CompleteMartialArts.com - Key the Metal Idol: Knowing 7 (Dub)

Her grandfather's ultimate creation, Key contains components that the sinister president of Ajo Heavy Industries needs to perfect his unreliable cyborgs. As the president's icy henchman stalks her, Key reveals she possesses superhuman strength, the ability to levitate, and the power to blow up Ajo warrior robots. These adventures are played against the search for 30,000 friends, which leads Key to a concert by rock star Miho (another cyborg controlled by Ajo) and a cult that worships a snake god.

Key's waif-like appearance recalls Yasuomi Umetsu's "Presence" segment of the 1987 feature Robot Carnival, but her monotone voice and habit of referring to herself in the third person ("Key understands") quickly cloy. The tone of the adventures seesaws between wistful yearning and sinister violence.

Unrated; graphic violence, nudity, profanity, and sexual situations are unsuitable for children. --Charles Solomon

Key is really more of a societal commentary than a classical anime. While many anime series have a story up front and then a deeper hidden meaning that, if you blink, you might miss. Key is very upfront, you can't miss the message, it smacks you in the face.

The anime itself is well done, but not the best I've seen. The characters are very appropriate and well done, the voice overs match the characters well.

This anime is definately well worth watching. I would put it right up there in the top 5 or so anime that I have seen so far. It is stand alone and would probably appeal to many people who generally don't watch, or don't like anime. However, it is slow at certain points and some parts are fractured and confusing, but it will all come together and make sense at the end.

FIrst of all, the DVDs hold a lot of episodes on 'em, and Viz has released it so that the whole series is only on three DVDs. Pretty conveinent if I do say so myself. Second of all, I'm not that huge of a fan of sci-fi series. But for whatever reason this series has seemed to captivate me. What with more going on then just Key finding 30,000 friends there is something for almost everyone in this series. The art is also somewhat different, and sometimes Key just seems plain old surreal looking.

What's more, my friends mom bought this whole series for herself. And loves it to death. Definatly recommended to any mature anime fan. This isn't a comedy folks, it's one serious drama, with a lot of mature content. You've been forewarned, and you've been urged to buy it, so go buy it >^^<

Key started out as a concept for a videogame, and ended up as an OVA anime. (released on video)

The english soundtrack cuts in and out. When you watch the dvd, select english subtitles and japanese audio.

The story is so complex you have to watch it several times just to understand the storyline.

The real story of Key is the subversive way the entertainment industry in Japan takes advantage of young girls and exploits them for profit. A very important story, and still very timely. You see nothing like this produced in Hollywood, how our consumption of product leads to the distruction of young girls who think that they can become the next idol singer.

Then if they do have any talent, they are seen as a clone. Like how Jane Mansfield was a clone of Maralyne Monroe.

Key also deals with peer on peer abuse in school, as well as other socalization issues. Grief, acceptance, competency, role of religion, healing, life process, role of pills to help with depression, sexual exploitation, the need to have friends, and the relationships of fans, artists and the corporations that (use) manage talent.

I would love to see Key made into a live action movie. Then perhaps Key will reach her goal of 30,000 friends.

Notice after the credits on episode 15 the short clip with key giving flowers... any comments on that?

In some of the dialog on episode 14 they talk about Ame No Uzme No Mikoto. This is a reference back to Japanese mythology. If you read Ame No Uzme, like it is english, then it almost reads Amy No Use Me, or A Me No Use Me.

Ame No Uzme No Mikoto was the hevenly deity of devine movement, meditation, mariage and joy.

I think the bottom line with Key is an anime with a real social message and complexity, just like real life, but as a robot, key is just plain... awesome.