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![The Knight Sabers [Linna, Priss, Sylia, and Nene]](newbgc1.JPG)
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Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040 is a retelling of a classic Japanese animated series that was made from the mid-eighties to early-nineties. The main characters, Sylia Stingray, Priss Asagiri, Nene Romanova, and Linna Yamazaki, have all returned for the new series, as have some others, such as Leon McNichol, Daily Wong, Macky Stingray, Brian J. Mason, and Quincy. Their appearances have changed drastically in some cases, most notably with Sylia. Once a mature, elegant beauty, she now looks much more youthful and carefree. In truth, she looks closer to her actual age, now lacking the hardened, chiseled features of the former Sylia Stingray. One can only wonder what it will look like when this new cherub turns to Priss and threatens to enforce the eleven regulations. Many fans are upset about the changes made in designs of the characters and Boomers. There is a page called Die Hard BGC Fans Against Tokyo 2040. What makes this anti-Tokyo 2040 movement interesting is that none of the people against the series have even watched it. They also tend to glum to the same reasons that they dislike this new series. Sylia looks too young. Nene is a blonde. Quincy looks like Fu Manchu. Such are rather trival if the series plays out well and delivers a good plot, character development, subplots, and subtexts. If it latches on to Sylia's new-found cuteness too much, it will be a failure. If it uses that cuteness as a strange sort of literary foil for a cold, distant personality, it will be much more successful. At the risk of being shunned by other fans of the original OVAs, I think this series will probably turn out better than the previous one. It has twenty-six episodes to use for character development, thus no longer feeling incomplete. It can also learn from the flaws of the original series. What were some of the problems with the first? Too much focus on Priss, episodes that felt rushed, vague characterization, and so on. The list is really immense when one takes a moment to sit down and write it. With this new series there should be a flowing plot that will take the characters from the beginning to the end, putting them through hell and happiness. Aspects that did not work with the original can be redone, and the series will be more thorough. One of the major problems with the original was that the questions that weren't answered, weren't answered because the budget ran out, not because Suzuki is a literary genius. This time that problem will doubtfully occur like before. This new series has the chance to be the next Neon Genesis Evangelion, with the depth and realism of that series, rather than a floundering, occasionally brilliant but often failed attempt to tell the audience a story about racism, vengeance, victory, and love. Before one judges this show, one must watch it. Deciding that one does not like it because Nene's hair is no longer pink is really quite sad. Is the reason the original lasted so long with so many fans because Nene had pink hair? God, I hope not. If it is, that must mean that the human race is a pitifully shallow one. Look beyond how the characters appear and think about who they are beneath the surface. Personally speaking, I have nothing against the changes made and will continue to feel this way even if the series is a pitiful wreck. This is not the BGC the fans know, and they should realize this and expect it to change more and more as they watch it. The designs are not going to be the extent of the alterations, but this does not matter. The fact is that the old series still exists and anyone who is dissatisfied with the new one and prefers the original needs to merely go back to that with which he or she is comfortable. If you hate it, don't want it. I plan to watch it and hopefully enjoy it as a new series and not a continuation of the previous one. It is a new series, with no relation to the original, and should be treated as such.
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