Violence Jack: Complete OVA Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Violence Jack: Complete OVA Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

Violence Jack is an action-packed OVA anime. Created by Go Nagai (Cutie Honey, Devilman), Violence Jack features series animation produced by Studio 88 (Angel Cop, Spirit Warrior). Produced by Naotaka Yoshida (Project A-ko 2: Plot of the Daitokuji Financial Group) and Toshihiko Satō (Minky Momo in The Station of Your Memories), the OVA production is full of intense action of the grittier variety. From executive producer Masaru Umehara (Iria - Zeiram the Animation, Kung Fu Boy Chinmi), Violence Jack features the voice of Tesshō Genda in the central role.

Violence Jack (Tesshō Genda) is one of the few rebellious men with a knack for delivering pain while carrying a determination for justice. Violence Jack is not a typical hero – the tough-as-nails hero is someone who one might assume at first glance is not the hero of the tale.

Yet Violence Jack finds himself fighting a good fight while helping to stand up for women being sold as sex slaves, fighting to protect models kidnapped and sold in Zone C, and taking on villainous henchmen left-and-right (and dangerous bikers, to boot). Violence Jack lives in a land filled with lawlessness but he will do whatever he can to stand up for what is right. Though the slums are hellish and fierce, Violence Jack sets forth on a mission he won’t turn back from.

The central character is certainly a compelling one. The hero is unlike anything one might expect for the genre of the series. The character is tough-as-nails but fights for the underdog. This is something that adds a nice element to the production. The character design work by Moriyasu Taniguchi (Jungle Wars, Samuraider: Nazo no Tenkousei) is impressive as well and capably brings to life the central protagonist and the supporting characters.

The animation is stunning and an essential part of the production. Featuring art direction by Torao Arai (Tenchi the Movie - Tenchi Muyo in Love, Urusei Yatsura) and animation direction by Miyuki Nonaka (X, Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos), Violence Jack is a well-mounted production. There are a lot of great elements to the series and the art style is one of the central components that makes a huge impression. The storyboards by Seiji Okuda (A Dog of Flanders, Lupin III: Part II) are brought to life by the team of animators. The art style is gritty, dark, and aesthetically cool. A wonderful art style.

Written by Mikio Matsushita (Gatchaman, Ultra B), Violence Jack is an entertaining OVA with a fun sense of mayhem and action-packed excitement. The scripting is good and with a strong central protagonist, the series is all the more entertaining. A quality effort by Matsushita.

Directed by Osamu Kamijō (Genma Wars: Eve of Mythology, Demon Lord Dante), Violence Jack is an impressively dark anime. The production has a good sense of scale and the filmmaking is both fun – exhilarating, even – and brutal at the same time. A good anime and one that action fans will enjoy.

Violence Jack: Complete OVA Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Discotek Media, Violence Jack is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition. The series is presented in multiple aspect ratios. Episode 1 is available in 4:3 full frame and alternative 16:9 widescreen framing is not available for the premiere OVA episode. Episode 2 and 3 provide presentations in 4:3 full frame or 16:9 widescreen (as selectable on the menu). The video presentation is excellent on the release. The native cell-based animation looks beautiful. This is outstanding. Clarity and detail are exceptional. The color reproduction on the release impresses, too. A good encoding by Discotek Media.

Violence Jack: Complete OVA Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with English subtitles). The lossless audio sounds clear and engaging. The audio capably reproduces the sound direction by Katsunori Shimizu (Nadia - The Secret of Blue Water, Fushigi Yugi). Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The score is well reproduced and the soundstage sounds great as well.

Violence Jack: Complete OVA Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release includes a nicely designed o-card slipcover.

Camera Negative Outtakes (HD, 2:52)

Censored Japanese Video Scenes (HD, 10:50)

English Video Credits (SD, 8:34)

Slumking alternate opening (HD, 7:02)

Violence Jack: Complete OVA Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Violence Jack is an entertaining and action-packed OVA. The dark and gritty anime has a compelling aesthetic. There is a lot to appreciate about the tone of the production and what it brings to the table. The Blu-ray release provides an excellent video and audio presentation alongside a selection of extras. Highly recommended.