Reviews of Project A-Ko (1986) and related work
- Sequel: Project A-Ko 2: Plot of the Daitokuji Financial Group (1987)
- Sequel: “Project A-Ko 3: Cinderella Rhapsody” (1988)
- Sequel: “Project A-Ko 4: Final” (1989)
- Remake: Project A-Ko Versus (1990)
Project A-Ko (1986
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Superpowered redhead A-Ko and mechanical genius B-Ko are high school girls fighting for the affection of the immature and energetic C-Ko when aliens invade.
Science fiction parody. Excellent comedy.
References here: Blazing Transfer Student (1991), “A World Where Justice Is Just” (2005).
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‣ Project A-Ko 2: Plot of the Daitokuji Financial Group (1987)
B-Ko’s rich father is interested in the spaceship-turned-amusement-park.
The start of a shift toward more character-based drama. More sexism, but still funny.
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‣ “Project A-Ko 3: Cinderella Rhapsody” (1988)
A-Ko can’t afford the new dress she wants and gets a job flipping burgers. She’s infatuated with a guy, who is himself in love with C-Ko.
Romantic comedy, but mostly comedy. The reduction of A-Ko to stereotypical femininity (shopping and romance) is regrettable, but C-Ko’s reaction to it is credible and engaging, adding a dark note.
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‣ “Project A-Ko 4: Final” (1989)
Archaeologists in Iraq discover terrible omens. Miss Ayumi, the teacher, is set to marry Kei. C-Ko’s ancestry is revealed.
Conclusion of the main story, mixing the range of styles established heretofore. Drags a bit, but the closure is nice.
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‣ Project A-Ko Versus (1990)
A-Ko and B-Ko work together as treasure hunters on a desert planet. They encounter C-Ko, here a significantly younger girl.
Comedic RPG-like science fantasy. Different character designs but the same actors in a functionally unrelated plot. A bad idea.
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