OBSCURE O.V.A.S, *Doomed Megalopolis

Hiroshi Aramata created the popular fictional novel series in Japan, Teito Monogatari, which was later adapted into two live-action movies. The twelve-volume epic blends in Japanese history with dark fantasy to create a story taking place in an alternate timeline, similar to steampunk. Studio Madhouse turned the first third of the original source material into a 4-episode OVA series, although it takes a pervy turn trying to appeal to the more ecchi fans. Streamline Pictures licensed it for English on VHS releases, and then later collected on DVD by ADV Films.

Set in 1908, the evil sorcerer Yasunori Kato, of whom the character of M. Bison was largely modeled after, plots to destroy Tokyo by attempting to rise the spirit of the city's founder Masakado which has been resting in the middle of town. He tries to do this by using the latent psychic powers of the traumatized girl Yukari. After failing to get her power to awaken Masakado, he waits until 1923 when her daughter Yukiko becomes the instrument of his new plan to use her power to once again being unable to wrangle Masakado's spirit into his service, leading to the Great Kanto earthquake. Fast forwarding to 1927, Kato shifts his scheme by awaking a feng shui dragon lying beneath Tokyo. The local heroic scientists and psychics counterattack with everything from an excavating robot to a powerful miko named Keiko who is blessed by Masakado's spirit to finally stop Kato.

The original source material has the story continue in a parallel history all the way into the 1990s where the villain of Kato constantly returns to torment Tokyo like some kind of recurring comic book supervillain, of which movies like The Great Yokai War carry on the character's diabolical crusade. Madhouse did a premium job in their attention to detail, although their diverting into a mature horror with scenes replicating Legend Of The Overfiend make this an anime not intended for young viewers in any way. Experienced otaku can see how anime like Tokyo Babylon and Sakura Wars were inspired by this from mixing in Japanese folklore with urban fantasy.