Key the Metal Idol - Dreaming (Vol. 2)
Logic falls by the wayside as the tangled plots and subplots of thisPinocchiostory unfold. Key, a robot in the form of a pubescent girl, believes she must win the love of 30,000 friends to become a human, and the easiest way to attain that goal is to become a rock star. The alternately icy and hysterical Hikaru Tsurugi, who serves as superstar Miho's choreographer, takes up Key--even though she can't sing, dance, or act (or use first-person pronouns). Meanwhile, the sinister president of Ajo Industries continues his experiments with deadly cyborgs that run on "gel," a mysterious, power-giving substance extracted from humans. Key's grandfather/inventor, a brilliant scientist, endowed her with powers linked to gel that Ajo both fears and covets. The grotesque priest of the snake god continues his campaign for Key's "salvation," which brings him into conflict with Key's old school friend, the fractious Sakura; her sometimes boyfriend Tataki; and the mysterious self-appointed bodyguard, Tamayo. When a concert by Ajo's cyborg-performer Miho stumbles to a halt, Key demonstrates some of her powers, which prove formidable. But tying these disparate elements into a satisfying conclusion will be a real challenge for writer-director Hiroaki Sato. Contains these episodes: 8. "Goto," 9. "Return," 10. "Bug," 11. "Save," 12. "Virus I," 13. "Virus II." Unrated; graphic violence, nudity, profanity, and grisly imagery are unsuitable for children.--Charles Solomon