Audience reviews
7 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Nykima
Desert Rose: The Snow Apocalypse is an OVA based on the original work Desert Rose. It tells the story of an all-female elite team, led by the beautiful yet vengeful Mariko Rosebank, tasked with protecting a secret summit in Switzerland from a terrorist attack.
There is not much to say about the story itself: the objective is simple and clearly stated, and the OVA mainly follows the events as the mission unfolds. In this kind of group-based action story, the narrative should be exciting and maintain constant tension. Unfortunately, this OVA struggles to do so. For an action-focused work, it feels rather flat, with very few truly thrilling action scenes and a heavy reliance on static dialogue. The OVA would have benefited from more ambushes, armed attacks involving the team or even civilian…
Read at the sourceNeimaj
Jesus H. Christ! That twitter profile was right! Or X, if you're an idiot. The sheer aura and charisma of "Daily Irene Sanders" convinced me to watch Desert Rose: The Snow Apocalypse. Simply because Irene Sanders is best girl! Without a doubt! Don't question it!
So, Mariko Rosebank is the commander of an all female team of counter terrorists called C.A.T. (Counter Attack Terrorism.) Fight fire with fire, as they say. Just a group of badass ladies who kick butt. Mariko despises terrorism after her husband and son were killed in an airport explosion. Her deep-rooted hatred would inspire her to create this group. Bit of a moral quagmire there, but hey, I didn't make the OVA.
Women empowerment is the name of the game for this one. Seems like almost every guy featured in this OVA is either a t…
Read at the sourceReiEvaUnit00
A fantastic action OVA that absolutely needs a sequel or at least needed to last longer. The animation strikes a balance of lanky and beautiful shojo characters with muscular guns and action all set to a rad soundtrack. The opening shoot out is awesome but Marie and her crew get enough character development in so they're not faceless. The casts leans more beauty than sexy and thats for the better so the OVA isn't mired in fan service. The plot is very James Bond but thats not a bad thing as its easy to follow.
There is a want for a final shootout to cap off this singular OVA.
Read at the sourceeurekawatches
This is an odd OVA. One episode, 44 minutes, with a lot of setup and implication of wider plots that there aren't time for. Nothing that's in here is done poorly, but at the end I was more confused than satisfied. It feels like an episode of some broader TV show that didn't survive and so we have this one remainder. I would still recommend it if you're in the habit of watching old OVAs like this, you might have fun. Bring a friend along to share in the bafflement. If you don't usually watch stuff like this, skip it, it's not a good entry point. Maybe record this onto a VHS and mockup some box art and prank someone with it, it's perfect for that.
I realize I've said very little about what IS here, but you pretty much get what you see: an all women's spec ops group. There's a lot less viole…
Read at the sourceKaokacique
This is a fine classic from the 90s, very entertaining gem that I'm glad I discovered.
The story is a generic action similar to other pre-9/11 spy thrillers, but in a charming way.
Character design is pretty good with even secondary characters having fairly unique designs. Their personalities are well developed for the really small time it had to do so, and the main character has a very generic action movie protagonist origin story.
Sound is pretty good with a banger ending song called Under the Stars, by a band called "New Roze" (that I unfortunately couldn't find on the internet, they seem to have been a great band)
Art was really good for a small 90s OVA. Both characters and backgrounds received a great amount of detail, color choice are very good and the artstyle is really pleasing ae…
Read at the sourceTsubakiaka
I am going into this without reading the 15 volume source material, so I'm limited. I am also viewing this in a post 9/11 era so the idea of terrorism at airports is kind of a taboo thing and I was honestly surprised to see it.
Desert rose is another product of 90’s one-time OVA’s complimentary to their manga. A very simple plot and quick story, maybe a little too out there for 40 mins, but we get a swimsuit shot at the end so who cares right?
Following the story of C.A.T. , a small unit of women trained in anti-terrorism and led by captain Rosebank. Partially named after the scar she has on her chest from a quite horrific bombing at an airport. Her and her motley crew of young women embark to the pseudo Geneva conference- this time in the mountains to protect world leaders from the inevi…
Read at the sourceSomali_Strawhat
TL;DR Give it a watch, its definately worth it.
Its a shame not that many people appreciate this show to give it a higher score, but more importantly, that many people haven't even heard of it to begin with considering how rare the more grounded subject matter it deals with is both more poignant in today's political climate, and absent in anime's obsesdion with action schlock geared towards the fantastical.
Because Desert Rose is action schlock, and honestly has no real greater message other than, terrorists are bad. But its execution is admirable and the creator clearly is well researched enough to immerse his audience within the story that he spins with great detail.
Desert Rose is about an all female group of counter terrorists led by a female victim of terrorism. The OVA came ou…
Read at the source