Wanna-Be's

Lore & Background

Wanna-Be's was released in 1986 as a direct-to-video animation in Japan. The story was written by Toshimichi Suzuki, and the animation was directed by Yasuo Hasegawa. Ken'ichi Sonoda, along with Yoshiharu Shimizu, provided the character designs, while Shinji Aramaki handled mechanical design and Hideki Kakinuma designed monsters. The voice cast included Eriko Hara as Miki Morita, Miki Takahashi as Eri Kazama, and Shūichi Ikeda as Tetsuma Kidō, among others. The music featured an insert song titled "Adam's Apple" by Seikima-II and an ending theme "Music (I Love You ga Kasurete)" by Saori Saitō.

Reader's Guide

Wanna-Be's is a notable entry in the mid-1980s Japanese direct-to-video animation market, a period when OVA (original video animation) was expanding. The involvement of Ken'ichi Sonoda, later known for works like Gunsmith Cats, and Shinji Aramaki, known for mechanical designs in series such as Bubblegum Crisis, gives the title a place in the history of anime production. The collaboration of studios AIC Animate Film, Artmic, and Movic reflects the industry's project-based nature at the time. While not widely known outside of dedicated anime circles, Wanna-Be's represents the experimental and diverse output of the era, featuring a mix of established voice actors and a soundtrack by the band Seikima-II. Its legacy is primarily as a minor but authentic artifact of 1980s Japanese animation.

Did You Know?

• Ken'ichi Sonoda created the character designs for the animated version.
• The insert song 'Adam's Apple' was performed by the band Seikima-II.
• The ending theme 'Music (I Love You ga Kasurete)' was sung by Saori Saitō.
• Mechanical design was handled by Shinji Aramaki.