The 1980s were a golden age for anime OVAs, cranking out wild, experimental, and unforgettable one-off titles that pushed boundaries in both storytelling and animation. Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01, directed by Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed), is one such gem.
A mecha action short loaded with style, humor, and high-octane battles, it’s been a cult favorite among anime fans for decades. With AnimEigo bringing it to Blu-ray, fans finally get the best possible way to revisit this classic piece of cyberpunk-mecha insanity.
Set in a near-future Tokyo, the story follows Koji, an average young man who stumbles upon the MADOX-01, a prototype military exosuit. Once inside, he realizes the armor isn’t so easy to control, and chaos ensues as the military desperately tries to retrieve their stolen tech. As Koji struggles to figure out how to get out of the damn thing, he’s relentlessly pursued by a vengeful tank commander who sees MADOX as his personal nemesis. What follows is a mix of comedy, romance, and explosive mecha mayhem across the city streets.
MADOX-01 is equal parts charming and chaotic, blending slick mechanical designs with a surprisingly goofy sense of humor. The exosuit itself looks incredible, with Aramaki’s mechanical detail work really shining in action sequences. The balance between mecha carnage and lighthearted romance (Koji desperately trying to keep his date while stuck in the armor) gives the story a unique charm.
It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but when the action kicks in, it’s sharp, fast, and filled with that raw hand-drawn energy that makes this era of anime so beloved. For a 42-minute short, it’s ridiculously entertaining.
AnimEigo’s Blu-ray presents MADOX-01 in its best form yet. The transfer is clean, with sharp line work and vibrant colors that make the mechanical detail pop. It’s natural enough to preserve the OVA’s vintage feel, but it’s leagues ahead of the muddy VHS and DVD versions fans had to make do with for years.
Audio is available in both Japanese with subtitles and an English dub, along with two commentary tracks from Aramaki, a “Weapons of MADOX” vintage featurette, interviews, an art gallery, and more. Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 is exactly the kind of anime that makes cult fans grin ear to ear.
It’s short, sweet, and absolutely packed with personality. AnimEigo continues to bring the fans of ’80s anime, precisely the type of product they long for. This is an essential pickup, and I can’t wait to see what else they have lined up for release in the coming months.
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