Dirty Pair: Project Eden

Dirty Pair: Project Eden, known in Japan as Dirty Pair: The Movie (ダーティペア, Daati Pea Gekijou-ban), is an action science fiction[1] feature-length anime film based on the Dirty Pair anime series, originally released in Japan on November 28, 1986. The movie was originally licensed in North America in 1994 by Streamline Pictures, but was later redubbed and released on DVD on November 9, 2003 by ADV Films. The Streamline version was directed by Carl Macek.

Dirty Pair: Project Eden
North American poster art
Directed byKōichi Mashimo
Produced byHironori Nakagawa
Masanori Ito
Yoshihide Kondo
Written byHiroyuki Hoshiyama
StarringKyouko Tonguu
Saeko Shimazu
Katsuji Mori
Naoki Makishima
Chikao Ohtsuka
Toku Nishio
Music byKenzou Shiguma
CinematographyAtsushi Okui
Edited byFumihiro Isobe
Satoru Ishida
Shuichi Kakesu
Production
company
Distributed byShochiku
Release date
November 28, 1986 (1986-11-28)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

Plot

After stopping a group of Vizorium smugglers, Kei and Yuri, the Lovely Angels (more commonly known as the Dirty Pair), are sent on a mission to Agerna, a planet rich with Vizorium, a mineral necessary for space travel. They are sent to stop the mysterious attacks on mining operations that have the governments of the world pointing fingers and blaming each other. While the pair bathe, Carson D. Carson, a former member of the group of smugglers they stopped on their last mission, interrupts their baths by falling through a vent. While Kei and Yuri get out of the bathtubs and question Carson, they are attacked by strange alien monsters that force the Angels to flee, leaving their equipment behind and wearing nothing but towels.

The Lovely Angels are forced to ally with Carson to stop Dr. Wattsman, a mad scientist bent on taking a long dormant alien race, the Sadinga, to its final evolutionary form. After they are captured by Dr. Wattsman, it is revealed that Carson was really trying to obtain a rare World War II-vintage wine. Carson D. Carson is forced to fight Bruno, Dr. Wattman's servant. Kei witnesses the fight and initially believes that Carson is killed by Bruno, but later discovers he survived. Kei, Yuri, and Carson take Wattsman and Bruno into custody. However, Carson accidentally activates Wattsman's equipment and Sadingas all over the planet are awakened and cause chaos.

Voice cast
Character Name Japanese English (Streamline) English (ADV)
YuriSaeko ShimazuWendee LeeAllison Sumrall
KeiKyōko TongūLara CodyPamela Lauer
Carson D. CarsonKatsuji MoriKerrigan MahanDavid Matranga
Dr. WattsmanChikao ŌtsukaSteve KramerJohn Swasey
Chief ManagerOsamu KobayashiEddie FriersonGeorge Manley
SupervisorMikio TerashimaDan WorenJason Douglas
BrunoToku NishioMilton JamesBrett Weaver
Crime BossShōzō IizukaKirk ThorntonAndy McAvin
SecretaryKayoko FujiiJuliana DonaldMonica Rial
MughiNaoki MakishimaMichael McConnohieBrett Weaver
GoolleyIkuya Sawaki
Rita / SandraKazue Komiya

Reception

The film is commonly acknowledged to be superior to the Dirty Pair anime television series. Mike Crandol of Anime News Network even states that "Dirty Pair: Project Eden is one of the few glorious exceptions ... it's not just bigger and louder, it actually is better. Rarely do all the elements come together so nicely, and even all these years later it's hard to think of any other anime that's simply as much fun as this movie".[2] Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network mentions on her review of the Dirty Pair Features Collection that among the three films this one was the "campiest with the least urgent storyline". She also states that the "Animation has moments of beautiful fluidity, such as Yuri flopping in a tub of water, the dissolution of a floor beneath the characters' feet, or Yuri's impromptu dance number on a transport".[3] Helen McCarthy in 500 Essential Anime Movies commented that this film can "stand the test of time" and that "this is a movie with lots to enjoy. Even the cheesy '80s pop soundtrack has its own guilty charm".[4]

Music
  • Opening Theme:
    • "Safari Eyes" by Miki Matsubara
  • Insert song (using the same melody and backing track as the opening theme):
    • "Over the Top" by Miki Matsubara
  • Ending Theme:
    • "pas de deux" by Miki Matsubara

Notes
  1. Ross, Carlo. "Dirty Pair: Project Eden". T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  2. "Anime News Network: Old School – Project Eden". Retrieved 2003-01-08.
  3. "Anime News Network: Dirty Pair: Features DVD Collection". Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  4. McCarthy, Helen. 500 Essential Anime Movies: The Ultimate Guide. Harper Design, 2009. – P. 57. – 528 p. – ISBN 978-0061474507
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