Space Adventure Cobra (1982)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Osamu Dezaki

Writers:

Michael Charles Hill (screenplay)
Kôsuke Miki (writer)

Release Date:

20 August 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Hyper-dimensional Multiplane Animation

Plot:

Cobra, a famous Space Pirate with a psycho-gun hidden in his left arm, supposed dead for two years, is back in action...

Cast

Shigeru Matsuzaki	...	Cobra (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jane Alan	...	Catherine (voice) (as Mari Devon)
Catherine Battistone	...	Sandra (voice)
Steve Bulen	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Jun Fubuki	...	Dominique (voice)
Toshiko Fujita	...	Catherine (voice)
Barbara Goodson	...	Jane (voice)
Melora Harte	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Akira Kume	...	Toporo (voice)
Wendee Lee	...	Dominique (voice)
Goro Mutsumi	...	Crystal Boy (voice)
Akiko Nakamura	...	Jane (voice)
Joan Carol O'Connor	...	Lady (voice)
Yoshiko Sakakibara	...	Lady (voice)
Brianne Siddall	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Reiko Tajima	...	Sandra (voice)
Kirk Thornton	...	Professor Topolov (voice)
Jeff Winkless	...	Crystal Boy (voice)
Dan Woren	...	Cobra (voice)

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English | Japanese

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | France:-12

Company:

Tokyo Movie Shinsha (TMS)

Trivia:

Was featured in Mattew Sweet's "Girlfriend" video.

Movie Connections:

Followed by "Space Adventure Cobra" (1982)

"Find the Space Guerrillas, Cobra! Find the Space Guerrillas!"

This 1982 anime based on the comic books by Buichi Terasawa centres around the adventures of the infamous Space Pirate Cobra. After Cobra falls for the sultry bounty hunter Jane, he finds himself embroiled in an intergalactic power struggle. This film is best known for its attempt to re-create the 3D movie experience without the need for cardboard glasses. While this process makes for a few amazing and interesting shots, you can hardly tell the difference. The 3D effect may be limited, but the attempt makes for interesting cinematography. Director Osamu Dezaki can be applauded for combining the involving story and the stunning visuals, without letting one element drown out the other. If a few of the shots look familiar, it's because the film was showcased in Matthew Sweet's video for his song "Girlfriend." You can also look for quite a few references to 'Star Wars,' 'Star Trek,' '2001,' and a rip off of the 'Superman' theme during a heated battle scene. 'Space Adventure Cobra' is best recommended for those already familiar with this genre, as it provides an excellent example of the beginnings of modern Anime.

On a scale of 1 to 11, 11 being an example of "taking it up a notch," 'Cobra' gets a 7.