Ask John: What is DNA²?

Question:
What’s DNA Squared?

Answer:
In Japanese, DNA² is pronounced “DNA Two.” This sci-fi/adventure/romance/comedy TV series broadcast in Japan in 1994, adapted from manga by Masakazu Katsura, better known as the creator of Video Girl Ai. The series was broadcast on Japanese television in an incomplete form. Only 12 episodes were broadcast on Japanese television. Each of the three Japanese home video volumes included 4 broadcast TV episodes and one of three “OAV episodes,” which were actually un-broadcast TV episodes 13-15, which concluded the story. This release as partial TV series and partial OAV series has caused years of confusion over whether DNA² is considered a TV series or an OAV series.

DNA² is the story of a futuristic sort of policewoman named Karin who travels back in time from the overpopulated future to present day Tokyo to prevent shy Junta from growing up to become the “mega-playboy” who impregnates 100 women. Of course, there’s actually a conspiracy at work, and things are not quite as they seem, but to reveal more would be to spoil the show. Unfortunately, according to rumor, the video masters of this series have been lost in Japan so the series is only available on old Japanese VHS and laserdisc but not DVD. Because there are no existing production video masters any longer, the odds of the show ever coming the US are very slim.

UPDATED March 19, 2003:
In December 2002 Central Park Media officially refuted the commonly held rumor that the source masters for DNA² were no more. The first Region 1 DNA² anime DVD was released in America on February 11, 2003.