JUNGLE DE IKOU
"I am the champion of bouncing and jiggling, and in the name of my moons, I will titillate you!"
Review by: Craig "Baby Got Rack" Norris
Length: 3 episode OAV
Genre: Ecchi comedy, magical girl
Watched: 1-3, subbed
I wanted to see this title immediately after looking at the cover of the DVD. Part of the reason was that it satirizes the magical girl genre, but a larger reason (okay, two larger reasons) was that I wondered how the woman on the cover could remain upright with breasts that large. Large isn't even the right word, considering they make Tifa Lockhart look flat as a board. Turns out following my ecchi instinct was a pretty good idea, as I was treated to an entertaining comedy that fit comfortably into 90 minutes.
Plot synopsis: Ten year-old Natsumi's father recently returned from an archaeological expedition, and brings home a present for her: a small statue. That night, Natsumi has a strange dream where she is visited by the earth god Ahem, who tells her that she must save the world from the evil demon Ongo, using the power of a mystical necklace. When Natsumi awakens, not only does she find herself wearing the necklace, but she is also face-to-face with a two-foot tall sprite who declares in a high-pitched voice that he is Ongo. Understandably, Natsumi does not take him very seriously, but soon discovers that big trouble does come in small packages. Using the power of her necklace, Natsumi must transform into the busty flower goddess Mii to save the city from Ongo's mischief.
Artwork: I would say that the art is standard for a short OAV, with adequate use of color and attention to detail. One aspect of the animation that jumps (and jumps, and jumps) out is the motion of breasts. Normally I wouldn't laude the artistic merits of blatant fanservice, but the care and attention given to each bounce and wobble of breasts is actually quite impressive. Their motion is fluid and serene, almost hypnotic in quality. The artists were wise to save the best animation for the breasts, because they are impossible to ignore.
Music: In keeping with the mood of the series, the music is light and happy, and not all that serious. The opening theme is quite snappy, and is the high point of the soundtrack. There's nothing about the tracks that set them apart from normal background music, and as a whole they are just there for ambience, so don't expect any chart-topping hits from this OAV.
Characters: The characters are all about poking fun at the genre it parodies, starting with the main heroine, Natsumi. After being recruited by Ahem, she is reluctant to use her newfound powers, especially since the initiation of her transformation consists of a highly suggestive dance. Once she finally transforms, she becomes Mii, the exceedingly buxom flower goddess, whose duty is to protect the earth. Oddly enough, Mii can solve just about any problem by dancing, causing her cleavage to quiver and shake wildly. This proves one 
of my long-standing theories: big breasts bring peace. The diminutive antagonist, Ongo, acts more out of curiosity than of outright malice. Until the second half of the last episode, he is nothing more than an inquisitive little sprite, who is more of an annoyance than a true threat. Nami is Natsumi's shy classmate who becomes possessed by Rongo, a water sprite. Again, the transformation sequence consists of a rather lewd dance, this one showcasing much thrusting of the hips. Rongo, once separated from Nami, reverts to the same size as Ongo, on whom she has had a romantic interest in for a long time. Manami, another of Natsumi's classmates, is an overweight lecher (gee, sounds familiar) who teases Natsumi regularly. When he gets an eyeful of Mii, he goes into ecchi overload, and becomes her biggest fan. Ahem is just plain frightening. He constantly looks as though someone stepped on his foot with a pair of golf shoes, and from his crotch protrudes a long horn (the bony kind, guttermind). The cast perfectly suits the situation, as each one emphasizes or satirizes some sort of cliché that runs rampant in the magical girl genre.
Plot: Underneath all the jiggling, there is actually a plot to this OAV. It gets set up and is wrapped up very nicely in three episodes, and leaves plenty of room for a sequel (which I haven't heard anything about as of yet). With such a busty specimen for a leading lady, it would have been very easy for the show to degenerate into nothing but fanservice and sexual innuendo, and while there is plenty of that to go around, it still takes time to advance the plot along at a good pace. As much as I enjoy looking at Mii's overfed twins, I was very glad that actual redeeming content was not forsaken.
CHICKS!: Remember when I called Mii busty? Well, that doesn't begin to describe her. Her chest is impossibly massive. All the plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills couldn't create a rack as round, bouncy, and comically large as Mii's. I got whiplash trying to follow those things around! Not only that, but her attire consists of a flower skirt that covers about as much as a real flower would, and a strip of fabric across her chest that could double as dental floss in case of a spinach emergency. If raw physical dimensions are the major selling point of a chick for you, then prepare to get kicked into overdrive. Not to be forgotten is Rongo, who when fused with Nami is very curvy in her own right. Although, when standing next to Mii, she might as well be a fencepost. But if Mii's chest seems overly, horrifically, grotesquely large to you (and I can understand that it might), Rongo offers a more subtle buxomness for your edification. There is more breast mass packed into these two girls than the entire cast of Love Hina, so prepare your senses accordingly.
Overall: Jungle de Ikou presents a funny, entertaining story in three episodes, a task that is much harder than it seems. Unfortunately, those who are not fans of breast jokes and fanservice will most certainly be offended, as much of the humor is centered around such matters. But once you get past the breasts (which may take a while, depending on how fast your car goes) this OAV is a successful parody of a celebrated genre, and may be the perfect antidote for anyone whose experience with magical girls is confined to Sailor Moon.
IN A NUTSHELL:
+ Successful parody
+ Amusing
+/- Excessive focus on breasts
- Somewhat juvenile at times
Rating: 7/10
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