April 29, 2000

From the nether regions of the anime collection comes the short lived Giant Baba Anime. The copyright says 1980 Toei Doga but damned if I can find this puppy on their official site. What prompted this? Who knows? Baba had been animated once before in the Tiger Mask anime but this show was so... sappy!!
We aare tackling 3 episodes, which episodes Ihave no idea. Baba has been training for a big match in Yokohama against a man named "Killer".Not"Killer" Kowalski, not "Killer" Karl Cox not even "The Killer". No sir, just "Killer". Baba and his coach whose name is "Coach" have been busy SPRINTING on the beach all day so they travel to a nearby outdoor grocery for some beverages. The scenes of Baba running are entertainment in high form as they superimpose a shot of a running cheetah over Baba as he runs. Grabbing a sports drink Baba befriends a small puppy that the owner of is trying to beat with a broom. Baba goes of on some speech about being kind to animals and then tells a tale from his childhood (yes, Chibi-Baba, with huge head and stoic face) about how as a boy other kids would mock him for his freakish head (I'm guessing)and would compare him to an ape. He went crying home ot Mama Baba (Picture Chibi Baba in Drag)and she told him he might be freakish but the Ape is strong and he had to be strong because he was different.
In present day Baba takes the puppy home with him and it becomes his training partner. Marvel as Baba plays frisbee with the mutt, watch him DIVE for the frisbee that is thrown by... no one? HEY!! Did the dog throw the frisbee? It just freakin flies from nowhere into Baba's sickly diving form. Then at a press conference for the big match with Killer Baba has a staredown with brute who has the worst mask EVER (Orange with a green K on the forehead). We hit a commercial break with adds lotsa of bad toys from Takara. Back to the show Baba and puppyleave the press conference through the parking lot and who should gun around the corner in his cheap japanese rental car but Killer!! He has the car pointed right at Baba and Baba is standing still like a deae in headlights!! Bjutthe puppy uses it's strength and pushes Baba out of the way and takes the vicious car shot instead. Killer drives off laughing hysterically as Baba screams with the wounded/dead puppyin his hands "KIIIIILLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
Coach tries to cheer Baba up before the match but Baba just sits there and nods with his stoic, determination. The match goes through intros and we are underway!! Theytrade blows and shoot off the ropes, Baba using his newly gained sprinting speed to Dodge Killer's dreaded big boot. butKiller clamps on a nerve hold and Baba is on one knee struggling ot fight back. Killer tkes this opportunityto tell Baba that if it hadn't been for the dog the car would have hit Baba (NO!!) and Killer would've had an easier time beating him. Killer also reveals that he has developed a new move, a finger through the forehead that he learned by... get this... jabbing his finger through the brain plates of stray puppies!! The closing moment of this episode is Killer's finger racing towards Baba's forehead at what seem like Mach 5 speeds!!

In the next episode (which my friend Buzz actually translated for me as "Fight On Mountain Of A Man!! The Holy Northern Chop Strikes!!")We open with the finger still coming at Baba. Well Baba being crafty grabs the arm and flips Killer in a judo throw (Since Baba is obviously a judo master). Killer is dazed from the throw and Baba raises his hand to deliver a Northern Chop (and the commentator is freaking like J.R.!! "NOZEN CHOPPU!! AAAAAAAA!! NOZEN CHOPPU!!")Killer takes the Northern Chop Square on the head and... NO SELLS IT!! The crowd is in horror as Killer gets up after the Nozen Chop and laughs at Baba. he then hits Baba with a headbutt and covers him. Everyone thinks it is over but Baba kicks out at 2. Fighting to his feet Baba has some internal dialogue about how he has to win for the puppy, how he has to get angry and unleash his fighting spirit. They superimpose a pheonix rising from the ashes as Baba gets to his feet as Killer unleashes the dog killing finger of death again. Baba takes the finger and... it doesn't even hurthim!! His fighting spirit is no match for Killer. Baba angrilyshakes his open palm as it bursts into flames (WHAT?!?) and unleashes a NEW Northern Chop that collapses the ring and knocks out killer!! The crowd is crying, they are so moved. Baba's hand is no longer flaming (ooo, symbolism!!) as he collapses in the ring.

Epilogue, Baba is in a cemetary saying good-bye ot the puppy, remembering the good times they shared.
 

analysis
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DEAR GOD!! If you can find this thing get it!! My copy is shittyas hell but Iwas glued to the TV laughing ike a maniac. Personally I believe that the match was better than Flair/Steamboat but of course Killer Screwed Killer leading to the rather dramatic ending.Lord is the animation in this cruddy. Don't even get me started on the opening song because "Cruel Angel's Thesis" it ain't. imagine the old Batman theme song and replace it with "Baba, baba, baba..." and there you go!! The preview for the next episode had Baba some guy that was dressed as Hitler, man Ineeeed that episode for Hebrew School teacher.

Rating: A MILLION BILLION STARS!!

James
 

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