OBSCURE O.V.A.S, *Spirit Of Wonder: Miss China's Ring

Kenji Tsuruta created a near decade run of his title, Spirit Of Wonder, which is a sci-fi romantic comedy set in a dieselpunk variation of our world. In 1992, Ajia-do Animation Works produced a one-shot OVA based on one of the manga's chapters that was labeled in English as Miss China's Ring, even though the genuine title was Melancholy Of China decades before Haruhi Suzimiya was even thought up.

Set in an alternate 1800s in a place called Prince Of Wales Island, the young entrepreneur China runs a restaurant named Tenkai, which also doubles as the residence for a pair of eccentric scientists, the rent-dodging Dr. Breckenridge and his assistant Jim who China seems to have a thing for. Breckenridge's latest invention is the Space Reflex Telescope which creates a 3D reflection of anything its aimed at, including the moon which Jim turns into the world's biggest birthday card for China. Jim takes it a step further by convincing China to use her "butt-kicking power" to smash a reflection of the moon, causing it to turn into a Saturn ring around the Earth, even though this would probably cause unheard of natural disasters in the real world.

The OVA is just brimming with charm which is its most memorable feature. The cute relationship between the jealous China and clueless Jim are typical of 90s anime, plus mixing this with a mad scientist scheme creates a heartwarming story. There are some animation glitches here and there, but the lovable plot and outstanding dub by Animeigo harness the sentimental otaku in all of us.