BGC 2040

NADESICO: PRINCE OF DARKNESS (1998)

(aka Martian Successor Nadesico: The Movie – Prince of Darkness)

Format: 82-minute feature

Rating: PG-13 (BN, AL, GV)

Type: Sci-Fi (mecha)

American Production: A.D. Vision

English Dub Production: ADV Films

Japanese Production: The Nadesico Committee (incl. Xebec)

Grading
Premise:	B
Story:	C+
Writing:	C+
Character Design:	C
Mecha Design:	C
Animation:	C+
Artistic Merits:	C+
English Dub:	C+
Musical Score:	C
Songs:	C

Humor Content:	C+
Action Content:	B-
Drama Content:	C+

DVD Presentation:	not reviewed
DVD Extras:	not reviewed

OVERALL:	C+

Synopsis

WARNING: This review contains spoiler information concerning the original TV series and assumes you are familiar with it. If you have not watched it yet but still intend to, you are advised not to read further!

Two years after the events of Martian Successor Nadesico, Akito and Yurika are missing and believed dead, as is the scientist Inez, while the rest of the Nadesico’s former crew has moved on with their lives. Ruri is now the captain of the Nadesico-B and surrounded by a new crew, while most of the rest have retired to the private sector. The Jovians have united with the Earth forces to set up a new transit system based on boson-jumping, but a new threat looms in their midst: a radical group who call themselves the Martian Successors and are intent on controlling all boson-jumping for themselves. A new Nadesico is the United Earth’s best bet to stop the terrorists, but to do so the old crew must be reunited. And what of Akito and Yurika? Are they actually dead?

The Long View

First, a warning: Prince of Darkness is an extension of the 1996 TV series (reviewed here) rather than a stand-alone movie, so familiarity with the series is expected. Those who have not seen the series are unlikely to make much sense of this movie.

Prince of Darkness tried very hard to capture the look, feel, and spirit of the wildly successful original TV series. Aside from the fact that the movie takes itself a little too seriously and isn’t quite as witty, it’s mostly successful at that goal. Whether this is a Good Thing or not is another story, because the artwork is no better than in the original series. The frenetic pacing of the original also doesn’t quite work in a movie setting; the story comes off as much too hurried in places, particularly in the ending, where the climax passes by so fast you barely realize it’s happened. Still, it should be a satisfying extension to the original story for fans of the series, as every significant character still alive at the end of the original makes at least a brief reappearance in the story. The focus this time is primarily on Ruri, with Akito and Yurika being shunted into the background in relatively minor (but key) supporting roles. Again, whether this is a Good Thing or not is a matter of personal taste.

The graphic content in Prince of Darkness is much the same as the original: a bit of near-nudity, some violence that gets a little hairy, and an occasional four-letter word in the English dub, but that’s it. Overall, it is a fairly mild PG-13.

If you liked the original series then you should see the movie. Otherwise there isn’t much point.

DVD Extras

Review is based on an Anime Network broadcast. The DVD has not been reviewed.

Principle English Voice Actors

Role	Voice Actor
Ruri	Kira Vincent-Davies
Hari Makibi	Cameron Bautsch
Minato	Kelly Manison
Saburota	Chris Patton
Akito	Spike Spencer
Yurika	Jennifer K. Earhart
Ryoko	Tiffany Grant
Izumi	Tamara Lo
Hikaru	Cynthia Martinez
Prospector	Paul Sidello
Jun	Mark Laskowski
Goat Hoary	Rob Mungle
Azumo	Matt Culpepper
Hokushin	Mike McRae
Father Munatake	John Gremillion
Howmei	Marcy Rae
Yukina	Hillary Haag
Inez Fressange, Lapis	Shelly Calene-Black
Megumi	Jenny Strader

Most of the above voice actors also voiced minor roles.