Vermilion Pleasure Night Optic Erotica - Planet Exile

You would think that watching late night J Television wouldn't be such a big deal at this point; especially for those who have been exposed to certain titles such as Puni Puni Poemi, Colorful or Space Channel 5. Then again this shock value is the whole reason they are getting paid. Well, ADV Films now proudly presents what looks to be another cult hit, Vermillion Pleasure Night.

Vermillion is a late night show that runs for about 50 minutes a piece. Much like our homegrown MAD TV, the show is a group of collective comedy skits, and a few music numbers for added incentive. it consists of small budget sets, unique creative screen writing, and great performances. Judging from some of the wardrobe, and music, its rooms stem deep from liberal European arts along with its own Japanese Heritage.

One of the recurring skits in the first episode is The Fuccon Family, which have already made their debut here. It's an "All American Family" (from whose point of view?) that has moved to Japan. The skit is performed with a set of mannequins put in various positions and sets. The term "Ugly American" comes to mind; well dressed, refined in appearance, and extremely warped in their actions and means of resolutions. Not to take any offence to by Anglo-Saxon friends, but they are so White, that they make Wonder Bread look like Roman Meal. The Fuccons are very contrary to the modern American family, that some might naturally get offended by how Americans are portrayed, BUT if you are able to look at this from the same point of view as a Dave Chappel show, it can be pretty darn funny.

Beyond the Fuccons, there are a few more skits that make multiple appearances. One of them is called "Starship Residence". It's about a group of residents that live in a two story apartment which sits on top of a Spaceship. On the bottom floor live three sexy and drugged up triplets named C. C. Makinellie, Double A, and Quire. On the second floor lives the real protagonist, Toshio the star man, who aside from his large red bulging head, yellow eyes, and gaudy sharp teeth, could be confused for you average lonely Japanese bachelor. Whether it's a result of his loopy neighbors, or if he brings it upon himself Toshio somehow ends up at the butt of the jokes. The English dubbing in this skit was also pretty funny, and highly recommended.

Another skit to look out for is called "A Juvenile Delinquent, Takako". Initially the skit begins like any other J-Drama. The title appears followed by the actors credits; all while video of running rapids and mellow music play in the background. Takako is also portrayed as the title says. A somewhat troubled child who is frustrated by the way everyone treats her. The similarities stop there however when it turns out that she is the only living person in the show, everyone else is (wait for it...) mannequins! It seems like one night they got together and said "Hey let's make a skit about a Teen J-Drama where a young girl goes around and knocks over a bunch of mannequins out of spite. Because the store statues really have no way of defending themselves from her "rage", the skits overall are hilarious. It's also another one that needs to listened to a second time in English.

As mentioned before, music and choreography also play a big role in this show. Some of the performances can be a bit liberal and outright weird. For example, there is a skit called "Dr. Phero" where two women in nurse outfits perform unorthodox procedures. The first one is where they inject green fluid into the rear ends of three women in... red boxes. Others are more traditional (but still uncanny), for example in the second episode there is a skit at the beginning called "Six Singing Girls" where six beautiful young women in kimonos perform various tasks around a traditional Japanese house. Their blank faces and haunting music really make this skit work.

ADV's part in bringing this over is adequate. There are no extras included; just trailers. The Language menus are user friendly, but not every skit is dubbed. In fact the first dubbed skit doesn't appear for about a good eight minutes. For the most skits it also doesn't make sense to have it in English, (but why aren't the Fuccons dubbed)? You also have a choice to either start from either chapter or jump to a certain skit.

With scandalous, sexual, and outright over the top themes, this show has been given a rating of TV MA, and definitely shouldn't been seen by younger anime fans, most of them probably won't get any of the gags any ways. For the rest of us who wanted more after watching "Colorful", then step right up, your series has arrived.