Sei Jūshi Bismarck
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- This article is about the Japanese anime Sei Jūshi Bismarck. For the American version of the series, see Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs
| Sei Jūshi Bismarck | |
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| 星銃士ビスマルク (Sei Jūshi Bismarck) |
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| Genre | Space western, Mecha |
| TV anime | |
| Directed by | Masami Anno |
| Studio | Studio Pierrot |
| Network | Nippon Television (NTV) |
| Original run | October 7, 1984 – September 25, 1985 |
| No. of episodes | 48 |
Sei Jūshi Bismarck (Star Musketeer Bismarck) (星銃士ビスマルク Sei Jūshi Bisumaruku?) was a 1984 anime series created by Studio Pierrot. Though it achieved moderate success in Japan, a significant fan base was created after the rights to the series were sold to the U.S. company World Events Productions (WEP) in 1986 where it became much better known to American viewers as Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs.
Contents |
[edit] Story
In the distant future humanity has explored beyond Earth and colonized both the inner and outer planets of the solar system.
In order to protect these new colonies, and maintain laws and regulations in the solar system, the Earth Federation Government (EFG) was created. The EFG was in essence a political and military organization, maintaining an army and fleet of starships to keep law and order in the Solar System. Unfortunately, many of the colonies resented the EFG extending its influence over them, and relations between the colonies and the EFG quickly grew cold.
While a strained peace was being forged between Earth and the colonies, a race of non-human creatures known as Deathculas invaded our solar system, determined to conquer it. Without provocation, they attacked the colonies and killed many of the colonists.
The EFG quickly realized that the Death Cullers were superior to humans in technology, possessing a legion of gigantic robots with enormous firepower. Against this assault the space-going fleets of the EFG were hopelessly matched. In order to have a chance at defending against such supremacy, Dr. Charles Louvre developed a prototype starship known as the Bismarck which had the ability to turn from a spaceship into a powerful walking robot which could fight the Death Cullers on their own terms.
Knowing that an advanced team of specialists were required to operate the Bismarck, a group of four individuals came together and were charged with keeping the outer colonies safe from further Deathculas attacks.
[edit] Bismarck team
Shinji Hikari (Yoku Shioya): At 17 years old, Shinji Hikari is the Japanese team leader. A motoracing driver, Shinji is optimistic, full of energy, and is more than a little hot-headed and impulsive (the classic Anime hero). Because of his flying abilities, he follows his father’s footsteps in becoming a military pilot. But a problem with authority leads to Shinji’s dismissal. He takes up racing, and eventually becomes the youngest champion of all time. Personally, Shinji is less successful with women, becoming nervous whenever they are around. This does not prevent him from eventually becoming romantically involved with Marianne Louvre, as they have known each other since childhood.
Richard Lancelot (Bin Shimada):: Richard Lancelot is an 18 year old Scottish agent assigned to the Bismarck team by the English Royalty's special intelligence division. He is generally depicted as being a gentleman with a cool head for tactics and decisions. Richard is an expert with both swords and horses, and is described as "legendary" for his skills and marksmanship. Having great pride in his Scottish heritage, Richard is also proficient at the bagpipes, and yearns to return home to his girlfriend, Sincia.
Bill Wilcox (Kazuhiko Inoue): Bill Wilcox is a famous 16 year old American jet pilot and sharpshooter, and holds an almost infallible accuracy with firearms. When his parents were killed by the Death Cullers, Bill devoted his life to avenging them, and this feeling continues even after becoming part of the Bismarck team. The jokester of the group, Bill is a friendly and disarming charmer, and somewhat of a loner. He is also an outrageous flirt, making mostly unsuccessful passes at nearly every woman he meets.
Marianne Louvre (Koujiro Chie): Marianne Louvre is the 15 year old daughter of Professor Charles Louvre, is of French nationality and is the engineer who led the construction of the Bismarck. A computer genius, Marianne was the chief envoy from the colonies to Earth. When the Death Cullers attack, she calls on the colonies to join the EFG. During this meeting between the colony leaders, Marianne is chosen to join the Bismarck team, much to the pleasure of her father. Marianne is very technically minded, and most often helps her teammates from her station aboard the Bismarck. A brave girl, she's normally quite repulsed with the idea of killing anyone, even Death Cullers. Marianne and Shinji have known each other since childhood, and soon become romantically involved.
Charles Louvre (Hiroshi Ito): Professor Charles Louvre is a scientist on Ganymede, and the father of Marianne Louvre. A well respected politician, he founded the Bismarck Team during the second Death Culler attack in order to fight the Death Cullers, and decided to use the most powerful arm of the EFG, the Bismarck robot, to defend the area around Ganymede. Louvre personally chooses Shinji Hikari as team leader.
[edit] Death Cullers
The Death Cullers are aliens who, after destroying their own planet in an internal war, transferred on the planet Metheus. Unfortunately, this planet was also dying, so the Death Cullers chose to leave it and conquer the Solar System. Their technology is quite advanced, and their society is one of discipline and obedience. Physically Deathculas look and act like humans, except that they have pointed hears and canine teeth. Due to this similarity, Deathculas are easily able to infiltrate and imitate humans.
Hyuza (Seizo Katou): Hyuza is the chancellor of the Death Cullers, and is a tall, frightening cyborg with a demonic death mask for a face. Hyuza lost his body in the battle of Saturn 15 years ago, when Shinji's father destroyed his spacecraft. He transferred his brain in the main computer of Hell’s Paradise, and then connected it to a mechanical body, becoming a cyborg. Cold and cunning, Hyuza wishes revenge toward humans so badly that he chooses as one of his plans the idea to smash Hell’s Paradise into Earth, even if this means killing himself and his people as well. His most trusted commanders are Perios and Gustav, but nevertheless Hyuza keeps them under tight control.
[edit] Death Culler officers
Taisho (General) Perios (Hirotaka Suzuoki): Perios Taisho is called from Andromeda by Hyuza himself, becoming Hyuza's most trusted subordinate. Perios is a cold, self-centered, strategist, is a great pilot and sharpshooter, and is good at manipulating others. He is extremely ambitious, fears no one and is overly tenacious. During the war, Perios become Bill's most dangerous rival.
Taisho (General) Zatola (Ginga Banjo): Zatola wears a grotesque helmet, and as one of the main rivals of the Bismarck Team is the commander who orchestrate Ganymede invasion. He receives legions of soldiers for battle, and his directives come from Hyuza himself. On occasion he can be seen infiltrating the human colonies. He seems to fear Hyuza, but is also quite loyal to him.
Deathcula Spies: In Bismarck, these characters are usually un-named, and are shown to infiltrate the colonies in order to spy, sabotage, and commit espionage. Most of the spies are given no real characterization.
[edit] Vehicles
Bismarck: The Bismarck was developed by Charles Louvre and his daughter Marianne as the technological "miracle weapon", with which mankind could oppose the Death Cullers. Although it can be flown by one person, the ship is designed to be operated by four people, each sitting in separate units that control specific functions: navigation (Marianne), gunner unit (Bill), pilot (Shinji) and the commander/tactician (Richard). Once the transformation sequence is initiated the ship transforms into an enormous combat robot.
Shinji drives a personal race car called the Road Lion, which is armed with an extensive arsenal of weapons including laser cannons and missile launchers. With the Road Lion, Shinji win many racing victories, and has established himself as a champion auto racer.
Richard’s mode of transport is a robotic horse named Donatello. This cybernetic animal is capable of recognizing its master's voice, and has jet packs installed in its hooves for flight.
Bill uses a blue and white one-man orbital glider called the Arrow Striker for personal transportation and solo battles. It is equipped with missiles and can operate in both the atmosphere and in outer space.
[edit] Changes made for Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs
Story
- When purchased by WEP in 1986, they subsequently reorganized and rewrote the series (much like Battle of the Planets, Golion, and Robotech), and incorporated six newly written and animated episodes into the original Bismarck story before releasing it in 1987 under the name Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs.
- Saber Rider ran for 52 episodes between 1987 and 1988. The reason for the greater number of episodes is due to the creation of six additional episodes in order to "fill out" the altered storyline.
- The American animation used for the extra six episodes of Saber Rider was visibly different from the Japanese animation. Though the basic character designs remained the same, the style was vastly different than the original character art by Shigeru Kato.
- In Saber Rider, the majority of the action is moved out of the solar system and into the rest of the galaxy.
- Scenes of the main characters relaxing at a night club or bar and drinking alcohol were explained as "visiting a soda shop".
- In an interesting quirk of the American version of the series, April did not end up with the main hero, Saber Rider, but instead became linked with Fireball (as Marianne had done with Shinji).
- Since showing death on American cartoons was much less accepted at that time, the Outriders were shown to "jump" back to their own dimension when defeated.
The Star Sheriffs
- Shinji’s name was changed to Fireball. and had a crush on April Eagle (Marianne). The feelings were eventually returned near the end of the series.
- Richard’s name was changed to Saber Rider. He was the captain of the Ramrod Equalizer Unit and his horse is named Steed.
- Bill’s name became Colt and was part of a traveling rodeo when tragedy struck and he joined the Star Sheriffs.
- Marianne was renamed April Eagle, and became a former tennis pro who’s three love interests were Saber Rider, Jesse Blue (one-sided on his part), and Fireball.
- Professor Charles Louvre was renamed Commander Eagle, and was the leader of Cavalry Command and the Star Sheriffs. Like his Japanese counterpart, he was captured and later rescued.
The Outriders
- The Death Cullers became the The Outriders. In the new storyline, the Outriders were humanoids who come from another dimension called the Vapor Zone. They wanted to be able to conquer mankind and control the universe unhindered, thinking the human dimension has much more to offer than their own. When an Outrider was shot or wounded, they do not die, but rather "dimension jump", a process where they vanish and return to their home dimension to reform.
- Hyuza was given the name Nemesis, and his story was altered so that he was the evil genius in charge of the renegade Outriders, and was the mastermind behind their insidious schemes. Saber Rider is the only member of the Star Sheriffs to meet Nemesis one-on-one.
- Perios became Jesse Blue, a promising cadet at Cavalry Command until he fell in love with April Eagle during a training exercise. When April rejected his advances, he turned against the Star Sheriffs and cultivated a personal grudge against Saber Rider, ultimately becoming a fugitive, and joining forces with the Outriders.
- Zatola was also changed. Now known as Gattler, he answered only to Nemesis.
- In “Saber Rider” an unknown, single episode spy was renamed Vanquo and given a much substantial part than his Japanese counterpart. In the story, Vanquo was a ghostly Outrider who was defeated by Saber Rider, changed into a human being, and abandoned by Nemesis. Having nowhere to go, Vanquo renounces his ways and becomes a peaceful cowboy.
Vehicles
- The Bismarck was named Ramrod Equalizing Unit (Ramrod).
- April was given a robotic horse named Nova by the American writers and artists. This was to solidify her shift from being in love with Shinji Hikari, to being paired with Saber Rider.
- Colt’s flying one-man spaceship was named Bronco Buster.
- Fireball’s race car was alternately called Red Fury or Turbo.
[edit] External links
Japanese sites
English sites
German sites
