Area 88

This review might contain spoilers. You may proceed if you can handle the truth...

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Between 1979 and 1986, the Japanese manga artist Kaoru Shintani created the 23-volume graphic novel Area 88. Among aviation fans, the manga receives praise for its realistic portrayal of aircraft and aerial combat. Besides, critics highlight the protagonist's strong character development and Shintani's moving storytelling. Because of its success, Shintani's work was one of the first three manga translated into English and released in North America. In 1985, Studio Pierrot started to publish a three-episode OVA series adaptation that ran until 1986. Although some international releases have only two episodes, they contain the entire 200-minute runtime of the Japanese OVA. The third and final adaptation was a twelve-episode TV-series aired in 2004. Noteworthy, both adaptations and the manga have all different endings.

Like the source material, the OVA series shines with its detailed depiction of fighter jets, but some more knowledgeable aviation fans may discover some inconsistencies. Even though the dogfights in Mamoru Oshii's Sky Crawlers are impressive, the 1980s adaptation exceeds them in suspense, intensity and action. Another strength of Studio Pierrot's work is the protagonist's struggle to avoid becoming a war-loving maniac like his colleagues. Albeit the quality of the side characters varies, the other pilots and the local merchant offer intriguing immoral viewpoints on war to challenge the viewer. Despite someone's prejudice towards 1980s animation, the fluid cell animation is stunning and has aged well in contrast to some CGI animations in the late 1990s or early 2000s. From a similar class is the decent soundtrack which elevates some scenes to another level and never distracts from watching.

Notwithstanding the ambitious efforts to convey a persuasive anti-war message, the thrilling aerial combat often pushes the horror of war into the background. Furthermore, the parallel story about the protagonist's girlfriend and his antagonist diverts the attention from not only the lead character's suffering but also the main plotline. The weakness of the side plot lies in the one-dimensional rival, who undertakes many convoluted and unnecessary attempts to kill the protagonist or indirectly force his girlfriend to betray him due to envy. Sadly, the woman is also a rather dull character since she only exists to admire the protagonist, to wait for his return from the battlefield and to be exploitable for the antagonist.

In summary, this under-watched 1980s gem is mandatory for all fans of old anime and aviation because of its unprecedented dogfights. If you enjoyed the blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, you also should not hesitate to give it a shot. While writing this review, you can stream it on various platforms and have the choice to watch it dubbed or subbed.