Back when I lived in Japan, the anime Dirty Pair was something I saw on TV. In 1989, the original TV series had run four years prior and the 10-episode OAV series had completed in 1988. I remember my roommate Robert watching this and not having anything much better to do, I watched as well. OK, I thought Yuri was kinda hot.

I always thought it was ridiculous that these two investigators always wore these skimpy (fanservice) outfits, especially when in one of the OAV episodes, their male counterparts all got into heavy mecha armor! So guys need armor to go into combat, but our “Lovely Angels” need naught but what you see in the image above.

Still, Robert watching this series did plant seeds in my mind which lead to my looking for anime in 2002 and my becoming a fan of anime and manga.

ADV licensed the 10-episode OAV series, the two OAV’s that were part of the original TV series (but never aired in its original run), and the movie. They’ve yet to license the TV series nor has anyone else. A few years back, I did watch everything they released as part of a nostalgic look-back to my time in Japan.

Anyway, it was a great surprise to me to learn that Dark Horse has the license to the first light novel for which this anime is based — The Great Adventures of the Dirty Pair. I don’t know if DH has the license for all of them or just this one. Considering this light novel was published in 1979 and the TV series hasn’t been licensed, I’m surprised that someone would be willing to take a risk on this novel.

That said, I do hope they are going to do it right as I am planning to purchase it come the end of June. I’ll blog a review at that time.

Look at how Mughi looks like some sort of Displacer Beast from the Dungeons and Dragons games. That alone made me want to read this novel. *lol*

Update (12 May 2008): I finally read the novel and wrote the review here.