The appeal and evaluation of "Dirty Pair": A perfect balance of action and humor

"Dirty Pair": A masterpiece of 80s sci-fi action

Released on March 14, 1987 under the distribution of Shochiku, "Dirty Pair" is a work that has made its mark in the history of sci-fi action anime. Based on a novel by Takachiho Haruka, directed by Mashimo Koichi, and produced by Nippon Sunrise, the work depicts a captivating story and attractive characters in a compact 81-minute length.

■ Story

In Urdath, a nation on the planet Agana, a Vizolium plant essential to the warp engine is destroyed. To find out what is behind this incident, the rival neighboring nation of Edia files a lawsuit with the World Welfare Works Association (WWWA) to clear their suspicions, and Kay and Yuri are dispatched to uncover the truth. As the two continue their investigation, a strange monster appears before them. What is the truth behind this incident?

■Explanation

"Dirty Pair" is an original feature-length film produced for the theater. The characters and mecha were all redesigned, and the sexiness and realism were increased, determining the direction of design for subsequent works in the series. Along with "Batsu & Terry," which was shown at the same time, this work left a strong impression on anime fans of the 1980s.

■Cast

Yuri: Saeko Shimazu Kei: Kyoko Tonmiya Mugi: Naoki Makishima Carson: Koji Mori Watzman: Norio Otsuka

■ Main staff

Produced by: Masanori Ito (Sunrise Japan)
・Planning: Nippon Sunrise・Original story and planning coordinator: Takachiho Haruka・Scriptwriter: Hoshiyama Hiroyuki・Setting supervisors: Morita Shigeru, Sato Michiaki・Character design and animation director: Doki Te Tsukasa・Mechanical design: Miyatake Kazutaka・Mechanical design assistance: Akitaka Mika・Monster design: Asari Yoshito・Art director: Miyamae Mitsuharu・Director of photography: Okui Atsushi・Editors: Kakesu Shuichi, Ishida Satoru, Isobe Fumihiro・Sound director: Chiba Koichi・Music: Shiguma Kenzo・Director: Yatabe Katsuyoshi・Director: Mashimo Koichi・Producers: Nakagawa Hironori (Nippon Sunrise), Kondo Yoshihide (Shochiku)

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Dirty Pair" is a work that made a huge impact on the anime scene in the 1980s. In particular, the characterization of the protagonists Kei and Yuri brought a breath of fresh air to the way female characters were portrayed at the time. They are both beautiful and strong, and left a strong impression on viewers. In addition, the mecha and monster designs are also very sophisticated, making them very visually appealing.

The story also combines the tension and thrills of a sci-fi action movie perfectly. The film revolves around the destruction of the Vizolium Plant, and the mysteries that are revealed one after another as Kei and Yuri pursue the truth, as well as the battle scenes with the monsters that stand in their way, keep viewers entertained. The background setting, including the existence of an organization called WWWA and the political situation on the planet Agana, is also carefully depicted, adding depth to the film.

The acting of the cast is also superb, especially the voice actors Shimazu Saeko and Tonmiya Kyoko, who bring out the best in their characters Yuri and Kei. Their dialogue and performances in tense scenes really bring out the quality of the work. Veteran voice actors such as Makishima Naoki as Mugi, Mori Koji as Carson, and Otsuka Norio as Whatsman also have a strong presence.

In terms of staff, the team at Nippon Sunrise, including director Koichi Mashimo, did their best to improve the quality of the work. The combined talents of creators such as character designer Tsukasa Doki Te, mechanical designer Kazutaka Miyatake, and monster designer Yoshito Asari resulted in a work full of visual appeal. In addition, the background music by Kenzo Shiguma is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work.

■ Influence and recommendation of the work

"Dirty Pair" is a work that has had a major influence on subsequent sci-fi action anime. In particular, it has influenced many works in terms of the way female characters are portrayed, mecha design, and storytelling. For 80s anime fans, it is a work that feels both nostalgic and fresh at the same time, and is being reevaluated.

The reasons why I recommend this work are as follows:

• Attractive characters : The characters of Kei and Yuri are both beautiful and strong, leaving a strong impression on the viewer. In addition, their interactions and growth are depicted, making them easy to empathize with.
• Sophisticated Design : The mecha and monster designs are very polished and visually appealing, with the work of Kazutaka Miyatake and Yoshito Asari in particular elevating the quality of the work.
• A tense and thrilling story : The story revolves around the destruction of the Vizolium Plant, and the mysteries that are revealed one after another as Kei and Yuri pursue the truth, as well as the battle scenes with the monsters that stand in their way, keep viewers entertained. The background setting is also carefully drawn, adding depth to the work.
• Excellent cast and crew : The voice actors for Yuri and Kei, Saeko Shimazu and Kyoko Tonmiya, do a great job of bringing out the best in their characters, and the team at Nippon Sunrise, led by director Koichi Mashimo, did everything in their power to bring the quality of the production to life.

"Dirty Pair" is a work that can be enjoyed not only by 80s anime fans, but also by modern anime fans. It is a work that should be watched at least once, especially by those who are interested in sci-fi action and female characters. Also, for those who are interested in the background and production secrets of the work, materials such as "Sunrise Complete Works Collection" are recommended.

■ Related works and recommendations

For fans of "Dirty Pair," we would also like to recommend the following related works.

• The Dirty Pair series : In addition to this work, it has been developed in various media, such as a TV series and OVA. The OVA series in particular has a deeper story and characters, making it a must-see for fans.
• "Bats and Terry" : This film was shown at the same time as this one, and was also produced by Nippon Sunrise. It is a sci-fi action film with a comedic touch, and is appealing for its light-hearted tempo and humor.
• Mobile Suit Gundam series : A sci-fi action series also produced by Sunrise, it shares commonalities in terms of mecha design and storytelling. The original Mobile Suit Gundam in particular is known as a milestone in sci-fi anime.

Above, we have summarized the appeal and evaluation of "Dirty Pair" and recommendations for related works. It is a work that can be enjoyed not only by 80s anime fans but also by modern anime fans, and is one that you should definitely watch at least once.