Sakura Taisen: Ouka Kenran

Title:Sakura Taisen: Ouka Kenran
Sakura Wars (OVA)
Overall:Rent
Keywords: , , , , , ,
Notables: AKAHORI Satoru
FUJISHIMA Kosuke
INOUE Kikuko
OOJI Hiroi
ORIKASA Ai
R1 Distributor - Section23 Films (ADV)
R1 License - ADV (Renamed)
R1 License - Sentai Filmworks (ADV)
TANAKA Kouhei
TOMIZAWA Michie
It takes place in the 1920's. The world is recovering from the "Demon War". To fight this machines are being built (based on steam technology) to fight a new invasion. The machines are powered by the "spirit energy" of their pilots.
[OVA, 1997-98, 4 episodes, 27-30 min]
[edit] The ↗Sakura Taisen franchise:
OverallArtAnimationCharacter Design MusicSeries StoryEpisode StoryReviewer
Watch Stretch [series:62#628]
When I noticed the label "From the best-selling video game!" on the box, I began to get nervous. Actually, after doing some internet review reading, I learned that this OAV is supposed to be based on a dating simulation game! (hard to believe, considering the male lead, Ohgami, doesn't even show up until the series is three-fourths over). After watching Sakura Wars I'm left feeling that what I saw must have been four randomly selected episodes out of a much longer series, but no, everyone agrees that this is all there is. Initially, the enemy was Alien-style monsters complete with acid spit, but the next time the "Imperial Floral Assault Unit" goes into action they are up against some sort of armored suits not unlike themselves. Mysterious ninja-like charachters are seen prowling around the theater where the unit is based, but they never attack anyone or even reappear. Likewise, the "Black Lords of Death" hold a meeting at one point--only to vanish (I was surprised to learn that there are apparently humans on the "demon" side). And what was the deal with the "Shogei Maru"? At least animation and artwork were relatively good, and the music was kind of catchy. Actually, a lot of effort must have gone into this series--if only they had bothered to make the various parts relate to each other better! I thought the final episode, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" wasn't too bad, but it certainly didn't conclude the "Second Demon War" as a whole. The whole series seems as if it is designed to inspire team spirit in adolescents. Maybe it's just my imagination, but it seems to me that Sakura Wars gets more than it's share of "coming attractions" on ADV tapes--do they have a warehouse full of tapes they desperately need to move? I doubt if I'll be rewatching these OAVs anytime soon.

8/03 #51

Last updated Sunday, March 16 2008. Created Sunday, August 17 2003.
Buy 7 8 7 7 7 Oogami Taichou [series:62#500]
Well I am a huge fan of the Sakura Taisen games and a member of the Sakura Taisen mailing list. But this OVA was one of the weakest anime adaptations of the series. It essentially gives the you a short prequal to the games that leaves most fans hanging and give many westerners the notion that Sakura is the main character(actually Oogami is). Anyways I love this but it is one of my least favorite parts of the Sakura Taisen saga.

Last updated Friday, January 24 2003. Created Thursday, January 23 2003.
Buy 8 9 10 10 7 Jack Hawksmoor [series:62#114]
Sakura and the clan have some of the greatest character designs that I've seen.
Set in 1920's Japan, the story is really cool... there's no other way to describe it. The unaddressed gap between episodes 3 and 4 is made up for by the underlying theme of theatre and clean living. This isn't so much a story about "blowing shit up" as the humanistic aspect of... well... preparing for and fighting demons in pastel colored mechs.
Altogether, a really good anime.

Last updated Sunday, January 14 2001. Created Sunday, January 14 2001.
Buy 8 7 10 9 7 Midnighter [series:62#94]
I confess, I have a soft spot in my heart for Sakura Wars.
The character designs are some of my favorite in anime, particularly Sakura. They remind me a bit of the El Hazard OAVs character designs. The demons look similar to the title Aliens from the sci-fi movies.
The opening theme is just classic and the animation is beautiful, with some nice little touches. The story is cool, particularly since it is set in the 1920's, but there seems to be a gap between episodes 3 and 4 where nothing is really explained. This honestly bugged the hell out of me, because it seems like an episode or 2 is missing, and I would love it if Sakura Wars was a longer series. The political atmosphere is introduced, but then quickly dropped just as the audience is getting interested.
For some reason I like the mecha in Sakura Wars, whereas everyone else seems to hate them. They are unique looking in the sea of Gundam knock offs, and the concept of steam driven mecha in the 1920's is too neat a concept for me to ignore.
Though hindered by weak writing, Sakura Wars is still worth a buy for a novel setting, wonderful character designs, and a lovable cast.

Last updated Monday, December 10 2001. Created Friday, November 17 2000.
Watch 8 7 8 6 5 CatWoman [series:62#65]
This is a great begining to a story, but they stop it, just as it is getting good! It has a Tenchi character in it by the end and they are starting to get a great love thing going on but then all of the sudden, *PUFF* that's it, the end, that's all she wrote (you get the idea)!

Last updated Thursday, July 27 2000. Created Thursday, July 27 2000.
Rent 7 7 7 7 0 The Coyote [series:62#64]
They just leave you hanging I don't get it (of course I didn't play the game either)the story seems to be going great and there is great character ineraction the only weekness I find is that the don't finish the story where dose the viewer go from there. Parents this one is clean so as long as it dosn't bother you to finish the story with your own imagination rent this one

Last updated Saturday, July 22 2000. Created Saturday, July 22 2000.
Watch Jenn-chan [series:62#31]
I bascially agree with everything that Rebecca said, but of course I'll add my own comments. Only watch this if you played the game. I have NOT played the game, and therefore, found the show confusing and disappointing. However, I love Sakura's character design. She reminds me a bit of Kaoru from Rurouni Kenshin. The opening song is awesome too. Overall, I'm glad I didn't buy this one cause it would honestly be a waste of money.

Last updated Tuesday, April 25 2000. Created Tuesday, April 25 2000.

Other Sites
NameURL
Akane's Sakura Wars Page http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/9632/index.html
A Site Dedicated to the Series Sakura Wars

Community Anime Reviews

anime mikomi org