Find it on hoopla: IRIA

Are you haunted by the memory of media from your childhood? Vague recollections of a movie you rented, half remembered melodies of a hit song, or the intro to a TV series lodged in the back of your mind but just out of reach. It can be frustrating trying to track down these half-recalled experiences as an adult. Maybe you want to complete the memory, experience something from a new perspective, or simply relive the excitement of being a kid - but conjuring the right combination of key words to track it down can feel impossible.

Hoopla is a great place to find older or obscure media, and it's completely free with your Caldwell Public Library card. If you haven't read up on this digital service, check out my post about it here before we move on.

All done? Good. Now, you'll never guess where this is going, but hoopla has this half-remembered show from my childhood and it's called IRIA.

IRIA was one of my white whales. I have vivid memories of watching the entirety of this six-episode OVA one afternoon on the Sci-fi Channel when I was around eight years old. As a Dragon Ball Z and Gundam Wing fan, I was already familiar with anime, but I was captivated by this strange, intense and more mature show. Over the years I would recall bits and pieces of it, always asking myself: what the heck was that weird anime with the tiny face monster guy?

Hoopla's description of the series is maddingly basic: "A monster hunter goes after a beast that could be her brother." Iria, our titular bounty/monster hunter, accompanies her brother on a dangerous mission to a remote space station that pits them against an immortal monster known as Zeiram. Things go awry and Zeiram escapes into the stars, forcing Iria to track him from planet to planet as she unravels the various mysteries and conspiracies surrounding Zeriam and those that seek to control him. Once you see Zeiram, you'll understand why I never forgot this series. A hulking humanoid mass with a red slash for eyes, a round-hat shaped head, and a tiny white face thing that whips out to bit at people - he is CREEPY.

The futuristic backdrop, unique character designs, and strange technology create a captivating setting as we follow Iria's quest to eliminate the terrifying Zeriam. Iria is a total bad@$$ and great main character you can really root for. The action is quick and intense, but the series balances it with slower, more tender moments that reveal character's underlying motivations and emotions. I wouldn't recommend it for younger viewers, as there are some intense moments and some minor blood and gore, but nothing extreme or nauseating.

IRIA is a blast, and a relatively short watch at only six half-hour episodes. It's an interesting time capsule of 90's anime goodness that whisked me back to the carefree days of my youth. Hoopla has many other anime offerings as well, so if you need to tune out from the demands of your day, check it out.