Moldiver (OVA) DVD

Tokyo, 2045. Hiroshi Ozora is a brilliant young engineer at ZIC, a cutting-edge technology conglomerate, who has invented the Mol-Unit: a device that allows its wearer to operate completely outside the normal laws of physics. Flight, super-strength, invulnerability, hyperspeed — all of it, for exactly 666 seconds at a time. Eleven minutes and six seconds of being the most powerful person alive, then back to normal. Hiroshi's plan: use it to become a superhero media celebrity called Captain Tokyo, fight the glamorous all-female android army of the mysterious Dr. Machinegal, and look extremely cool doing all of it. The plan immediately derails when his younger sister Mirai — college student, dedicated mall-rat, enthusiastic shopper — hacks the Mol-Unit's configuration file while snooping in his computer. The suit now deploys with high heels, a miniskirt, silk stockings, and an hourglass silhouette. Hiroshi finds this unacceptable. Mirai, pressed into service as a superhero against her will, finds the Machinegal situation more manageable than she expected — though her approach to property damage is creative and thorough. A third complication arrives when their younger brother Nozomu decides that if his siblings are going to be superheroes, he is going to be a supervillain, because someone in this family has to have goals.

Moldiver is a six-episode OVA from 1993 produced by AIC and Pioneer LDC, a parody of magical girl and superhero anime series built around the concept of a power suit that grants invincibility for exactly 666 seconds per use. The series was directed by Hiroyuki Kitazume — best known as the character designer for Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ and Char's Counterattack — and written by Ryoe Tsukimura, who also wrote El-Hazard, Tenchi Muyo!, and Sol Bianca. Notably, Moldiver makes a cameo appearance in episode 8 of Tenchi Universe, where it is established as Mihoshi's favorite TV show. The original English dub was produced by Animaze in 1994 and featured Bryan Cranston, David Hayter, Steve Blum, Wendee Lee, and Dorothy Elias-Fahn in supporting roles. All six episodes were released by Pioneer / Geneon on a single dual-layered DVD on April 21, 2001 , collecting the complete series with extras including a non-credit opening and ending, cover gallery, design gallery, and a Secret of Moldiver clip.

Notable Staff & Voice Talent

Director: Hiroyuki Kitazume (character designer, Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ & Char's Counterattack)
Screenplay: Ryoe Tsukimura (El-Hazard, Tenchi Muyo!, Sol Bianca, Magic User's Club)
Studio: AIC (Anime International Company) / Pioneer LDC
Opening Theme: "Go! Moldiver" by Yukana Nogami

Japanese Cast:
- Yukana Nogami as Mirai Ozora (Cardcaptor Sakura, Gate Keepers)
- Yuri Amano as Jennifer (El-Hazard, Burn Up W, Magic User's Club, Tenchi Universe)
- Kikuko Inoue as Brooke (Tenchi Universe, El-Hazard, Gate Keepers, Green Legend Ran)
- Emi Shinohara as Isabelle (Sailor Moon)
- Joji Yanami as Professor Amagi (Night on the Galactic Railroad, Dragon Ball Z)

English Dub Cast (Animaze, 1994):
- Mimi Woods as Mirai Ozora
- Dave Hayter as Hiroshi Ozora (Metal Gear Solid — voice of Solid Snake)
- Steve Blum as additional cast (Cowboy Bebop, Mahoromatic, Trigun)
- Dorothy Elias-Fahn as additional cast (Rurouni Kenshin, Mahoromatic, Steel Angel Kurumi)
- Wendee Lee as additional cast (El-Hazard, Tenchi Universe, Gestalt)
- Bryan Cranston as Launch Control Center Technician (Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the Middle)

Episode Titles

- Episode 1: Metamorforce
- Episode 2: Overzone
- Episode 3: Longing
- Episode 4: Destruction
- Episode 5: Intruder
- Episode 6: Verity

DVD Features

- Non-Credit Opening & Ending Animations
- Cover Gallery
- Design Gallery
- Secret of Moldiver Clip
- Pioneer / Geneon Previews

Spoken Languages: English & Japanese Audio, English Subtitles

Edition Details

Japanese Title: モルダイバー (Morudaibā)
Runtime: ~180 Minutes (Complete OVA Series, 6 Episodes)
Director: Hiroyuki Kitazume
DVD Release Year: 2001 (U.S. Release, Pioneer / Geneon Entertainment — Complete Series Single Disc)
Original Release Date (Japan): February 25 – November 25, 1993
Publisher: Pioneer Entertainment (Geneon)
Rating: 13+
Region: Region 1 (U.S. / Canada)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Comedy, Superhero Parody
Themes: Power Suit Comedy, Magical Girl Parody, Sibling Superheroes, 11-Minute Invincibility, Bryan Cranston Pre-Fame Role

Media assumed VG+ unless otherwise noted.