OBSCURE O.V.A.S, *Ellcia

The 4-episode OVA series Ellcia is arguably the prototype pirate anime, at least of the seaworthy variety. Premiering in 1992, this was an original production by J.C. Staff, written and directed by animator Yoriyasu Kogawa, and featured character designs by Yasuomi Umetsu of Kite and Mezzo fame. There is a janky style to the characters and incompatible fashion sense even for the patchwork finesse of pirates. The story rolls along like a role-playing campaign with more annoying cast members and plot snags that doesn't create a beneficial experience for any onlookers.

Proceeding in the world known as Ellcia, the kingdom of Megaronia had taken over the island nation of Eija, but the greedy Princess Crystal learns of a mythical ship capable of conquering any enemy. An ancient book of Eija gives her the clue on this ultimate weapon, so pesky princess sets out to the Eija territory to find this ship and brings along with the imprisoned heir to Eija to use as collateral. A motley crew of pirates from Eija lead by the swashbuckling Captain Eira are out to try and rescue the kidnapped prince while learning the true hidden power of the Eija elders and its strange race of psychics.

Ellcia wasn't much of a success in either Japan or America perhaps due to the fact that Cutthroat Island still left a bad taste in people's mouths ruining any interest in the pirate category. Where titles like One Piece have managed to literally keep the oceanic adventures genre afloat, Ellcia has an outstanding lack of direction or anything worth getting investing in. ADV Films first released this as a quartet of individual VHS tapes and then finally a collected DVD but did little to make this interesting for American otaku with their minimal amount of advertising.