Mezzo Forte is a 2000OVA directed by Yasuomi Umetsu, but in the United States these OVAs are edited into an anime movie and released it on DVD on the same year. The OVA, which concerns a young woman, Mikura Suzuki, and her mercenary business, the Danger Service Agency, is the spiritual sequel to Umetsu's Kite, as both feature the continuing elements of a highly trained female protagonist, dark comedic tone, extremely violent and slickly directed over-the-top action sequences, as well as the graphic sex scenes, which can be found only in the uncut version. Also Sawa, the protagonist of Kite and Kite Liberator, appears in the first few minutes of Mezzo Forte, just when Kurokawa and the detective are speaking; Sawa walks by and looks at Kurokawa, then walks away. Mezzo Forte takes place sometime after the events of Kite. Her pistol also makes a cameo, being in the weapon stash in Kurokawa's car. Like Kite, the OVA was released both in the United States and Japan in two different versions: one with graphic sex scenes taken out, and the other with them left intact. Both versions, however, retain the more violent aspects of the movie. The United States release contains 20 minutes of extra footage not seen in the Japanese release, however, none of the pornographic content from the Japanese director's cut was included. The abridged version of Mezzo Forte, however, has no sex scenes and only contains two naked scenes. In addition, an international version was released in Japan on July 23, 2004. This version includes 20 minutes of extra footage, but none of the adult scenes found in the director's cut or the uncut version.
Plot
Momokichi Momoi, the mob boss owner of a professional baseball team known as "the Peach Twisters", has a unique way of dealing with ineffective players: killing them. His daughter, Momomi, is twice as twisted as her father. Mikura and the Danger Service Agency are hired by a mysterious old man to kidnap Momokichi. But during that attempt they run afoul of Momomi. Before the resulting firefight, Momokichi dies when his head falls on a ventilation pipe. Now Mikura and the D.S.A. have to come up with a new plan before they end up as Momomi's next target.
Characters
The series concerns three characters who comprise the Danger Service Agency ; Mikura Suzuki ; Kenichi Kurokawa ; Tomohisa Harada ; Momokichi Momoi ; Momomi Momoi
Sequel
A Mezzo Fortetelevision series called Mezzo DSA aired in 2004. The series takes place after the events of OVA and acts like a sequel. Unlike the English dub for this OVA which is recorded in Los Angeles, the English dub for Mezzo DSA is recorded in Houston.
