Cleopatra DC
CLEOPATRA DC is a 3-part made-for-video Japanese anime series, dating from 1989-91, with a rather unusual set of characters and a distinct look and feel. On the surface, this is straightforward industrial intrigue and adventure, with some sci-fi elements added to the mix. But the most original and appealing aspect is the relentless comic charm given off by the series' sexy, but terminably cheery heroine, Cleopatra Corns, chair and CEO of the giant conglomerate, the Corns Group. Operating out of her own New York City skyscraper, the teenaged Cleo exclaims "Hi, New York! You're looking fine today," as she races her sports car out of her building's garage and into the city's traffic. Surprisingly hands-on for a CEO, her day's work includes rescuing damsels (and companies) in distress, going so far as to fly, via rocket pack, into the heart of a Saudi Arabian oil refinery to head off a disastrous oil fire. And the leggy, buxom blonde does it all while parading a steady stream of dazzling, eye-popping outfits. Despite the provocative fashions and semi-nude scenes, there's never a hint of romance or sex; Cleo's simply too busy rescuing (even younger) girls and saving the world from a corrupt rival conglomerate.The first two episodes are 30 minutes each, while the last, and best, is 50 minutes. In "Lightning Bolt of Apollo," Cleo is called on to intervene when a playboy oil tycoon tries to woo a client's daughter by kidnapping her. The action takes her to Saudi Arabia and an armed confrontation which requires a phone call to President Bush (the Elder) for approval of the use of an ICBM. "Crystal Pharaoh" details the fight over a powerful diamond needed for use in a super-destructive weapon. The action involves a space shuttle and an attempt to shoot it down. More of a straight science fiction piece, the final episode, "Pandora's Box," finds Cleo on vacation in Nice, but forced to harbor a runaway girl who turns out to be a super-android created by an evil arms dealer.