Manabe Johji's CAPRICORN is a fantastical and yet very forgettable tale of one teenage boy, Shimamura Taku, who is transported to the neighboring world of Slafflease. His destiny is the quite original task of saving the world of Slafflease and its inhabitants. Befriended by the animal-esque humanoid dwellers of Slafflease and a mysterious Yappi (a dragon-like race) girl, Taku rounds up a band of scrappy and comical rebels to overthrow the standard evil empire that rules Slafflease.
The action and plot of CAPRICORN are nothing really new: Save the world, get back home. This OVA runs like a cross between Jim Henson's DARK CRYSTAL and George Lucas' STAR WARS Trilogy. You have your evil oppressor of the people with the tiger/man General Zolba. The emotionless masks of the storm troopers are present with Zolba's army. There's the destined being who's unilaterally important to the salvation of Slafflease with Mona, the last surviving Yappi. And CAPRICORN even has its amusing sidekicks, with a frog and goose pair of thieves who end up fighting for the liberation of Slafflease.
This title should have actually been called WHY'S TALES. The plot and story leave so many unanswered questions and open-ended storylines that you could swear you can see the water pouring from the holes. Sure, Taku is the destined savior of Slafflease - but why? Taku seems to have an interstellar relationship with Mona, who seems to be the human girl Taku fights with in the very beginning - but why? General Zolba wants to rule both Capricorn (actually Earth) and Slafflease, even though opening the anchor between the two planets will destroy Slafflease - but why? A.D.V. Films has picked up this 1991 title for domestic release - but why? With mediocre anime, why ask why, I always say.
For an OVA, even a 1991 release, the animation quality is pretty bad, though bearable. Taku has the characteristics of every awkward male protagonist ever created (Kasuga Kyousuke from KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD and Moroboshi Ataru from URUSEI YATSURA come to mind) and Mona is like any cute yet strong female lead (Lum from URUSEI YATSURA could be her twin, were it not for the dragon wings and tail). The frog and goose thieves look like characters from a recent Sony Playstation game, PARAPPA THE RAPPA. The battle cruisers of Zolba's fleet are gigantic, immensely phallic creations. And the evil ruler who is deposed by General Zolba halfway through CAPRICORN is a dead ringer for the ass-headed judge from Pink Floyd's THE WALL.
Having recently begun viewing the series MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH, a somewhat similar but much longer series, I have to say that CAPRICORN wasn't worth the effort. Other similar titles include VISION OF ESCAFLOWNE and FUSHIGI YUUGI. Any of these will offer more solid and higher quality viewing. But of course, that's because they have more time to tell the story. I suppose if you are feeling pretty lazy and don't want to put much effort into your anime viewing pleasure, CAPRICORN offers a "compact" story that's available right at your local Tower Records.

CAPRICORN ｩ1991 Manabe Johji, Tairiku Shobo, Aubec Released in North America by A.D.V. Films English subtitles $19.95 45 minutes