Bubblegum Crash

Bubblegum Crash was produced in 1991 as a three-part sequel to the iconic cyberpunk series Bubblegum Crisis. Developed by the studio Artmic, it was designed to capitalize on the continued popularity of the Knight Sabers, a group of female mercenaries navigating a dystopic, hyper-technological Tokyo. While the original series was renowned for its intricate mechanical designs and synth-pop soundtrack, Crash shifted toward a more standalone narrative approach that focused on the lingering consequences of the original conflict.

The character designs for this iteration were handled by Kenichi Sonoda, whose work defined the aesthetic of the franchise with sleek, high-tech powered armor and distinct urban cyberpunk fashion. The production faced significant challenges due to the internal fracturing of Artmic and the shifting landscape of the Japanese animation industry in the early nineties, which resulted in a more experimental and less cohesive visual style compared to its predecessor. Despite these production hurdles, the series remains a notable artifact of the era, reflecting the transition of the OVA format from ambitious, feature-length quality storytelling toward more concise, character-driven side stories.