“Lolicon.” We hear it all the time, yet the term always seems to lack definitive meaning in modern anime communities. However, there is really no doubt to its application here. Certainly a controversial gem of hentai, “Lolicon Angel” is, in short, a lolicon hentai, depicting young girls engaging in sexual acts. The issues surrounding lolicons are undoubtedly a touchy subject, and the very low number of animated lolicon hentai only serves to reinforce this. Nowadays, a production such as this would never be released. Beyond its gratification, though, “Lolicon Angel” takes an interesting approach in its narrative. The premise is simple- a young girl loses her moneyand two of her friends help her investigate the possible theft. There are three suspects, so they split up in order to confront each suspect. Little do the girls know that they are about to uncover a hidden side to themselves. Each segment has a girl exploring the pleasures of sex, and the presentation of these scenes leaves a lot of room for debate.
Accordingly, the opening sequence outlines the idea of sexual exploration that permeates this OVA. While they are showering, the three girls discuss their curiosity with the male “thing” as an object of fascination. After the shower and discussion, as if in a bout of catharsis, two of the girls decide to get “playful” with the third.
The first segment has one of the girls confront a female student. In a shocking turn of events, the girl finds herself in an unfavorable situation as a teacher becomes involved. The teacher-student relationship is explored here, and there is definitely an interesting religious metaphor being used in this segment when the teacher mentions a punishment from God.
The second segment has a girl confront a male student. A relationship soon builds upon a few misunderstandings, beginning with a love letter, and a simple yet delicate boy-girl pairing is explored. The boy demonstrates the essence of primordial lust that is so natural to the growth of his gender, whilst the girl remains constant in her innocence and naivety. This segment arguably exemplifies the crux of the OVA’s themes as the boy exerts his knowledge that is unknown to the girl.
The third segment is perhaps one of the most surreal to exist in hentai, involving a girl and an old father. A “merry-go-round” becomes the focal point of sex, and the scene undoubtedly banks on the limits of absurdity. The logic behind this is complicated, but this segment seems to make a reflexive statement on the escapist nature of hentai, suggested by the delusions that the old father embodies.
An interesting twist brings the OVA to a close. Yet, in the process, the young girls have uncovered much more than the money that was lost. Important to note is that the girls still retain a sense of innocence, in that they are never explicitly informed about the act of sex. Rather, they have only experienced its pleasures without the reason, adding another possible level of discussion.
Unfortunately, the OVA’s technical aspects do suffer. Being from the 80s, the animation and designs, while decent for their time, have not aged well, and this is evident in the crucial sex scenes. The soundtrack comprises of simple compositions that serve an atmospheric purpose, but are unmemorable and lacking in presence. The voices for the young girls are another issue, as the voices do not properly represent the OVA’s themes of innocence and naivety.
However, the technical aspects do excel in other areas. There are a variety of angles and perspectives in the cinematography, showcasing the sex scenes in a dynamic format. Alongside this is the editing, which lends the OVA a fair amount of its creativity. Some of the most powerful use of editing in hentai is employed in this OVA, using a scene transition to present the “climax” of the sex scenes. Such a technique accomplishes much more than conventional presentation, adding another level of ambiguity to the scenes.
At just under 22 minutes, “Lolicon Angel” can certainly be considered ambitious within its genre. Ultimately, it is a real treat for hentai aficionados and loli enthusiasts alike.
