Steel Angel Kurumi
Funny, I never heard anything about robot chicks in 1920s Japan in history class...
Review by: Craig "I wonder if I could build Kim Cattral" Norris
Length: 24 episodes and 4 specials, 15 min. each
Genre: Action, romance
Watched: All (except ep. 22), subbed
You know, my obsession with robot chicks is probably going to ensure that I will never get a date. I mean, humans just can’t measure up anymore. And I’m still not used to the odd looks I get when I ask a girl what kind of oil she runs on. Nevertheless, with a title that incorporates the words “steel” and “angel,” anyone who knows me well knew I couldn’t possibly pass this title up. And so I watched, and once again lamented that I decided to major in environmental studies and not robotic engineering.
Plot synopsis: When apprentice mystic Nakahito is dragged by his friends to the house of the “Demon Professor,” he expects the worst. Instead, he finds Kurumi, a futuristic robotic girl called a Steel Angel. After accidentally kissing her, she awakens and tightly hugs him, calling him master. The “Demon Professor” is actually Dr. Ayanokouji, the creator of Kurumi and her Angel Heart Mark II. However, the innocent and energetic Kurumi’s Angel Heart harbors a dark secret, and it’s up to Nakahito to make sure that that secret does not destroy all of mankind.
Artwork: Pretty much standard fare. The backgrounds and overall use of color really captured the ambience of the era, and the contrast with the bright colors and flashy costumes of the Steel Angels made them seem appropriately out of place. Some of the costumes and character designs of the Steel Angels were rather innovative, but others seemed arbitrarily ornate. Corners were cut in the fight sequences, utilizing either still frames or fast, blurry lines in the background. These lapses in production value detracted from the overall quality of the animation, but not by an unforgivable amount.
Music: Not too bad at all. After the bouncy j-pop theme song, I was expecting more of the same during the episodes. However, the well orchestrated instrumentals offered a pleasant surprise. The music is matched to the mood quite well, and in some cases the soundtrack can stand on its own. Granted, not all the tracks have a full-bodied feel, but considering the subject matter the soundtrack as a whole surpassed my expectations. As the series progresses, the music seemed to get better, so don’t mind the slow start.
Characters: Except for a few slight variations, the character’s aren’t anybody extremely original. Nakahito is a shy guy who struggles as a mystic, and is often questioning whether he has what it takes to make a difference. If he were suicidally depressed and screamed like a woman every five minutes, he’d be Shinji Ikari. Kurumi is a pink-haired ditz who constantly displays her naďveté 
and innocence. She is very possessive of Nakahito, shamelessly hanging off him every chance she gets. Saki is Kurumi’s “sister,” having also been created by Dr. Ayanokouji. She was originally deployed by the military to destroy Kurumi, but her power ran out, and Kurumi herself reawakened her with a kiss. Saki is sweet and soft-spoken and, most interestingly, has a huge crush on Kurumi. Karinka is Kurumi’s other “sister,” made from Dr. Ayanokouji’s original plans. She possesses two Angel Hearts, making her much more powerful than ordinary Steel Angels. She is a loud-mouth, and doesn’t like to follow orders. She is also tremendously jealous of Kurumi’s power. Dr. Amagi was a former colleague of Dr. Ayanokouji, but his own outlook and research drove them apart. Amagi is level-headed and cautious, often acting as the wise big sister for Kurumi, Saki, and Karinka. The characters grow and develop to a satisfying degree during the course of the series, but the raw materials that make up their personalities shows through often enough so that the viewer does not feel alienated.
Plot: Well, the formula is all there: average teenager gets a multitude of female companions totally by accident, and the appropriate awkward romantic situations ensue, while still leaving enough time for robots to wale on each other. It never gets old, does it? Steel Angel Kurumi does not deviate greatly from the same devices used to great success in other series, aside from adding an extra element in the guise of time travel from a war-torn future. The plot progression is linear, with the short episodes running into one another. Other than being a slight bit more complicated and fantastical than it had to be in a few spots, I thought the plot was organized and executed well.
CHICKS!: Most of them are robots, so right off the bat you know they’re sexy. I mean, what would be the point of making a fat, ugly robot? Kurumi has the mentality of a child and the body of a Playboy centerfold. Her pink hair and large breasts that seem desperate to break free of her maid outfit had me rubbing my hands together, eagerly anticipating the high quality fanservice she had to offer. Her personality is also very endearing, surprising for one so childish. Usually I find those types to be quite annoying. Or maybe I was just mesmerized by her breasts. However, in my opinion the real catch is 
Saki. Not nearly as animated as her sisters, her charm and beauty is more subtle, but that’s the way I like them, and that’s why she’s one of my personal favorites. I felt sorry for her, though, being so bent on winning the romantic attention of Kurumi who couldn’t possibly return it. I’m a fan of girl-on-girl action as much as the next pervert, but never have I wished harder for a lesbian relationship to develop between Saki and Kurumi. Simply because Saki should get what she wants; I mean, how can you say “no” to that face? Karinka has a very girlish figure, which presents an interesting contrast to her forceful personality. She is much more conniving than her sisters, and is not above trickery to get what she wants. She is also much more prone to emotional outbursts, so she might be a bit too much to handle for some. Dr. Amagi proves that, even amidst a sea of fetching female robots, humans can still turn heads. Her lab coat can’t hide her curves, and she wears glasses that make her look very intelligent. And I think intelligence is damn sexy! As far as robot chicks go, this series has a decent collection to offer, and they are shown in enough fanservice-y situations to warrant drooling.
Overall: This title would appeal to more people than just fans of robot chicks. It mixes a lot of comedy and SD animation with its overall serious undertone, and does so with at least a moderate degree of success. The plot and the production values are adequate, falling comfortably shy of epic and well above hackneyed. The 15 minute episodes were not a limiting factor more so than a favor to those with shorter attention spans. If the series were much longer, I get the feeling that it would have dragged on too much. With over-the-top comedy and big explosions tops on the menu, Steel Angel Kurumi appeals to those who want superficial entertainment above all else, but does not forsake those who also want a decent love story.
IN A NUTSHELL
+ Surprisingly good soundtrack
+ Well executed visuals
- Some underdeveloped characters
- A bit too fantastical sometimes
Rating: 7.5/10
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