Crusher Joe: A thorough evaluation of the traps of the frozen prison!

Crusher Joe: Trap of the Frozen Prison - Crusher Joe: Trap of the Frozen Prison

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

novel

■ Release date

February 5, 1989

■Release and sales

Bop

■Frequencies

60 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Original story and dialogue: Takachiho Haruka (published by Asahi Sonorama)

■ Director

Director: Toshifumi Takizawa

■ Production

Vap, Sunrise

■Works

©Takachiho & Studio Nue, Sunrise

■ Story

Crusher Team received a request for help from the Kirius People's Republic, which was suffering under the oppression of dictator Gerstan. A satellite debris known as the "Frozen Prison" had suddenly begun to fall on the home planet. Joe and his team were dispatched to stop it. However, the falling incident itself was actually a huge trap...!!

■Explanation

This OVA, a space opera series based on the original work by Takachiho Haruka, will be released six years after the film version. The characters and mecha follow the designs of Yasuhiko Yoshikazu, and the special effects, such as the optical scenes, have also made great strides from the previous work. The continuous action and fast-paced development create a tense atmosphere that will have you on the edge of your seat.

■Cast

・Jo/Taku Takemura ・Alfin/Run Sasaki ・Ricky/Noriko Obara ・Taros/Kiyoshi Kobayashi ・Dongo/Kazunari Futamata ・Hume/Iemasa Ieyuki ・Gerstan/Yozu Fujimoto

■ Main staff

Planning: Umeo Ito (Vap), Yasuo Shibue (Sunrise)
Original story and dialogue: Takachiho Haruka (published by Asahi Sonorama)
・Screenplay: Fuyuji Itou・Character design: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko・Mechanical design: Shoji Kawamori, Yasushi Ishizu・Art design: Ariaki Okada・Chief animation director: Tomohiro Hirata・Editing: Shuichi Kakesu, Satoru Ishida, Eigo Makioka・Sound: Koichi Chiba・Music: Keiichi Oku・Storyboard director: Toshifumi Takizawa・Producers: Hiroshi Hirayama (Vap), Eiji Sashida (Sunrise)

Crusher Joe: Trap of the Frozen Prison - Detailed Review and Recommendation

The Crusher Joe series is a space opera that was widely loved by Japanese anime fans from the 1970s to the 1980s. Among them, "Crusher Joe: Trap of the Frozen Prison" was released as an OVA in 1989 and is known as a work that further deepened the appeal of the series. In this article, we will provide a detailed review and recommendation of "Crusher Joe: Trap of the Frozen Prison".

Story and Themes

The story of "Crusher Joe: Trap of the Frozen Prison" begins with a request for help from the Kirius People's Republic, which is suffering under the oppression of dictator Gerstan. The Crusher Team is dispatched to an emergency situation where the satellite debris "Frozen Prison" is falling to its home planet. However, this falling incident is actually a grand trap, and Joe and his friends must fight while unraveling the conspiracy.

The themes of this work are freedom, justice, and friendship. The Crusher Team's fight to save people from the oppression of the dictator Gerstan leaves a strong impression on viewers. Also, don't miss the fact that the bonds and cooperation of the team members have a major impact on the progress of the story.

Characters and cast

The appeal of the Crusher Joe series lies above all in its characters. The voice of Takemura Taku, who plays the main character Joe, is both strong and gentle, leaving a deep impression on viewers. The voice of Sasaki Run, who plays Alfin, also brings out the charm of the character. Additionally, the performances of each cast member, including Obara Noriko as Ricky, Kobayashi Kiyoshi as Talos, Futamata Kazunari as Dongo, Ieyuki Iemasa as Hume, and Fujimoto Jo as Gerstan, add excitement to the story.

The character designs are by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, and are characterised by a unique yet realistic touch. Jo's design in particular has a consistent appeal throughout the series. Meanwhile, the mechanical designs are by Shoji Kawamori and Yasushi Ishizu, and their futuristic designs add to the visual appeal.

Visuals and Music

"Crusher Joe: Trap of the Frozen Prison" features high-quality visuals that take advantage of the characteristics of the OVA medium. Director Toshifumi Takizawa has continued to work on the film version and is pursuing more sophisticated visual expression. In particular, the progress in optical scenes and special effects has evolved significantly from the previous work, making for a strong visual impact.

The music was composed by Keiichi Oku, and the beautiful melodies that complement the grand space opera worldview are impressive. The background music, which heightens the sense of tension in battle scenes, especially draws viewers in. The music in scenes depicting the characters' feelings also helps to deepen the story.

Background and influences

Crusher Joe: The Frozen Prison Trap was released in 1989, six years after the film version. This was the height of the OVA boom, and many works were being produced at the time. Co-produced by VAP and Sunrise, it aimed to appeal to new audiences as well as fans of the series.

This work not only further increased the popularity of the Crusher Joe series, but also expanded the possibilities of the space opera genre. In particular, the evolution of visual expression and storytelling had a major influence on later anime works. The character and mecha designs were also widely loved as subjects for fan art and cosplay.

Recommendations and how to watch

I highly recommend Crusher Joe: Trap of the Frozen Prison to anyone who likes space opera and action anime. It's also a must-watch for fans of the Crusher Joe series. You'll enjoy the storyline and character development.

You can purchase it on DVD or Blu-ray. It may also be available on streaming services, so check each platform. You can get a deeper understanding and enjoyment from watching it together with other works in the series.

summary

"Crusher Joe: Trap of the Frozen Prison" is a work that brings out the charm of the Crusher Joe series to the fullest. It is of a high standard in all aspects, including the tension of the story, the charm of the characters, and the quality of the visuals and music. This is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of space opera, but also to those who love anime in general. Please watch it and experience its charm for yourself.