is a three-part Japanese cyberpunk anime series released from 1990 to 1991. It is composed of a three-part original video animation (OVA) directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri and produced by Madhouse; a three-volume novel written by and illustrated by Kawajiri and ; and a PC Engine video game developed by Nippon Computer System. Set in the year 2808, the series follows three convicts who are enlisted to apprehend cybercriminals in exchange for reduced sentences. Cyber City Oedo 808 has achieved an international cult following as an influential work in the cyberpunk genre, and has been hailed as one of the greatest cyberpunk anime series of all time.
Synopsis In 2808, the Japanese city of Oedo has responded to rampant crime by reviving the feudal practice of , or employing convicted criminals as law enforcement officers. Heavily convicted criminals Sengoku, Gogul, and Benten are offered reduced sentences in exchange for their cooperation with the Cyber Police (CP), the cybercrime division of the Oedo police force.
The three men work under CP commanding officer Juzo Hasegawa, where they participate in various investigations and earn reductions to their sentences in exchange for each criminal they apprehend. Each is armed with a jitte and an explosive collar worn around their necks, which Hasegawa can detonate remotely in the event of insubordination or a mission failure.
Characters Primary characters
A hot-headed young man serving a 375 year prison sentence for various armed robbery-related offenses.
The alias of , a computer expert and hacker serving a 310 year prison sentence.
The alias of , an androgynous bishōnen serving a 295 year prison sentence.
The stern commanding officer of the Cyber Police.
A junior CP officer tasked with assisting cybercriminals in their investigations. Also known by the nickname .
An armed robot who acts as a partner to the cybercriminals.
Additional characters Character Japanese EnglishDave Kurokawa Takeshi AonoMarc SmithMishiba Osamu SakaSarah Yoshiko SakakibaraTamsin HolloKazuo Shiroyama Banjō GingaEric FlynnRemi Masuda Emi ShinoharaTeresa GallagherShūzō Saionji Unshō IshizukaMarc SmithKelley Takakura Ako MayamaLorelei King
Media Original video animation
Novel Cyber City Oedo 808 Volume 1, Rebellious Lone Wolf (Beowulf) (電脳都市OEDO808〈1〉反逆の孤狼(ベオウルフ), first published in December 1990.
Cyber City Oedo 808 Volume 2, Magnificent Fallen Angel (Lucifer) (電脳都市OEDO 808〈2〉華麗なる堕天使(ルシファー), first published in March 1991.
Cyber City Oedo 808 Volume 3, Warrior of the Evil Eye (Hercules of the Evil Eye) (電脳都市OEDO 808〈3〉魔眼の闘士(まがんのヘラクレス), first published in July 1991.
Written by and illustrated by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (with the exception of Volume 3, which features illustrations by ), the novels were published only in Japan and are currently out of print.
Video game is a graphic adventure game released on March 15, 1991, for the PC-Engine CD-ROM² by exclusively in Japan. The storyline is completely original and not an adaptation of any episode.
Soundtrack
The original British and Australian VHS release (released in 1994, and televised on Channel 4 in 1995) features a more rock-centric 23-track score composed by Rory McFarlane not present on the US or Japanese versions. McFarlane's score combined metal, electronica and ambient styles. It has been out of print for years and, as such, is very rare to find on CD, but it is known to be available on the internet. The UK soundtrack has a considerably different tone than the original (more pop-like) Japanese score. Due to Manga Entertainment UK losing the rights to the Cyber City series this edition of the score was unavailable on western DVD releases and remained available only on the old VHS versions from the mid ninetiesCyber City Oedo 808 (1990) until Anime Limited released the movie on Blu-ray in the UK with the UK Dub and Soundtrack CD included in the release.
Reception Critical reception of Cyber City Oedo 808 has been generally positive, and has received a cult following over the years, with some critics hailing it as one of the greatest cyberpunk anime series of all time.
Jonathan H. Kantor of Looper.com ranked it as one of the "12 Best Cyberpunk Anime Movies", regarding it to have "elevated the genre through gripping storytelling and exceptionally well-written characters." Hemanth Kissoon of Filmulation.com reviewed the series in 2007, saying that the series "was released 17 years ago, yet still stands up as a gripping take on Japan's potential future." Stig Høgset of THEM Anime Reviews gave the series a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with his only criticism revolving around the small amount of character development. He states that the series "rounds off a nicely paced trilogy of stories starring an intriguing cast of different characters and set in a gray, leaden metropolis. It goes from action-filled to conspiringly suspenseful and ends with a legendary battle ballet culminating in a beautiful and melancholy ending." Comic Book Resources listed Cyber City Oedo 808 as the tenth greatest cyberpunk anime series of all time, stating that the series "allows viewers to fully appreciate its striking visuals, fast-paced action, and predictable yet riveting narrative developments. Regrettably, the short runtime will undeniably leave fans wanting more, especially in the character exploration department." GameRant listed Cyber City Oedo 808 as the 16th best cyberpunk anime of all time out of a list of 22, stating that its themes give it a "tantalizing cyberpunk premise" which makes it "a fun series to get into."
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