Movies and TV series made to promote toys are ubiquitous in Japan as well as the United States. The Frame Arms Girl model kits are an offshoot of the Frame Arms mecha robot figurines sold by Japan’s Kotobukiya company—robot girl action figures that can be equipped with armor and weapons conveying their special powers in battle. The toy line was turned into a manga series by Tsuneo Tsuneishi in 2016, which then served as the basis for this anime adaptation, in which a young girl named Ao Gennai is unexpectedly sent a prototype of a new figurine called Gourai that she is tasked with helping to develop her fighting technique and to understand humans. Other Frame Arms Girls show up to challenge Gourai and share their experiences, while Ao inevitably learns important life lessons from her interaction with the gals. The animation is pastel bright but oddly ineffectual, especially since the battle sequences are for the most part indifferently presented. Overall, this is a peculiar but not very satisfying series, although it fulfills its basic function as a merchandising gambit. Presenting all 12 episodes from 2017 in a Blu-ray edition, in Japanese with English subtitles, rated TV-14, this is not a necessary purchase. (F. Swietek)
Frame Arms Girl: The Complete Collection
(2016) 2 discs. 300 min. In Japanese w/English subtitles. Blu-ray: $59.98. Sentai Filmworks (avail. from most distributors). Volume 33, Issue 6
Frame Arms Girl: The Complete Collection
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