Martian Successor Nadesico - The Complete Chronicles
Martian Successor Nadesico(1996) was initially criticized in Japan for  making fun of both anime and fan culture, but its unbridled and ultimately  good-natured silliness won over critics--and large audiences on both sides of  the Pacific. It's 2195 A.D. and the "Jovian Lizards" are attacking Earth.  Tired of the inept campaigns of the United Space Force, Nergal Heavy  Industries builds a super battleship, theNadesico, which they staff with top  people who have "slight personality problems." Ditsy Captain Yurika nurses a  crush on the traumatized Akito--despite his skill as a robot pilot, he signs  on as a cook. He's won over by the irrepressible Gai Daigoji, a fanatic  admirer ofGekigangar 3, a hilarious spoof of '70s mecha series.  The story reaches new heights of absurdity in "Let's Go with Hot-Blooded  Anime": the casts ofNadesicoandGekigangarwatch each other's  programs, borrowing ideas and complaining about the plots.In another  episode, the crew holds a "Geki Fest" that satirizes anime conventions,  including booths selling special, "limited edition" merchandise. The war  becomes a struggle that pits the crew of theNadesicoagainst both the  Jovians and Nergal Industries. Although the conflict hinges on Akito's  mysterious ability to move through space and time in a "boson jump," the  path to peace lies inGekigangar 3("the thread that ties humanity  together!"). In America, onlyRocky and BullwinkleandThe  Simpsonshave dared such outrageous self-parody. (Rated for ages 12 and older: Brief  nudity, mildly risqué humor, cartoon violence)--Charles Solomon