BUBBLEGUM CRISIS - BORN TO KILL | Episode 02 (English Dub) | Full 1980s ANIME OVA HD

Fans of Mamoru Oshii's Patlabor, Macross and Ghost In The Shell cannot miss this seminal cyberpunk mecha anime with the legendary character designs by Kenichi Sonoda and mecha creations by Shinji Aramaki. Their contrasting yet complementary design philosophies perfectly fused hard mechanical sci-fi with distinct, expressive character work, setting a gold standard for late-1980s anime. Set in the sprawling, neon-drenched metropolis of Mega Tokyo in the year 2032, the narrative unfolds seven years after a cataclysmic earthquake fractured the city both physically and socioeconomically. The story follows the Knight Sabers, an elite, underground quartet of female mercenaries—Sylia, Priss, Linna, and Nene—who don advanced hardsuits to combat the pervasive threat of Boomers. These synthetic cyberoids, manufactured by the omnipresent megacorporation Genom, frequently malfunction or are repurposed for techno-terrorism, leaving the conventional A.D. Police force overwhelmed. As the Sabers engage in high-octane urban warfare, they uncover a web of corporate malfeasance linked to Sylia’s own tragic past and the murder of her scientist father. Directed primarily by Katsuhito Akiyama and written by Toshimichi Suzuki, Bubblegum Crisis is a definitive pillar of the girls-with-guns and mecha-cyberpunk sub-genres. The series expertly weaves themes of class disparity, the dehumanizing effects of rapid technological advancement, and female empowerment. Akiyama’s direction prioritizes kinetic action and a thick, atmospheric noir quality, while the lead voice cast, including Yoshiko Sakakibara as the stoic Sylia and Kinuko Omori as the rebellious rock-star Priss, imbues the characters with distinct personalities. Historically, Bubblegum Crisis stands as a landmark of the Original Video Animation (OVA) era, a format that allowed for higher production values and more mature content than television broadcasts. Produced by Artmic and AIC, the series benefited from the era's burgeoning economic bubble, reflected in its lavish mechanical designs by Shinji Aramaki and Kenichi Sonoda’s iconic character work. Before creating Gunsmith Cats and Riding Bean, Sonoda designed the four core members of the Knight Sabers. Sonoda captured the exact cultural zeitgeist of the late '80s. He mixed pop-star glamour, high-fashion corporate attire, and casual street punk. Priss’s rock-singer look, Sylia’s sharp business suits, and Nene's playful tech-geek appearance made each character instantly recognizable. His style leaned away from the highly stylized, massive-eyed "moe" tropes of later decades, favoring clean lines, distinct facial structures, and realistic proportions that made the characters feel like real people living in Megatokyo. Shinji Aramaki, a legend in mecha design (later directing Appleseed and Harlock: Space Pirate), was tasked with building the futuristic tech, industrial backdrops and weaponry. Aramaki designed the sleek, form-fitting powered armor suits worn by the Knight Sabers. Unlike the clunky, blocky mecha typical of the era, the hardsuits were biological and aerodynamic, shifting according to the specialized role of each pilot (e.g., Linna's ribbon cutters, Priss's heavy weapons). One of Aramaki’s most celebrated designs was the Moto-Slave—a heavy combat motorcycle that could transform into an exoskeleton/mecha suit wrapped around the pilot's hardsuit. He designed the menacing, bio-mechanical "Boomers" (rogue androids created by the Genom corporation) and the towering, dystopian landscape of Megatokyo itself, deeply influenced by western sci-fi classics like Blade Runner. Aramaki intentionally crafted the hardsuits to mirror the physical proportions and distinct personalities Sonoda laid out for the girls. When the Knight Sabers put on their helmets, Sonoda's expressive faces were hidden, but Aramaki's specialized armor silhouettes ensured that the characters' unique identities remained unbroken. Despite being truncated due to studio disputes, Bubblegum Crisis' legacy persists through numerous sequels and reboots, maintaining its status as a technical achievement in cel animation and a cultural touchstone for anime lovers. Bubblegum Crisis (1987) Genre: Science Fiction © 2026 MVD Entertainment. Published under license. © 2026 Whole Grain Pictures / AnimEigo. Published under license. We secure AVOD rights for the greatest and most fondly remembered anime productions ever to provide you with a 100% FREE full-length entertainment experience on YouTube! SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://t.ly/i55MD SHARE - LIKE - FOLLOW Partner your channel with the #1 Movie-themed YouTube network: https://www.greaterfool.tv 🎬 Watch acclaimed, unconventional stories with unique artistic visions: https://t.ly/6gYG3 🎥 Watch more Great Full-Length Movies here: https://t.ly/tiHhR 🔥 Join the Community and discuss our top 1980s stories and heroes: https://t.ly/cTKAr 🎞️ Re-Discover Old School vintage films from the 1940s to the 1990s: https://t.ly/Cygm7