Name(s): Blazing Transfer Student / Honoo no Tenkousei / 炎の転校生
Format: Original video animation [OVA] (2 23-minute episodes)
Studio(s): Gainax

Blazing Transfer Student is a 1991 two-episode Gainax OVA specifically made to advertise the much longer running manga, as such things often are. This shonen/delinquent parody stars Takizawa Noboru, a good-natured but daft boy who challenges the school bully Ibuki Saburo for the love of Yukari Takamura. Honjakuniku High seems to only follow one rule, and it’s the one unwritten rule of all fighting anime: the winner of a fight gets whatever they want.

The endearing thing about Blazing Transfer Student‘s style of humor is that it never leaves the mind of its setting. The characters are all teenagers and consistently act as melodramatic and self-absorbed as one would expect selfish high schoolers given free reign to do, and masculinity is portrayed as a stupid form of expression prioritized by stupid people rather than something to aspire to, no matter who wins. The bully brags about his ridiculously trite finishing move, “Insect Killing Punch”, and everyone fears it because of the intimidating way he presents his personality rather than the pointless thing the punch did in the first place. You remember high school, don’t you? People are popular for speaking loudly, not for the content of their speech.

Of course, beyond parodying high school there’s general mockery of dramatic action clichés. My personal favorite comes in the climax when the main character realizes his own special attack is never landing first because naturally he has to finish saying the attack name before it hits, but its name is longer than the bully’s attack name. Simply changing the name would be an unacceptable finish for a hero, of course. Gainax takes an interesting direction for art style here, intentionally copying the rough and thick outlines of ’70s anime and the simple “blobby” facial expressions of comedy anime from around the same time.

Due to the budget only having to be spread out two episodes and Gainax’s resources in 1991 being far better than the ’70s anime they’re paying homage to, the frame rate turns out to be very smooth and the Blu-rays specifically really make the simple solid colors pop for a very visually appealing look with a lot of charm that holds up in high resolutions. More than the jokes themselves, this is the selling point of this OVA. The soundtrack is lightly enjoyable with the main opening being suitably retro while the mix of synthesizers/rock in the score is more contemporary, along with the cute ending theme that’ll make any ’90s anime fan nostalgic.

Though the OVA is too short to really go anywhere and seems like it could’ve built upon the charm of its humor and environment, it also doesn’t allow itself to overextend or wear out its personality or sense of humor. The great production values, animation, and short running time make this an easy and enjoyable watch that’s both simple and difficult to particularly recommend. Anyone who’s discovered this OVA exists is the kind of genre fan very unlikely to think they’ve wasted their time with it.