This six-part OAV (original animation video) begins as a freewheeling spoof of mecha adventures with plenty of slapstick comedy, robots of all types, a crazed villain, scantily clad babes, and a resident hunk. In the not-too-distant future, nerdy Hiroshi Ozora creates a power suit later dubbed "Moldiver" designed to make him into an invincible superhero with muscles like his best friend Misaki's. When Hiroshi's younger sister Mirai gets into his computer, she makes some changes: the Moldiver acquires curves, a miniskirt, stockings, and high heels. In her battles with the nefarious Dr. Machinegal and his army of robot women, Mirai proves an effective but destructive heroine, leaving a trail of ruined buildings and fallen roadways wherever she passes. No wonder Machinegal refers to her as "that leggy girl who breaks everything!" Unfortunately, the plot-and the fun-begin to fall apart in part 4, "Destruction," when Mirai and Hiroshi's brother Nozomu gets into the act and behaves like an obnoxious brat. Mirai has to fight three villains: Machinegal; his chief robot, Isabelle; and Nozomu as "Moldiver 3. " The last-minute romance between Mirai and Misaki feels forced, making you wish you'd stopped watching at the end of episode 3. Rated 13 and up: nudity, minor profanity, violence, and sexual and toilet humor. -Charles Solomon.

Based on a manga series by Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell), Appleseed is an interesting, early mecha adventure. After World War III, "General Management Control Office" created the model city of Olympus for the survivors. They also created the "Biodroids," half-human cyborgs designed to serve humanity. Dunan Nats is a tough female cop; her partner, Buliarous Hekatonecles, was badly injured in the war and rebuilt with mechanical limbs and sensors. Together they pursue a cyborg terrorist and a rogue officer who want to destroy Olympus, which they see as an elaborate cage that limits human freedom. Released the same year, 1988, Akira pointed the way to much of the future of anime. Appleseed largely summarized its past. The character designs display a strong Western influence, the mecha are simpler than they would become in a few years, the violence looks tame by contemporary standards, and the chase sequences are accompanied by what sounds like elevator music. Although Dunan is clearly the ancestor of Motoko in Ghost in the Shell, she keeps her clothes on. Significantly, the forces of law and order emerge victorious, rather than the freedom-seeking rebels of this elegant dystopia. [+]

This straight-to-video sequel to The Swan Princess concerns the kidnapping of Prince Derek's mother, a crime that lures the prince into danger himself. Princess Odette can save him-but only if she becomes a swan herself. Even given the lesser ambitions and budgets afforded direct-to-video sequels, it's hard to accept that this boxy, unexciting movie has the same director (Richard Rich) as the fine, first feature in the series. More like a Saturday-morning cartoon than a real film, this is a disappointment, though kids who couldn't care less about scale might get caught up in the story. -Tom Keogh.