Outlanders

Yikes, not another anime offering with buxom female aliens getting the hots for clueless Earth guys! Actually, this is not a rip-off, but rather one of the originals that subsequent productions pilfered for ideas. Made in 1986, Outlanders crossed the Pacific in 1993, although the American dialogue track has since been jettisoned for a new dubbed version (the newly remastered disc also includes the Japanese version with subtitles). The green-haired alien chick here is Princess Kahm, who goes husband-hunting across the galaxy and somehow winds up choosing the Earthling photographer Tetsuya as her consort. Dealing with the quandaries of an interstellar marriage is bad enough, but Tetsuya also faces the prospect of hostile in-laws who aren't happy to welcome a different species into the family (especially when they've already lined up a would-be groom for their rebellious daughter). At 48 minutes, Outlanders is fast, funny (although perhaps a bit crass), and accurately rated 16-up. DVD extras include a featurette on the casting of the English-language voice actors. Recommended. Aud: P. (P. Hall)