AnimEigo has set a September 16 release date for the Blu-ray edition of the 1987 OVA Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01. The disc includes reauthored content and several bonus features such as two director commentary tracks, cast interviews, and a “Weapons of MADOX” featurette highlighting Japan Self-Defense Force hardware.
Directed and conceived by Shinji Aramaki, the 41-minute OVA was originally produced by AIC, Soeishinsha, and Pony Canyon. Aramaki later became known for projects including Appleseed, Harlock: Space Pirate, Ghost in the Shell: SAC 2045, and Blade Runner: Black Lotus.
MADOX-01 also has historical significance as AnimEigo’s first license for Western release in 1989, arriving at a time when Japanese OVAs were only beginning to gain traction overseas. Different English dubs were distributed in the United States and the UK, the latter through Manga Entertainment.
Synopsis
In the first test of a revolutionary personal battle-suit, the MADOX-01, Ace female test-pilot Kusumoto Elle smashes an attacking tank force and humiliates Lt. Kilgore, Japan’s most-macho tank-jockey, in the process. Kilgore swears he’ll get even, and he gets his chance when the prototype MADOX literally falls off the back of a truck in the middle of Tokyo.
Meanwhile, the MADOX, which fell off the back of one truck, off a bridge, and into the back of another truck, has found its way into the hands of college student Sugimoto Koji. Intrigued by the MADOX, Koji makes the big mistake of fooling with it without reading the manual first and soon finds himself locked in the suit and zooming around downtown Tokyo.
Unfortunately, the homing signal the now-active MADOX transmits results in a no-holds-barred response by Kilgore; even more unfortunately, even though Koji doesn’t know how to fight, the MADOX does a pretty good job on automatic (it’s got “Full Self Driving” capability), resulting in a firefight the likes of which the local residents haven’t seen since the last time Godzilla hit town.
Concerned about the property damage being caused to some of the world’s most expensive real estate, Elle dons a second prototype MADOX and tries to find and rescue Koji before Kilgore’s many minions totally trash Tokyo. And apart from the attempts to destroy the suit (and its driver), Koji has his own problems: if he breaks his date with his girlfriend, he will lose her forever — and he’s a tad overdressed for the occasion!
Will Koji be late for his date? Or will Kilgore make him “the late Koji?” And more importantly, is it even possible to eat convenience store shrimp in a battlesuit? The answers to these and many other questions await fans in the 41 action-packed minutes of Metal Skin Panic: MADOX-01!
The Blu-ray is priced at $17.99 and will ship as a region-free release with 1080p video, Japanese and English LPCM 2.0 audio tracks, and English subtitles (including SDH). Extras include commentary tracks, interviews, art galleries, and redesigned menus.
Pre-orders are available through MediaOCD. You can watch the trailer below.
Source: Press Release
©1987 AIC/Soeishinsha · Pony Canyon
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