Old anime people trapped in a computer

Question

I need help identifying one old anime that was about people getting trapped inside a computer.

I don't remember much about it but I remember that there was a mad scientist that put himself on purpose inside a computer. Then he was able to control the computer and somehow the computer was able to trap other people making them play games to survive. For example, I remember a scene where a man had to play a Pac-man like game and had to avoid being eaten (but he was eaten eventually).

Another thing I remember is that there was a guard dressed in a black and yellow uniform, and he was making sure that all the prisoners were behaving right. He was an African named John and while he pretended to be tough with the prisoners, he helped the main character in his attempt to escape. He was killed by the computer for that reason.

I don't even know if this was a series or just a movie, they were always showing in TV the same episode (not even the complete episode...) and I still wonder what was the outcome of this story!

It's been more than 20 years since I last saw this episode.

Any help would be appreciated!

Answer 1

Guys thank you very much about your help. I tried to search it for one more time and.... I found it. It's the following anime called Savior of the Earth:

Acts of terrorism are happening in the USA, Japan, France and the Pacific Ocean. The man behind these events is Dr. Butler, who tries to rule the world with his powerful computers. To save mankind, Dr. Kim, Sheila and Keith, known as "Saviors of the Earth", are summoned. The last battle, the Deadly Game, will take place inside a computer.

Trailer

Answer 2

the dot hack or .hack franchise included several anime series as well as games, etc. At least one series involved one character "trapped" in an online game.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.hack1

I haven't seen all of the series in the franchise so I don't know if any of them fit your description. The first series first aired in 2002, at least four years after you say you saw the episode, so unless your date is incorrect it is probably not what you remember, but I thought I would mention it anyway.

The Ghost in the Shell franchise had the movie of the same name in 1995 and the first series in 2002. I don't remember a plot such as you describe in what I watched but I didn't watch it all.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell2

Again, I suggest that this might be a possibility.

Answer 3

Could it be ReBoot?

The series follows the adventures of a Guardian named Bob and his companions Enzo and Dot Matrix as they work to keep the computer system of Mainframe safe from the viruses known as Megabyte and Hexadecimal. The setting is in the inner world of a computer system known by its inhabitants as Mainframe. It was deliberately chosen due to technological constraints at the time, as the fictional computer world allowed for blocky looking models and mechanical animation _{Quote from Wikipedia}

It was a CGI animated series, four seasons long, and what you describe could possibly be the plot of a single episode.

Answer 4

are you talking about Sword Art Online.

it sounds like what you are talking about. but this show is only about 10 years old. So maybe there was something before.

Answer 5

I have not seen the anime, but just google your description... Is it Ai no Kusabi??

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_no_Kusabi