Metal Fighter Miku (1994) User Reviews

A simple but endearing story.

[slambadger · 8/10 · 26 November 2010]

There is a certain charm to early to mid 90s Anime. Metal Fighter Miku is part of the transition from Japanese only animation to the commercialized for US Anime that started to get released when films like Ghost in the Shell were starting to become major hits in the US.

Metal Fighter Miku is rooted deeply in the tradition of Japanese sports drama. A young but rough around the edges natural is part of a team or group and is trained by either a washed up retired coach or a legend of the sport or activity that young upstart is a part of.

Only in this case it is Female Neo Pro Wrestling. Set in a pleasant future where Miku and her teammates Nana, Ginko, and Sayaka fight for the chance to take on the Supreme Champion, and Miku's all time idol, the indestructible Aquamarine! The animation is basic. Sometimes, in two episodes in particular it falls way below par. But its an adorable and fun series with a simple but endearing story with endearing characters. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for something light and fun to watch.

Great series, with tons of action and winning characters.

[grendelkhan · 8/10 · 2 June 2014]

Metal Fighter Miku was a TV series, set in the near future, which revolved around women's pro wrestling. Pro Wrestling is one of the top sports in Japan and the female version of it was super hot, from the late 70s through the mid-90s. One of the biggest entertainments draws in Japan was the tag--team of the Crush Gals (Chigusa Nagayo and Lioness Asuka), who were not only wrestling stars but also pop stars, with several hit songs. This series tries to capture some of that, with some sci-fi updating.

The series revolves around a team of rookies, the Pretty Four, who are part of an upstart league. The big league has set up a tournament to crown the champion of champions, with the winner getting a shot at the singles title, held by the legendary Aquamarine. The star of the Pretty Four is Miku, who idolizes Aquamarine. The quartet trains hard for their matches; but they face tough competition. They are soon given a new coach, a gruff drunkard, who happens to be the brother of their current coach. He was also the trainer of Aquamarine.

Each episode focuses on a new lesson learned by Miku and her teammates and a new match. The matches are rather over-the-top, as the ladies where metal suits that enhance their abilities. Each team has a special theme and finishing moves, much like in real pro wrestling. The Pretty Four's chief rivals are the Moonlight Jewels, led by Sapphire, who is the daughter of the organizer of the tournament. The series ultimately builds to a battle between the Pretty Four and the Jewels, after some dirty tricks. Miku and Sapphire face off, with the winner to meet Aquamarine, for the title, in an even more epic struggle.

The characters are likable and there is a bit of a Rocky vibe, filtered through a traditional Japanese lens; that of the sports drama. teamwork, tough training, and fighting spirit are emphasized throughout. There are healthy doses of humor along the way, and a tiny bit of romance (which is the weakest part of the series). The designs are inventive, making the matches have different flavors. All in all, it's a good, solid, entertaining production. It won't win awards, but it's worth the price of purchase. It's certainly better booked than the current American pro wrestling product.