Battle Royale High School - Cult Manga Review

If you're a fan of classic '80s OVAs that throw caution (and coherent plotting) to the wind in favor of non-stop action, gore, and sheer absurdity, then Battle Royale High School is a must-see. This 1987 one-shot anime, not connected to the popular film duology (starring Beat Takeshi) or manga, is an hour-long, unhinged journey that somehow manages to cram just about every genre imaginable into its runtime.

The story, such as it is, centers on Riki Hyoudo, a high school karate champion with a penchant for wearing a leopard mask. Riki's martial arts prowess, it turns out, is tied to an ancient interdimensional prophecy. He's psychically linked to Byoudo, the demon king of the Dark Realm, who, thanks to some fairy mischief and a lightning ball reminiscent of Arnold's first appearance as the Terminator, finds himself on Earth and eventually possesses Riki. From there, things spiral gloriously out of control. We're introduced to a stern demon slayer, a space/time continuum inspector in power armor, a love triangle, grotesque monsters, and enough exploding bodies to make your head spin. The plot is less a cohesive narrative and more a series of escalating, wildly entertaining events designed to facilitate as much over-the-top violence as possible.

This OVA delivers on its promise of ultra-violence as the fight scenes are frequent, well-choreographed, and genuinely brutal. There's plenty of blood, dismemberment and exploding demons. The pacing is a non-stop assault of events and there's rarely a dull moment as the story rushes from one ridiculous scenario to the next.

The animation and character designs are a fantastic blend of '80s and early '90s aesthetics, with Nobuteru Yuki who would later work on the stunning The Vision of Escaflowne, handling character design. Hideaki Anno and Shirō Sagisu, who worked on Evangelion several years later, both worked on this too so there is some pedigree. However, don't go in expecting a deep or logical story as characters appear and disappear, motivations are thin, and the plot often feels like an afterthought to the action. It's less a narrative and more a series of connected set pieces. There's virtually no time for character development; everyone is an archetype, serving simply to move the carnage along. The sheer absurdity of it all, especially in the English dub, can lead to some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments, though not always intentionally.

So, if you can turn off your brain and just enjoy the ride, Battle Royale High School is incredibly fun. It's the kind of "so bad it's good" experience that cult classics are made of.

Battle Royale High School is absolutely worth watching if you appreciate the wild, untamed spirit of '80s anime OVAs. It's not a masterpiece by any means but it's a fantastic example of spectacle and immediate gratification in lieu of any real meaning. It's a loud, bloody, and thoroughly enjoyable hour of anime that embraces its own ridiculousness. It's well worth an hour of your time.