Graviton City

Project A-ko the Vs. Battle One: Grey Side

"If you think you know A-ko..." the blurb on the back of the video says, "...think again, because you've never seen her like this before!" This opening sentence sums up this movie better than any other could. Movie 5 is so different from the previous four that it would be quicker to tell you what stayed the same, rather than what changed!

A-ko, B-ko and C-ko are in this movie.

And that's about where the similarities end! This is not necessarily a bad thing however, as this movie is capable of holding its own against other anime, regardless of its heritage. Before we get into the movie's strengths and weaknesses, I will describe how this movie diverges from the previous A-ko formula, so that long-time fans can get an appreciation of what to expect.

There are two major differences in the movie that completely change the style. Firstly A-ko and B-ko are allies. They may bicker and argue, but they get along well and care for each other. Second, the setting is a science-fiction one, with more of an emphasis on action/adventure than comedy. It is these two factors that completely remove the movie from the formula of the previous parts. If you were previously an A-ko fan it cannot be guaranteed that you will like this or the following movie (Battle 2: Blue Side), nor can you be sure you will not like these movies if you didn't like the first four.

Aside from these two prominent changes there are many others. The drawing style is quite different. A-ko and B-ko seem to have been remolded for the new movie. A-ko has different coloured eyes and a nifty orange, black and white suit (still with a short skirt, fortunately ;) ). B-ko looks different in a subtle way that's hard to put a finger on; possibly less sexy/beautiful, but softer; and she has a new suit, but this one is for appearances only.

The personalities of the characters are very different too. B-ko is still the brains of the outfit, but limits her engineering to building a small sand-skiff. She has lost her megalomania and has taken on a motherly-like attitude towards A-ko and the younger C-ko. A-ko is a completely different girl, being selfish, stupid and with a mean streak a mile wide. She seems to argue for its own sake. She is extremely brave however, and very loyal to B-ko. C-ko has become merely a supporting character and is six years younger, the movie being set on her tenth birthday.

A-ko and B-ko live on a desert world where they try to eeke out a living by hunting giant sand monsters for bounty. One day after a moderately successful hunt a blonde haired ten year old literally falls out of the sky into their lives. This girl is C-ko and it turns out that she is the daughter of a very wealthy businessman. B-ko tries to figure out how C-ko came into their lives from the ten year old's disjointed story. No sooner does B-ko start to figure it out, than C-ko's kidnappers turn up and forcefully take the girl back, destroying A-ko and B-ko's house in the process. To exact revenge, and hopefully collect a reward for finding C-ko, they go after the kidnappers.

After a pitched battle which goes very badly for B-ko, A-ko is faced with a horrifying situation and a grave challenge. Accompanied by a new companion, she must face a very powerful and ancient enemy if she is to help her friends and rescue C-ko.

The music in this movie is quite good, and matches the pace of the story well. The artwork is simpler than previously, and relies a lot on brighter, bolder colours. Super-exaggerated expressions are fairly common throughout the movie, sometimes seeming to go way overboard, and the screaming matches between A-ko and B-ko get a bit out of hand from time to time.

However, apart from the few average aspects about this movie, there are a lot of magical moments. Ten year old C-ko acts much like the familiar sixteen year old, yet she is still told to "act her age"! When A-ko contemplates what she must do to save B-ko, we are treated to a hilarious fantasy, much more revealing than any panty shot! And on the action side of things, the sand skiff versus sub-sand cruiser battle is truly fantastic, with excitement and action aplenty.

Over all I like this movie, although I don't really consider it an "A-ko movie". Rather is it a movie with A-ko in it. If I were to ask for a spin-off series with the ABC girls in it, I think I would have asked for something different, and has expected a higher production quality.