Spirit of Wonder
Set in 1950’s England, Spirit of Wonder is a five-part OVA that follows on from the earlier film ‘Miss China’s Ring’�. Fortunately, although it is referenced a couple of times, knowledge of this prior feature is not required- the contents of this release can easily be enjoyed as a set of stand-alone stories.

The Scientific Boys Club
Windy Lindoverberg is delighted to have her husband Jack back home after an extended voyage out to sea; unfortunately, he seems more interested in spending time with Windy’s father and his friends at the Scientific Boys Club than catching up with his wife. The Club is about to realise their fifty-year dream of building an airship that can take them to Mars, although ironically enough, they’re using Windy’s theories to do it! Torn between concern for her family and her desire for a normal life, Windy nonetheless helps out with the vital calculations needed to make this pioneering voyage.

Comprising the first two instalments of Spirit of Wonder, The Scientific Boys Club is a throwback to the ‘old days’ of both science and science-fiction, when people still believed in Martians, and anyone could make a major breakthrough in their backyard laboratory. The first half is primarily geared towards setup and character introduction, and while the pace can be a little slow at times, it is worth sticking with it for the story’s culmination in part two. In the real world, the laws of physics would be against our intrepid adventurers, but even so it’s hard not to cheer them on as they board their ship and set sail for Mars.

Shrinking of Miss China ~ Planet of Miss China ~ Drinking of Miss China
Rounding off this release are three short films about the adventures of the eponymous Miss China, a restaurant owner who is just as adept at martial arts as she is at serving up meals. China’s life is anything but uneventful thanks to her long-term tenants Professor Breckenridge and his assistant Jim Floyd; a pair of inventors with a tendency to come up with all manner of strange devices.

A contrast to the longer feature on the first disc, these 10-15 minute pieces offer an interesting mix of the comedic and the serious, from China’s unfortunate encounter with Breckenridge and Jim’s shrinking ray, to a quieter moment in which we realise how much she misses her home country. The action can get a little over the top at times, with a scene in which Breckenridge vomits up a quantity of blue slime that transforms into a monster standing out as particularly distasteful, but given the brevity of each segment, none of them have time to outstay their welcome. Unfortunately, this also means that whilst we are introduced to a rather interesting and well-defined cast, there isn’t really time to explore them as fully as they deserve.

Presentation-wise, Spirit of Wonder remains consistent throughout; character designs are solid, whilst every setting from the streets of Bristol to the landscape of Mars is detailed and well-realised. The soundtrack is equally worthy of mention, boasting a range of folk-themed tracks that are somewhat reminiscent of the score for the outstanding Haibane Renmei.

In Summary

An interesting collection of OVA episodes that blend classic sci-fi elements into a slice-of-life story, Spirit of Wonder is one title that manages to live up to its name. Fans of fast and furious action-adventure may find themselves put off by the sedate pace, but those willing to sit back and savour what this film has to offer will find themselves thoroughly entertained.