Excel Saga - Secrets and Lies (Vol. 5)
When theExcel Sagaanimators meet, a caricature of director Sinichi  Watanabe announces, "We're starting to run out of ideas and falling behind in  production!" Koshi Rikdo, who supposedly drew the originalExcelmanga, gives his permission to turn these episodes into examples of other  genres. "Municipal Force Daitenzin," supposedly based on his earlier work, is  a very funny send-up ofMighty Morphin' Power Rangers. "Visually  Appealing Type" spoofs rock anime, complete with MTV video-style credits for  the "songs" performed by sexy vocalist Key. The long-suffering Mr. Pedro  struggles to win back his faithless but sexy wife, and even the hapless  Menchi gets a special adventure. These parodies have nothing to do with Lord  Il Palazzo's efforts to take over the city, but fans ofExcel Sagaknow better than to expect logic or coherent story lines. (Rated 17 and older:  violence, profanity; brief nudity, risqué and gross-out humor)--Charles  Solomon