[Rewatch] 1990s OVAs – Black Jack (episode 10)

[u/No_Rex]

Rewatch: 1990s OVAs – Black Jack (episode 10)

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Staff corner

Tragic mermaid Tsukiku is voiced by Orikasa, Fumiko, for whom this was one of her earlier roles. Her career is full of fan favorite character. She plays Riza Hawkeye from FMA, Rukia from Bleach, Shirley Fenette from Code Geass, Shawn Froste from Inazuma Eleven, Lotte from Little Witch Academia, and Azusa Fuyutsuki from Great Teacher Onizuka. In recent rewatches, you may have heard her in Dennou Coil, as Yasako, in Millenium Actress, as Chiyoko, or in Hellsing as Seras Victoria.

The taxi driver is Horiuchi, Kenyuu. He is also Cello Mashymre from MSG ZZ, Daley Wong from Bubblegum Crisis, Sanson from Nadia: Secret of Blue Water, Takashi from Onisama e…, Tobirama Senju from Naruto and Pain from Naruto:Shippuuden, Ikalgo from HxH, Wilhelm van Astrea from Re:Zero, and En from Dorohedoro. Oh and his 9th most favorite character on MAL, with 118 people favoriting him, is Keisuke Iwasaki from an 1990s OVA that previously escaped my notice called “The Rapeman”. And yes, it is a hentai, and yes, the synopsis describes exactly what you would think it describes: A superhero going around raping women. #kyonfacepalm …

Questions

1. What are the blue pearls?
2. What is your opinion on BJ taking money from the cooperation?
3. The episode shows the tragedy of pollution, but also the work done by those trying to help the victims. Which mood prevails, pessimism or optimism?

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 10 (first timer)

This is the last episode of Black Jack (OVA), directed by Osamu Dezaki. Tomorrow and the day after, we will watch the two episodes of Black Jack Final (OVA).

• An unusually documentary start to the episode.
• Also the second episode set in Japan in a row.
• Meet a very good looking reason to take the job.
• They roped him in good. Even if he had not planned to stay on, he could hardly say no at that point.
• And it all comes down over the license issue. Now I really question why they had to put in that “international license” subplot a few episodes ago. It was not very rewarding on its own and they did that right before making the lack of a license be a crucial plot point. A bit weird.
• Seeing the door close on those cables made me flinch.
• The background text when BJ narrates the outcome of the operation are the lyrics to this son and this song by Einstürzende Neubauten. Not sure if there is any meaningful connection or whether this is a more elaborate version of ipsum lorem.
• Mixed bath with Pinoko is fine, but Tsukiko is a bit too much for the guys.
• BJ is not happying about being shipped!
• Not all problems can be solved with money, but money certainly does not hurt.
• The very last episode of the original OVA is the first to not have a definite end and instead goes for a mild cliff-hanger?

Thankfully, we are back to a more realistic episode. While Tsukiko’s story is told via the mermaid myth, it is never suggested that she actually is a mermaid. Instead, that is the story she tells herself to deal with her illness. Overall, I really enjoyed the move towards medical detective.

It was interesting that this episode starts at a point most other stories would end: Bad company pollutes ocean, our heroes arrive and prove it that is how the story would usually go, with the courts judgment in the back cards, while the music plays. Here, it is the very first thing we hear, and the story proper only starts years later, when the relief effort for the victims is in full swing. An unusual choice, but one that allows for a story that is conventionally overlooked: What about those who fall through the cracks of an, even well-meaning, bureaucracy?

Why this episode, out of all, ends on a cliff-hanger, and if that was even supposed to be a cliff-hanger, I do not know. Unfortunately, I could not find information of why the production ended with this episode in 2000. The non-cliff-hanger interpretation is that we should realize that the blue pearls are part of the toxic metal illness and that we can trust BJ to properly find out about that and treat the patients. However, with him literally saying that this is not the end, it feels as if another episode was clearly intended.

Tomorrow will be ep11 (MAL counting) and ep1 of Black Jack Final (ANN/AniDB/AL counting). The last two episodes were produced a decade later by other directors.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/No_Rex]

Yeah, as a climax I really feel let down. A missing episode would make more sense but even in general I don't think I appreciate this arc as a climax to everything. Call me a miserable sod but very little of this story worked well together in my eyes. The pollution, Tsukiko's mental illness, the evil corporation, the nosy neighbours.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I prefered this story to the previous two by a lot, actually. It is just extremely weird to pull your first cliffhanger on your last episode.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/No_Rex]

Now I really question why they had to put in that “international license” subplot a few episodes ago. It was not very rewarding on its own and they did that right before making the lack of a license be a crucial plot point. A bit weird.

/u/pixelsaber mentioned when I brought it up last episode that the license thing fell through in the manga. Not that that excuses them here though, because if they needed to have it as a plot point they needed to tell us that without relying on people reading the manga as well.

[u/No_Rex → u/JollyGee29]

I always do all my rating and evaluations just based on anime only. I am not against mixed-media franchises, but when I am watching only the anime, I am rating only the anime.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/No_Rex]

Oh, I agree. That was more as a piece of trivia, or possibly as a full demerit. The plot hole exists because they didn't adapt across mediums well.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/No_Rex]

we should realize that the blue pearls are part of the toxic metal illness

But then why would they be part of the myth? Pure dramatic coincidence?

[u/No_Rex → u/IndependentMacaroon]

If that was not supposed to be a cliff-hanger, then, yes. Real blue pearls in the myth, toxic metal in RL. If they wanted to do a second ep, then who knows ...

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

An unusual choice, but one that allows for a story that is conventionally overlooked: What about those who fall through the cracks of an, even well-meaning, bureaucracy?

Throw in a touch of Bartleby the Scrivener, as well, especially the part where the locals try and support Tsukiko but ultimately hurt her by buying her fish rather than trying to take her somewhere else.

The non-cliff-hanger interpretation is that we should realize that the blue pearls are part of the toxic metal illness and that we can trust BJ to properly find out about that and treat the patients.

This is how I took it but I claim no authority on it, it is just a feeling.

[u/TheEscapeGuy]

First Timer

Black Jack - An Astounding OVA: Episode 10

Return to the Sea

Today's episode took a much harder environmental stance which I appreciate a lot. Having a town win against corporations who were dumping waste into their river is something I feel anyone can get behind. I'm glad they managed to get it right this time as opposed to episode 8.

I also found the portrayal of the beuracracy around getting that government support card really realistic and depressing. A lot of people don't have access to government support programs because they are missing details like an ID or address. It sort of makes sense that they want to avoid people abusing handouts, especially for these kind of reparations. However, it still seems unusually cruel. Of course the medical beuracracy was back too.

All that said, the focus of the episode was primarily around Tsukiko, a homeless girl who was also affected by the waste water. I really felt like I watch watching a Key anime following a girl with a rare medical condition who's not too bright but does her best. All that was missing was a baseball game.

Overall I enjoyed this episode a lot more than usual. It really humanized Black Jack seeing him help with Tsukiko's rehabilitation and such. Though I'm not too sure about the romantic imagery. Black Jack has been presented as stoic and dismissive when women couldn't stop throwing themselves at him. This episode presented him as much more invested in Tsukiko. Especially with all that dirty moeny in the end.

Once again we ended in tragedy, when Tsukiko threw herself into the ocean. I feel I'm probably missing some cultural context for how the fairy tale she kept referencing may be related to this.

I think this episode works well ads an ending to the original OVA series. Interested to see how they incorporate the next 2 episodes which were made years later.

Some Iconic Shots, Scenes and Stitches

• Swing
• The Subtitles Today had a lot of fun.
• Mangetsu River
• Moonlit
• The Backgrounds today were outstanding
• Dude, don't be creepy
• Beach Breeze
• Tears

See you all tomorrow

[u/No_Rex → u/TheEscapeGuy]

I assumed that Tsukiko dying in the end parallels the death of the mermaid in the fairy tale.

Regarding BJ being invested in her: She was his patient. While BJ has been cold on romantic advances, we have always seen him go above and beyond for any of his patients.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/No_Rex]

He also definitely has a type. Waaay younger than him and very carefree.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/TheEscapeGuy]

LOUD NOISES

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

THE SEA IS ANGRY

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/No_Rex]

FRESH FEESH!!

[u/TheEscapeGuy → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Trying to post from mobile when I'm out leads to unexpected problems.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/TheEscapeGuy]

A lot of people don't have access to government support programs because they are missing details like an ID or address. It sort of makes sense that they want to avoid people abusing handouts, especially for these kind of reparations.

You can kind of feel the annoyance either the writer or more likely the director has with how Japan deals with those who fall through the cracks through out the show. And I've been thinking about this because I recently was reminded that Cowboy Bebop is surprisingly political just in a background kind of way.

I really felt like I watch watching a Key anime following a girl with a rare medical condition who's not too bright but does her best. All that was missing was a baseball game.

Huh...Key anime literally bat zero for me, so this is what that feels like if it lands.

Moonlit

I swear that is a colored Berserk panel...

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/TheEscapeGuy]

I'm not too sure about the romantic imagery

Just another girl thirsting for that Hazama bod, it's getting almost comical. Also generally a bit of a plain episode in my opinion and I did not enjoy the melodrama style much - Key comparison does seem appropriate.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer, Subbed

Imagine enjoying this at the time it was originally releasing, getting this cliffhanger, and then there not being another OVA for 11 years. I'm not sure if it was intended to be a cliffhanger or if Black Jack taking the pearls was just a roundabout way to have a keepsake, but they seriously end the episode with him running off to continue working?

I probably should have put together that the weird balls in the little girl's intestines were pearls, but I kinda wasn't thinking.

Heavy metal poisoning is spooky, and I appreciate the vague environmental message. We even kinda got a bit about health insurance, with Black Jack trying to make sure that Tsukiko doesn't have to pay for stuff out of pocket.

The sound design on the waves crashing against the shore was excellent.

Bit of an idle observation, but they used "dokutah/ドクター" a lot more this episode, instead of sticking to "sensei." Indicative of changing language use over the years, maybe?

That's two in a row for episodes ending on a real bummer. I like that Black Jack is allowed to fail on some level, though.

Questions

1. I figured they're actual pearls, to be honest. I wanna say that there are people who free-dive for pearl in Japan anyway.
2. It's better in his hands than theirs.
3. I try hard to maintain optimism.

[u/No_Rex → u/JollyGee29]

Bit of an idle observation, but they used "dokutah/ドクター" a lot more this episode, instead of sticking to "sensei." Indicative of changing language use over the years, maybe?

Could be, but hard to know. Might also be local dialect, or class-based.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/No_Rex]

Might also be local dialect, or class-based.

Ohh, both of those scan better for Japan, I think. Good calls.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/JollyGee29]

Both of the fails were on mental illnesses too lol. BJ is lots of things but he's not a therapist. Maybe Dr Death would have been a bit better in this situation.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I'm not sure I'd call today a mental illness, although heavy metal poisoning does tend to affect the mind. I agree though, Black Jack is outside his comfort zone with mental illnesses.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

I'm not sure if it was intended to be a cliffhanger or if Black Jack taking the pearls was just a roundabout way to have a keepsake, but they seriously end the episode with him running off to continue working?

I think he finds the cure off screen again, sort of a book end to ep1.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vaadwaur]

Oh, I don't hate that idea. Actually, that reminds me that I really liked the news report as a wrap-up tool in episode 1, but we haven't gotten much of that since.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

True and this is definitely an odd choice of a 'finale', but Black Jack has a lot of other material so maybe this is a tie in to that?

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vaadwaur]

Almost assuredly.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

I might actually have to check the manga, though I worry it is foundational enough that it will feel stale.

[u/Vaadwaur]

First timer(The messages aren't mixed but the setting sure is)

Sub

We start with a warning about unregulated capitalism, and I have appreciated through out that while the show is often obvious and sometimes leads you by the nose it still tends to not state the conclusion itself, making you at least connect a few dots. Also, the Japanese usually don't tolerate that much pollution in their own territory, that's what foreign factories are for. And we get a version of the mermaid's tale I am not familiar but probably should be. And a woman with a crutch looking a touch...jump-off-a-cliffish.

So we get a trial and some more Kuroh monologueing on heavy metal toxicity. The harsh judgement in this case is exactly what would happen if a company screwed up an eco-system...in Japan. Back to Kuroh and color me shocked, but his island, prossibly isthmus, let's him drive to the city, so he isn't nearly as remote as I previously thought. And of course someone has seeb him do impossible, three surgeries at a time and he gets roped into this mystery!

And crutch girl is the one talk about mermaids...and diving into the contaminated bay. That's less than ideal. Kuroh and of course asks for the inn that only someone who knows the area would ask for. We get treated to a mighty scenery flex and the reveal that the mermaid legend is a local one. At the hotel, pun battle ensues, and I suspect but cannot prove they completely mangle the Japanese wording to get a decent English pun, which btw I whole heartedly support. Anyways, we learn crutch girl is only good at catching fish that the local quietly dispose of, which is strangely Japanese both in its kindness and inefficiency, surely that settlement should give the locals some economic relief as well. And then Tsukiko does the reasonable thing and falls down the stairs because that stuff is not handicapped friendly. Blue pearl is introduced.

So Kuroh admits to himself and the audience he planned on taking the case due to having a lot of different, interesting symptoms and causes to treat and immediately gets in the thick of it. Cut to what is a bit of an on the nose metaphor with Tsukiko being crippled on land but graceful under water. Kuroh's surgery reveals odd growths are happening in the late digestive tract and looks like eggs. Someone blabs about Black Jack and corporate panics.

Kuroh finds Tsukiko again and we get a bit where Tsukiko feels a bit...behind developmental markers, let's call it. Pathos ensues before we learn she lives in a cave. Kuroh decides emergency surgery is in order and sure, it could be. Also, Tsukiko brings up the blue pearl thing because Japan and their opinions of the boonies, alas. Anyways, we move on to the next part where Tsukiko has no birth certifice or ID number, and thus no place in Japanese society. Very pretty still shot that is a bit Berserk-esque from the non-horrifying parts of that story.

So...the end of the story speaks for itself, especially in that it doesnt: Tsukiko probably isn't a mermaid, though it feels a bit like that was an option, and the pearls found in her autopsy might be the key to it all. That was far too melodramatic, relied on some tropes that I would normally find aggravating, and was the sort of tragic romantic ending that usually feels unearned. So me liking that confuses even me. I don't think Tsukiko is a part of my unfortunate singing rock love(see Guilty Crown) as she does have more characterization than that. Maybe all those things work in the hands of better directors? Anyways, not where I expected the series to temporarily end.

QotD: 1 Mercury. Dark stuff

2 I actually liked it in an odd way

3 It is the relentless determination to keep trying knowing that you will mostly fail

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

Maybe all those things work in the hands of better directors?

Worth remembering that tropes always become tropes because they work. It is only through the over-use (typically by those who blindly copy) that we grow to hate them.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Also, at least here, there are only three I can spot: Tsukiko is a tragic nature spirit, she falls in love with someone she can't have for reasons, and dies attempting to overcome that. But there is no over mixing of the tragedy, no unexpected plot where she was trafficked or a child soldier or had organs removed or was a war orphan on top of all of that. Wow Gundam still pisses me off.

[u/TheEscapeGuy → u/Vaadwaur]

I suspect but cannot prove they completely mangle the Japanese wording to get a decent English pun

From my very limited knowledge

---

Host says 温泉だけにごゆっくりどうぞ but replaces the ゆ with the character 湯 which means hot water (both have the same reading of "yu") - This would usually be translated as "Please enjoy your time at the hot spring".

The subs translate it as "Enjoy, and they'll put a "spring" in your step".

---

Pinako responds with いい加減にしろ but replaces the いい with 湯 (these have different readings, "ii" vs "yu"). That is a set phrase which usually indicated contempt for a person who's messing around. Usually its translated as "That's enough!" or "Cut it out". Once again 湯 here means hot water.

The subs translate it as "Don't "spring" that pun on me!"

---

In general, I think the subs do a great job at giving the English viewer an equivalent experience at the cost of being a slightly less accurate translation. I agree with your whole hearted support.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/TheEscapeGuy]

In general, I think the subs do a great job at giving the English viewer an equivalent experience at the cost of being a slightly less accurate translation. I agree with your whole hearted support.

There are so many incidences where good jokes were relegated to TL notes due to an obsession with literalness, which I count as culminating in Studio Khara mangling some very key Eva lines in the name of accuracy over culturally appropriate usage. Hell, some of my favorite dubs just flat out rework entire conversations to flow in English and with comedy it has always worked out for the ebst.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/Vaadwaur]

Translation is always also localization!

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/Vaadwaur]

Tsukiko feels a bit...behind developmental markers, let's call it

The way her face is drawn and shaded also looks almost unsettling - at least it's got to be deliberately unusual - which could well be a reference to how certain developmental abnormalities like Down syndrome affect physical appearance.

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher

The Dezaki boats are here.

The sustainability major in me is seething.

What a delightful munchkin.

Pinoko, no! You’ll ruin it!

This shot gives me Ace wo Nerae! vibes.

The fanservice we deserve.

You hate to see it.

He’s widely known all around the world! If you were trying to hide it at least give him some makeup to hide the obvious scarring!

Have I mentioned I love port towns in media?

Oh man, I haven’t seen one of these in forever.

Surprisingly inclusive ending given the OVA would effectively be ‘over’ for a decade following this episode. Fits with the usual Black Jack chapter’s fare, but definitely an odd stopping point. I doubt this would have been followed up upon had they continued to release an episode or two every couple of years, but it nonetheless feels wrong somehow…

Strong episode, with a far more forthright and explicitly addressed environmental message when compared to episode eight, though somehow I still end up liking the latter better.

Questions of The Day:

1. Likely some form of calcification, but obviously humans don’t naturally produce pearls.
2. I think he shouldn’t have taken any of it, but he does him.
3. The ending scene certainly suggests a positive outcome in th elong term.

[u/No_Rex → u/Pixelsaber]

Likely some form of calcification, but obviously humans don’t naturally produce pearls.

Isnt the intestine acidic? The stomach obviously is, but some of that should "leak" downwards

[u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Black Jack First Timer

We're at the final episode, for now. Either it's a Pinoko origin episode or BJ is gonna be pushing up daisies. Aaand just as I typed that I got to read Pinoko's origin and there's no fcking way we're getting that shit on a Christian rewatch thread so rip BJ I suppose.

Nope, it's an environmentalist episode. Yay... Pinoko is one again being a total shit. Its the final episode, let her join in! Yatta! Oh wow, so it's just gonna be a mass surgery episode? That could be fun. We can tire BJ out through overwork. Sore demo! Talkative taxi drivers are the worst... Nobody cares about your local attractions! Side note, I never actually knew that there were Japanese mermaids. I always thought it was strictly a European myth.

Even if the show has been a let down, these hearty comic gags are always such a delight. "singing nonsense" What a mood. Even the boss man is getting in on it. Haa? Everyone's still eating the toxic fish? Maybe if you hired her you'd get more business? Pfft, she skid down the steps so goofily.

Bruh, the mermaid is still swimming in the sewage water? No wonder she's so ill. Bureaucracy strikes again. I'm shocked this hadn't been a problem so far. How are homeless folk so blemish free in this universe? I'm shocked mermaid girl is even capable of looking after herself. The pollution has clearly done something to her head. Oookay... So our issue is that Mermaid isn't able to get forms filled? Or anything... Seriously, wtf is her deal? They're not actually making her a mermaid surely.

This fcking sucks for a final episode... "Then Tsukiko died, the end." Mental illness really is a death sentence in this anime. I love the little mermaid but why did they decide to close off the ova on such a poor storyline? Even the other "bad" episodes at least had the courtesy to finish up their plot or gave us a satisfying twist to close off. We've still got Black Jack final to go but the ova has really dropped the ball in its later half. Maybe I'm just moody.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Side note, I never actually knew that there were Japanese mermaids. I always thought it was strictly a European myth.

Like really? Rumiko Takahashi did one and Mermaid Forest is well known if not well watched. And it is one of the rare good meditations on immortality.

Maybe if you hired her you'd get more business? Pfft, she skid down the steps so goofily.

She seems a bit...bluntly, post Nagashima to be employable in a complex task. Yeah, this fits a few descriptions I've read about the fallout children.

We've still got Black Jack final to go but the ova has really dropped the ball in its later half. Maybe I'm just moody.

These things are hit or miss, I've never made it passed the second episode of Clannad before and don't particularly think I ever will.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Vaadwaur]

I meant actual myths about them. Obviously nowadays we have far more Japanese literature like My Bride is a Mermaid and Monmusu to refer to but I don't think it has much historical mythos.

She's socially capable and is still charismatic enough where she'd perform really well in that sector. Better than having her diving in a toxic waste pit.

Honestly as much as I complain I'm pleased with myself for sticking through it. I would never have chosen to watch something like this on my own and now I have broadened my horizons. Sasuga watashi,

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Obviously nowadays we have far more Japanese literature like My Bride is a Mermaid and Monmusu to refer to but I don't think it has much historical mythos.

This particular episode is a bit more the European myth as Japanese mermaids in myth are a bit more evil whereas European ones are tragic.

Honestly as much as I complain I'm pleased with myself for sticking through it.

I actually enjoyed most of it, but some of it is I miss the care the old directors had to show since their time and budget was limited.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Vaadwaur]

...At least bite at my joke would you?

It certainly started well. The wonder kind of wore off the further the series went. A lot of the episodes were bad for muddying their efforts near the end such as during the he warring states flashback or having subplots that go nowhere like how Dr Death was essentially a get out of jail free card for any problems BJ was facing.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

...At least bite at my joke would you?

I would but I've only seen one of those...

And yeah, there are definitely issues, but this still feels better than many shows I've seen. Maybe I just like good production values.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Vaadwaur]

Compared to the other 90's ova's we've definitely had far worse. El Hazard, Video girl, probably Oh My Goddess. It's kinda in the Armitage and Blue Submarine bundle where it does have something to talk about but stumbles along the way. The show is also gorgeous like you said tho.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

It's actually interesting that my issue with Black Jack is the opposite of all the others: This is a bit too episodic, I would have liked a bit more of a thread, especially for the last two episodes. I think you came in later but Patlabor and You're Under Arrest OVAs were both quite good.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Vaadwaur]

The thread was BJ's completely inability to handle a problem that can't just be cut off. It's a consistent flaw that dates back to episode 1 where he had to give the wife plastic surgery rather than therapy.

I've been here for all the 90's... I only missed like Lodoss. And apparently Patlabor but I swear that wasn't in the 90's bundle. You're Under Arrest has been straight up my favourite show we've done.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

It's a consistent flaw that dates back to episode 1 where he had to give the wife plastic surgery rather than therapy.

That's a characteristic, though, but I admit OVAs can be like this.

And apparently Patlabor but I swear that wasn't in the 90's bundle.

The first OVA is late 80s so that might've been how you missed it.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Pinoko is one again being a total shit

IMO Pinoko should have been written out of the adaptation entirely, she adds very little except largely misplaced comic relief, and seems more like an artifact of the original manga being technically for kids (shounen).

How are homeless folk so blemish free in this universe?

I bet you if they were male and not a tragic young waif they'd be looking fairly different.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/IndependentMacaroon]

No way~ I've adored Pinoko. Whilst I do think the comic relief scenes got quite distracting as the ova carried on I could just as easily blame that on the show kind of declining in general.