Bubblegum Crisis

In a rebuilt MegaTokyo set in 2033, a tech conglomerate called Genom helps reconstruct the city by producing biomechanical helpers known as Boomers. Those machines start malfunctioning and the official AD Police struggle to control the escalating violence. Four women from very different walks of life form the Knight Sabers, a private, heavily armed team who take on rogue Boomers and the corporate forces that unleashed them. The series follows their tactical strikes, high-speed chases, and personal clashes as they balance vigilante action with everyday pressures, while the line between human and machine keeps getting blurrier.

Released in 1987, Bubblegum Crisis was created by Toshimichi Suzuki and presented as an animated science fiction action series, featuring voice actors Kinuko Oomori, Akiko Hiramatsu, Yoshiko Sakakibara, Michie Tomizawa, and Nozomu Sasaki.

It didn’t collect major mainstream awards on release, but it has been recognized in fan circles and genre retrospectives for its role in late 1980s anime. Over time it’s earned a reputation that keeps it in conversations about classic cyberpunk animation.

The show influenced cyberpunk aesthetics in animation, helping popularize leather-clad, tech-armored heroines and neon-soaked urban backdrops. Its blend of pop music, gritty cityscapes, and mech action made several scenes and costume designs memorable among fans and creators who followed.

Critically, Bubblegum Crisis holds mixed to positive ratings, with a community vote average around 6.99 out of 10. Themes include unchecked corporate power, the ethics of artificial life, and female teamwork under pressure. Episodes balance action set pieces with character moments, so viewers who like tech-forward noir and ensemble casts tend to respond best.