The original Cobra manga by Buichi Terasawa is a classic, but Osamu Dezaki’s movie adaptation is legendary, and this ultra-HD Blu-ray doesn’t disappoint.
Released in 1982, the movie covers the first arc of the manga, which started in 1978. It features the titular, roguish Cobra, who has undergone facial reconstruction to hide from his enemies. His enemies are the criminal Pirate Guild, who have put the biggest bounty ever on Cobra’s head.
However, Cobra is by no means your typical rogue. Despite his seemingly goofy charm, his left arm can change into the terrifyingly potent Psychogun. It’s this weapon that gives away his new identity as he is, naturally, chasing after a lady called Jane Royal.
While Jane is a bounty hunter who was after Cobra, she decides the better of it and falls in love with him instead. All the while, the leader of the Pirate Guild, the surreal Crystal Bowie, is now aware of his quarry’s new identity and so everything kicks off.
The manga itself was and is curiously strange, and Dezaki’s adaptation in anime form tries to imbue that. Much of the dialogue feels dreamlike in delivery and is somewhat untethered to the characters.
The visuals can also feel quite disconnected and almost trippy at times, but the overall effect is quite special and unique in terms of anime.
As the story progresses, Cobra meets more ladies, and the scope of the conflict grows, too, with the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance.
Cobra, as a character, is also very typical of the era, and while a rogue, he is also quite upbeat. Comparisons to the likes of James Bond and Han Solo feel off, but Cobra is more of a cheerful and cheeky character.
The setting also makes for a fascinating take on space opera, as you have all these wonderfully designed aliens, almost Lensman-esque in their variety, but also a weirdly groovy undertone. Even Crystal Bowie as a villain is pretty out there when it comes to science fiction.
I also remember watching a rather awkward dub of this movie when it finally received an international release. However, the updated musical score by Yello was interesting. So, it is very much appreciated to have this movie in insanely high quality, as it was originally intended. This release also includes the aforementioned dub and Yello score, which is a nice touch.
Overall, Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie is a trippy and groovy classic, not only as an anime but also because of how it adapts the manga. Dezaki is rightly revered, but I genuinely think this is one of his best movies, and at this level of fidelity, it’s not to be missed.
Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie is currently available from Amazon for $34.95.
Disclosure: I was sent this Blu-ray for the purposes of this review.
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