100%

Here we have the story of a girl who decides to become a journalist in a big television network. Considering that is a ova created in the early 90s, I think the story, although it´s not very large, has plenty of creativity. Throughout history, we can see the natural way the main character develops a fondness colleagues from their place of work, to the point of creating some rivalry with other journalists to get the best place alongside the company director. The quality is very nice and it is strongly recommended.

"Journalism will kill you, but it will keep you alive while doing so." How accurately does this Horace Greeley quote characterize this 53-minute OAV? Actually, pretty well. Yet, my first impression isn't particularly rosy after looking at the hideous cover art of the VHS. While the art style is representative of what you actually watch, its composition seems off. In this, the inexplicably blonde Kazuyo Atta does a Marilyn Monroe impression. She looks more like a pin-up model than a legitimate TV announcer. She is surrounded by people who look like serial sex offenders, all washed out in creepy seafoam tones. As a result, the ... cover resembles a fake pop art advertisement for tights rather than an animated work...
I assume the other visual from Pack-in-Video that you can see on Anidb was created to address this marketing issue. Kazuyo Atta's profession is properly highlighted, and the more sympathetic secondary characters are shown in Yanagizawa's detailed manga style. An intriguing detail is the photography collage of a woman at the center. Interestingly, her real-life occupation mirrors the main character's. She is Yuki Nagamine, a popular announcer who worked at the Tokyo Broadcasting System at the time. She was chosen to be Kazuyo's voice actress for this project. In my view, this promotional piece is much superior and should replace the one on MyAnimeList's profile page because it perfectly sums up what this anime has in store for you visually.

100% opens rather creatively to an establishing shot, dispelling any initial mixed feelings suggested by the shoddy Marilyn Monroe cover. It almost tries to emulate a Broadway Musical number, as you see the main character daydreaming in an empty news studio. The opening itself is the title of the OAV, which is a nice touch. This scene effectively conveys to viewers what the OAV is all about: the rocky but quixotic beginnings of an up-and-coming television announcer. Past this good introduction, Ike Taiki's screenplay delivered linear but efficient storytelling. Sadly, despite his craft, that competent man didn't receive much recognition in the industry. In under 53 minutes, you get exposition, disruptive elements, humorous mishaps, the main conflict with a shady collaborator, and its resolution. Journalism may be literature in a hurry, but fortunately, the plot was not handled as such.
As concise as Taiki's script is, he likely followed Kimio Yanagizawa's manga fairly closely. You may know the creator for his other work, "Aoki Honoo", a thoroughly disagreeable story about a sociopath who uses his acquaintances as stepping stones to further his social standing. This one is far from pleasant to watch, but it demonstrates that Yanagizawa has a sharp mind, able to unsettle his audience by presenting them with harsh realities. Although 100% has a more positive outlook on life than "Aoki Honoo", it still teases dramatic tension at times. For example, Kazuko's romantic rival, Terakawa, schemes to exploit the main character's innocent optimism and send her on a potentially dangerous assignment. Show business is a ruthless world, and I am sure the OAV would have fully explored this avenue if it had been given a full series. However, the intent is primarily to endear and, admittedly, sometimes arouse the imagination of the viewer, so it does not end up being the utterly slimy experience I thought it would be. However, the awkward sound selection undermines this anime, particularly in the scene where Aburai attempts to rape Kazuyo. This wince-inducing scene is dismissed with a doo-wop riff that would be more at home in a goofy happening from a school delinquent anime than as a explicit commentary on sexual harassment in journalism. Thankfully, Aburai is completely inept as an abuser, defusing the uneasy nature of this plot twist. Indeed, if Kazuyo Atta were a news anchor in the United States, she would have been more likely to experience the same fate as Jodi Huisentruit... But let's not digress into grim true crime comparisons, shall we?

Aside from these foot faults and the strange reverse harem undertones that may make some viewers groan, there is little negative to say about 100%. Kazuo Iimura's character designs are not particularly flashy or visually appealing, but the fullness of the characters' facial contours successfully conveys that they are adults. Comic relief characters like Edogawa, the star host of the show to which Kazuyo has been assigned, are recreated in a way that convincingly conveys the impression that he is a mischievous octopus in human form. However, the major flaw in the design becomes apparent when the characters are presented in profile, an angle that does not flatter their appearance at all. Thankfully, the storyboard artist doesn't overuse this type of framing of shots, likely due to awareness of JC Staff's limited animation expertise. As for the costume design, the goal is believability rather than fantasy. The cast wears what you would expect to see in a corporate environment related to television broadcasting.
In terms of animation, 100% is purely functional and not particularly action-driven. The edit is still choppy in places, as you can see during a conversation on the rooftop terrace between the main female character and Kuwata, who regards her as love interest since the beginning.
Overall, this OAV isn't meant to be thought-provoking, nor is it. It's just a quick way to capitalize on Yuki Nagamine's popularity. As modest a goal as that is, it does its job very well. As her resumé foreshadowed, Nagamine excels in her role, capturing the endearingly clumsy yet energetic spirit of the ambitious main protagonist. I imagine her fans were pleased to picture her in Kazuyo's place during the saucier scenes. Although the TV news setting receives little emphasis, as I said before, Yanagizawa's potential permeates the production. This environment is believably recreated, so the effort put into it must be commended. Research and firsthand knowledge were used, and the story speaks for itself.

And that concludes my 100% review. This was Ziusudra from The Sorcery-Party, your reviewer, signing out.

..| Colophon |..

The purpose of the Colophon is to provide practical information to the audience about objectionable content.

.. Violence: Situations in relation to violence are bound to happen. For example, one of the main characters is pushed into traffic and ends up in the hospital shortly thereafter. Still, none of these scenes are presented under a voyeuristic or sadistic lens. This shows that, despite being the author of Aoki Honoo, Yanagizawa is not especially obsessed by physical and psychological violence. So, there's nothing too objectionable.
.. Graphic Nature: This anime contains brief instances of fan service. There is mild nudity in the bathing scenes. There are also unnecessary scenes of Kazuyo swimming laps, as well as a brief upskirt shot when she slips on a glassy floor. However, nothing is so scandalous that it would prompt a Baptist church congregation to riot with pitchforks.