Riding Bean

[areaseven]

Riding Bean (ライディング・ビーン)
ARTMIC/Youmex/AIC/Toshiba EMI, 1989
AnimEigo, 1990, 2002
Directed by Yasuo Hasegawa
Based on characters created by Kenichi Sonoda (Gunsmith Cats, Bubblegum Crisis)
Running Time: 46 minutes
Not Rated (Suggested 16-Up). Contains graphic violence, nudity, mature situations and profanity.

Cast (Japanese)
Hideyuki Tanaka (Otacon in Metal Gear Solid) as Bean Bandit
Naoko Matsui (Inez in Martian Successor Nadesico, Pai in Dangaioh) as Rally Vincent
Mami Koyama (Chiyoko in Millennium Actress, Oyuki in The Dagger of Kamui) as Semmerling
Megumi Hayashibara (you already know most of her roles...) as Carrie
Kei Tomiyama (1938-1995) (Susumu in Uchuu Senkan Yamato, Duke Fleed in UFO Robo Grendizer) as Detective Percy
Chieko Honda (Kurumi in Kimagure Orange Road, Miku in Hades Project Zeorymer) as Chelsea Grimwood
Nobuo Tobita (Kamille in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Aoshima in Ah! My Goddess) as Dick
Jun Hazumi as George Grimwood

Cast (English)
Who cares? These guys suck!

Synopsis
Bean Bandit and his partner Rally Vincent are couriers for hire - transporting clients and delivering goods in Bean's custom sports car "Buff the Roadbuster" for a hefty price. But when they are hired to escort a kidnapped girl named Chelsea to her home, they don't realize they're being framed for kidnapping as their former clients Semmerling and Carrie plan their escape with Chelsea's father and the ransom money.

Story: B+
Long before Gunsmith Cats existed, there was this one-shot OAV that had everything a guy could ever dream of: guns, girls and fast cars. Riding Bean was one of the first few direct-to-video anime titles licensed in the U.S. Like most action films, Riding Bean has a shallow plot, but it's compensated with some likeable characters and a heaping of comedy. It's like watching The Blues Brothers and Smokey and the Bandit in anime form.

Animation: B+
The character designs by Sonoda are a favorite among many hardcore anime fans, not to mention the Roadbuster and Percy's 1967 Mustang Shelby GT500 (a similar one also appears in GSC). Animation quality is similar to Bubblegum Crisis (which was produced by the same companies, anyway), but even by today's standards, Riding Bean boasts one of the best car chases ever animated.

Soundtrack: B+
Since the story takes place in Chicago, the soundtrack consists of American jazz and rock. Not really something to warrant a CD purchase, but still goes well with the anime.

Sub vs. Dub
Don't even bother with the dub. Not only does the voice acting suck, the re-recorded sound effects are even worse.

DVD Extras: C-
Just a gallery and the original Japanese trailer. Nothing else.

Blu-ray review coming soon.

The Bottom Line
Next to Gunsmith Cats, Riding Bean is a must-buy for anime fans who also dig cars and guns.

Reference
Anime News Network

Edited March 6, 2016 by areaseven

[Pat S]

Just had a flashback reading this. I always loved the part where he gets shot in the head (bandanna apparently made of kevlar), and starts walking around like a dazed zombie for a few seconds.

Also, that Ferrari was pretty sweet.

[terry the lone wolf]

I.....love....Riding Bean! Thin on plot but great action and visuals! Did you know that Rally's name is supposed to be Larry? I disagree with your review of the soundtrack. I'd pick up that CD; I love that 70's/80's soul/jazz/pop music and it goes well with the OVA. Riding Bean! "The King of the Road!"

[Sumdumgai]

Riding Bean! Loved it. Bean rocks!

No live-action movies please!

[areaseven]

Did you know that Rally's name is supposed to be Larry?

397260[/snapback]

Actually, she was Rally since day one. There were rumors of Sonoda changing Rally to "Larry" to curb copyright issues he had after a falling-out with Toshiba EMI.

[Skullsixx]

I saw this years ago... very cool! Thanx for the flashback!!!

[Flaming Guantlet]

Hey I having flashbacks too. Last time I saw this was when I was...10. Wow its been that long. Thanks for the review.

[Hoptimus]

Damn. I have to get this DVD. I loved this OVA when I first saw it 1992 or so.

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

Bean's hardcore. The first time I saw the OVA, I was hoping more episodes would come, but oh well.

[Cruel Angel's Thesis]

Actually on the Larry/Rally issue is for GSC and it is supported in the manga several times. Accroding to Michael House (once part of AnimEigo, now working for Gainax) says thats its really Larry, its a translation error on Studio Proteus. It shows up in the manga a couple of times. Lets see let me get my comics and check. From Bonny and Clyde

Clyde: Rally Vincent?

Bonny: Thats the one

Cylde: Pretty weird name for a broad.

The best evidence of this however is from Misty's Run

The Father: You're a chick! Name like Rally who can tell? You Rally Vincent the bounty hunter?

Rally: Yeah, that's me.

The Father: Huh! I heard about you, but i never guessed you were a dame.

Rally: I use the name so that people who might not think a female bounty hunter could be any good would give me a call. But once I built a rep i could hardly change it, could I?

Seems strange that Rally would be seen as strange for a female name and Sonoda has been known at cons to correct on this. However it was probably the result as the fall-out as Areaseven mentions, but this is for GSC, in Riding Bean its Rally and keep in mind though they share the name they are seperate characters.

Edit: Removing Mustang comments, i was wrong on them

Cruel Angel's Thesis

Edited May 7, 2006 by Cruel Angel's Thesis

[yellowlightman]

Since r is the same as l in Japanese it could be...

Lalry

Ralry

Larly

Rarry

Lally

etc...

[EXO]

Happens a lot with SP translation. Deunan Knute is really Deunan Nut but was changed because it sounded too weird.

Riding Bean with GSC

Edited May 7, 2006 by >EXO<

[areaseven]

Actually on the Larry/Rally issue is for GSC and it is supported in the manga several times.  Accroding to Michael House (once part of AnimEigo, now working for Gainax) says thats its really Larry, its a translation error on Studio Proteus.

397430[/snapback]

Then I guess ADV made the same mistake as well with the anime.

[bsu legato]

It may indeed be a case of Engrish and/or Studio Proteus manhandling the names, but let's face it...."Rally" is also an equally strange name for a female bounty hunter.

And Riding Bean was the shiznit, back in the day. I remember seeing a fansub of this wayyy back in about 1990 or so and I loved it ever since.

[gerwalk25]

Riding Bean!   Loved it.  Bean rocks!

No live-action movies please!

397283[/snapback]

Wasn't that called The Transporter?!

[Valkyrie Nut]

Riding Bean was awesome! I should get a permanent copy

[Mislovrit]

Just had a flashback reading this.  I always loved the part where he gets shot in the head (bandanna apparently made of kevlar), and starts walking around like a dazed zombie for a few seconds.

According to the "Riding Bean Research" footnote which came with the VHS tapes, the bandanna and jacket are made out quote "special titanium-mesh weave overlaid with kelvar." Everything else is just made with kelvar.

[dr_vandermeer]

Killer anime. Loved that car. I too always wanted more episodes.

[Fortress_Maximus]

Love the tie-in with the GSC manga series, classic Sonoda! Definitely a must if you love high attention to detail especially on cars and guns! And the anime is enjoyable too. Prefer Rally as a blond than in the manga of GSC but hey more Bean is cool too! This is one series that truly deserves its own tv series!

[yellowlightman]

Love the tie-in with the GSC manga series, classic Sonoda! Definitely a must if you love high attention to detail especially on cars and guns! And the anime is enjoyable too. Prefer Rally as a blond than in the manga of GSC but hey more Bean is cool too! This is one series that truly deserves its own tv series!

397703[/snapback]

Rally from Riding Bean and Rally from GSC are two different people. Riding Bean's Rally no doubt inspired GSC's, but they're not the same person.

[Sumdumgai]

I like guns. I liked Rally because she was a girl that could use a gun, before that became the overdone norm. Bean is awesome, he's a living tank.