Area 88, Act I: The Blue Skies of Betrayal Movie Review 1985

Shin Kazuma is the best pilot in a mercenary air force fighting a war he doesn't care about in a middle eastern country he barely knew existed until he found himself legally bound to it. He must stay for two years... unless he can earn enough money to buy out his contract. With thrilling aerial combat scenes and contrasting portraits of Shin as a civilian and as a mercenary, this is a great beginning to a memorable three-part series. What makes the series unforgettable is the careful depiction of the physical, mental and emotional price Shin pays as he becomes an ace in his desperation to go home. If the character designs are slightly dated, the story is not and it remains among the best anime has to offer. Based on the comic book series by Kaoru Shintani.

Distribution

Central Park Media/U.S. Manga Corps, 250 W. 57th St., Ste. 317, New York, NY 10107, Phone: (212)977-7456, Toll-free: 800-833-7456, Fax: (212)977-8709, Email: info@teamcpm.com, URL: http://www.centralparkmedia.com

Available on VHS, DVD, DVD
Running time 50 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Anime