Project A-ko 4 is a 1989 action comedy sci-fi anime OVA movie directed by Yuji Moriyama. The fourth Project A-ko OVA in the series is also the very last one in the original continuity. It features the voices of Miki Itō, Emi Shinohara and Michie Tomizawa. The screenplay was done by anime writer and producer Tomoko Kawasaki (Slayers OVAs, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Corpse Princess).
The aliens known as the Alpha Cygnans are back! Meanwhile, the girls' teacher, Miss Ayumi, has been behaving in unexpected and somewhat strange ways recently. A-ko and B-ko are still at each other's throats, mostly about Kei. C-ko feels sidelined and begins to feel distant to A-ko. Kei is getting married to the girl's teacher. The wedding gets crashed by the aliens, who are still looking for their princess, and all hell breaks loose during the final ceremony.
In this cornucopia of previously seen characters, conflicts, scenarios and jokes, the callbacks and familiar faces collide into one cohesive work that ties up and concludes this needless but enjoyable series of OVA sequels. A self-aware lampoon of the franchise itself as it drinks from its well in clever ways. It's a summary of all of Project A-ko's virtues and flaws in one final fun romp. Fast pace, nonsensical elements put together in a way that has them crashing down and breaking logic and reason. It's about what you expected for a proper sequel.
The characters are all their lovable usual selves while perhaps exhibiting slightly more unconventional facets, ones that feel natural and not as out of nowhere as in the third OVA. The plot points are honestly sort of arbitrary and the excess and the overflowing of characters and subplots could be a bit too much but they manage to mostly balance them out just fine by having a very solid structure that gives the proper time and place to everyone. A lot of this fits into the A-ko franchise by virtue of being carefree and more of a spoof of tropes rather than a straight reproduction of them but without degrading itself to be mocking or contemptful, much less cynical.
I enjoyed the reveals and the twists that they throw at you without warning. When it comes to the actual resolution I definitely think it's a satisfying one, it doesn't really break any continuity and goes back to the plot points that were added as a monkey wrench to disturb the stability of the first movie. Seeing how A-ko and C-ko end in this OVA is so adorable and moving. A lovely, comfortable ending that warms my heart. I came to realize that the actresses doing the voice work and the animators created very lovable and deeply engaging characters without much "profoundity" to them by simply having them exist and be so exuberant and full of personality, to the point where these crazy platonic lovers are the cutest thing imaginable.
If you made it all the way to the fourth OVA I think you will enjoy this one or just watch it regardless. It's one of the funniest ones and has a very good conclusion to the whole story. I do recommend it.
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