Rating: ***
Review Date: 11/15/08
Cast: Yumiko Kobayashi
ADV Films aptly describes this show as "breaking the weirdness barrier," and I certainly can't argue the point. To discuss the plot (or lack thereof) is an exercise in futility. The story concerns a teenage girl named Poemy Watanabe who dreams of becoming an anime voice actress. But when space aliens invade the Earth, she also has the power to turn into the magical super girl, Puni Puni Poemy! The proceedings are completely insane and the show lampoons everything in the anime spectrum, often with hilarious results. It also pushes the limits of tastelessness with its parodies of fan service and its ridiculous sexual imagery and innuendo. What makes the whole thing work is the incredibly exhausting vocal performance of Yumiko Kobayashi, whose rapid fire dialog is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Unfortunately, her overly enthusiastic delivery makes reading the subtitles extremely challenging because they go by so quickly! I'm sure there's a lot more depth in the show than I could pick up on, as it's full of cultural references, visual puns, and inside jokes. I think my favorite line would have to be from the opening credits song:
"Man, my bunghole itches because I'm a girl."
That pretty much sums up the entire bizarre experience...