Battle Angel Alita

Battle Angel Alita Episode 1: A Retro Cyberpunk Gem That Still Packs a Punch

Let’s cut to the chase: if you’re scrolling through your anime queue looking for something with grit, heart, and that classic 90s edge, Battle Angel Alita Episode 1 (or Gunnm, as it’s known in Japan) is your ticket. Released back in 1993 as part of a two-episode OVA by Madhouse—yes, the same studio that later gave us Death Note and Parasyte—this debut episode throws you headfirst into a world where scrap metal and cybernetic limbs litter the streets, and survival is a daily bloodsport. And honestly? For a 30-minute blast from the past, it holds up way better than you might think.

First off, let’s talk vibes. The episode drops you into Scrap Iron City, a dump where the poor scrounge for parts while the elite float above in the utopian Zalem. It’s dark, it’s dirty, and it feels lived-in—like every rusted pipe and flickering neon sign has a story. When Dr. Dyson Ido (a cybernetic doctor with a penchant for rocket hammers, of all things) finds Alita’s broken body in the junkyard, you immediately get that “fish out of water” energy. She’s a blank slate with super strength, no memory, and a personality that’s way sharper than most robotic heroines from that era. As one fan put it, “Gally/Alita has a stronger personality than most robotic girls than I originally thought”—and yeah, that’s spot-on. She’s curious, a little snarky, and when push comes to shove, she’s not afraid to throw down.

And throw down she does. The fight scenes here are chef’s kiss old-school. When Alita goes up against a rogue cyborg who’s been stealing spinal cords (gross, but cool), the animation is fluid, the violence is unapologetic, and you can tell Madhouse didn’t skimp on the budget. One viewer raved, “For being such an OVA the artwork and battle scenes were really well animated”—and honestly, for 1993, it’s impressive. The choreography is tight, the sound effects hit hard, and there’s a raw, visceral energy that modern anime sometimes loses in all the flashy CGI.

But let’s get real—this episode isn’t perfect. The pacing is a bit breakneck (they’re cramming two manga volumes into two episodes, after all), and some characters feel underdeveloped. The female antagonist, for example, is just… there? She monologues a lot and has this random vendetta against Ido, but we never really get why. And don’t even get fans started on Ido’s rocket hammer. “Using that rocket hammer didn’t make sense to me,” one person argued. “Being a cybernetic doctor, I think he should have protected his hands more, forgo close quarter combat and opted for long ranged weapons.” Fair point—but let’s be honest, a rocket hammer is way cooler than a gun. Sometimes you’ve got to prioritize style over logic, right?

What really makes this episode work, though, is its heart. There’s a scene where Alita bonds with a stray dog, and when that dog meets a tragic end? Oof. “Poor dog,” multiple fans sighed. It’s that small, human moment that grounds the chaos. Alita’s journey isn’t just about finding her memory—it’s about finding her humanity. And when she says, “Yes, I have been deprived of emotion. But not completely. Whoever did it, botched the job,” you feel that. She’s not a machine—she’s a person trying to figure out who she is in a world that doesn’t care.

The ending song deserves a shoutout too. It’s this haunting, synth-heavy track that sticks with you long after the episode ends. One fan called it “beautiful,” and they’re not wrong. It perfectly captures the mix of hope and despair that hangs over Scrap Iron City.

Now, if you’re a manga purist, you might have mixed feelings. “It was really different from the manga,” one viewer noted. “But I still liked it.” The OVA takes some liberties—condensing plotlines, changing character dynamics—but it still captures the core of Yukito Kishiro’s story. And let’s be real, for a lot of people (myself included), this OVA was their first introduction to Alita. It’s a gateway drug to the manga, and that’s never a bad thing.

The biggest takeaway here? This episode leaves you wanting more. Fans have been begging for a full TV series for years—“Alita deserves a TV series,” one person pleaded—and it’s easy to see why. The world is rich, the characters are compelling, and there’s so much more story to tell. As another viewer put it, “This was really wonderful done… This also gave me a Trigun like feeling or at least for Ido, looking forward to see what the second episode will offer us!”

At the end of the day, Battle Angel Alita Episode 1 is a time capsule. It’s a reminder of what anime was like in the 90s—gritty, unpolished, and full of heart. It’s not perfect, but it’s fun. It’s got old-school violence, a badass heroine, and a world that feels like it could collapse at any moment. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newbie curious about the source material for the 2019 live-action movie, this episode is worth a watch.

So grab some snacks, turn down the lights, and dive into Scrap Iron City. Just don’t get too attached to the dog. Trust me on that.