AKA: アンドロイド・アナ MAICO 2010 (Android Ana Maico 2010), Maico 2010

Genre: Radio room drama

Length: Television series, 24 episodes, 15 minutes each

Distributor: Currently unlicensed in North America

Content Rating: PG (brief, inconsequential android nudity)

Related Series: N/A

Also Recommended: Key the Metal Idol, Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden

Notes: The original manga by Shimizu Toshimitsu (801 TTS Airbats, Rei Rei) is quite racy and should be considered an adults-only title. The TV series has an almost entirely different plotline and tone.

Rating:

Android Announcer Maico 2010

Synopsis

It's the year 2010, and tons of radio stations are competing for the attention of the millions of prospective listeners that tune in daily. A new breakthrough in radio technology, namely an android announcer who is capable of delivering nonstop excitement to listeners (androids require no bathroom breaks, sleep, food, et cetera - just plug them in and they're set to go) seems to be the last hope for a failing radio station. But what happens when you give the project to six failed employees that haven't yet delivered a single real successful program in all their careers? And all of them have their own ideas on how to create and manage such a show? Wait and see!!!

Review

If there is anything at all that I prize more than quality plotline and eye-popping animation, it's originality, and Android Announcer Maico 2010 is chock-full of this virtue! Yeah, you might love your dragons and fantasy and mecha and so on, but these ideas have been exploited, milked, and all but burnt out...I for one am delighted to see fresh material such as this.

The characters all have their flaws, which gives them personality!!! They are all too human! You've got Densuke, the hapless troubleshooter; Matsuan, the over-the-hill, balding, failed talk show host; Izumi-chan, the non-punctual, non-caring BGM professional (she has a heart, though it doesn't shine through a lot!); Suga-chan, the semi-inspired writer for the show who's yet to achieve his full potential; Ume-san (my favorite), the silent but very expressive sound-effects man (wooden signs? we don't need no stinkin' wooden signs!!); Katchin, the relations manager and everybody's gofer; and Matsudama, the cold, calculating president of the station.. Add the android and you have some real fun stuff happening!

The beauty of this anime is that they concentrate on developing each and every one of these characters, not just Maico. This anime could have been called "Suga-chan, Radio Program Writer 2010" and retain the substance and credibility it's got. Maico herself is the only *perfect* thing here, but give a perfect device to imperfect humans (and that we are) and you can expect the device to malfunction. Brilliant!

It's got beautiful animation, too - the cels fit into one another like a glove. And a catchy soundtrack - six out of eight people I showed this to ended up asking me to rewind the tape to hear the opening theme song again and/or ended up humming it after the show was over! Trust me, you'll learn the opening theme song by the second episode! (Even the song was original! Wait 'til you hear it!) The plot is solid; you won't be lost at all. It's simple yet diverse, and it contains those lovely cliffhangers after every episode that make you watch the next one just to see what happens next.

The only bad thing I can say about this show is that I haven't seen more of it because its rather hard to come by. It's as obscure as Goldfish Warning and that's too bad.

As a bonus, the creators of this show were very sensitive in the way it was to be carried out. Allow me to explain: this show has NO cheap fan service or sex of any kind! They respect the viewer and broaden their audience by not including it. I applaud the creators for their self-restraint (and overall genius!) You can show this one to anybody and proudly state that you are an Otaku! Thank you anime gods for blessing our collections! If you have access to this anime, don't hesitate to watch it. You will not be disappointed; that is, unless all you care about is violence and sex and fireballs in your anime ... in which case the point of this anime is lost on you ... blaaaah.

I WILL add the last star once I am able to watch more of it including the ending. — Eric Gaede

Recommended Audience: There is one scene where the guys try to peek into Maico's zipper (on the bag that covers her lower half), but they don't get what they want, let's just say that. The android is only nude during the construction phase (and the camera angles focus away from her body and into her face for the most part). Avast ye, evil hentai!!! No other objectionable material. No risk watching ^_^