watched all 3 episodes over a month apart and was able to keep up with what happened previously, probably only doable to the fact these are all one-shots.
Pros
- Some true golden age cyber punk anime right here
- the English dub is hilarious, truly only something that could come from an OVA
- the action was decent
- the world they pained with mostly visuals was quite enjoyable
- the upbeat synth tracks really slapped
- story was easy to follow, probably to a fault
--i did enjoy that each of the MC's got their own ep.
Cons
- the charecters were all just 1 dimensional tropes
- tho the story wa…
Read at the sourceKamezuki
“Cyber City Oedo 808” is a gritty, yet aesthetically pleasing, 3-episode OVA about 3 convicts in the distant future who are given the opportunity to have their prison sentences reduced by working for the police to catch criminals themselves. While on the whole it’s a solid OVA, the frequent strobe effects used in every episode make it difficult to watch.
Each episode features a self-contained story that focuses on one of the three main characters. The plots are futuristic and sci-fi in nature, although the third one is a bit more fantasy than sci-fi. The basic elements of all three stories are easy to follow, but some of the finer details are either glossed over or inserted haphazardly, which can be frustrating.
Since there are only three standalone episodes, there is little to no charac…
Read at the sourceRauLeCreuset
This anime was very short, but what I loved most about it. Was not only the the era that in which it was created in, but by the personalities that each of the three characters possessed. Although all three were in fact working together to comeplete their each individual missions that unltimatly came together as one most very important mission. But, what I don't like is that both the end of episode one and the end of episode two didn't show what happened in the end, it sort of cut off, before even finishing the important parts so to speak. And I found that very annoying. Otherwise, although short, this anime was created during a time where you didn't have to worry about hurting other people's feelings.
Read at the sourceMotokogummi
Art & Sound - Masterclass, pure hand drawn work from the unadulterated original Japanese idea, their execution is not just good it's just flawless, every single detail is preserved from the small scale displays to the car shine under the light, the dystopian crime underworld in a very advanced futuristic city, the color, the atmosphere and the whole animation sequences are just phenomenal and also the gothic style is present despite the huge sci fi aspect. The main characters are very well drawn, so are the supporting ones for them. Also the Voicing is superb, very perfect and matches the expressions, the sound mixing for the weapons and the actions sequences are superbly made with passion and love, simply flawless.
Story - Story is the only place where it just falls a little bit short b…
Read at the sourcemegafat
Sometimes I want to watch something that just gets right to it and know exactly what it wants to be. And one of the best examples of something like this is Cyber City Oedo 808
In the year 2808, crime rates are at an all time high. To help try and lower the crime rates, the Cyber Police unit decided to employ hardened criminals with talents suited to certain jobs by promising to reduce their sentences if they comply. This 3 episode OVA follows three such criminals, Sengoku, Gogol, and Benten, who happen to be serving more than 300 years each in an orbital penitentiary. And to keep the criminals in check, they`re forced to wear collars that can be remotely detonated, killing them instantly if they don`t complete their missions on time or try to escape.
And right of the bat it`s a shame tha…
Read at the sourceTyp055
Ima keep this short. In fact, so short that this paragraph is just filler to reach the minimum amount of words required. Can I start yet? Ok.
Cyber City is amazing, but I suggest you dont go in with absurdly high expectations thinking the entire thing is the best Cyberpunk anime ever made. Let me explain.
Each episode is dedicated to one character and out of the three episodes 1 is good, the other is peak cyberpunk masterpiece and the other is kind of stupid and out of place.
The first episode is good standard cyberpunk action. I don't have much to say about it.
The second episode, o boy, this shit is quite literally peak 80s cyberpunk in its final form. Everything is perfect, the mood, the characters, the fights, the main villain. I wont give any details so I wont spoil it. Its only 4…
Read at the sourceUltra_Fine_Point
Saw this one on DVD WAAAY back in the late '90's. A truly atrocious English dub mixed with Kawajiri's direction and animated by MADHOUSE -- WHAT IS NOT TO LOVE? If you are on a Kawajiri binge or want to see some seedier, B-level anime this is a good place to start or finish, what have you.
A perfect little gritty trilogy of sorts, comparable to Gunsmith Cats. Unlike Cats, though, this is more of an anthology where each main protagonist gets their own 15 minutes to shine and hop in and out of each other's stories.
Some really great future neo-noir (ala Blade Runner) aesthetics complement a trashy English dub. It will remind you of Hideo Kojima's "Snatcher" title more than once.
Worth a watch!
Read at the sourceZio_ponte
Cyber City Oedo 808 is not one of the anime i'd consider if i had to list the best works of Cyberpunk genre, neither i'd recommend it to someone who wants to watch some serious Cyberpunk stuff for the first time; the reason? Because from the point of view of someone who is unfamiliar with it this anime could result cheesy and goofy due to its incredibly exalted 80's extravagant fashioned aesthetics heavily influenced by Glam Rock and punk fashion (moreover this anime was already a bit outmoded at the time of its release in 1990, when the hyper colored punk was no longer so strong).
That said, if you are fond of Cyberpunk and you simply want to plung yourself in the "high tech-low life" flow this anime is perfect for you and gives really strong 80's vibes.
Oedo 808 has 3 episodes and i thin…
Read at the sourceAnime-General
In the future we have a police force of the country of Japan that decides to fight crime with using criminals with life long sentences with the promise they get their sentence reduced if they do good jobs. If they don't the bombs attached to them will explode and kill them. You can label this anime as being inspired or ripping off the comic Suicide Squad or the movie Escape from New York. Yet this OVA take those story ideas and somehow make a fun, yet stupid entertaining series.
Each episode is a standalone story that focuses on one of the criminals racing against the clock to have a fight with the insane villain in some pretty good fight scenes. We really don't spend much time to know anything about the three lead characters, so in each episode devoted to them its just some basic introdu…
Read at the sourcezombie_pegasus
This anime lives, eats, and breaths GAR. The main characters are criminals, which completely sets it up well, and the screens fills with blood frequently, but not in poor taste.
The story is about criminals who are given shorter sentences if they take care of other dangerous criminals, an offer they gladly accept yet wish they didn’t have to. I personally think it’s a good premise and although it doesn’t do too much with it considering the anime’s short length I still consider it to be a good story.
The art is very 90s and you can take that how you will. They know how to use the colour red a lot as well as using a fairly dark colour palette. The characters all look unique enough and the place they live is set up well enough considering how little time it needs to be used for.
The sound…
Read at the sourceliteraturenerd
Overview:
The German phrase Zeitgeist translates to "spirit of the age". This anime perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the 1980s even better than Fist of the North Star...despite the fact that Oedo was actually released in the 1990s and was laughably dated upon arrival. Despite how goofy it often gets, Oedo is freaking awesome and well worth checking out!
Background:
The 1980s were a truly bizarre decade in terms of film. The year 1980 saw the release of Heaven's Gate, one of the most boring, pretentious, shitty art films ever made. It bombed so hard it is legendary to this day! At the same time, the wildly popular American President Ronald Reagan placed value on the average American Joe and showed disdain for snooty elitists. The European film critics of this time were busy hyping up…
Read at the sourceherbeey
Great 80s animation (yes it's 90s, but is very 80s)! Full on over the top cool cyberpunk action! Enjoyable swearing! Highly highly trashy! Enjoyable heavy rock soundtrack! Inventive architecture! Over the top dubbing! Stuffed full of attitude and one-liners! Excellent yet laughably bad!
If that sounds amazing, go watch now and have fun. Seriously, you can work out if this is for you from what I've just said. This is not a complicated anime. Go watch the UK dub now if it appeals.
3 cyber criminals in space prison (they literally call it that) are offered the chance to do dangerous police jobs in exchange for their sentences being shortened. If they fail, their hated boss will blow up the rings round their necks. Each episode focuses (not at all exclusively) on one of them. To give you a s…
Read at the sourceLuquillo
Cyber City Oedo 808 is another one of those great ideas that ended up being completely wasted. I remember coming into this one with very high hopes only because it was directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. The mastermind behind well known classics such as Ninja Scroll and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. My fascination increased once I learned this was one of his earlier works, because that was when he was really creative. Anyone remembers Neo Tokyo?
Right from the very beginning, I was immediately hooked to the style of the series. The series began with an introduction to the three main characters named Gogol, Bentan, and Sengoku. The intro had me believing this would be something special. These three men were introduced through the shadows. They were foul mouth and mysterious, with a rap sheet of…
Read at the sourceCbubbles
I went into this expecting delightfully generic, violent 80s stuff like Devil Man or Angel Cop, but unfortunately with overly long, uneventful hour-long episodes and mostly lazy animation, it falls on the decidedly "un-delightful" side of generic. The hilariously bad dub can make it watchable, though. "Get lost. You wouldn't know a goddamn vampire if one jumped up and bit you on the end of your fuckin' dick. So just get off my back."
Read at the sourceShura-shurato
I,ve seen it first time on videotape, and fast became and fav because it was HANDDRAWN and a good dark cyberpunk story, and i like oldskool cyberpunk anime a lot. This ova is split in 3 parts, each tell a story of a member and their mission, wich all 3 are done very well i think. the animation is more proffesional from that time , wich really integrates into their personal story´s and make´s it flawless. Violent as hell, wich i like but sometimes its a bit slow, good background animation and it seems nearly everything from that time is done very well, but hey it was 1990 so they had soo much time and effor to put in it.
Read at the sourcebarcaman101
Cyber City Oedo 808 is one of those anime that it is almost impossible for anyone to hate,its just awesome.three of the worst prisoners have been been given life sentences in space prison.They have been made on offer that if they decide to work for the state they will get a small portion of their sentences reduce for each assignment that they undertake.sengoku,benson and gogle reluctantly agree and become members of the Cyber Police .They have been given explosive collars around their neck in case they should ever get out of line.
What I love about this ova was how each of the main characters got to an episode of their own,this helps to get a feel for each of them.
Benson is the mysterious,somewhat strange guy that wears lipstick and eyeshadow and is more of a lone wolf compared to the ot…
Read at the sourceEzmierTheSwift
When bad guys are forced to do good in a futuristic city, fighting their fellow criminals, cybernetic creations, and even synthetic immortals, you get Cyber City.
Lets start with the plot. The idea is simple, three cyber criminals who have done more then a lifetimes worth of crimes, are given a chance to reduce their sentence and get a little fresh air. For every criminal they catch, their sentence is reduced, disobey, be blown to smithereens. Each episode follows a story centered around one of the three criminals turned cop and gives you a little insight into each one of them. Really, the story isn't very original and its biggest flaw is that it's very short. It left a lot to be desired.
Music wise, it was average. The themes were very very catchy and enjoyable, but otherwise, the backg…
Read at the sourceArrvilja
Actually, I did not have any expectations about this anime for I just decided to get through with all the things I have before stuffing my hard drive with another portion of titles... so, here are the impressions.
Story. It is extremely simple. I would even say - average. There's nothing special about the situation when good guys fight bad guys (a typical action movie). The point is, these good guys themselves were bad guys not long ago. It is placed into cyberpunk setting, which now happens to be old-fashioned (take the usage of floppy disks, for ex.). However, some day the OVA used to be pretty cool, perhaps.
Art. I personally found nothing special about it. However, some moments were really impressive (broken glass, rose or sakura petals flowing in the air), and some moments were awfu…
Read at the sourcedavers
The year is 2808 AD, and major technological advances have enabled humanity not only to travel to work in self-driven hovercars, but also to seal off the planet's most dangerous criminals in a maximum security penitentiary which differs from our contemporary 21st century versions in just one respect: it's in space.
Thus, along with a rocking guitar riff to introduce the absurd acronym title ("Oriental Electric Darwinism Oasis 808", apparently), we are introduced to our three protagonist anti-heros: Sengoku, a hardened criminal who must have decided at an early age to commit as many crimes as humanly possible, currently serving a sentence of 375 years for a plethora of crimes, with a generous 0.005% chance of parole; Gogul, a computer wizard with a Geordie LaForge-style visor and a tendenc…
Read at the source