Dream Dimension Hunter Fandora
Entry updated 2 October 2023. Tagged: TV.
Japanese Original Video Animation (1985-1986); original title Mujigen Hunter Fandora. Kaname Production. Created Go Nagai. Directed by Shigenori Kageyama, Kazuyuki Okaseko and Hiroshi Yoshida. Written by Koichi Minade, Ryuji Yamada and Takashi Yamada. Voice cast includes Keiko Han, Mitsuko Horie, Kazuhiko Inoue, Makio Inoue, Akira Kamiya, Yūko Mita and Hirotaka Suzuoki. Three 35-46 minute episodes. Colour.
The Technology for inter-Dimensional travel has existed for 2000 years; often used for unlawful purposes, the dimensional police employ bounty hunters to capture criminals (see Crime and Punishment). One such hunter is Fandora (Horie), whose crown holds the red Jewel of Lupia, which transforms her into a warrior; we learn there is also a blue jewel which is attracted to evil. After collecting her latest reward – which involved fighting a Mecha – and realizing she is barely breaking even, Fandora decides to target the criminal with the largest bounty – Yog-Sogoth (a nod to Yog-Sothoth from H P Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos). Her cautious assistant, Que (Kamiya) – a Shapeshifting Alien dragon who normally maintains a human form – manages to persuade her to visit a beautiful pastoral planet instead.
However, the planet's benevolent king has recently been killed by Pope Gersburg (M Inoue), who bears the blue jewel: he has brainwashed the princess, imposed a religious tyranny and enslaved or sacrificed all the young women (see Religion; Slavery). Capturing Fandora, Gersburg gives her red ruby crown to the princess – but being the good jewel it frees her mind: she rebels and dies, but enables Fandora to recover the crown and kill Gersburg – who is revealed to be Yog-Sogoth (M Inoue). The blue jewel disappears.
In the second OVA Fandora agrees to return a young boy to his home at Deadlander, a dimension previously thought to be extinct. The boy, named Sotho (Mita), is injured but Fandora's jewel cures him – he also grows into an adult (K Inoue) overnight. Sotho's memories are clearer and he remembers his love, Fontaine (Han), who was left behind when Deadlander suffered dimensional collapse. On arriving they find the planet partially rebuilt by the blue jewel; it has also Regenerated Yog-Sogoth from his severed hand. Sotho is an aspect of Yog-Sogoth, created as part of his plot to obtain the red jewel – but during their journey Sotho and Fandora developed feelings for each other, which upsets the plan. Both Sotho and Fontaine die, whilst Yog-Sogoth now considers the power of the blue jewel sufficient for his needs.
This seems to be the case: the third OVA opens with Yog-Sogoth destroying space fleets and planets as he conquers dimension after dimension (see Imperialism), planning to become a god (see Gods and Demons). Soon only two people are left to stop him: Fandora and the unpleasant P.K. (Suzuoki), the most successful of the bounty hunters, who does not want to be involved in a fight he is unlikely to win. This disgusts his Robot sidekick, who joins Fandora. She follows Yog-Sogoth to Aura, his HQ – and a kingdom, Que suddenly reveals, that Fandora is the heir to. Events culminate in a showdown with Yog-Sogoth, which she wins with the help of Que, the robot ... and P.K., who has had a change of heart. The two jewels depart to join their god, as Que (who briefly died) and Fandora hug.
In each OVA Que, the original guardian of the jewels, reveals a little more of their backstory – and Fandora wonders whether he is using her to recover the blue jewel; this is not the case, as Que, though cowardly, is brave when it comes to protecting Fandora. Though there is much talk of "dimensions" this is basically a Space Opera with the jewels adding a Magical element. Dream Dimension Hunter Fandora is a minor Anime: it has its moments and the animation is adequate for the era, but the story is half-baked and the characterization poor, with the second OVA also afflicted with the drab Sotho/Fontaine plotline. [SP]
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