Demon Fighter Kocho DVD

Heian University has a very specific problem: its campus is infested with supernatural spirits who have taken a particular interest in the student body, and not in the academic sense. Kocho Enoki is a third-year student in the university's Astrology program — which, unusually, offers direct hands-on field experience with the paranormal. Kocho's method of exorcism is distinctive: she uses her own considerable physical charms to distract and subdue male spirits, depleting their energy through enthusiastic close contact. It works extremely well. Her sister Koran is a more conventional magical practitioner. Their hapless civilian accomplice Kosaku Urano functions primarily as demon bait — his supernatural sensitivity makes spirits flock to him, which at least makes them easier to locate. The system breaks down immediately when a female spirit arrives on campus who is completely unimpressed by Kocho's feminine charms and considerably harder to defeat than anyone expected.

Demon Fighter Kocho is a single 35-minute OVA produced by Anime R studio in 1997, directed by Toru Yoshida and written by Hiroshi Toda, based on Nonki Miyasu's four-volume manga serialized in Weekly Young Jump from 1995 to 1997. The music was composed by Toshihiko Sahashi — the same composer as Ghost Sweeper Mikami and Steel Angel Kurumi — and the ending theme "Yakusai Kocho" was performed by Hiroko Asakawa. The English dub was produced by NYAV Post in New York and features Jessica Calvello in the lead role. Released in North America on DVD by Media Blasters on December 19, 2000 at a budget price of $9.95, making it one of the more affordable single-episode releases in the Anime Works catalog. Notably the DVD is sometimes misidentified with an incorrect UPC.

Notable Staff & Voice Talent

Director: Toru Yoshida
Screenplay: Hiroshi Toda
Original Manga: Nonki Miyasu (serialized in Weekly Young Jump, Shueisha, 1995–1997)
Studio: Anime R
Music: Toshihiko Sahashi (Ghost Sweeper Mikami, Steel Angel Kurumi)
Ending Theme: "Yakusai Kocho" by Hiroko Asakawa

Japanese Cast:
- Haruna Ikezawa as Kocho Enoki
- Fumie Kusachi as Koran Enno
- Koichi Tochika as Kosaku Urano (Pilot Candidate)
- Koji Ishii as Taichi Kamo (Now and Then Here and There, Ceres Celestial Legend, El-Hazard)

English Dub Cast (Media Blasters / NYAV Post — New York):
- Jessica Calvello as Kocho Enoki
- Amy Fitts as Koran Enno
- Jamie McGonical as Kosaku
- Michael Polak as Professor

DVD Features

- Fun in the Studio (English dub recording outtakes/behind the scenes)
- Scene Access
- Interactive Menus
- Media Blasters / Anime Works Previews

Spoken Languages: English & Japanese Audio, English Subtitles

Edition Details

Japanese Title: 厄災仔寵 (Yakusai Kochō)
Runtime: ~35 Minutes (Single OVA Episode)
Director: Toru Yoshida
DVD Release Year: 2000 (U.S. Release, December 19 — Media Blasters / Anime Works)
Original Release Date (Japan): May 21, 1997
Publisher: Media Blasters (Anime Works)
Rating: 16+
Region: Region 1 (U.S. / Canada)
Genre: Comedy, Supernatural, Fan Service
Themes: Exorcism via Feminine Charms, Campus Haunting, Astrology Exorcists, Sister Team, Single OVA Episode

Media assumed VG+ unless otherwise noted.