Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!
Plot Summary: As a young bounty hunter, Iria battles the seemingly immortal Zeiram for the first time.
Review: I remember back in the mid-90s when anime was starting to gain a following, and the Sci-fi channel aired this as one of their films. I've mentioned this a few times before about how fun it was to stay up all night waiting to see what anime they would air on Saturdays (technically Sunday, but come on) at like 1 or 2 A.M. While I, of course, enjoyed Iria, it was definitely disappointing when they would rerun it. Not because I grew tired of it, but because Sci-fi would break it up into a two week event! My friends and I wanted to see new anime, but the moment you saw Iria you knew to forget all about next week as well. So, yes, this is a long movie. Essentially, it's a miniseries containing 6 episodes that were 30 minutes a piece without commercials; that meant only 3 episodes spread out over 2 hours with godforsaken commercials and, worse, infomercials accompanying the presentation. However, having the film broken up into small segments makes watching the film as a whole easier for those with limited time.
As for how the anime holds up compared to the live action films...it's significantly better. This is the proper realization of the lore and action I think the live action films desired. There are huge set pieces, big battles, super weapons, we see other aliens' worlds, etc. There is also a unique style in which everything appears as a technological version of Feudal Japan mixed with an organic spin; it's kind of hard to explain. I feel the live action versions do Iria justice, but she is cooler and tougher in the anime. Likewise, Zeiram is more powerful and deadlier than ever. Using the anime medium helped make his movements become fluid and less hindered by the various costumes and effects needed to bring him to life in reality. The story itself is more thought out as Iria is the apprentice to her brother as she is working her way up to become a bounty hunter. After running into a shady corporation experimenting on Zeiram, the brother is seemingly killed and Iria wants revenge. Between coming to terms with the brother's death and finally becoming a true bounty hunter, we see Iria battle Zeiram until she finally puts the beast down. The whole process plays out nicely between each episode with a ton of action to keep the pacing on point.
Unfortunately, there are three main aspects that hold the anime back: the most annoying Jar Jar character in the franchise, continuity errors, and yet another lackluster defeat for Zeiram. First off, the new Jar Jar puts the others to shame. It is some stupid brat that is annoying as fuck and Iria brings the kid along for the lulz. They also include a moronic twist in which you realize the kid is not a boy but actually a girl. Riiiight. Wait, did "Pitch Black" steal that?! I just can't understand why they thought including a Jar Jar would be a good idea? As for the continuity errors, they are pretty damn huge. If this anime was meant to stand on its own, then everything is fine, but if it's meant to be a prequel it failed miserably. In the first film Iria didn't know who Zeiram was, yet she obviously fought the son of a bitch here. This unleashes an entire slew of continuity issues from there. We still never learn why Zeiram would go to Earth or how he survived this film's ending. On top of that, in this universe, everyone appears to know of Zeiram. Although Zeiram is a lot stronger in the anime, he comes off as more of a nuisance to the universe than a legitimate threat. In fact, it is implied that the universe has become accustomed to Zeiram being a pain in the ass and they have protocols for dealing with him; everyone simply says don't mess with him and to teleport him off into space should he show up. Since no one can figure out how to kill him they just remove him from the equation. You have to draw the conclusion that the only reason why Zeiram is even a threat in this particular circumstance is due to the experiments the corporation was doing to him. We can assume it made him more intelligent to the degree that he can become a global threat with his clone army...yes, a clone army. Alternatively, there is evidence that absorbing Iria's brother made Zeiram smarter, but I'm sticking with the experiments. Anyway, this all boils down to that pitiful defeat of Zeiram that might be worse than the two live action films. All that happens is Zeiram gets the little face cut in half, since it's the weak point, and then he's left in a desert that apparently lights on fire or something. Okay, so a knife is the final thing to put him down? Dude, you do realize that in the beginning of the anime he got nuked (among many other devastating hits)? Knife or nuke? Hmm...
Overall, this is a fun anime that complements the live action films but serves better as a standalone feature. Everything from the characters to the action has been enhanced and taken to a whole new level in comparison to the live action counterparts. You get more emphasis on the Iria vs. Zeiram struggle as well as more information about Iria's life. On the other hand, the film is not without its faults as Zeiram goes down easier than ever. Exacerbating the situation is a Jar Jar character that will not shut up or die! If you can overlook the minor gripes, this is a wonderful display of what '90s anime was all about. The animation is beautiful and you do not feel the running time with the segment breaks. If you could only check out this or the live action films I'd recommend choosing this option.
Notable Moment: It may be redundant, but the opening sequence to each episode is really amazing. The song is nice and the imagery is great; it definitely sets the tone for the series right from the get go.
Final Rating: 7/10
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