AKA: Supergal

Genre: Outer-space sci-fi comedy

Length: OAV, 50 minutes

Distributor: VHS and R1 DVD from Central Park Media out of print

Content Rating: PG (violence, brief nudity)

Related Series: N/A

Also Recommended:

Notes: Based on the manga by Takahashi Rumiko, part of the Rumic World anthology. Formerly released as "Supergal", but that title ran into some rather predictable copyright issues, so the more recent release of this title reverts to the name "Maris the Chojo".

Rating:

Maris the Chojo

Synopsis

Maris is a young woman from the exploded planet Thanatos, where all its inhabitants sport the equivalent strength of about forty humans. Unlike Superman, however, these people can't control their strength and usually end up racking up the property damage if they don't wear special restraints to keep their strength in check.

Maris is employed by the Galaxy Police (no, not the same GP in Tenchi Muyo), where her super strength actually comes in handy (although she barely ekes out a living due to constant deductions from her paycheck from the inadvertent damage she inflicts on GP property while on the job). Maris dreams of escaping the life of near-poverty she lives in when she gets a special mission to rescue a handsome (and did I mention RICH) prince who was abducted. Dreams of wedding bells (and yen) fill Maris' mind, and she goes off to rescue the lad in distress. As for what happens next, well ...

Review

Since this flick was part of the Rumic World series, I had high expectations for Maris. Unfortunately, they weren't met. The OAV is obviously not meant to be taken seriously (at the very beginning, the warning "THIS IS NOT A TRUE STORY!!!" is flashed on the screen), but it goes quite a bit over the top in terms of silliness. I found myself wincing at times at the sheer ridiculousness of the events that unfold. The "c'mon!" factor was just a wee bit high in this one.

The characters are engaging enough (this is Takahashi, after all), but not enough to make up for the too-bizarre plot twists and events. The art is standard Takahashi-fare (nothing to write home about, but still good nonetheless), and the animation is satisfactory. The soundtrack is alright, too, nice and melodramatic for the benefit of the viewers. A lot of time is often wasted looking at the scenery and ambience of the various places Maris passes through in her search for the easy life.

This wasn't a terrible flick by any means. A few parts even made me laugh out loud. But it wasn't nearly as good as what I would expect from the great Rumiko.

A renter, definitely, maybe not even that, though. — Raphael See

Recommended Audience: Quite a bit of cartoon-style violence that goes a bit on the excessive side at times. Some casual nudity with the standard Gratuitous Shower Scene. Probably okay for most audiences.