Worthy Down Load

I don’t have a clear recollection of where I first heard mention of the OVA Down Load, but I know that it was some time in 1992, as I recall seeing it mentioned in a list of upcoming anime productions in Japan. Then I never heard nor saw anything else about it for over 15 years, until I recently stumbled upon a copy. Now that I’ve watched it, I’m even more puzzled over why this gem remains buried and forgotten.

Although it’s formally titled “Down Load ~ Namiamidabutsu wa Ai no Uta,” the subtitle never appears in the animation. This 50 minute long OVA directed and co-written by Rintaro and animated by Madhouse is an intoxicating and somewhat precognitive cyberpunk hybrid of influences and ideas presented with amazing animation and highly stylistic art design. The story, when it finally becomes clear, revolves around a small group of acquaintances that discover a plan from the unscrupulous Echigoya corporation to launch a malicious and even deadly “Dethmail” program that can manipulate the minds and behaviors of internet surfers. The wired world depicted in Down Load pre-dates the similar Serial Experiments Lain by six years!

The real highlight of the OVA, however, lies in its execution rather than its story. The most immediately striking aspect of Down Load is its stunning art design and animation that distinctly recall Rintaro and Madhouse’s “Take the X Train” OVA produced five years earlier. Down Load is characterized by intricate hand drawn detail, exhaustive animation, and a striking use of color and scene framing reminiscent of Mamoru Oshii’s Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer and Rintaro’s own “Meikyu Monogatari” segment of the Mani Mani Meikyu Monogatari anthology film. Seeing Down Load in motion conveys far more impact than stills will ever be able to. Moving beyond visual design and animation quality, Down Load consists of an assortment of inspirations and homages. Protagonist Sid is a teenage Buddhist priest and master computer hacker. His romantic interest, Namiho, is an exotic dancer and undercover thief. As a result, Sid and Namiho serve as thinly veiled stand-ins for Lupin and Fujiko. Sid’s digital examination of a series of photographs is literally lifted straight out of Blade Runner, even appropriating Blade Runner’s original sound effects. Sharp eared listeners will also hear the unmistakable warm-up sound of Ghostbuster proton packs later in the OVA. Sid’s computer on wheels bears a striking resemblance to Kaneda’s motorcycle from Akira. Pinky’s supporting biker gang further evokes anime like Akira and Megazone 23 Part II. The desert chase and break-in to the Echigoya compound is especially reminiscent of a similar scene in the 1986 California Crisis OVA. A scene early in the OVA even prominently features a Blues Brothers billboard, further expanding the range of inspirations Down Load draws from. Yet the visual dynamism at work and the OVA’s decision to spend much of its first half slowly introducing the characters and building their relationships before shifting gears to a more diligent and action oriented resolution allow it to unfold as a unique, original creation rather than an obvious collection of ideas from other works. The unusual Japanese blues soundtrack provided by Hiroshi Kamayatsu and the Bagdad Blues Band adds yet another layer of distinctive character.

Down Load looks and feels akin to other exceptional anime from the late 90’s era like X Densha de Ikou, Gosenzosama Banbanzai, Akira, and FLCL that combined the intricate visual detail and dynamic camera movement of golden era 80’s anime with fluid character motion and a visual aesthetic that merges vintage art deco with cyberpunk. But unlike the sober tone of Gosenzosama Banbanzai, Akira, or Lain, Down Load revels in a lighthearted, energetic and sexy fun that doesn’t take itself seriously. It’s a great misfortune for anime fans that this amazing production is so obscure and unknown. Down Load was only released on VHS at a staggering 12,381 yen. (It’s only 47 minutes long.) This is definitely a forgotten anime that deserves, if not demands, a modern DVD release that would allow more viewers to appreciate this tremendous little marvel.