Review for Michiko & Hatchin Part 1

Whenever My Reviewer’s very own animeister Jitendar Canth sends me an anime set to review it usually means that it’s going to be a scorcher. In fact, so hot that he hasn’t been able to wait for a bona-fide UK release and has instead opted to import. Such was the case with the very wonderful ‘Michiko & Hatchin’.


It’s a curious one alright – a classic example of how the anime genre can accommodate just about any flight of fancy. This time it’s an anime set in an unnamed Latin American country (with strong hints of Rio with its famous statue and its out of bounds favelas) and from the off you know you’re in for something a bit different. The title sequence is fantastic (I didn’t fast forward through it once during its initial 11 episode run) with superb retro seventies graphics and pumping Latin soundtrack.

The programme actually dates back to 2008 (which will explain Jitendar’s impatience in getting hold of a copy – read more in his fantastic review here). It was also one of a handful of shows with a female director, Sayo Yamamoto, and I guess the over-riding thrust of grrrrrrrl-power throughout is no coincidence. (Think ‘Tank Girl’ on steroids).


Jitendar does a sterling job in his review of summarising the plot so I won’t repeat that exercise here – other than an attempt to draw it into a single summary paragraph. Michiko is a gorgeous looking, silky-voiced escaped convict. The series opens with an impossibly daring escape from prison and we know that this is a girl on a mission. To find her ex-lover and lost daughter and get working as a family again – and no one had better get in her way. Riding to the favelas astride her recently appropriated but mighty cool motorbike, she fearlessly goes wherever she needs to get the job done. She’s street-wise, sassy and foul-mouthed.


Hatchin on the other hand is a sweet little ten year old orphan girl suffering untold abuse at the hands of her foster parents (one a priest who is only interested in the money that fostering brings). Along with the couple’s own children they treat Hatchin as a personal slave who is frequently beaten, constantly put upon and who has to work to serve them from dawn till dusk. One day they push her too far and we see a different side to her as she retaliates and then runs from the home, now homeless. When she is returned to the foster parents it’s not long until Michiko arrives to collect her daughter. Hatchin has no idea who she is or the wild adventures they are about to embark on together as they both go on the run – chased by the police, favela gangsters and the priest who tries to shoot his own foster daughter.


The two of them shape up into a weird Thelma and Louise style hybrid, both seeking something better and meting out justice to anyone who deserves it along the way. You get gang fights, love affairs, dodgy clowns, mad bikers, balloon flights, shoe-theft, voodoo magic, arguments, existential ruminations, great injustices, abject poverty, drunken brawls and much more. This is anything but a standard kiddy cartoon show and certainly not one for under fifteens.


Picture quality on the 1.78:1 widescreen DVD transfer is very acceptable, even when played back on a hefty sized plasma. It’s full of rich primary colours as well as deep blacks and high contrast and these all work very well here. The animation is fabulous – still connected to the accepted conventions of anime styling and yet somehow also adding a pop-art, retro vibe. Nice! 


I watched this with the US English dub and have to say it was superb. Every voice was spot on and Michiko just perfect – all low and sassy, really helping create the character. Hatchin was well played too and actually, all characters were utterly believable. US voice dubbing has really come a long way – something that original language purists might want to check out. It’s not as bad as you think it’s going to be. Honest. 


Extras comprised some audio commentaries and a nice little featurette on the dubbing process focussing on Michiko with voice actress Monica Rial. All a bit peripheral but there if you want them.


Overall this is a good example of a really excellent anime. It moves at a fantastic pace and you can be assured that there is never a dull moment. It’s action-packed and yet also takes the time for the serious and reflective human stuff and the evocation of a complete lifestyle in a Latin-American country is really superb. The first part of the series ends at a really great point which could, had no more episodes have been made, been a perfectly acceptable place to drop the curtains. However, it also leaves the story-arc wide open for more and I for one look forward to seeing where it goes next. (Apologies if this sounds vague but I don’t want to spoil it for you!).


If you’re new to anime then this may be a bit a-typical but it could be a good place to start. It’s easy to follow, fun to watch and looks and sounds great. What more do you want from a show?

Highly recommended.