Anime: SM Girls: Saber Marionette R

This is the first installment of a long running series that includes another OVA and two TV series. However, this OVA has a limited connection to the other 3 which are closely linked. As is sometimes the case, the OVA turned out to me more of a “proof of concept” than an actual prequel to the first TV series. The similarities are that both star 3 “marionettes” names Lime, Cherry and Bloodberry, and they live in on a planet populated entirely by men, where the only women are androids, and reproduction occurs through cloning. The differences are far more substantial. The male lead who is the master of the three is a different guy, and the stories take place in a different country. Also, it is never made clear if the marionettes of this series are really intended to be the same ones as appear in subsequent series. Their physical appearance is quite different although their personalities are the same at their core. Saber Marionette R is worth watching, just don’t expect to many close links to the rest of the Saber Marionette universe.

Animation: It fairly good but kind of mixed. The entire show suffers from something of an identity crisis, trying to both dark and brooding, and over the top cute at the same time. This distinction in artistic styles is probably intentional, but it makes some of the characters feel out of place with the backgrounds and the rest of the cast.

Sound: Nothing bad, nothing great. Perfectly serviceable all around.

Story: the story drops you into the middle of events that you wont understand at first, but will soon become clear. Much of the story is a commentary on what it is that makes something or someone “alive” and “human” and addresses the issues of making machines that imitate humans as well as the ramifications of cloning (at least as it is presented in this storyline). Again, deep and brooding for the most part with occasional sidebars that are more lighthearted, such as interactions between Junior and his Marionettes. Overall, it’s a good story, but it does feel like a little too much was left off of the beginning and end for the sake of making it fit into 3 episodes.

Characters: Again, serious identity crisis here. Most of the characters are dark, ominous figures, except for the 4 heroes who are clearly designed to be as cute as butt kicking robots and their gentle master can be. Sometimes this combination can work (like in Photon) but most of the time it just feels like the pieces don’t fit, which is the case here.

Value: As a stand alone product, its worth checking out. It does not a have a lot of value as a predecessor to the other Saber Marionette series because they are so unrelated to each other. If you can separate the two and enjoy them as individual items, its worth getting despite its flaws.

Enjoyment: I liked it, although when I watched the other Saber Marionette series later, it made some of this series’ flaws stand out even more. I still recommend it though. It has a totally unique feel and style that is worth seeing at least once.