Lightning Trap: Leina & Laika

Another OVA sequel to Machine Robo, being part of the Leina series (previous being Kenrou Densetsu) which appeared in 1990, one year after the last episode. It has the same simple structure as episode 1 of it's prequel, as in Leina and her friends resolving some mystery involving aliens, some fights occur, shootings, action and developments that will keep you at the edge of your seat. The setting is a plane and Leina will have to fight some alien hijackers while keeping her schoolmates and the other passengers safe. As with these types of OVAs, it's not necesary to have watched Machine Robo (the original tv anime)or its sequel Leina Kenrou Densetsu. This show can work on its own, you don't really need context to watch a basic action skit with cute girls shooting guns for 20 minutes. And it's not like there are inside jokes or do the characters talk about past events. The guys from Machine Robo don't even appear though the girls from OVA episode 1 do appear, so in a sense I want to consider it as a sequel mainly to it. So if one liked that, they would def enjoy this entry. The show manages to finish the conflict in its runtime, the action is well done but nothing out of the ordinary, sadly there are no mecha fights like in its prequels and Leina doesn't even transform into her sexy battle costume. As you noticed, there is a character named Laika who will participate in the plot, I very much loved her scenes, let's say she's poor man's Kusanagi Motoko without her hacker abilities and only relying on her gun skills. Art and animation are on par with the last Leina episodes but it looks bland because of the lack of mecha so what we have is just girls and guns, nothing cool that will make someone remember anything impactful from it. I guess the plane is pretty detailed and the interior looks alright, I would fly in that but that's about it. It lacks gore and excessive violence which is surprising considering the era and format. Highly recommended to people who like fast paced action and girls with guns, cool 80s city pop music is present and be sure to listen to the ending song if you liked that era. It's not the best of its times and genre and it doesn't excel at anything but I wouldn't say it does anything bad either. It fulfilled almost all my wishes from an action show and it never annoyed me, I take it.