MegaMan NT Warrior

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MegaMan NT Warrior
ロックマン エグゼ
(Rockman EXE)
Genre Shōnen
TV anime
Directed by Takao Kato
Studio XEBEC
Network Japan TV Tokyo
United States Kids' WB (EXE, Axess)
Hungary A+
League of Arab States MBC 3 (EXE, Axess)
Original run 4 March 2002 – 30 September 2006
No. of episodes 209 (56 EXE, 51 Axess, 51 Stream, 25 Beast, 26 Beast+)
Manga: MegaMan NT Warrior
Authored by Ryo Takamisaki
Publisher Japan Shogakukan
Canada United States VIZ Media
Serialized in JapanCoro Coro Comics
Original run –
No. of volumes 13

MegaMan NT Warrior (MegaMan Network Transmission Warrior), known in Japan as Rockman EXE (ロックマンエグゼ Rokkuman Eguze), is an anime and manga series based off the MegaMan Battle Network series of video games. Despite the common ground, the game, anime, and manga versions of the Battle Network series all diverge heavily from each other.

Contents

[edit] Manga

The manga is authored by Ryo Takamisaki. In Japan, it is serialized in Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comics. The manga is published in English by VIZ Media and retains its right to left format. The English manga, for the most part, uses the new set of names and terms that were established in the English anime (instead of retaining the original Japanese names or the English names used in the English games). Following suit with the conclusion of the MegaMan Battle Network video games, the manga is set to conclude at volume 13. Ryo Takamisaki has no plans to do a manga series for Ryusei no Rockman, the continuation of the EXE storyline set 200 years in the future.

[edit] Anime

The anime, licensed by VIZ Media (formerly ShoPro Entertainment before the two companies merged), was originally aired on Kids' WB in the United States and Teletoon in Canada (though both networks have stopped airing the series). The anime has spawned four sequels, Rockman EXE Axess, Rockman EXE Stream, Rockman EXE Beast, and Rockman EXE Beast+, and a feature-length film within the Stream storyline. Axess aired on TV Tokyo on October 2003, while the English adaptation (titled MegaMan NT Warrior: Axess aired in January 2005 in the United States and April 2005 in Canada. Stream aired on TV Tokyo in October 2004, Beast in October 2005, and Beast+ in April 2006. Kids' WB dropped MegaMan NT Warrior off the TV block at one point and revived only to complete the final episodes from Axess before dropping it again. There are currently no plans at this time to make an English adaptation of Stream, Beast, or Beast+. Whether or not the show will return to any U.S network remains to be seen. However, MegaMan NT Warrior has been announced to be a part of Cartoon Network's new online broadband service, Toonami Jetstream. As of Toonami Jetsream's start, this show has not been available on its service yet.

Movie poster
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Movie poster

The movie, Rockman EXE - The Program of Light and Darkness, was shown alongside the Duel Masters feature-length film, Duel Masters - Curse of the Deathphoenix, as part of a double-billing. Although the two films are independent of each other, promotional material for the double bill seemed to indicate a fictional crossover (such as a Duel Masters BattleChip in Battle Network 5) between the two series. There are no plans to release an English version of the film.

The English adaptation, like many English adaptations of other anime series, has edits due to Americanization and the shifting of the target demographic toward a younger audience. Among one of the more notable edits made was the editing out of words such as "fire," "bomb," and "napalm" (not "flame" or "flare"), which were thought to be inappropriate for younger viewers. As a result, the names of FireMan, BombMan, and NapalmMan also changed (while the original names were retained in the English games). Other inconsistencies between the English game and anime resulted from similarities in name to American superhero characters: an example is AquaMan becoming SpoutMan in the English anime to avoid confusion with the DC Comics superhero of the same name (although some speculation in the fan community of the series has suggested this was inspired by the prior lawsuit between Capcom and DC Comics when the original AquaMan appeared in the Mega Man 8). In addition, swords are blurred, and scenes of MegaMan pointing his buster at the screen are removed in earlier seasons. Curiously, subsequent airings of certain episodes reveal that some of the original edits were changed back - most notably, the FireTower BattleChip originally edited as "FlameTower," and subsequently reverted back to "FireTower". Other BattleChips that were named differently include "Blaster" (Shotgun) and "Laser Blast" (Cannon).

As with the WB's other previous and current dubbed series (such as Pokémon and Cardcaptors), some episodes were aired out of order, edited together, or skipped entirely. Viewers elsewhere saw the series in its entirety in the correct order. The program is currently being released on DVD (and a few earlier volumes on VHS), but in edited format only.

[edit] Plot

Like Battle Network, the series focuses on one Lan Hikari, known as Netto Hikari (光熱斗 Hikari Netto) in the Japanese versions, and his NetNavi, MegaMan.EXE (Rockman.EXE) as they build their friendship while dealing with threats from various NetCrime organizations. Along with Lan are friends Maylu Sakurai, Dex Ogreon, Yai Ayano, Tory Froid, and their respective NetNavis: Roll, GutsMan, Glide, and IceMan.

Although the series originally remains fairly close to the games in terms of storyline, it begins to diverge greatly partway into the series. For example, there is no evidence showing that Lan and MegaMan were twin brothers in the anime as of yet, unlike in the games where it is revealed near the end of the first Battle Network game.

Certain plot points have evidently been changed during the course of the series. In the first Japanese ending credits for Stream, both Ribitta (Kero Midorikawa) and Higsby were featured, foreshadowing, at the time, the possibility of the two becoming Cross Fusion members (Maylu and Ms. Yuri were chosen as substitutes). Similarly, in episode 12 of Beast, Iris is chased down by a shadowy figure bearing a resemblance to Colonel. Given the events that unfold as the rest of the story progresses, this scene does not make sense, as Colonel had not yet become a Zoanoroid, therefore he would not be stalking her to discover Trill's secrets.

[edit] EXE (56 episodes)

EXE is roughly split into two separate storylines. The first concerns the original WWW and Mr. Wily's (Dr. Wily) plan on finding the ultimate NetNavi, similar to the first game, but culminating in the N1 Grand Prix, a storyline that does not take place until the third game in the series. At the conclusion of the tournament, PharaohMan was awakened from his slumber, and proceeds to claim the net as his own, deleting MegaMan in the process. PharaohMan would eventually be weakened by the two tournament finalists, ProtoMan and a newly-rebuilt MegaMan, leading to his capture by Wily. The second half of the season has the characters take on Grave (Gospel), a NetMafia syndicate spearheaded by Wily that seeks to create a virus beast with the capability to destroy the net. The last several episodes of EXE would serve as a lead-in to Axess.

[edit] Axess (51 episodes)

Lan performing Cross Fusion
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Lan performing Cross Fusion

In Axess, Lan's father, Yuichiro Hikari, curiously absent for most of EXE, completes his research on the Synchro Chip, a device that enables Operators and NetNavis to become one through the use of Cross Fusion. This development coincides with a plot by Nebula (led by the notorious Dr. Regal and his Navi, LaserMan) and the Darkloids (headed by ShadeMan, and later LaserMan) to take over both the human and cyberworlds. It is at this point that events involving Navis become secondary to the action that takes place in the real world (rather than the cyberworld), which has led critics to label it a generic Henshin series. The storyline in Axess is considerably darker, and many EXE regulars make only sporadic appearances.

At the beginning of Axess, Lan manages to use a (then untested) Synchro Chip to Cross Fuse with MegaMan and defeat the Darkloids that materialize in the real world with the aid of Dimensional Converters. Because of this, Lan is invited to become a NetSaver (Net Savior), an Official NetBattler charged with protecting the net. As a result of Cross Fusion, MegaMan loses his Style Change option, but instead gains the ability to use Soul Unison (or "DoubleSoul") with which he can combine his powers with another NetNavi. Much of the series is devoted to dealing with the problem of the addictive Dark Chips, as well as the threat of Cross Fusion on the planet.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Stream (51 episodes)

The Cross Fusion members
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The Cross Fusion members

Stream continues the storyline set by Axess by introducing Duo, a being from outer space who seeks to destroy humanity after witnessing the chaos caused by Dr. Regal. Intrigued by Cross Fusion, he decides to spare mankind temporarily, bestowing a test upon the main characters to assess whether or not humans truly merit survival. He sends his subordinate, Slur, to Earth, where she hands Navis possessing the powers of Duo's asteroid to unsuspecting people to observe what they will do with such might. In the process, Neo WWW is formed by Tesla Gauss (Tesla Magnets) to cause havoc. Dr. Regal also returns in the movie, and again towards the end of Stream, and the focus shifts to time travel.

[edit] Beast (25 episodes)

Super Cybeast Grezar
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Super Cybeast Grezar

This series introduces the warring Cybeasts (Cyber Beasts) Gregar (Greiga) and Falzar (Falzer). Beast is loosely based on the events occurring in MegaMan Battle Network 6 and marks the arrival of the child-like Navi, Trill (who starts out the series as an infant but quickly grows into a young child). Pitted against the newly-emerged Zoanoroid armies of the Cybeasts, Lan, MegaMan, and a select group of their partners, find themselves drawn into the parallel world of Beyondard. Guided by a mysterious girl, Iris, they join the human resistance in the fight to claim the "Synchronizer" powers of Trill, with which MegaMan is able to "Beast Out." Nearing the end of Beast, the android brain belonging to Wily of Beyondard reveals himself, along with his lackeys, Blackbeard (Captain Kurohige) and Yuika (Chirol), hoping to acquire the victor Cybeast as his new body. Ultimately, the two merge together into the Super Cybeast Grezar, which becomes Wily's vessel. The Super Cybeast is born with the assistance from Trill's powers, and to stop it, MegaMan and Trill merge and lend their strength to Lan to form a "Juuka Style" while Cross Fusion is active.

[edit] Beast+ (26 episodes)

The continuation of Beast marketed as a stand-alone series. Episodes are reduced to approximately ten minutes in length, airing in a thirty minute time-slot (called the Oha Coliseum) alongside the Saru Get You! (Ape Escape) anime. Beast+ consists of a string of arcs beginning with the appearance of the Professor and Zero (both from MegaMan Network Transmission). The Professor recovers the remains of the Super Cybeast, Grezar, intent on reviving it for his own purposes. Following its deletion and Zero's decision to break ties with his master, the second arc takes place. Stranded in the world that they perceive to be opposite of their own, Blackbeard and Yuika band together with Darkloid BubbleMan, committing various crimes in a Team Rocket-esque fashion. Shortly afterwards, Megaman gains the abilities of Cross System. Zero then returns in the subsequent arc, befriending both GutsMan and MegaMan. The vengeful Professor, however, also resurfaces, unleashing a new subordinate known as Zero One. Moved by the kindness that has been shown to him, Zero sacrifices himself to put a stop to the Professor once and for all. The storyline then continues toward its finale with the introduction of Cache, the final boss of the Japan-exclusive mobile game, Rockman EXE Phantom of Network, who threatens to consume the world with the aid of Phantom Navis and cache data. Beast+ is the final series, ending the anime at episode 26. The timeslot was immediately replaced with the Ryusei no Rockman anime exactly one week later.

[edit] Characters

Main article: List of MegaMan Battle Network characters

[edit] Cast

Operator Voice (Japanese) Voice (English) NetNavi Voice (Japanese) Voice (English)
Netto Hikari / Lan Hikari Kumiko Higa Alex Doduk (Episodes 1-16)
Brad Swaile (Episodes 17 and on)		 Rockman / MegaMan Akiko Kimura Andrew Francis
Meiru Sakurai / Maylu Sakurai Kaori Mizuhashi Brittney Wilson Roll Masako Jou Lenore Zann (EXE)
Sharon Alexander (Axess)
Dekao Oyama / Dex Ogreon Yuusuke Numata Tony Sampson GutsMan Yoshimitsu Shimoyama Scott McNeil
Yaito Ayanokoji / Yai Ayano Hinako Kanamaru Jocelyne Loewen Glide Yasuhiko Kawatsu Ted Cole
Tohru Hikawa / Tory Froid Kumiko Watanabe Reece Thompson IceMan Junko Noda Samuel Vincent
Enzan Ijuin / Chaud Blaze Mitsuki Saiga Bill Switzer (EXE)
Scott Perrie (Axess)		 Blues / ProtoMan Masaya Matsukaze David Kaye
Masa / Maysa Jin Horikawa Richard Newman SharkMan Takama Suzuki Donald Brown
Saloma / Sal Omi Minami Kelly Sheridan WoodMan Toshihide Tsuchiya Lee Tockar
Miyuki Kuroi / Miyu Kuroi Kumiko Yokote Anna Cummer SkullMan Riichi Nishimoto Brian Drummond
Yamitaro Higure / Higsby Yuji Ueda Lee Tockar NumberMan Yuji Ueda Samuel Vincent
Shuuko Kido Mamiko Noto Chantal Strand Aquaman / SpoutMan Chiemi Chiba Matt Hill
Kenichi Hino / Mr. Match Katsuyuki Konishi Trevor Devall Fireman / TorchMan and HeatMan Kenji Katougi Ross Douglas (TorchMan), Brian Drummond (HeatMan)
Madoi Iroaya / Maddy Junko Noda Tabitha St. Germain Coloredman / WackoMan Yuji Ueda Andrew Toth
Count Elec / Count Zap Kenta Miyake Colin Murdoch ElecMan Chiriro Suzuki Kirby Morrow
Mahajarama / Yahoot Keiichi Sonobe Ron Halder MagicMan Katsuyuki Konishi Paul Dobson
Mariko Ozono / Ms. Mari Noriko Hidaka Janyse Jaud (no Navi)
Yuriko Ozono / Ms. Yuri Noriko Hidaka Janyse Jaud Needleman / SpikeMan Tsuchiya Toshihide Tony Alcantar
Yuichiro Hikari / Dr. Hikari Kouichi Nagano (EXE, Axess)
Tokuyoshi Kawashima (Stream onwards)		 Michael Adamthwaite (no Navi)
Meijin Eguchi / Famous Keiji Fujiwara Jonathan Holmes (no Navis in anime)
Laika / Raika Yuuki Hiro Matt Smith SearchMan Fukuyama Jun Brian Dobson
Forte / Bass Keiko Nemoto Matt Hill
Dr. Regal Kazuhiro Nakata Trevor Devall LaserMan Nakata Kazuhiro (unknown)
Shademan Hidetoshi Nakamura Scott McNeil
Bubbleman Chiyako Shibahara Gabe Khouth

[edit] Episode list

See MegaMan NT Warrior media and release information.

[edit] Series

The anime is composed of five series and one film.

  • Rockman EXE / MegaMan NT Warrior: A total of 56 episodes, with 25 in the first season and 31 in the second. (In the English version, 14 episodes comprised the first season, 28 in the second, and 10 - consisting of episodes skipped previously - in the third).
  • Rockman EXE Axess / MegaMan NT Warrior Axess: A total of 51 episodes, no longer divided up as the original EXE was.
  • Rockman EXE Stream: A total of 51 episodes.
  • Rockman EXE Beast: A total of 25 episodes, but continues with Beast+.
  • Rockman EXE Beast+: The final series with 26 episodes; replaced by the Ryusei no Rockman anime series on October 7, 2006.
  • Rockman EXE - The Program of Light and Darkness: A 48 minute movie, released in Japan during March 2005 while Stream was still airing on TV. It is canon, unlike most anime features.

[edit] Trivia

  • The design of SharkMan's opponent in episode 12 of EXE is based off Shin Getter Robo, and the design of ShiningMan is based off Rainbowman.
  • The final episode of EXE, "Virus Busters," includes references to Ghostbusters.
  • Callbacks to Tesla Gauss' age are made frequently throughout the series.
    • Tesla's age is first revealed (ironically) in episode 30 of Stream to be thirty. The robot that she hijacks is also named Thirty.
    • In episode 48 of Stream, while Cross Fused with MagnetMan, Tesla stands on a bridge labeled "30."
    • In episode 23 of Beast, Tesla's tantrum over the cancellation of her vacation is accompanied by a backdrop full of various spellings of the word "thirty."
  • The Orbital Elevator featured in episode 40 of Stream is a concept from Mega Man X8. In the same episode, a mother in the crowd of people watching Neo WWW's broadcast is seen holding a grenade for unknown reasons.
  • In episode 1 of Beast+, the Battle Station in front of Higsby's chip shop plays the theme "Loser" from the game series when Tory jacks in. Appearances of the Battle Station in subsequent episodes also feature background music from the game series, specifically the sixth game.
  • In episode 12 of Beast+, Gauss reads a NEWS WEEKs magazine while on the flight to Kingland, a play on the existing newsmagazine, Newsweek.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links


MegaMan Battle Network • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6
Battle Chip Challenge • Network Transmission
MegaMan NT Warrior anime • Characters
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