First thing first, there's some mixed up in this entry's reviews. 'The Spirit of Wonder' is the title of a collection of OVAs. There are 5 of them, published in 1992 ('China-san no yûutsu'), 2001 ('Shōnen Kagaku Kurabu', two other China-san shorts), and 2004 (yet another China- san short). Brian Camp's review is about the right one, but Gordon Cheatham's review is about 'Shōnen Kagaku Kurabu' (Scientific Boys Club). Actually I can't find the entries for the other four OVAs on IMDb, so I guess it's easy to get confused.
Secondly, about the 'Space Reflex Telescope'. According to Mr. Breckenridge, this invention creates a magnified (eg. China-san) or shrunken (eg. the Moon) DUPLICATE of the original item, and any physical changes made to the duplicate affect the original. Yeah, this thing doesn't create images, it creates MATTER. So the words on the moon? Actually written on the real Moon surface! The final kung-fu moves performed by China-san? China-san destroyed the real Moon and creates a ring for the Earth! Pretty crazy, huh?
Finally, my take on this OVA: It's great! The setting, the characters, the animation, the voice-over, the music, all these elements blended perfectly and created a magical world toward which I am happy to suspend my disbelief. Sure, under their various names and faces are typical Japanese anime characters, and the technology is more fantasy than science, but isn't this the exact thing we are looking for in anime? A mixed-up imaginary world through the eyes of some great Japanese minds. In fact, a British pub run by a Japanese- stereotyped-Chinese girl is among the most genius places I can imagine where a steampunk-style story could happen in anime. And they create a ring for the earth!
Secondly, about the 'Space Reflex Telescope'. According to Mr. Breckenridge, this invention creates a magnified (eg. China-san) or shrunken (eg. the Moon) DUPLICATE of the original item, and any physical changes made to the duplicate affect the original. Yeah, this thing doesn't create images, it creates MATTER. So the words on the moon? Actually written on the real Moon surface! The final kung-fu moves performed by China-san? China-san destroyed the real Moon and creates a ring for the Earth! Pretty crazy, huh?
Finally, my take on this OVA: It's great! The setting, the characters, the animation, the voice-over, the music, all these elements blended perfectly and created a magical world toward which I am happy to suspend my disbelief. Sure, under their various names and faces are typical Japanese anime characters, and the technology is more fantasy than science, but isn't this the exact thing we are looking for in anime? A mixed-up imaginary world through the eyes of some great Japanese minds. In fact, a British pub run by a Japanese- stereotyped-Chinese girl is among the most genius places I can imagine where a steampunk-style story could happen in anime. And they create a ring for the earth!