Search - Baoh on DVD

Solid anime thriller with sci-fi theme and nonstop action

Brian Camp | Bronx, NY | 07/10/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"BAOH is a compact anime sci-fi action thriller about a teenaged boy injected with "Baoh," a parasitic worm which gives him a series of steadily accelerating super powers and bio-engineered weapons which he uses to defend himself against the onslaught of agents and assassins sent to kill him after he escapes from a top secret corporate-government project. Made in 1989, it has exactly the kind of detailed and boldly drawn comic book-style illustration and fluidly animated scenes of violent action that make so much anime of the mid-to-late 1980s so distinctive. When the boy goes into defensive "Baoh" mode, he dispatches his heavily-armed pursuers in the most spectacularly gory fashion this side of NINJA SCROLL. For those who need a break from such carnage there are scenes with the boy's cute and spunky sidekick, Sumire, a nine-year-old girl whose psychic powers make her a target of the bad guys as well. When the girl is eventually abducted and held hostage, "Baoh" launches a one-man assault on the organization's secret headquarters.

My only complaint is that, as a single OAV volume running just under 47 minutes, it's way too short. It's based on a manga that was published in English (by Viz) in two volumes and it follows the look of the manga and the overall storyline very closely. The anime leaves out various incidents that would have filled out the story, explained things a little more, and given it a little more depth. If they'd simply filmed everything in the manga they would have had a very satisfying 90-to-100-minute feature-length film or two-part OAV. Still, it's a consistently enjoyable work for fans of this genre and one which rates repeat viewings."

Excellent Action Anime!!!!!!!

apocalypso79@hotmail.com | Huntington, WV USA | 09/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have seen several anime movies and this one, along with Riding Bean, is the best I've seen!!! It has a nice plot that's not too complicated yet not stupid like many other animes. If you are an anti-violent person when it comes to cartoons then do not buy this, This is a very bloody and violent movie and the artwork is excellent!!!"

I'm a new Baoh fan

Ronnie Clay | Winnsboro, Louisiana | 07/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Reason to get this movie. It has: action, drama, gore blood, profanity, emotion, great animation. This is a great classic 80's anime just like "Akira"."

A new name for Guyver?

myrriden | 02/11/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is an anime you'll either love... or hate. Following the style of Guyver, a young man gains superhuman abilities due to a bio booster - in this case a parasite.But BAOH, while low on plot, was quite enjoyable for me. The story is merely one section of an entire history not even discussed by the movie, which you could read in the manga. What did Dr. Kasuminome go into this field, what prompted him? Why did Ikuro become so attached to Sumire? You're treated, in this video, a single snapshot of a potentially wonderful series. I recommend you watch it at least once... in my opinion its on par with the old 80's greats. Bubblegum Crisis, Guyver, Ranma, and Dirty Pair."