You could say that Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 is a remake of the 80's cyberpunk classic "Bubblegum Crisis". BC2040 has essentially the same cast of characters -- Sylia, owner of the Silky Doll Boutique and the cool, calculating leader of the Knight Sabers. Priss, the mysterious rock star and biker gal. There's also hacker extraordinaire Nene and the agile athlete Linna. It's also still basically Knight Sabers vs. Genom Corporation. The girls still take on the tough job of annihilating rampaging boomers... a number of eps seem to revolve on "boomer of the day" as a result. But that's where the similarities end. BC2040 benefits from more dynamic pacing and plot development. Action sequences are very impressive -- smoother and more intense, which makes for better viewing. All the girls are also given makeovers, the most dramatic being Sylia's. Sylia is now an Ifurita-esque hottie. I'm not complaining though as I've always thought the original Sylia was extremely lacking in the looks department. Plus I happen to think El Hazard's Ifurita is gorgeous. Each character is also given development -- something that's practically non-existent in the original BC. They are now more than just sexy fighting chicks, they're human just like us. Sylia is prone to wild mood swings. Linna is plagued with lack of confidence and self-doubt. Priss is always saying she's in it for the money. And Nene... well, Nene remains the cute and cheerful gal we know and love. The art and animation are excellent. The improvement over the original spans leaps and bounds. The girls look great and the hardsuits sport a sleeker and more streamlined look. The English dubbing is so-so. The girls' dub voices tend to sound whiney, which can be quite irritating. I much prefer the original Japanese voices. The music is just groovy, although less highlighted in this version of BC. If you liked the original BC, you'll love BC2040. If you hated the original BC, there's a chance you just might like this incarnation.
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