Dragon Half

It's rare to be able to say that a two-OVA series is any good, let alone terrific. However, Dragon Half completely obliterates the rule that short anime aren't worth your time. In fact, Dragon Half is possibly the best comedy show I've seen in a great long while, and part of the reason is that it doesn't overstay its welcome. It's a highly entertaining way to spend an hour.

Dragon Half is the story of Mink, a young woman who's the offspring of a great hero and a red dragon that stole his heart. (And yes, thankfully, the dragon took on human form...don't even go there.) She's caught in the middle of an evil king's attempt to take his revenge on her dad...and what's a girl to do when your primary enemy is the idol singer you love? Hilarity ensues as Mink and her friends destroy every fantasy convention you know as they fight for their survival...or something like that.

Dragon Half is a parody, a comedy, a huge laughball of a show. It employs super-deformed characters, which usually irritate me to no end. Here, though, they are not only appropriate but also incredibly funny. The first half of the first episode and the second half of the second one are so hysterical that I couldn't even control my laughter at times...this is one kooky show that is just perfect. The animation itself isn't spectacular, but it doesn't need to be, not for this kind of program. The characters are well-developed for a show of this length--and did I mention how funny it is? Trust me on this one--you need to see it.

If the show has a fault, it's that it makes you laugh so hard at times that certain points in the show that actually build the plot and set up the following gags feel a little slow. This is only a minor point. Overall, there's not much to say on this one since you need to see it for yourself to really appreciate it. It won't change the world, but it will almost certainly put a grin on your face. Any fantasy fan (or comedy buff) simply must pick this up.

Dragon Half -- brief nudity, comedic violence, language -- A