The appeal and reviews of "Hanahira Bazooka": An anime experience not to be missed

Comprehensive review and recommendation of Hanahira Bazooka

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

September 4, 1992

■Frequencies

45 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Original story: Kazuo Koike, Go Nagai

■ Director

Director: Takayoshi Ikegami

■ Production

Studio Signal

■ Story

Hanape, also known as Yamada Hanahei, is a dull, ordinary high school student. One day, he accidentally summons two demons named Mephisto Dance and Ofisto Basuka. Thanks to these demons, Hanahei's peaceful family is thrown into chaos. However, in exchange, he gets unbeatable strength and magical fingers that allow him to have sex with any beautiful woman...

■Explanation

An erotic comedy manga by the duo of original author Kazuo Koike and illustrator Go Nagai, depicting the love and epic adventures of a human and a demon. This anime is an adaptation of the hugely popular manga serialized in "Weekly Young Jump." While faithfully retaining the essence of the original work, it is notable for its visual expression that makes the most of the characteristics of the OVA medium. In particular, the worldview that combines Go Nagai's unique character designs with Kazuo Koike's storytelling leaves a strong impact on viewers.

■Cast

・Hanahei Yamada/Kappei Yamaguchi・Mephisto Dance/Mina Tominaga・Osist Basuka/Kenji Utsumi・The World Tree Spirit/Kikuko Inoue・Father/Kyuta Yamada/Tomoaki Nakamura・Mother/Michiyo Yamada/Mayumi Terashima

■ Main staff

・Screenplay: Fumio Nishikiji ・Music: Nozomi Aoki ・Chief animation director, character design: Fujio Oda ・Sound director: Yoshikazu Iwanami ・Art director: Osamu Honda

■ Main Characters

・Yamada Hanahira A normal high school boy who can't study or get a girlfriend. By summoning two demons, he gets to have sex with various beautiful women, the ideal life for a man. Hanahira's character is set as an ordinary high school student who is easy for viewers to sympathize with, but the special powers he gains from his contract with the demons add spice to the story.

・Mephisto Dance A female demon who can transform into various women, such as a beautiful woman or an old woman. She was in a romantic relationship with Hanahira's older sister, Yamada Mirei, but later fell in love with Hanahira. She can also possess humans. Dance's character is depicted as struggling between her abilities as a demon and her feelings towards humans, and plays an important role in adding depth to the story.

・Ofist Basuka A male demon who acts together with Dance. He supports Hanahira and Dance, and can transform into anything from a young, handsome man to a middle-aged man or even a dog. He likes mature women. Basuka's character contains many comical elements, providing laughs to the audience, while also being an essential presence in the progression of the story.

■ Related works

Hanahira Bazooka Deluxe Edition (2001/02/23)

■Detailed evaluation

Hanahira Bazooka is a work released as an OVA in 1992, and is characterized by its unique worldview and erotic comedy elements. The original work was created by the amazing duo of Kazuo Koike and Go Nagai, and its charm has been fully brought out in the transition from manga to anime.

The story is about a dull high school student, Yamada Kahei, who summons two demons and uses the special powers he gains as a result to get involved with various beautiful women. This setting not only provides laughs for the audience, but also depicts deeper themes through Kahei's growth and his relationship with the demons. In particular, the character of Mephisto Dance leaves a strong impression on viewers as he depicts the conflict between his abilities as a demon and his feelings towards humans.

As for the cast, Yamaguchi Kappei, who plays Yamada Hanahei, skillfully portrays the protagonist's normality and growth, while Tominaga Mina, who plays Mephisto Dance, exquisitely expresses the charm and humanity of a devil. In addition, Utsumi Kenji, who plays Ofisto Basuka, entertains viewers with his comical acting. It can be said that the performances of the voice actors, including the supporting cast, enhance the appeal of the work.

In terms of the main staff, the script by Fumio Nishikiji has firmly inherited the essence of the original work while taking advantage of the characteristics of the OVA medium. Nozomi Aoki's music plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and Fujio Oda's animation direction and character design reproduce Go Nagai's unique style in anime. Sound director Yoshikazu Iwanami and art director Osamu Honda also contributed to improving the quality of the work.

A related work was "Hanahira Bazooka Deluxe Edition" released in 2001. This Deluxe Edition added additional scenes and new episodes to the original OVA, making it a must-see for fans. The Deluxe Edition expands Hanahira's adventure even further, and the story feels more expansive with the introduction of new characters and his relationship with the demon.

■Recommendation details

Hanahira Bazooka is a work that I would especially recommend to fans of erotic gag manga and those who like Nagai Go's artwork. In addition, the visual expression that makes the most of the characteristics of the OVA medium and the performances of the voice actors are also highlights. It is also recommended for those who want to enjoy the deep themes and character development of the original work.

When watching this film, please pay attention to the following points:

• Yamada Kahei's growth and relationship with the devil
• The conflict between Mephistodanse's humanity and his devilish nature
• Comical performance by Osist Basuka
• The voice actors' performances and the appeal of the characters
• Visual expression and music unique to OVA
• A script that retains the essence of the original

Hanahira Bazooka is a work that combines humor, erotic elements, and deep themes, and is sure to leave a strong impact on the viewer. I hope you will enjoy this work.