You are a government official at one of the planet states of the United Galactica. You're having problems that are beyond your government's scope to solve, so you call the World Welfare Work Association (WWWA), and they dispatch a pair of trouble consultants. A couple of young, beautiful women arrive. One has long black hair down to her back and seems quiet and reserved. The other sports a head of red hair cropped in a wolf cut and more than a little attitude. Both are clad in very revealing, bikini-like uniforms. It seems like a good idea, doesn't it?
Not if you're familiar with Kei and Yuri, whose codename is the Lovely Angels. However, their reputation has earned them the nickname Dirty Pair. Although their intentions are good, if they show up to help you, you had better make sure your insurance is paid and hop a shuttle for the closest neighboring star system, just to be clear of the inevitable blast.

The Origin of the Dirty Pair

Despite what many anime fans would believe, the Dirty Pair's first incarnation was not the television series or the motion picture. Kei and Yuri and the universe they inhabit are the creations of science fiction author Takachiho Haruka. The same man who created CRUSHER JOE, Takachiho envisioned a future where Earth could no longer hold its growing population. As a result, humanity began colonizing the stars, and, after some time, had built thriving civilizations in many star systems.
Each planet had its own government, but for extremely large or difficult problems, they would ask the World Welfare Work Association (WWWA or 3WA) for assistance. As described by Kei in the first novel, "...the WWWA always functions in the interests of all mankind. It's guiding philosophy is 'the enrichment of life.'" The WWWA's central computer would analyze the problem and send out a team of trouble consultants that would attempt to neutralize the problem.
Enter the Lovely Angels. Their first novel, DAATII PEA NO DAIBOUKEN (The Great Adventures of the Dirty Pair), introduced readers to Kei and Yuri in the middle of a mission that began on planet Dangle. In this adventure, the readers see the characters of Kei and Yuri develop, with Kei as the hothead and Yuri as the calm, almost noncommittal influence. As an added bonus, the Pair turns out to have nascent clairvoyant abilities, which assist them in solving the case.
Several subsequent novels were written, all with Kei and Yuri solving the case, but with some very nasty and negative side-effects. And, as usual, the central computer clears them every time, so they are free to roam the universe, inadvertent destruction trailing in their wake.

From Type to Television: Sunrise plays Russian Roulette

Kei and Yuri made their silver screen debut in a cameo in the CRUSHER JOE movie, but their first anime was the 1984 television series produced by Sunrise. This television series, titled simply DIRTY PAIR, was the first to introduce many of the key ingredients that would hook fans on the show. First and foremost were the changes made to Kei and Yuri. While it is true that they had always argued—even back in their very first novel they seem to have argument after argument—the television series takes this to an extreme. Kei and Yuri had become experts in banter, one-upmanship, and constant name-calling. And often this occurs with missiles flying at them or in the middle of some other dangerous situation. But danger never stopped them from their nearly constant verbal sparring.
Also, the Angels lost their psychic ability. Or, at the very least, they never utilized it in the television series. Instead, they had to solve their cases with detective work, computer skills, a liberal dose of feminine wiles, and a large amount of ammunition.
The appearance of the characters themselves was also changed. While their trademark hairstyles and uniforms remained similar, the character designs were more in keeping with the large-eyed, young-looking female characters popular in anime, and they moved in a different direction than the original designs done by Yasuhiko Yasunori for the novel covers and interior illustrations.

The Kei and Yuri of the television series were very different from their literary counterparts. Mughi, too, became more of a comedy-relief character and he and Nanmo, the Pair's egg-shaped robot piloted the ship, fixed electronic and mechanical problems, and performed a lot of comedy relief.
Humor became an important component of the show, oftentimes with the science fiction element taking a less important position. This was an important aspect of the DIRTY PAIR franchise, as would be demonstrated later.
During their television run, Kei and Yuri faced off against some pretty nasty foes, human and otherwise, including: superintelligent mice, cat kidnappers, one of Kei's ex-boyfriends who had become a pirate, a whole host of petty goons and thugs, a serial killer, giant sewer slugs, and the central computer in their apartment building. But it wasn't enough. The last two episodes of the series were never aired, but were released on laserdisc to the joy of collectors everywhere.

Nolandia or Bust

Released in 1985, this 55-minute OVA re-cast Kei and Yuri, perhaps in an attempt to solve some of the perceived problems with the television series. The story was more hard science fiction, including a psychic girl, alien monsters, and of course, a conspiracy run by a group of evil humans. Takachiho was more involved in this incarnation of the Pair, writing and overseeing the story. As a result, this is the Dirty Pair that is closest to the novel version, including the Pair's psychic powers and the infamous Bloody Card. It is also suspected that this is the version Takachiho views as his favorite.
Anime fans, however, gave NOLANDIA a lukewarm reception at best. The changes to Kei and Yuri were too fast and too soon. The lightheartedness and humor so often found in the television series was mostly absent from NOLANDIA. And, despite the premise of a complex story, many fans did not really care for this interpretation of Kei and Yuri. The character designs underwent drastic changes, as Kei and Yuri became more realistic and less "cute." And though these new designs were more in keeping with Takachiho's original vision of the Lovely Angels, the fans either didn't know or preferred the cuter, more comical version born from the television series. The end result, was that the AFFAIR OF NOLANDIA was more like a one-night stand.

The character designs aren't as "cute" as those featured in the OVAs and TV series.