Features:
- Color
- Closed-captioned
- HiFi Sound
- Animated
Description:
Originally released in 1992, this three-episode OAV mixes ecological themes with some very odd theology. In the not-too-distant future, when the Earth is choking in pollution, the alien Rodo strikes, sequestering virtually all the planet's water and vegetation in guarded enclaves. The remaining humans eke out a wretched existence in the vast deserts, under the control of Rodoist soldiers. After witnessing the soldiers' brutality, Ran, a hotheaded adolescent, sets out to join the rebels of the Hazard. During the course of his adventures, he meets Aira, a mysterious girl whose silvery hair marks her as a member of a powerful group needed by the alien Holy Mother to destroy the human race. Needless to say, Ran manages to rescue her (and humankind) in the nick of time. The animation in Ran is a cut above most anime, and the designs of the sand-ships that carry the rebels through the deserts recall the Jawa craft in Star Wars. But the discussions of an evil alien as the "Holy Mother" may disturb some religious viewers. The DVD release of Ran is the complete, 141-minute original; the 120-minute version previously available had been edited to remove profanity and a brief nude scene. (Ages 12 and older for violence and occasional profanity) --Charles Solomon
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