History Anime / KeyTheMetalIdol

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall[=/=]PostModernism: One manner to interpret this perspicacious exchange uttered by Wakagi and Shuichi in Episode 14 after Shuichi engages in disclosing what he has learned from his visit to Mamio Valley:

* WouldHitAGirl[=/=]NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: [[LittleMissSnarker Beniko]] casually makes an offhand remark that prompts Ajo to punch her out of her seat. When she calls him out on it, [[UnstoppableRage he proceeds to beat her 'til she's bruised and bloodied]], while pointedly telling her how little he regards her gender, her looks, her singing voice, or the fact that she's [[IdolSinger an idol]].

''Key the Metal Idol'' is a 15-episode {{OVA}} series directed by Hiroaki Sato and produced by Creator/StudioPierrot, released from 1994 to 1996.

''Key the Metal Idol'' was released as a 15-episode {{OVA}} over a few years. The final episodes are nearly 90 minutes in length.

And if you think from the description that this is a cutesy kid's tale about [[TrueCompanions making friends]] and [[BecomeARealBoy becoming a real girl]]... [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids you're going to be in for a rough ride]].

* CoolLoser: Tataki.

* NightVisionGoggles: Part of Wakagi's arsenal.

* NotSoStoic: Key.
* OffModel: Some scenes in episode 12, especially at the video rental store, look... off.

* DeconstructorFleet: Covers PinocchioSyndrome[=/=] BecomeARealBoy, LoveImbuesLife, MiniMecha, Real Mecha, Super Mecha, EccentricMentor, IdolSinger, and MagicalGirl to name a few. Additionally, it [[spoiler: subverts and deconstructs EmotionlessGirl and RobotGirl, as Key is revealed to be neither]].

* PinocchioSyndrome: Key's goal, as a self-declared robot, is to become human.

* BadBoss: Ajo.
* {{Bishonen}}: Tsurugi.

* PunchClockVillain: Staff A, B and C. We never learn their names, [[spoiler:and they still end up dead in the end like [[KillEmAll almost everyone else]].]]

* AwesomeButImpractical: Ajo's PPOR robots; yes, they're humanoid, super-strong, and self-powered, but there are still a lot of bugs to work out. [[spoiler:Such as the way they only really work when they're controlled by the same people who contributed the "gel" that powers them.]]

* GenerationXerox: [[spoiler:Sakura's father claims to have had an affair with Key's mother in the past. Sakura knows about it, it turns out, which explains why she started to act [[ClingyJealousGirl possessive]] towards Shuichi after he became more interested in Key's mysteries; she's afraid that they will relive their mothers' conflict, even though Key has shown romantic interest in ''nobody.'']]

* InelegantBlubbering: [[spoiler:Key's first response to becoming human and the emotions that come with it; understandable, considering that she basically hits the ground already past the DespairEventHorizon.]]

* {{Talking to H|imself}}erself: Both Miho Utsuse and Beniko Komori ([[spoiler:the spunky young performer chosen as Miho's understudy[=/=]successor[=/=]replacement]]) share the same voice in both the Japanese version (Chiyako Shibahara) and the English dub (Creator/SaffronHenderson).

* YouWouldMakeAGreatModel: Happens to the very naive title character. Fortunately, the scumbags ordered delivery, and the delivery girl turns out to be Key's childhood friend Sakura, who figures out what's going on and saves her.

* ExoticEyeDesigns: Key's eyes are a [[PurpleEyes light shade of purple]] with tiny pupils and a dark purple-colored rim. To add to her strange and robotic appearance, they look like they're [[DiesWideOpen perpetually wide open with shock]]. [[spoiler:As a human, they're brown and softer.]]

%%* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler: Ajo.]]

* {{Fanservice}}: Sakura and Key apparently need to shower often.

* CloudCuckooLander: Deconstructed. Key's abnormal behavior is portrayed as unsettling and is ''not'' PlayedForLaughs.

* ExoticEyeDesigns: Key's eyes are a [[PurpleEyes light shade of purple]] with tiny pupils and a dark purple-colored rim. To add to her strange and robotic appearance, they look like they're [[DiesWideShut perpetually wide open with shock]]. [[spoiler:As a human, they're brown and softer.]]

* TalkingToHerself: Both Miho Utsuse and Beniko Komori ([[spoiler:the spunky young performer chosen as Miho's understudy[=/=]successor[=/=]replacement]]) share the same voice in both the Japanese version (Chiyako Shibahara) and the English dub (Creator/SaffronHenderson).

* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: Sakura.

* WouldHitAGirl[=/=]NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: [[LittleMissSnarker Beniko]] casually makes an offhand remark that prompts Ajo to punch her out of her seat. When she calls him out on it, [[UnstoppableRage he proceeds to beat her 'til she's bruised and bloodied]], while pointedly telling her how little he regards her gender, her looks, her singing voice, or the fact that she's [[IdolSinger an idol.]]

* AnyoneCanDie: Both major and minor characters are offed during the series. Borders on KillEmAll.

* TalkingToHerself: Both Miho Utsuse and Beniko Komori ([[spoiler:the spunky young performer chosen as Miho's understudy[=/=]successor[=/=]replacement]]) share the same voice in both the Japanese version (Chiyako Shibahara) and the English dub (SaffronHenderson).

* ExoticEyeDesigns: Key's eyes are a [[PurpleEyes light shade of purple]] with tiny pupils and a dark purple-colored rim. To add to her strange and robotic appearance, they look like they're [[DiesWideShut perpetually wide open with shock]]. [[spoiler:As a human, they're [[BrownEyes brown]] and softer.]]