Abashiri Family

Original Title: あばしり一家
Romanized: Abashiri Ikka
Literal:

Plot Synopsis

In the next century, Japan will be ruled by an oppressive Chinese government, there will be riots in the streets and military hardware running rampant. But crime is an even bigger problem, thanks to one small clan: the Abashiri Family. Not even an army can stop one of their heists, and they're out to rob from the rich and give to anybody in the general vicinity of the bank. But when the patriarch of the family decides to go straight and send Kikunosuke, the first Abashiri daughter born in hundreds of years, to a prestigious boarding school, things turn really ugly. Because, of course, the school is secretly run by a group of sadistic lunatics and the curriculum consists of every variety of torture and murder. As if being a freshman weren't hard enough, it may take the whole family to get her out alive...

Quick Review

Rating: 0.5 / 5
Reviewer: Marc
Review Date: 2004-10-20

Definitely not one of Go Nagai's best, and considering his reputation for sleazy "classics," that's really not a good sign. An odd mix of ultra-violent, ultra-gross, ultra-silly Technicolor fever-dream introductory episode and a closing half of brutally traumatized students and campus warfare, the whole thing lacks solidity in both its setting and art style, leading to a loosely put together mess of a series. The only bright point is the characters, which, true to Nagai form and helped out by decent Japanese acting, somehow manage to be likable and oddly believable in the face of their bizarre setting.

If--and only if--you're a huge fan of Go Nagai and his over-the-top, lowbrow mayhem, the Abashiri Family might be worth a look, but even then don't get your hopes up.

US DVD Review

No US release exists as of this writing.

Content Guide

Some gross humor, rather serious student brutality, nudity, and graphic violence all combine to put this one easily in the 16-up category.

Violence: 4 - Rather silly at times, but lots of gore.

Nudity: 3 - Not a lot, but there is some.

Sex/Mature Themes: 3 - Several rather raunchy jokes and innuendo.

Language: 3 - Some swearing in the subtitles.

Notes and Trivia

Based on a several-volume-long early '70s vintage series by Go Nagai, master of over-the-top gore, sleaze, cheese, and cheesecake. He is, among other dubious honors, credited with bringing the "flash of skin during hero transformation sequence" to anime.

Availability

4 20 minute acts, available compiled on one subtitled or dubbed VHS volume from ADV, now out of print.

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