Not for the faint of heart or young given its R18+ rating, Australian anime publisher Madman Entertainment have marked Halloween this year by releasing the 1987 action horror Wicked City via their AnimeLab video-on-demand streaming service. This OVA was directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri in one of his first film directorial roles, which in later years expanded to projects such as The Animatrix, Ninja Scroll and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. Also on the creative team were producers Kousuke Kuri and Yoshio Masumizu, music by Osamu Shoji and animation by the studios Video Art and Madhouse.
This will be the first time in Australia that Wicked City has been available in Australia in remastered high definition. The full film is available right now, with both the original Japanese audio and English dub. Do note that some video quality settings and the English dub may require an AnimeLab premium subscription.
About Wicked City
For centuries a non-aggression treaty has existed between the human world and the remain of the demons. Without it, humanity would be a terrifying and foul chaos of depravity and destruction. To this day the pact is upheld by a group of undercover operatives known as the Black Guard, but at the end of the twentieth century, the treaty is up for renewal. Terrorists from either side seize on this time of uncertainty to step up their efforts to sabotage any agreement.
Their target is the legendary Dr. Hoseppe Maiyart. Without him, the signing Ceremony cannot succeed. Flown in from his Italian retreat to Tokyo, where the signing will take place, the Doctor is put under the protection of two prime operatives from the Black Guard. The fate of humanity is in their hands as the shadows begin to close in.
About AnimeLab
AnimeLab is an online anime streaming service managed by Madman Entertainment. It’s accessible only to those residing in Australia and New Zealand and offers a basic service free with video quality, dub and availability timeframe limitations. For those looking for access to no simulcast delays, no ads, full backcatalogue access and high definition video can take advantage of a premium subscription membership for $7.95AUD/month or $79.50AUD/year.
