Angel Cop

In the future, Japan is in the grip of terrorism, and the police have become as brutal as the criminals. The Special Security Force stands out, led by the fearless Angel, an elite agent who, alongside her partner Raiden, investigates a series of brutal murders.

Angel Cop (1989-1994) is a Japanese animated science fiction crime miniseries created by Ichiro Itano and produced by D.A.S.T Corporation and Studio 88. Its title character Angel, an elite cyborg agent of the Special Security Force, works alongside her partner Raiden (Masashi Ebara) to run down a string of brutal murders in a future Japan where terrorism has taken hold. Kenji Utsumi plays the department's Kaishō Taki, and Nozomu Sasaki and Osamu Saka round out the principal cast. The engine is simple and hard-edged: two agents move through violent urban cases while the force they serve grows as ruthless as the crimes it chases. Told across six half-hour episodes, the story unfolds as a single compact arc rather than a case of the week. The tone is bleak, kinetic and cynical, with gunfights and cyberpunk grit that feel like an early original video animation release. Fans of Ghost in the Shell, Bubblegum Crisis and RoboCop will find the same blend of cybernetic action and dystopian police corruption. Its darkness and graphic action make it best suited to adult viewers who enjoy cyberpunk anime.

A cult cyberpunk OVA admired for its gritty tone, kinetic action and dystopian atmosphere, though its short run leaves its themes underdeveloped.

• Ghost in the Shellshared cyberpunk police action with cyborg protagonists and dystopian urban crime
• Bubblegum Crisisshared dystopian police brutality and cyberpunk noir tone in Japanese animation
• RoboCopshared gritty future-set law enforcement against terrorism with heavy violence

Created by

Ichiro Itano

Release Date

1989-09-01

Episode runtime

30 min

Rating

6.6 / 10 (15)

What is Angel Cop about?

In a future Japan gripped by terrorism, the elite cyborg agent Angel and her partner Raiden hunt killers in a police force nearly as brutal as the criminals.

What is Angel Cop like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Angel Cop as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Angel Cop violent?

Yes. Ember rates the violence in Angel Cop as brutal.

What did critics think of Angel Cop?

A cult cyberpunk OVA admired for its gritty tone, kinetic action and dystopian atmosphere, though its short run leaves its themes underdeveloped.

Which shows are like Angel Cop?

Shows with a similar feel include Ghost in the Shell, Bubblegum Crisis, and RoboCop.

How long is Angel Cop?

Angel Cop: 1 season, 6 episodes.

Is Angel Cop still running?

No, Angel Cop has ended.

Where can I watch Angel Cop?

In United States, Angel Cop streams on Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Retrocrush, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, RetroCrush Amazon Channel, ARROW.