The NEC AVENUE Poster (2600x1636 .jpg) ▼ below reveals that both Download (HuCARD) and Download 2 (CD•ROM2) for the PC-Engine—as well as the original animation video (OAV) Download–Namu Amida Butu wa Ai no Uta—were based on the 1990 novel Circuit of the Demon (Download) by Wataru Nakajima. Demon's Circuit (or Devil's Circuit) was published by Shodensha in July 1990, a week (or two) after the release of NEC AVENUE's Download (HuCARD) for the PC-Engine…
(A) 06.22.90: Download (HuCARD, ¥6,800, NEC Avenue NAPH-1007).
(B) 07.01.90: Circuit of the Demon (Download) novel by Wataru Nakajima. Alternate titles: Demon's Circuit; Devil's Circuit. Length: 204 pages. Publisher: Shodensha (July 1990). ISBN-10: 4396203284. ISBN-13: 978-4396203283.
(C) 03.29.91: Download 2 (CD•ROM2, ¥6,800, NEC Avenue NAPR-1018).
(D) 12.18.92: Download–Namu Amida Butu wa Ai no Uta (VHS, OVA, 47 minutes, ¥12,381, TOEI Video VRZF00307).
(E) 01.21.93: Download–Namu Amida Butu wa Ai no Uta (LaserDisc, OVA, 47 minutes, ¥6,116(?), NEC NALN-10003).
NOTE: It is possible that there were two LaserDisc releases/pressings, as evidenced by a minor variation on the cover sleeve—NEC vs. XXX logo in upper-right-hand corner.
TITLE: The packaging literally has "Namuamidabutu wa Ai no Uta" plastered on it, but it is often listed as "Namu Amida Butu wa Ai no Uta", which roughly translates to Song in Loving Homage to Amida Buddha.
CROSS-PROMOTION: It would be interesting to see if the advertisements for the PC-Engine games mention the tie-in with Wataru Nakajima's novel. I am assuming that they do, though it may only have been in passing (i.e., a brief blurb at the bottom of a page). What is less certain, however, is whether ads for the PC-Engine games—specifically Download 2 (CD•ROM2)—ever mentioned the possibility of an upcoming OVA (not likely, since strong sales of Download 2 might have been a prerequisite for the OVA to be produced in the first place).
Regardless, we have learned that NEC AVENUE was more than merely the software publishing arm of NEC, but rather a media publishing division that dabbled in producing animation as well as video games. Indeed, NEC AVENUE may have been mandated to seek opportunities to "cross-promote" novels/manga with video games and anime.
CONFUSION: Totally ignorant of Japanese retail practices in the 1990's, I have no idea if something special (for example, an introductory sale price) occurred during the first week of retail release (12.11.93–12.18.93). This may or may not explain why there were two prices listed for the VHS tape (¥12,020 vs. ¥12,381).
Continued below…
OVA: DOWNLOAD—NAMU AMIDA BUTU WA AI NO UTA…▲
The original video animation (OVA) was released on both VHS (12.18.92) and LaserDisc (01.21.93) and its full title is a mouthful: Download–Namu Amida Butu wa Ai no Uta (Song in Loving Homage to Amida Buddha). The title is a direct reference to the main character, a Buddhist monk, who, ironically, is addicted to women and computer hacking. His path to spiritual clarity has taken a long, winding path through the many vices and temptations available in an exceedingly materialistic world. Amida Buddha = Buddha. The Buddha.
Now, Namu Amida Butu wa Ai no Uta might not have had a huge budget, but several talented (and respected) people were involved in its production:
• Rintaro (pseudonym of Shigeyuki Hayashi), who also directed Space Pirate Captain Harlock TV series, two Galaxy Express 999 films, Metropolis, etc.;
• Yoshinori Kanada, the key animator for countless classics such as Akira, Princess Mononoke, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, …and, most importantly, Cosmic Fantasy 2 (What?! An Akira–Cosmic Fantasy 2–Download connection! Who knew?);
• Hiroshi Kamayatsu, a famous guitarist/vocalist in Japan for decades, from the 60's (chart-topping with The Spiders) to 70's (Japan's first glam rock with Vodka Collins) to 80's (???) to 90's (Download OVA, Vodka Collins reunion albums, ha!) to 2000's (the ending song for Sentou Yousei Yukikaze OVA, The Spiders reunions, ha!…).
The story and characters in Namu Amida Butu wa Ai no Uta might not be particulalry groundbreaking, but Rintaro, Kanada and Kamayatsu helped infuse Download with some charm.
(A) 12.18.92 Download–Namu Amida Butu wa Ai no Uta (VHS, OVA, 47 minutes, ¥12,381, TOEI Video VRZF00307).
(B) 01.21.93 Download–Namu Amida Butu wa Ai no Uta (LaserDisc, OVA, 47 minutes, ¥6,116(?), NEC NALN-10003).
(C) It is possible that there were two LaserDisc releases/pressings, as evidenced by a minor variation on the cover sleeve—NEC vs. XXX logo in upper-right-hand corner.
UNRESOLVED: One catalog listed Pony Canyon as a publisher/distributor for the LD, but this was likely an error. Was a soundtrack ever released?
Director: Rintaro (pseudonym of Shigeyuki Hayashi). Screenplay: Rintaro. Yoshiyuki Suga. Music: Hiroshi Kamayatsu. Original Creator: Wataru Nakajima. Character Design: Yoshinori Kanada. Art Director: Hidetoshi Kaneko. Animation Director: Takuo Noda. Sound Director: Masafumi Mima. Director of Photography: Hitoshi Yamaguchi. Production: Madhouse, NEC Avenue, SOFIX.
Soundtrack: More information on Hiroshi Kamayatsu and Bagdad Blues Band below…
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SCREENSHOTS: When I was taking screen captures of Download–Namu Amida Butu wa Ai no Uta, I wasn't necessarily trying to find scenes that paralleled the cinemas from Download 2 (CD•ROM2).
Instead, I thought it would be more fun to document some of the visual references to pop culture (and NEC) in the film. Of course, there are far too many (over fifty) screenshots below. Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
ASIDE: What is the relationship between the storyline in the original novel vs. Download (HuCARD) vs. Download 2 (CD•ROM2) vs. Namu Amida Butu wa Ai no Uta (OVA)?
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DETHMAIL, PART ONE: Apparently, "Dethmail" is a variant of the well-established "chain letter" sent via email…
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DETHMAIL, PART TWO: This wonderfully disturbing sequence flashes by in mere moments, barely providing a viewer with time to identify one pop cultural reference before the next one appears. Capturing stills was the only way I was able to confirm half of these images. Needless to say, the sequence is chock-full of iconic imagery from an eclectic array of sources (e.g., medieval handscrolls, comic books, vintage photos, video stills, etc.): a screaming woman (à la 1950's sci-fi/horror film), a green demon (à la medieval Japanese hand scroll), the Joker (à la Batman comics), F-14 fighter jet (à la Top Gun), bizzarro collage of vintage photos (gas masks? lazy sunbather? disturbing shadow obscuring face? etc.)…
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NEC BRANDING: Initially, we encounter a cute little NEC-branded monitor hidden inside of a yellow droidbot. Later, we see a giant "NECY" sign plastered on a skyscraper. Perhaps NECY is a radio station—NEC Yamaguchi—broadcasting jazz and the blues…
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BLUES BROTHERS: Considering the film's soundtrack, this homage certainly seems appropriate…
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HEAD JACK: Jack-in to the SYD network. 2600 baud…
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PC DENJIN: PC Denjin (Air Zonk) makes a cameo…
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HITLER: Adolf Hitler (Third Reich) makes a cameo…
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NON-BRANDED HARDWARE: Color monitor, VGA (or better) graphics, dual 3.5" floppy drives…
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RED MOTORCYCLE: Of course, you pilot a spacecraft in Download (HuCARD) and Download 2 (SCD), but the OVA features a gravity-defying motorcycle. In Download–Namu Amida Butu wa Ai no Uta, the motorcycle stays firmly planted on the ground 90% of the time, making only occasional airborne maneuvers (such as dramatically crashing through SYD's main control monitor)…
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BAGDAD BLUES BAND: The three songs attributed to the Bagdad Blues Band include "Out of Border", "Weather Report Blues" and "Dethmail Blues"…and, true to its name, the Bagdad Blues Band sings the blues, with lyrics, I reckon, that underscore the anime's themes (Rintaro wrote the lyrics himself, afterall). LYRICS: Rintaro. COMPOSER/VOCALS: Hiroshi Kamayatsu.
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SELF-REFERENTIAL: Knowing the names of the songs, we can better appreciate an earlier scene where the phrase "Out of Border" was plastered on a billboard (with a Pink Cadillac + Blues Brothers)…
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Personally, I much prefer the soundtrack from the PC-Engine game Download 2 (and even the PSG tunes from Download) over the "blues" found in Namu Amida wa Ai no Uta. I recognize that Hiroshi Kamayatsu's stylings are one of the few "unique" elements of this OVA: the blues genre fits the mood/atmosphere/themes of the film, with Rintaro's lyrics (likely) underscoring the themes. However, personally, it is much easier to listen to generic metal (PC-Engine's Download 2) than almost-but-not-quite-convincing blues. The blues, as a genre, demands authenticity, making it quite challenging for a musician to pull it off convincingly.
BOTTOM LINE: I love Kamayatsu's gravelly, rough vocals…I just wish he was working in a different genre.
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