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The Trap Door

For every anime released to acclaim and cheers, there are the few that slip beneath the radar, or worse still, get pelted with eggs. Are they really THAT forgettable? The Trap Door, written by Phillip O’Connor, aims to answer just that question. Titles that fall under its purview stand on the trap door of fandom. Do they get to escape or will they fall, to be lost for all eternity (or until some other unlucky sod finds them)? For every Heaven’s Only Property, there’s an Eiken and for every Godannar, there’s a Machine Robo. You might not always agree with the assessments, but we promise tears, cheers, beers, leers and pears! (Well, maybe not the last one, though there is pear beer now!) Now, what are you waiting for?! Dive in, and discover what you thought you didn’t need to know but were too intelligent to ask!

All titles covered will be ones that are or were available legally in the United States or Mainland Europe, though we will warn you if there’s a chance you’ll have to hunt on Amazon Marketplace or eBay.

Columns

The Alpha and the Omega: Akira (1988) – 07.25.15
Make it One for My Baby and One More for the Road…: AD Police (1990) – 06.25.15
C’mon and Hit Me With Your Best Shot: New Dominion Tank Police (1993/1995) – 05.31.15
To All Young Lovers, Wherever They Are: Sea Prince and the Fire Child (1981) – 04.07.15
A Man, His Dream, A Girlfriend, Her Revenge: Otaku No Video (1991) – 02.26.15
It’s Not Finished! You Have To Do Better!: Animation Runner Kuromi (2001) – 01.27.15
Lupin, he’s a nice man. But he’s cool, you know?: Lupin III: Bye Bye Lady Liberty and The Hemingway Papers (1989/1990) – 12.26.14
And I Love You So: They Were Eleven (1986) – 11.27.14
I Put Coins In and Stupid Fell Out: Sword For Truth (1990) – 10.25.14
Shinji Ikari, why hast thou forsaken us!!!?: Zeoraima: Project Hades (1986) – 09.25.14
Once More Unto the Breach: Arcadia of My Youth (1988) – 08.25.14
Just my Mecha, Pony, and Me: Tenamonya Voyagers (1999) – 07.28.14
The Boredom of Olympus 123: Appleseed (1988) – 06.30.14
Good luck, Super Punching manly Robot!: Mazinkaizer (2001) – 05.25.14
Apocalyse Durr: Metal Skin Panic: MADOX 01 (1988) – 05.03.14
A Boy And His Robot: Giant Robo: The Day The Earth Stood Still (1992) – 03.26.14
I Can’t Stop Lovin’ You: Metropolis (2001) – 02.25.14
The Body of Mother’s Power Shoulders Compels Me: Casshan Robot Hunter (1993) – 02.09.14
Midnight in the Garden of Good And Evil: Demon City Shinjuku (1988) – 12.27.13
Excuse Me, Who Are You?: Perfect Blue (1997) – 11.25.13
To Serve and Murder Some Punks: Mad Bull 34 (1990) – 11.04.13
Stir it up! Got to shake it up now!: Gunsmith Cats (1995) – 09.25.13
The Nicest Scoundrel of All: The Castle of Cagliostro (1978) – 08.27.13
For The World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky: Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise (1987) – 07.31.13
If I Had a Hammmmmerr!!!: Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (1994) – 06.25.13
I Want Some ACTTTTIIIONNN!!!!: Hyper Combat Unit Dangaioh (1987) – 04.30.13
What Hath Science Wrought!?!: The Humanoid (1986) – 03.29.13
Anime Film! Give Me Boredom Beyond Boredom!: Garaga (1989) – 02.21.13
That’s right, Iceman! I AM still silly….: 801 T.T.S. Airbats (1994) – 01.31.13
Now Entering Orbit Around Uranus…: Odin: Photon Sailer Starlight (1985) – 12.26.12
She’s Really Got a Magical Spell, and It’s Working So Well: The World Of Narue (2003) – 11.25.12
The Girl, Her Robot, Their Rivals, and Her Lover: Fight! Iczer One (1985) – 10.26.12
Love Means Never Having to Use Incendiaries: Dominion Tank Police (1988) – 09.25.12
Love, Lasers, and Sex Is a Many-Splendored Thing: Space Adventure Cobra (1982) – 08.30.12
Oh, To Be Human: 3×3 Eyes (1991) – 07.31.12
Eat Steak, Punch Bullets, and Spit Gasoline: Riding Bean (1989) – 07.04.12
Of All the Fiber-Optic Joints in the World…: Cyber City Oedo 808 (1990) – 05.30.12
10% Nitro, 90% Crazy: You’re Under Arrest! Season 1 (1994) – 04.25.12
Getting In, Getting Out: Lupin III: The Secret of Mamo (1978) – 03.31.12