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DNA²

Volume #1: Metamorphosis

AKA: "DNA²: Dokokade nakushita aitsu no aitsu"

English Dubbed / Subbed Version

Released: 2002

Version: DVD (Central Park Media & U.S. Manga)

Approx. Rating: PG-13 (for swearing and sexuality)

Length: Approx. 75 minutes (25 minutes per episode)

English Cast: Jessica Calvello (as Karin Aoi), Veronica Lake (as Tomoko Saeki), Rachael Lillis (as Ami Kurimoto), Liam O'Brien (as Junta Momonari)

Japanese Cast: Keiichi Nanba (as Momonari Junta), Mina Tominaga (as Aoi Karin), Hiroko Kasahara (as Kurimoto Ami), Megumi Hayashibara (as Saeki Tomoko)

Synopsis:

This is a story about a boy named Junta who is allergic to girls. Whenever he sees too much of their flesh, he pukes. A girl from the future named Karin comes to shoot Junta. Why? Because he will supposedly become the "Mega-Playboy," who impregnates 100 women, who in turn bear 100 more Mega-Playboys and in the future this has caused major overpopulation. Unfortunately, Karin shoots Junta with the wrong bullet and actually makes him into the Mega-Playboy. Now she must stop him without falling for him herself.

The Review:

Yes, this show has an odd premise. I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I started it. However, it actually doesn't have much in the nudity department. I think they eschew that for occasional panty shots or just a little cleavage in each episode.

The story of the first episode introduces us to all the characters. There's Junta, Ami (a girl with a crush on Junta), Tomoko (a weird girl who doesn't seem to know what she wants), and Karin, the girl from the future. Tomoko has a boyfriend that cheats on her, so to get him angry / jealous, she invites Junta over. Tomoko acts like she's going to get naked and Junta promptly pukes.

Karin pops into the show somewhere around here and we learn that she does genetic recombination-type stuff. And that she's here to shoot Junta. After Tomoko and Junta's fun, we meet Tomoko's boyfriend. He goes off about how his DNA calls for other girls' DNA as well as Tomoko's and how it longs to be bonded with hers, etc. It's pretty lame garbage, although it makes me think of pheromones, which is what he should have been talking about. However, this seems to be the explanation for the Mega-Playboy's power.

Well, Junta ends up getting shot, Karin gets into trouble, and Tomoko falls for the Mega-Playboy version of Junta. What? You didn't know he had another "version"?? Well, after Karin shoots him,  Junta's DNA becomes unstable and he "morphs" between the Mega-Playboy and Junta, thus making chicks swoon one moment and run the next when he yarfs.

The 2nd episode continues this theme. Junta ends up on a date with Tomoko and her jerk-beau hires some goons to go rough up Junta and mess up their date. Unfortunately, they also strip his girl. Junta's Mega-Playboy manifestation seems to be triggered by chicks in distress (or needing compliments), and he morphs and beats the snot out of the goons. It seems that the Mega-Playboy also is ultra-fast and good at fighting. Odd. I think this is stupid and it's also quite dumb that it takes Junta so long to change. He gets beat up for too long before the change. Looking at Tomoko's under clothes forever is not entertainment!!!

Finally, the 3rd episode (yes, this stupid DVD only has 3 episodes on it) is about Karin trying to fix Junta up with Ami. For some reason, Junta really likes Karen and wants to date her. So Karen promises to go on a date or something if Junta will hang out with Ami first. For some reason, Ami isn't affected by Playboy-Junta and lays the smack down. Whoohoo!!! 

And that is what the first three episodes are all about. I watched the first two in English and the last one subbed. I also had the sub on for a little while during one of the other episodes. The translations are almost identical, which is kind of sad. One reason to watch it subbed is that it's usually different enough that you get to learn new things about the show. Oh well. The sub was ok in that it was easy to follow. The dub is also ok. There's nothing special about it. Tomoko is too breathy (or something. It's hard to describe), so she's annoying. The rest of the cast is decent with Karen being the best as she's done by the lady that did Mink from Dragon-Half.

The Good Stuff:

The Bad Stuff:

This show was pretty fun to watch. I enjoyed it, however I do not recommend it for the younger set due to the language and some of the content. DNA² is for people that enjoy oddball comedy along the lines of Ranma 1/2.