Parasite Dolls

Animation - 7.0

Sound - 7.6

Story - 6.0

Character - 6.2

Value - 5.2

Enjoyment - 6.0

Average - 6.3

Reviewed 5 times Statistic

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rosepetals19

(2009-01-16 14:48:17) 2009-01-16 14:38:25

Average	5.5
Animation	7
Sound	8
Story	5
Character	5
Value	3
Enjoyment	5

In the traditional progressions of cyberpunk, psychological and technological thrillers, Parasite Dolls attempts to follow in the footsteps of its predecessors, namely the Bubblegum Crisis and A.D. Police series. Set in the same world where boomers run amok and the A.D. Police have their hands full protecting Genom City, the secret organization Branch investigates the reason why boomers are driven mad and resolves a series of cases where the A.D. Police can't reach. The OVA is separated into three episodes, each with their own story with the same characters investigating each case. Granted, if the title of the gives any insinuating hints, it's almost exactly what you're thinking, as the boomers that are involved are usually lovers or prostitutes, at least for the first two episodes. The series attempts to develop an atmosphere where boomers are both threats as well as aides in Genom City.

This series probably would have worked a lot better if it had more time to focus not only on its main characters, but develop a greater story in its spectrum. I was very disappointed with the series in terms of the story it attempted to expand upon, as it never really panned out and seemed choppy in its progression. Part of it might be the time jumps between each episode (1 year and 5 years following), and another may be the weak storyline itself, as certain elements of the story make no sense at all (i.e. the idea behind the little girl with the red dress, seemed more appropriate in something like Boogiepop Phantom). Yet, if you think of it as as series of one-shot stories, like a short story revolving around the same characters, it doesn't pan out as badly. Still, it bugged me enough to leave a sour taste in my mouth. I think if you're a fan of the cyberpunk genre and can take episodic visual shockers without much expansion, you may find something to like in this series, but it's hard to look at it beyond an episodic progression lacking investment. The only episode I found myself taking anything from was the third episode, which had the best animated sequences and story of the three.

Buzz, Angel, Michaelson, Takahashi, Kimball, and Myers are all the main characters in the series. They make their appearances within the spectrum of the three episodes, which progress episodically yet have loose ties to each other. I never felt I knew the characters well or saw them grow in their role in the greater series. I think some of them could have progressed to greater potential if given more time and investment. Parasite Dolls makes itself out to be a pseudo Ghost in the Shell, but never quite comes into the maturity or development of that series.

Animation values are nicely noted, if a bit inconsistent (not necessarily in the design, but I saw Michaelson, who had a shirt in one scene of the second episode, was dressed down to a bustier in the very next cel....talk about cutting at an awkward moment in the middle of a battle.) It takes on a retro-styled, mature animation adaptation that could be juxtaposed to the BGC 2040 series or Armitage.

The OST for Parasite Dolls is exceptionally done for a cyberpunk anime series. I couldn't believe that a series as average as it came across could have such a nice soundtrack, and BGMs fitting to the setting. "get on the beat" is a catchy, nicely paced electronic opening with smooth vocals, blending English and Japanese seamlessly. The ending "off" is a nice mid-tonal song that builds upon itself in electronic syncopation.

If you watch it once, you may not want to watch it again, unless you like the settings and the premise of it. Yet, I'll be honest, you're better off watching Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex or the Bubblegum Crisis 2033 an 2040 series if you want expansion upon the same themes and a better story to wrap your head around.