Mezzo Forte (anime)
Encyclopedia
is a 1998 original video animation
directed by Yasuomi Umetsu
.
The OVA, which concerns a young woman, Mikura Suzuki, and her mercenary
business, the Danger Service Agency, is the spiritual sequel
to Umetsu's Kite, as both feature the continuing elements of a highly trained female protagonist, comedic tone, extremely violent and slickly directed over-the-top action sequences, as well as graphic sex scenes. Also Sawa, the protagonist of KITE, appears in the first few minutes of Mezzo Forte when Kurokawa and the detective were speaking, Sawa walks by and looks at Kurokawa, then walks away.
Because of all the graphic sexual content present, the OVA was released both in the United States
and Japan
in two different versions, one with these scenes taken out and the other with them left intact, the Director's Cut. Both versions, however, retain the more violent aspects of the movie
. The US release contains 20 minutes of extra footage not seen in the Japanese release, however, none of the pornographic content from the Japanese director's cut was included. The abridged version of Mezzo Forte, however, has no sex scenes and only contains two naked scenes (both showing the breasts, nipples and labia). But the shortened version is still rated 16 and up by US distributor Media Blasters
.
In addition, an International Version was released in Japan on July 23, 2004. This version includes 20 minutes of extra footage, but none of the adult scenes found in the Director's Cut.
Mikura and the Danger Service Agency are hired by a mysterious old man to kidnap
Momokichi. But during that attempt, they run afoul of Momomi. Before the resulting firefight, Momokichi dies when his head falls on a ventilation pipe. Now Mikura and the DSA have to come up with a new plan before they end up as Momomi's next victims.
aired in 2003. The series takes place after the events of OVA.
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
directed by Yasuomi Umetsu
Yasuomi Umetsu
Yasuomi Umetsu, also credited by his alternate name Yasuomi Umezu, is known for his directorial debut for the anime cult classic A Kite.-Filmography:*Megazone 23 Part II character designer/animation director...
.
The OVA, which concerns a young woman, Mikura Suzuki, and her mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
business, the Danger Service Agency, is the spiritual sequel
Spiritual sequel
A spiritual successor, sometimes called a spiritual sequel or a companion piece, is a successor to a work of fiction which does not directly build upon the storyline established by a previous work as do most traditional prequels or sequels, but nevertheless features many of the same elements,...
to Umetsu's Kite, as both feature the continuing elements of a highly trained female protagonist, comedic tone, extremely violent and slickly directed over-the-top action sequences, as well as graphic sex scenes. Also Sawa, the protagonist of KITE, appears in the first few minutes of Mezzo Forte when Kurokawa and the detective were speaking, Sawa walks by and looks at Kurokawa, then walks away.
Because of all the graphic sexual content present, the OVA was released both in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in two different versions, one with these scenes taken out and the other with them left intact, the Director's Cut. Both versions, however, retain the more violent aspects of the movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
. The US release contains 20 minutes of extra footage not seen in the Japanese release, however, none of the pornographic content from the Japanese director's cut was included. The abridged version of Mezzo Forte, however, has no sex scenes and only contains two naked scenes (both showing the breasts, nipples and labia). But the shortened version is still rated 16 and up by US distributor Media Blasters
Media Blasters
Media Blasters is an entertainment corporation founded by John Sirabella and Sam Liebowitz, based in New York City. They are in the business of licensing, translating, and releasing to the North American market manga compilations and anime and live-action movies and television series to home-video...
.
In addition, an International Version was released in Japan on July 23, 2004. This version includes 20 minutes of extra footage, but none of the adult scenes found in the Director's Cut.
Plot
Momokichi Momoi, the mob boss owner of a professional baseball team known as the Peach Twisters, has a unique way of dealing with ineffective players – killing them. His daughter Momomi is twice as twisted as her father.Mikura and the Danger Service Agency are hired by a mysterious old man to kidnap
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
Momokichi. But during that attempt, they run afoul of Momomi. Before the resulting firefight, Momokichi dies when his head falls on a ventilation pipe. Now Mikura and the DSA have to come up with a new plan before they end up as Momomi's next victims.
Characters
The series concerns three characters who comprise the Danger Service Agency (DSA)- , Marie Court (English sex scenes)
- The team's combat specialist who enjoys shooting first and asking questions later. She also has a limited precognitive ability which enables her to see brief glimpses of the future, but she cannot control it. Mikura is strong, highly proficient at fighting and using firearms. She is determined, strong willed and can be a cold blooded killer if the situation requires her to be one. She is very competitive and unsociable, but she has a kind soul deep down. She also has a love of karaokeKaraokeis a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
. Before the incident with the Momois, Mikura had visions which involved Momomi. In the director's uncut version, it is suggested she might have a crush on Kurokawa.
- Team leader who is an ex-cop and loves eating noodles. He is partners with Mikura and Harada in the DSA or Danger Service Agency (often referred to as the "Risk Their Lives Trio" in the press). He loves noodles, drives a yellow Volkswagen Bug, howls at hot women and always cracks lame puns. Mikura and Harada refer to Kurokawa as "Pops" for short. He likes to think that he is in charge, and more often-or-not, he does arrange jobs for the DSA. However, his knowledge in underworld dealings is valuable to the team. When the DSA was contracted to kidnap a baseball owner, he thought he recognized his face.
- The member of the Danger Service Agency who knows about all things technical. He's a pointy-haired young man who is infatuated with Mikura, but won't admit it to himself or others. He is an expert on androids and all things technical. In the beginning, he was working on a prototype for a sexSexual intercourseSexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
robotRobotA robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
who acted as a prostitute and did sexual favors to those who would pay.
- The baseball owner in question. The owner of the Peach Twisters, Momokichi has had to deal with constant losing seasons of his beloved team. However, the usual tactic he employs to unload ineffective players is by killing them. He was one of the team owners suspected in "The Bloody Pennant Race", a series of killings of baseball players ten years prior. He is also an avid bowler, and would often be challenged by his daughter Momomi at a bowling alley he owned, the Peach Bowl.
- Momokitchi Momoi's daughter. A very beautiful, large-breasted woman, Momomi is also very violent, often killing people on a whim. On all versions, she appears naked in a shower scene, which show her breasts and labia. To cross this woman would be considered suicideSuicideSuicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
.
- The instances of Momomi's talent for murder and violence are many. One rumor has it that she celebrated her tenth birthday by killing someone. Another rumor says her favorite color is red... blood red. Her room decor could be described as "psychotic panda", which is a wide-eyed cartoon giant pandaGiant PandaThe giant panda, or panda is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo...
. In the anime, she killed the manager and the pitching coach of the Peach Twisters for threatening to leak scandalous stories about Momomi (presumably about her lesbianLesbianLesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
relationship with Sakura Sakarada, her lover in Mezzo DSAMezzo DSAMezzo DSA is a 13-episode anime series created by Yasuomi Umetsu. It is a follow up to the 1998 OVA Mezzo Forte.-Synopsis:Mikura, Kurokawa, and Harada are the 3 members of the Danger Service Agency . Mikura is the brawn of the group, Harada is the brains, and Kurokawa is just a bitter ex-cop who...
). And after Momokichi was kidnapped by the DSA, Momomi responded by taking an automatic pistol and killing her father's bodyguardBodyguardA bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
s for failing to do their jobs.
- Momomi, by account of her lesbian lover Sakura Sakurada, is also Mikura's half-sister, and possesses the same precognitive ability as Mikura. She had two visions that had involved Mikura, leading to an uncertain future.
Sequel
A Mezzo Forte television series called Mezzo DSAMezzo DSA
Mezzo DSA is a 13-episode anime series created by Yasuomi Umetsu. It is a follow up to the 1998 OVA Mezzo Forte.-Synopsis:Mikura, Kurokawa, and Harada are the 3 members of the Danger Service Agency . Mikura is the brawn of the group, Harada is the brains, and Kurokawa is just a bitter ex-cop who...
aired in 2003. The series takes place after the events of OVA.