I understand that BGC 2040 was redesigned, 
rewrote, and completely started from scratch and 
it was created for a "new generation". But what I 
do not care for is the truly subpar quality of 
animation and the utter lack of effort in the 
character designs. If the art used in anime 
titles as embodied by the character designs, 
mecha designs and overall quality of animation 
was not so important then we'd be reading books 
(not manga since manga also is highly dependant 
on good art) instead. 

When I see 2040 and then look at Lain, Tenchi in 
Toyko, Sakura Wars TV, El Hazard tv, Shadow Skill 
TV, Hack Sign (you get the point), it just seems 
like there is a complete lack of effort in 
creating breathtaking and/or unique character 
designs. Once again the art matters. Also the 
colors used aren't vibrant, everything looks like 
a low budget student film (I should know I made 
some that look like 2040); the feeling I get and 
no one else has to agree with this, is for a 
complete lack of a better description, bleah. And 
the same problem continues in many of the newer 
series as well. Personally, I am concerned about 
the direction anime is headed. I don't need 
people flaming me claiming I don't appreciate or 
that I am disrepecting the considerable efforts 
that goes into the creation of any animation; I -
know- just how hard it is, I am a traditional 
animator by trade. But, we are consumers whom 
this and other titles are marketed to and I 
believe we reserve the right to comment on the 
product AIC (and any anime company) attempts to 
sell. Bottomline for myself, if I don't like the 
work done on the anime as a whole, I won't 
buy/support the products and specially not the 
cels. Hey this is good news for others who do 
like 2040 enough to buy the cels and products, it 
means less competition, right?

But getting back to BGC, I realize the OVAs also 
have their share of problems in plot department 
and consist character development, but for 
myself, at the very -least- Sonoda character 
designs were one of the strongest redeeming 
aspects of the anime, they were undeniably 
unique, highly detailed and instantly 
recognizable. Sure the high hair in the OVAs is 
funny looking back now, but at the time of it's 
creation as you may or may not recall, big, high 
hair was in and that is perfectly reflected in 
the pop music too. Heck, as I recall celebs and 
just ppl from school truly matched the style 
found in the BGC OVAs. In more ways than one the 
BGC OVAs were sign of the times during the late 
80s and early 90s.

When I watched the 2040 series none of the 
artwork grew on me whatsoever and neither did the 
plot developments, especially when I compare it 
to the the OVAs. I doubt I am the only one who 
feels this way, personally IMO if a general poll 
including noncel collectors was done and they had 
to choose only one series between the two 2040 
and the OVAs, I believe the OVAs would still win 
despite the age. Now, if the revamp and redesigns 
of BGC 2040 were done superior to the OVAs, I 
truly doubt there'd be as many disgruntled BGC 
fans out there. Lastly, it's a pity BGC 2040 was 
not done with a higher budget and with more care 
in relation to preserving many of the original 
qualities that made the OVAs so wickedly 
successful. BGC 2040 deserved better and so did 
the patient fans who remained devoted waiting all 
those years since the OVA were first released.