Assemble Insert

Assemble Insert(アッセンブル・インサート,Assenburu Insāto)is a 1985mangaseries byMasami Yuki(best known for his manga and anime seriesMobile Police Patlabor). The main character is a young would-beidolsinger and high school student, Maron Namikaze, who has superhuman strength. She battles amechaorganization, Demon Seed, which has been terrorizingTokyo.The manga was adapted into a 2 episodeanimeOVAin 1989. The series is a parody of Japanese pop culture.

Assemble Insert
The 2005 American DVD release.
アッセンブル・インサート (Assenburu Insāto)
Manga
Written by	Masami Yuki
Published by	Out Comics
Magazine	Aniparo Comics
Published	1985
Volumes	2
Original video animation
Directed by	Ami Tomobuki
Produced by	Maki Tarō Toyomi Akimoto
Written by	Michiru Shimada
Music by	Kohei Tanaka Kyōko Matsumiya
Studio	Studio Core Tohokushinsha Film
Licensed by	NA:Right Stuf Inc.
Released	December 21, 1989–February 20, 1990
Runtime	60 minutes
Episodes	2

Three CDs were released: a single on September 20, 1989, an image soundtrack on October 25, 1989, and a concert CD on March 5, 1990.

Plot

In near-future Tokyo, a group called the Demon Seed has been antagonizing the city with its thefts and giant robotic Power Suits. After various failed attempts against the Demon Seed, the Special Operations Anti-Demon Seed Team (five men in a downtown office) begins to look for an idol to pilot a robotic suit against the Demon Seed. A talent show is held; and after a particularly dull line-up of contestants, the extremely strong Maron Namikaze is discovered. She is fitted with a metal costume and sent to take the Demon Seed down, all the while having an idol singer career forced upon her.

Characters

• Maron Namikaze:The 13-year-old protagonist. She is very timid and nervous, but has been gifted with immense natural strength. Maron is trained to become a J-Pop idol and becomes popular enough to be entered for the Newcomer's Award in the music awards. For the American DVD release, Maron was claimed to be a high school senior, even in the subtitles.Voiced by:Hiroko Kasahara(Japanese);Jessica Calvello(English).
• Chief Hattori:The leader of the Special Operations team, later Maron's manager and coach. He wrote and submitted the Idol Project plans when he was drunk, and later to his chagrin, it was approved. Hattori was slightly modelled afterMasami Yuki's editor at the time.Voiced by:Norio Wakamoto(Japanese);J. David Brimmer(English).
• Dr. Ryouhei Shimokobe:The dwarf-sized researcher whom created Maron's costume. Before he knew the idol was a girl, he created aPatlabor-esque robot, which he later gave to the Demon Seed. He is very arrogant and proud of his work, soon becoming disgusted when Maron is converted into a singer instead of a fighter.Voiced by:Ichiro Nagai(Japanese);Christopher William(English).
• Professor Kyozaburo Demon:The leader of the Demon Seed. Very confident with his work, he believes the group can spend as much money as they want, thinking they can get more at any time. However, he runs out of money to fix the Power Suits after Maron's first interference, and takes the Demon Seed into hiding for a few months.Voiced by:Chikao Ohtsuka(Japanese); Christopher William (English).
• Kagiri Sonoba:An idol singer known for her provocative costumes. She gets into a one-sided rivalry with Maron after both girls turn out to be competing for the Newcomer's Award.Voiced by:Maria Kawamura(Japanese);Mandy Bonhomme(English)

Music

The opening theme, "Assemble Insert"(アッセンブル・インサート,Assenburu Insāto),had lyrics by and was composed byKyōko Matsumiya,was arranged byKohei Tanaka,and had vocals byHiroko Kasahara,the voice actor for Maron. The first ending theme, "That Guy"(あいつ,Aitsu),had lyrics and vocals by Kasahara, was composed by Matsumiya, and was arranged by Tanaka. The second ending theme, "Flax-colored Dream Jar"(あま sắc の mộng の つぼ,Amairo no Yume no Tsubo),had lyrics by and was composed by Matsumiyam was arranged by Tanaka, and had vocals by Kasahara.

There were fourinsert songs:

• "Sirocco Soaring Girl"(Gió nóng tường nữ,Neppū Shōjo):Lyrics and composition by Matsumiya, arrangement by Tanaka, vocals by Kasahara
• "The Love Gang"(Luyến の ギャングたち,Koi no Gyangu-tachi):Lyrics by Yoshiko Oga, composition and arrangement by Tanaka, vocals byMaria Kawamura
• "Excellent Change! Ultimate Sentai Kōgaman"(エクセレント・チェンジ! Cứu cực chiến đội コウガマン,Ekuserento Chenji! Kyūkyaku Sentai Kōgaman):Lyrics, composition, and vocals byMasayuki Yamamoto,arrangement by Tanaka
• "Love & Power": Lyrics and composition by Matsumiya, arrangement by Tanaka, vocals by Kasahara

Album releases

Three albums were released throughWarner Bros. Japan:

• A theme song single titledAssemble Insert(アッセンブル・インサート,Assenburu Insāto)was released on September 25, 1989 oncassette tapeand as a CD single.
• TheAssemble Insert Image Soundtrack(アッセンブル・インサート イメージ・サウンドトラック,Assenburu Insāto Imēji Saundotorakku)was released on October 25, 1989.
• The third album,Assemble Concert(アッセンブル・コンサート,Assenburu Konsāto),was released on March 25, 1990.

Reception

Helen McCarthyin500 Essential Anime Moviesstated that the OVA "remains an enjoyable bit of nonsense, with some of the biggest names on the anime scene on the crew list."

External links

• Assemble Insert(anime) atAnime News Network's encyclopedia