A thorough review of "8 MAN AFTER"! A legendary hero anime brought back to life in modern times

Revealing the full story of "8 MAN AFTER"

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

August 21, 1993

■Release and sales

Rim Publishing

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 4

■Original Story

Original story by Kazumasa Hirai and Jiro Kuwata

■ Director

・Director: Junyasu Furukawa

■ Story

Private detective Uzama investigates the increasing number of crimes committed by cyborgs and the secrets hidden by the giant corporation Bio Techno Corporation that are involved in them. Meanwhile, Sachiko is still searching for Eight Man, but due to a misunderstanding, her life is put in danger. She is saved from this crisis by Eight Man, who was supposed to have disappeared seven years ago.

■Explanation

This anime tells an original story following the popular 1960s comic "8 Man." Set seven years after Azuma Hachiro = 8 Man disappeared from public view, it follows the exploits of Eight Man who reappears.

■Cast

・Itsuro Uzamami/Jurota Kosugi/Sachiko Yokokawa/Mika Doi/Dr. Tani/Keaton Yamada/Inspector Tanaka/Masaru Ikeda/Sam/Eiko Yamada/Tony Gregg/Kazunari Futamata/Ichiro/Chen/Shigeru Nakahara

■ Main staff

・Original story: Kazumasa Hirai, Jiro Kuwata ・Concept and story: Kazumasa Fujiya, Shu Nakahara ・Director and storyboard: Junyasu Furukawa ・Script: Yasushi Hirano ・Character design and animation director: Kenichi Onuki ・Mecha design and animation director: Kunihiro Abe ・Direction: Kazuhiro Ozawa ・Music: Hitoshi Miyata ・Art director: Katsuyoshi Kanemura ・Director of photography: Akihiko Takahashi ・Sound director: Noriyoshi Matsuura ・Production: Sanctuary, JCSTAFF
・Production: Act, Onken

■ Main Characters

Itsuro Uzama, a private detective, was investigating the dark side of Bio Techno Corporation, but was targeted by a hitman sent by the company and was seriously injured, nearly to the point of death.
Sachiko Yokokawa A woman who used to be the secretary of 8 Man = detective Hachiro Azuma. She has feelings for Azuma, and even now, seven years later, she still seeks to see him.
Dr. Tani
The creator of 8 Man. He has the appearance of an old man, but he has a secret.
・Inspector Tanaka
Seven years ago, he was the head of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigative Division and the boss of 8-Man. In this film, he is now the chief of the department.

The appeal and reviews of "8 MAN AFTER"

"8 MAN AFTER" is an OVA produced as a sequel to the 1960s hit comic "8 Man." It was written by Kazumasa Hirai and Jiro Kuwata, directed by Yoshiyasu Furukawa, and released by Rim Publishing on August 21, 1993. It consists of four episodes, each 30 minutes long, but each one has a dense story.

The story is set in a world seven years after 8 Man, otherwise known as Azuma Hachiro, disappeared from the public's sight. As crimes committed by cyborgs become more frequent, private investigator Uzama Itsuro pursues the dark side of the giant corporation Bio Techno, while Yokokawa Sachiko, 8 Man's secretary, continues to search for him. Meanwhile, Sachiko's life is threatened by 8 Man, who was supposed to have disappeared seven years ago, and she is saved from this.

The appeal of this work lies above all in the depth of its story and the growth of its characters. As Uzama Itsuro pursues the dark side of Bio Techno Corporation, he comes to terms with his own beliefs and grows as a person. Yokokawa Sachiko's feelings for 8 Man also play an important role in the story, and her emotional changes deeply move viewers. Furthermore, characters such as Dr. Tani, the creator of 8 Man, and Inspector Tanaka, 8 Man's superior seven years ago, also add excitement to the story from their own perspectives.

The cast is also impressive, with Kosugi Jurota playing Uzama Itsuro, Doi Mika playing Yokokawa Sachiko, Keaton Yamada playing Dr. Tani, and Ikeda Masaru playing Inspector Tanaka. Their performances bring out the charm of the characters and add depth to the story. The main staff is also impressive, with Onuki Kenichi in charge of character design and animation director, and Abe Kunihiro in charge of mecha design and animation director, and the beautiful visuals and detailed depictions of the mechanics enhance the quality of the work.

The music was also composed by Miyata Hitoshi, and plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. The staff, including art director Kanemura Katsuyoshi, cinematographer Takahashi Akihiko, and sound director Matsuura Noriyoshi, are also top-notch, and their skills enhance the quality of the work. The production was handled by Sanctuary and JCSTAFF, and by Act and Onken, and the cooperation of each company resulted in the creation of a high-quality OVA.

Rating and recommendation for "8 MAN AFTER"

"8 MAN AFTER" is a sequel to the 1960s classic "8 Man," but it has a new appeal with its unique story and character growth. The fusion of sci-fi elements such as cyborgs and human drama is exquisite, and has the power to draw viewers in.

In particular, the growth of Itsuro Uzama and the change in Yokokawa Sachiko's feelings deeply move the viewer. Characters such as Dr. Tani and Inspector Tanaka also add to the story from their own perspectives, adding depth to the work as a whole. The acting by the cast is also excellent, bringing out the best in the characters.

Visually, the character and mechanic designs are beautiful and visually appealing. The music also plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story, enhancing the overall quality of the work. The technical skills of the production staff are also highly praised, achieving maximum expression within the short format of the OVA.

This work is recommended not only for fans of the 1960s "8 Man" but also for those who are experiencing the series for the first time. The fusion of sci-fi elements of cyborgs and human drama, the growth and emotional changes of the characters, and the world woven with beautiful visuals and music will surely captivate many viewers. Please give it a watch.

Detailed information on "8 MAN AFTER"

■Story Details

The story of this film begins with private detective Itsuro Uzama pursuing the dark side of the giant corporation Bio Techno Corporation amid a rise in crimes committed by cyborgs. Uzama is targeted by an assassin sent by Bio Techno Corporation and is seriously injured, near death. Meanwhile, Sachiko Yokokawa, secretary to Azuma Hachiro, also known as 8 Man, is still searching for him. Due to a misunderstanding, Sachiko's life is threatened, but she is saved by 8 Man, who was supposed to have disappeared seven years ago.

The story progresses from the perspectives of Uzama and Sachiko, and the two axes of the dark side of Bio Techno Corporation and the reappearance of 8 Man intersect as the story progresses. Uzama grows as he confronts his own beliefs, while Sachiko acts with her feelings for 8 Man in her heart. Characters such as Dr. Tani and Inspector Tanaka also add excitement to the story from their own perspectives, adding depth to the work as a whole.

■Character details

- Itsuro Uzama, a private detective. As he pursues the dark side of Bio Techno Corporation, he comes to terms with his own beliefs and grows as a person. His character plays a central role in the story and deeply moves the audience. Jurota Kosugi's acting brings out the charm of the character.

A woman who used to be the secretary of 8 Man, otherwise known as Azuma Hachiro. She has feelings for Azuma, and even after seven years have passed, she still longs for him. Her feelings for 8 Man are an important axis of the story, and Doi Mika's performance expresses her feelings deeply.

Dr. Tani
The creator of 8 Man. He has the appearance of an old man, but he has a secret. His character holds the key to the story, and Keaton Yamada's acting brings out that secret.

・Inspector Tanaka
Seven years ago, he was the head of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigative Division and the boss of 8-Man. In this film, he is the head of the department and plays an important role in the progression of the story. Ikeda Masaru's acting expresses the depth of the character.

■ Staff details

Original story by Kazumasa Hirai and Jiro Kuwata
They are the original writers of the 1960s classic "8 Man" and are deeply involved in the story of this film. Their original work forms the basis of this film.

・Concept/Story: Kazumasa Fujiya and Shusaku Nakahara were in charge of the concept and story, and created the original story. Their ideas enhance the appeal of the work.

Director and Storyboard Artist: Junko Furukawa Junko Furukawa directed this film and was also in charge of storyboard art. His vision determined the overall direction of the film.

・Screenwriter/Yasushi Hirano He wrote the screenplay for this work and skillfully depicted the development of the story. His script depicts the growth of the characters and the changes in their feelings.

・Character Designer/Chief Animation Director: Kenichi Onuki Kenichi Onuki was in charge of character design and animation direction for this work, and created beautiful visuals. His designs bring out the charm of the characters.

・Mecha design and animation director: Kunihiro Abe He was in charge of the mecha design and animation direction for this work, and achieved detailed depictions of the mechanics. His designs have enhanced the visual aspect of the work.

・Director: Kazuhiro Ozawa He directed this work and skillfully depicted the progression of the story. His direction enhances the perfection of the work.

Music: Hitoshi Miyata He was in charge of the music for this work and played an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. His music enhances the appeal of the work.

Art Director: Katsuyoshi Kanemura He was the art director for this film and created the beautiful backgrounds. His art enhances the visual aspect of the film.

・Director of Photography/Akihiko Takahashi He was the director of photography for this film and produced beautiful images. His cinematography skills enhance the completeness of the work.

・Sound Director/Noriyoshi Matsuura He was the sound director for this work, and skillfully adjusted the sound effects and the voice actors' performances. His sound techniques have enhanced the completeness of the work.

・Production: Sanctuary, JCSTAFF
We were in charge of the production of this work and completed a high-quality OVA. The cooperation of each company has enhanced the quality of the work.

Production: Act and Onken were in charge of the production of this work and supported the production staff. The cooperation of each company has enhanced the completeness of the work.

Recommended points of "8 MAN AFTER"

"8 MAN AFTER" is a sequel to the 1960s masterpiece "8 Man", but it has a new appeal by depicting its own story and character growth. Below are some recommended points.

■ Depth of story

The story of this work begins with private detective Uzamashi Itsuro pursuing the dark side of the giant corporation Bio Techno Corporation amid a rise in crimes committed by cyborgs. Uzamashi grows as he confronts his own beliefs, and Yokokawa Sachiko's feelings for 8-Man also play an important role in the story. Characters such as Dr. Tani and Inspector Tanaka also add excitement to the story from their own perspectives, adding depth to the work as a whole. The depth of this story is what draws the viewer in.

■ Character Growth

The growth of Uzama Itsuro and the change in Yokogawa Sachiko's feelings deeply move the viewer. As Uzama pursues the dark side of Bio Techno Corporation, he comes to terms with his own beliefs and grows as a person. Meanwhile, Sachiko acts with her feelings for 8 Man in her heart, and her change in feelings is an important axis of the story. Characters such as Dr. Tani and Inspector Tanaka also add excitement to the story from their own perspectives, adding depth to the work as a whole. The growth of these characters deeply moves the viewer.

■ Visual beauty

The character and mechanic designs are beautiful and visually appealing. Kenichi Onuki's character designs and Kunihiro Abe's mechanic designs enhance the visual aspects of the work. Katsuyoshi Kanemura's art direction and Akihiko Takahashi's cinematography create beautiful backgrounds and images. The beauty of these visuals enhances the appeal of the work.

■ The appeal of music

Hitoshi Miyata's music plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. Sound director Noriyoshi Matsuura, who skillfully coordinates the sound effects and voice actors' performances, also enhances the work's perfection. The appeal of this music enhances the appeal of the work.

■ Technical capabilities of the production staff

The production staff at Sanctuary and JCSTAFF completed a high-quality OVA. The production staff at Act and Onken also supported the production staff. The technical capabilities of this production staff have enhanced the quality of the work.

Conclusion

"8 MAN AFTER" is a sequel to the 1960s classic "8 Man," but it has a new appeal with its unique story and character growth. The fusion of science fiction elements of cyborgs and human drama, the character growth and emotional changes, and the world woven with beautiful visuals and music will surely captivate many viewers. Please give it a watch.