Project A-ko 4: FINAL

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Project A-ko 4: FINAL
Project A-ko: FINAL
プロジェクトA子 完結篇
(Project A-ko: Kanketsuron)
Genre Action, Comedy, Science Ficiton, Superpowers
OVA
Directed by Yuji Moriyama
Studio Pony Canyon, Soeishinsha, Studio A.P.P.P.
No. of episodes 1
Released 1989

The fourth A-ko movie is considered by many fans as the "proper sequel" to the classic first installment, almost surpassing the first movie in cinematic excellence.

[edit] Story

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The Alpha Cygnans - still searching for their "lost princess" - return to Earth, this time with a fleet of three thousand ships. A-ko and B-ko continue their rivalry, especially over Kei, which leaves C-ko feeling left out. A-ko and B-ko have even more reason to scrap when Hikaru Daitokuji arranges a marriage between Miss Ayumi and Kei.

The wedding takes place at the gymnasium at Graviton City High School for Girls. At the same time, the Alpha Cygnan fleet - with their Queen on the flagship - approach the City, trying to stop the wedding. The weakened Earth Defense Force try to stop them from stopping the wedding. While all this is happening, A-ko and B-ko tear apart the wedding and try to do so to each other. Kei, Ayumi and C-ko are caught in the middle of the melee.

Interspersed with the main narrative are cuts of an archeological team in Iraq, deciphering some apocalyptic writings at an ancient site that may or may not have something to do with the approach of the Alpha Cygnans.

[edit] Critical Response

Fan opinions of FINAL are mixed, especially over the sudden "happy ending" that — to some — glosses over what might have been a classic "bittersweet ending," if C-ko had been allowed to leave Earth for good. How C-ko managed to return to A-ko is never explained, as is the final fate of B-ko.

Many consider the first four films the "canonical" story of the series, and over the years have weaved high-quality fanfiction around it. These A-ko fans treat the "Versus" alternate-reality story arc as "apocryphal" and not up to the standard set by the first four films. Others disagree, which continues the debate among fans of the series, called "A-kophiles".

[edit] Notes and other trivia

  • Miss Ayumi is seen grading her class's homework. One piece of paper is seen to have the puzzling words (No team orders whatsoever! Tension extreme daring attack at McClaren? Fuck you! Kill Jap! No more Hiroshima!! Jenna takes second straight win on city street GP's Oh! my son met her gay girl...) No explanation for this odd string of phrasing is currently available.
  • The two children aged versions of A-ko and C-ko that run past C-ko at the movie theatre transform into children versions of Lum and Ran-chan from Urusei Yatsura.
  • The official translated name for the movie C-ko watches is "Orange Angel : I want to return to that world" which is a parody of Kimagure Orange Road : I Want To Return To That Day.
  • After the movie C-ko falls out of her bed and a single-frame "animator's gag" is shown in the japanese version. It shows A-ko and B-ko nude and holding each other. This frame was removed in the US version.
  • A reference to Maison Ikkoku by Rumiko Takahashi can be found near the ending where a distinctly Kyoko-like woman can be seen with her daughter, wishing upon the "star" falling from the sky.
Project A-ko
Project A-ko | Project A-ko 2: Plot of the Daitokuji Financial Group | Project A-ko 3: Cinderella Rhapsody | Project A-ko 4: FINAL | Project A-ko: Grey Side/Blue Side
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