AKA: Najica Dengeki Sakusen

Genre: Sci-fi action

Length: Television series, 12 episodes, 22 minutes each

Distributor: R1 DVD from ADV Films

Content Rating: 16+ (violence, fan service, some nudity, adult themes and situations)

Related Series: Agent Aika

Also Recommended: Noir, Cowboy Bebop

Notes: An original production, directed by Katsuhiko Nishijima of Agent Aika fame.

Rating:

Najica Blitz Tactics

Synopsis

Hiiragi Najica is a perfumer by day and secret agent by night. With the Humanlites, robots who look like humans but have incredible special abilities, running amok, Najica is task with the duty of retrieving them.

Review

This series have been described as somewhat of a cross between Cowboy Bebop and Noir (which was why I picked up the title in the first place). Well, it's both true and not true. For a 12 episode series, the pace moves incredibly fast and you have the typical mission-of-the-day: Najica is briefed on the mission, Najica carries out the mission, Najica successfully completes the mission. Just like Cowboy Bebop, each episode manages to stand alone but there is an inherent plot (surprise, surprise!) that ultimately binds all the episodes together.

The main plot line comes from Rira, the first Humanlite that Najica retrieves and is assigned to be Najica's partner. A Humanlite is programmed to follow their master's orders without question. It's interesting to watch Najica interact with Rira. On one hand, she has to educate Rira about human society and on the other hand, she has to give orders to ensure that missions are not jeopardized. Much of the funny and warm moments in the series comes from their interaction and Rira's inability to "behave" appropriately.

Throughout the series, you'll be able to see character and abilities developed, much on Rira's part. As such, they also address issues like; do robots have a will of their own? Do we treat them as humans? As children learn from their parents, Humanlites learn from their masters. And we all know that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Rira's voice actress did a good job of portraying her growth. And Touma Yumi is excellent as Hiiragi Najica.

The action sequences are like Noir. Animation is crisp and action is well-choreographed, fast and furious. There are stills and speed lines but these are done tastefully and do not obstruct the show.

However, Najica is totally, totally different from Cowboy Bebop and Noir in that it has gratuitous fan service in the form of panty shots, lots and lots of them! There is very little male cast and all females invariably die/faint in positions that conveniently expose their white undies. And for some reason, it's always white. It really gives the phrase "chasing after girls' butts" a whole new meaning.

The plot still has holes the size of the Yucatan crater in some parts but you'll quickly learn to overlook these. Besides, you are probably distracted by the panties anyway. And the ending is very open-ended. If you can overlook all these, Najica promises entertainment, and entertain it does.

Those who love fan service can add another and those who hate it can drop one. All in all, a good, solid and entertaining watch. — Diane Tiu

Recommended Audience: Full frontal nudity on the part of Lila, but please remember she's not human. No sex at all despite the number of panty shots, of which there are a lot.

Plenty of violence from Najica chop-socking her enemies, but she doesn't kill them outright. However, there are some deaths in later episodes. Plenty of collateral damage.