- Maps (anime)
MAPS is the English title for two Japanese anime OAVs: the original MAPS (Maps: Densetsu no Samayoeru Seijintachi, 1987) and the remake (Maps densetsu no fukkatsu, 1994). Both are based on
Hasegawa Yuichi 's manga series MAPS (マップス), serialized monthly in Nora magazine from 1985 to 1994.The basic story is that normal Earth boy Gen and his girlfriend Hoshimi meet Lipumira, a scantily-clad blond woman from outer space, who tells Gen that he is the "mapman," meaning the map to a great treasure is coded in his genes. Gen and Hoshimi go off into space with Lipumira in search of the treasure. They often fight evil space people who also want the treasure.
Notable aspects of the series are the spaceships (which look like giant silver women, often described as "hood ornaments") and Lipumira's skimpy outfit (a red ribbon wrapped over strategic areas and clasped with a metal circlet at her left hip). Reviews of both series are generally mixed-to-negative.
First OAV (1987): Maps: Densetsu no Samayoeru Seijintachi
Maps: Densetsu no Samayoeru Seijintachi (Maps: Legendary Space Wanderers, マップス 伝説のさまよえる星人たち) was directed by Keiji Hayakawa.
Second OAV (1994)
The second Maps was directed by Susumu Nishizawa.
Episodes:
# "Act 1: Ama Kakeru Tenshi" (ACT1 宇宙（あま）翔ける天使)
# "Act 2: Traveller no Hōshū" (ACT2 トラベラーの報酬)
# "Act 3: Rokunin no Yūreisen" (ACT3 六人の幽霊船)
# "Act 4: Densetsu no Fukkatsu" (ACT4 伝説の復活)External links
* [http://www.advfilms.com/titles/maps Official 1994 MAPS website] from US distributor ADV Films
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462696 IMDB entry for original 1987 OAV]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110464 IMDB entry for 1994 remake OAV]
* [http://www.animecritic.com/maps/anr-maps.html (Unfavorable) review of 1994 OAV from Animecritic.com]
* [http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue85/anime.html (Mixed) review of 1994 OAV from Scifi.com]
* [http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=190 (Negative) review of 1994 OAV from THEM Anime.org]
* [http://sarcasm-hime.net/lipumiracosplay.html Maral Agnerian's Lipumira cosplay page] features photographs and how-to
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