Alien 9: The Charm and Horror

Alien 9 - Alien Nine - Detailed Review and Recommendation

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

June 25, 2001
4 bottles

■Release and sales

Bandai Visual

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 4

■Original Story

Hitoshi Tomizawa

■ Director

Yasuhiro Irie

■ Production

・Animation production: GENCO/JCSTAFF
Produced by: Alien 9 Production Committee

■Works

©Hitoshi Tomizawa/Alien 9 Production Committee

■ Story

Yuri Otani is chosen by a class vote to be the countermeasures officer, and ends up fighting the infested aliens. While her classmates Kumi Kawamura and Kasumi Tomine are excellent, the shy and timid Yuri always runs away... An action anime in which three girls with various thoughts face off against the creepy aliens.

■Explanation

Surely there's a "team that no one wants to be in" at every school... It sounds cool to be in charge of repelling and capturing the aliens that infest the school, but what if you had to wear a symbiotic alien on your head to do it...? This story follows the adventures of the girls who are chosen to be in charge of the "Alien Countermeasures Team."

■Cast

Yuri Otani/Juri Ibata/Kumi Kawamura/Kaori Shimizu/Kasumi Tomine/Noriko Shimoya/Megumi Hisakawa/Aya Hisakawa/Miyu Tamaki/Manami Nakayama/Bougu/Ryusei Nakao

■ Main staff

・Original work: Hitoshi Tomizawa・Series composition: Sadayuki Murai・Character design: Yasuhiro Irie・Creature design: Kazunori Iwakura・Art director: Junichi Azuma・Sound director: Yoshikazu Iwanami・Music: Kuniaki Haijima・Director of photography: Masaru Takase・Editor: Shigeru Nishiyama・Director: Yasuhiro Irie・Animation production: GENCO/JCSTAFF
Produced by: Alien 9 Production Committee

■Detailed evaluation

"Alien 9" is an original video animation (OVA) released in 2001, based on the manga of the same name by Hitoshi Tomizawa. The story follows a group of girls who fight against aliens that haunt their school, and has a unique atmosphere that combines horror and action.

The main character, Yuri Otani, is chosen by her classmates to be the person in charge of alien countermeasures. She is timid and timid, and is afraid of fighting aliens. However, her classmates Kumi Kawamura and Kasumi Tomine are excellent, and with their support, Yuri grows. The growth and friendship of these three girls is at the heart of the story.

The appeal of "Alien 9" lies in its visuals and atmosphere. Director Yasuhiro Irie carefully depicts the psychological state of the girls while emphasizing the horror elements. In particular, the scene depicting symbiosis with the alien is visually intense and impressive. Yasuhiro Irie was also in charge of character design, and the girls' expressions and movements are depicted in great detail.

Also, don't miss the alien design by Kazunori Iwakura, who was in charge of creature design. The alien has an eerie, otherworldly presence that frightens the viewer. Art director Junichi Azuma's backgrounds also make the everyday school seem like another world, greatly contributing to the atmosphere of the work.

In terms of sound, Iwanami Yoshikazu's skill as sound director shines through. The eerie voices of the aliens and the sound effects expressing the girls' fear heighten the tension of the viewer. Kuniaki Hiijima's music also adds to the atmosphere of the film, creating a sense of tension especially in the battle scenes with the aliens.

"Alien 9" is a short series of four episodes, but the story is well-concluded in that time. The battle with the aliens progresses in each episode, and the growth of the girls is depicted. In particular, the final episode movingly depicts Yuri's growth and determination, leaving a strong impression on viewers.

■Recommendation details

"Alien 9" is recommended for those who like horror and action. It is especially perfect for those who like stories about the growth and friendship of girls. It is also recommended for those who want to enjoy a unique atmosphere in terms of visuals.

To enjoy this work even more, we recommend that you also read the original manga. The original manga contains detailed episodes and character backgrounds that are not depicted in the OVA, allowing you to understand the world view of the work more deeply. Also, if you check out other works by Hitoshi Tomizawa, you will be able to enjoy his unique style even more.

Other horror/action favorites include Paranoia Agent and Elfen Lied, which are also visually striking and have deep themes that fans of Alien 9 will surely enjoy.

Also, be sure to check out other works produced by JCSTAFF, such as "The Familiar of Zero" and "A Certain Magical Index." JCSTAFF's works are high quality and you can enjoy works from a variety of genres.

Alien 9 is a short series, but one that leaves a strong impression. This work depicts horror, action, and the growth and friendship of girls, so be sure to check it out. You will surely be drawn in by its unique atmosphere and visuals.