Burn-Up Excess
| Company type | Anime television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Shinichiro Kimura (director) |
| Parent | Magic Bus |
Burn-Up Excess is a Japanese anime series directed by Shinichiro Kimura and produced by the animation studio Magic Bus. The show was broadcast between 1997 and 1998, comprising a total of 13 episodes. In North America, ADV Films distributed the series across four volumes on both VHS and DVD formats.
This anime delivers a playful and self-aware depiction of "Team Warrior," an elite tactical unit within the Tokyo police department. The series is notable for its abundant fan service, including ADV's distinctive "Jiggle Counter" feature available on the DVD releases alongside titles like Plastic Little.
Plot summary
The storyline revolves around Rio Kinezono, a voluptuous member of Team Warrior who is known for her extravagant spending habits yet demonstrates exceptional skill in martial arts. She partners with Maya Jingu, a green-haired sniper who favors assault rifles. Their operations receive technological backing from Nanvel Candlestick, the team's inventive engineer responsible for developing advanced combat and surveillance equipment. Meanwhile, Lilica Ebett, sporting pink hair, handles expert-level computer hacking tasks, and Yuji Naruo serves as the team's voyeuristic pilot and driver. Leadership is provided by Maki Kawasaki, a superintendent wearing glasses who oversees field missions.
Throughout the series, they strive to expose a dark conspiracy involving the production and trafficking of military weaponry within the city.
Following the OVA miniseries Burn-Up W by AIC, Burn-Up Excess introduces some continuity discrepancies—most notably with the character Ruby, whose portrayal varies considerably despite both versions being part of the official canon.
Team Warrior
- Rio Kinezono
- The central protagonist of the series, Rio is a martial artist who juggles her routine desk duties at Policetown with dangerous assignments as part of Team Warrior. Her fondness for luxury compels her to pursue lucrative missions and cultivate affluent contacts to support her lavish lifestyle.
- Maki Kawazaki
- As Team Warrior’s commanding officer, Maki is recognized for her strict leadership style. She was appointed to lead the unit partly to redirect her investigation into the Black Diamonds. Maki’s personal history includes the tragic loss of her husband Masato, who died in an explosion on their wedding day.
- Lilica Ebett
- The team’s pink-haired computer expert responsible for delivering vital hacking capabilities and intelligence support from their control center.
- Maya Jingu
- Maya serves as the firearms specialist with distinctive green hair, often accessorized with a headband, providing essential tactical firepower during operations.
- Nanvel Candlestick
- The resident engineer and inventor behind Team Warrior’s sophisticated gadgets, known for incorporating purple and pink aesthetics into her designs.
- Yuji Naruo
- The only male member of Team Warrior and their vehicle specialist. Yuji has an unreciprocated affection for Rio and is notorious for his intrusive behavior in private moments involving female teammates.
- Rio's supervisor
- Rio’s direct superior demands prompt completion of assignments and frequently challenges her attempts to shirk responsibilities through charm.
Neo Tokyo Police
- Miyuki
- A traffic officer and Rio’s friend from their police academy days, Miyuki often faces similar pressures from her own superiors.
- Miyuki's supervisor
- Reflecting Rio’s experience, Miyuki also contends with constant demands from her commanding officer.
Osaka
- Jingu Syndicate
- A criminal faction operating in Osaka, commanded by Maya’s father.
- Maya's father
- The leader of the Jingu crime organization.
- Bob
- A red-haired operative within the Jingu Syndicate.
- Ken
- A syndicate member characterized by his glasses and stout figure.
- Tommy
- Participant in the syndicate's activities based in Osaka.
- Yamada
- A tall syndicate member who wears glasses.
- Gondo Construction
- A forceful real estate developer based in Osaka, intent on usurping the Jingu Syndicate through land acquisitions.
Neo Tokyo
- Ramen shop owners
- A couple managing the ramen restaurant adjacent to Police Town, parents of two children.
- Chi Mama
- Head of a cross-dressing thief ensemble and proprietor of a nightclub, who refers to Rio as "Stephanie."
- Underwear thief
- A masked individual stealing women's lingerie in Tokyo, revealed to be a cram school student.
- Prince Hasan
- Heir apparent to a Middle Eastern oil dynasty seeking protection from the Warriors. Rio initially plans to wed him to settle her debts but uncovers his true character.
- Thunderstorm
- A group determined to assassinate Prince Hasan to create turmoil in the Middle East.
- Henry
- An advanced AI-controlled strategic tank armed with machine guns and a high-powered pulse cannon capable of annihilating entire tank units. Team Warrior is tasked with escorting Henry from Japan to Switzerland.
Opponents
- Ruby
- The mastermind behind much of the criminal opposition against Team Warrior, well-funded and proficient in hand-to-hand combat. She masquerades as fashion designer Miriam Bardo during a Tokyo fashion event.
- Harry
- Ruby’s scarred superior and Maki’s ex-husband. Thought dead after an explosion at their wedding, he survived and became an international arms trafficker.
- Drone bugs
- Devices deployed by Ruby and Dawn Mirage to gain control over Neo Tokyo Tower.
- Shiguru Tomoyama
- Ex-prime minister of Japan involved in creating mechanized police and military units.
- Mecha Cops
- Robotic law enforcement units manufactured by Sukurada factory under Tomoyama’s oversight, featuring black diamond CPUs that make them resistant to most weapons. Designed for non-lethal crime control, they can outrun vehicles and integrate with Police Town systems for immediate data access.
Nanvel's Creations
Nanvel, the team’s electronics specialist, invents devices that aid their missions.
- Pin-Ele
- A large pink elephant-shaped hologram projector that alters appearances by transmitting images through flower-shaped headwear receivers. Nanvel develops three progressively smaller models, culminating in one compact enough for individual portability.
- Pink Cockroach
- A miniature cockroach-sized gadget used for covert audio-visual transmission and communication. It is said to function as a grenade if its wings open, although this capability is never demonstrated.
- Pink Rabbit
- A heavily armored large pink rabbit robot piloted by Nanvel from a glass cockpit. It lacks conventional weapons but can punch, kick, and fire its hands like pop guns. It is notably deployed against super androids in the series finale.
Episode Guide
Episodes 8 through 12 include brief segments titled "Yuji's Additional Theater," showcasing Yuji’s efforts to secretly film female characters in their underwear.