UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie: Bedlam, Bathhouse and Beyond

Reviewed By: Carla Land

ADV Films DVD

Review based on first volume (episodes 1-4)

Rating TV MA

What it’s (basically) all about: Kazuto is a high school student who is running his grandfather’s bathhouse. An alien spaceship has crashed into it, which nearly got him killed, and now he’s sharing his soul with a stunningly beautiful alien princess named Valkyrie…who has transformed into an eight year old because of it. With half of the universe trying to find Valkyrie and make her come home, Kazuto has more than running a bathhouse to think about.

Nitty Gritty: To be blunt, there is full frontal nudity in the anime. Lots of it, in fact. However, if you look at it in context, it makes sense. The series does take place in a bathhouse after all. It’s important to remember that we’re not talking about stylized nudity, either.

Valkyrie’s “magical girl” transformation sequence also included lots of nudity and jiggling. This isn’t as much a concern as the fact that in order to transform, she has to kiss Kazuto in a way that an eight year old really shouldn’t. Granted, she’s a woman trapped in a child’s body, but since she is eight years old for all intents and purposes unless she transforms, it’s still creepy.

Language is pretty mild, and the voice acting is well done. The story starts in the middle with episode one, then backtracks to where everything began in episode two. This does tend to be confusing.

The disk opens with Anime Network and Newtype Magazine previews. Other special features include clean opening/ closing, messages from the Japanese voice actors (which are translated), Valkyrie World Notes and Name Notes that explain what’s going on and who is who, Japanese TV spots, and a video jukebox with several videos (one focused on nudity.) There are also a couple of different on-air openings, DVD credits, and previews for Misaki Chronicles, Maburaho, Nanaka 6/17, Yumeria, The Fuccons, and Shadow Skill.

Survey says:  Adult sections because of the nudity and weird relationship between Kazuto and Valkyrie.

Personal Ad: Honestly, I really liked it. It was funny and well written, and the fan service (for all there was of it) wasn’t out of place most of the time. It fit the context of the story, and it wasn’t there just for the sake of showing boobs. It’s a popular show, since they are already on the third series, too.