I think I was biologically engineered to love this. My first and long standing anime-love is Revolutionary Girl Utena, and I will not accept that the titular Utena’s design is merely that of coincidence with one Saki Asamiya. Watching this OVA was like looking into a reincarnation of my love; or maybe it is more accurate to say that Utena is the second coming of Saki, and Oscar, and Sapphire, and all the other princes who came before her. Because yes, Saki is a prince. She may not have the sauve mannerisms, but she has the heart to protect maidens and make boys with long hair swoon, and you cannot tell me that she wouldn’t know how to slow dance with her fated caged bird. I’m not a huge fan of selling a work of art by comparison, but with something like Sukeban Deka it’s nearly impossible to not notice the influences it wears on its sleeve and, in turn, what it would go on to influence. Completely batshit villainesses that are the perfect chimera of Cutie Honey baddies and every mean shoujo girl; the camp to rival that of a Nicholas Ray film; the over the top action of an 80s action movie; Sukeban really does have it all. You can tell that it influenced what came afterwards, as well. If you've been an anime fan long enough to find this gem, I guarantee there will be scenes and shots in this that give you deja vu. As far as production goes, Sukeban makes itself stand out from other late 80s-early 90s OVAs with its distinctive character designs and fluid, almost cartoony action scenes. The way the animators draw the characters flailing about never ceases to amuse. The sound design heavily falls into the camp leanings, as well. There was one scene in particular where one of the many egregious uses of postcard memories (which I also adore) is paired with the sound of a motorcycle revving to make it seem like the sound is emanating from Saki herself. Endless enjoyment. It may seem like I’m overselling this thing, and it’s obviously not for everyone, but if you’ve also inherited insane blood, it is well worth the watch. It's a wonderfully over-the-top romp. We've got mega rich teenagers with access to thugs and hard drugs, mind control computers, paintings that are worth torturing and killing over, and oh so many metaphorical (and physical) snakes. Plus, you’ve got to admit that a piece of work that gets you to fully buy into pitting a yo-yo against a shotgun is worth at least an hour and a half of your time. You will know from the very first scene if Sukeban is for you or not anyways. It was my mother that taught me how to use a yo-yo with both hands
