Stratos 4

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Stratos 4
Title screen
ストラトス・フォー
(Stratos4)
Genre Science fiction, Moé
TV anime
Directed by Takeshi Mori
Studio Studio Fantasia, Bandai Visual
Network Japan Animax, Bandai Channel
Original run January 5, 2003 – March 30, 2003
No. of episodes 13
OVA
Directed by Takeshi Mori
Studio Studio Fantasia, Bandai Visual
No. of episodes 2
Released 28 May 2004
Runtime
OVA: Stratos 4: Advance'
Directed by Takeshi Mori
Studio Studio Fantasia, Bandai Visual
No. of episodes 6
Released 25 March 2005
Runtime
OVA: Stratos 4: Advance Kanketsu Hen
Directed by Takeshi Mori
Studio Studio Fantasia, Bandai Visual
No. of episodes 2
Released 22 September 2006
Runtime

Stratos 4 (ストラトス・フォー?) is an anime series by Studio Fantasia and Bandai Visual, and directed by Takeshi Mori. Originally spanning a 13-episode anime TV series, which premiered across Japan between January 5, 2003 to March 30, 2003, the series was continued onto three OVA-series sequels, the first of which was released on 28 May 2004 and spanned 2-episodes, followed by Stratos 4: Advance, which spanned 6 episodes and was released on 25 March 2005, and Stratos 4: Advance Kanketsu Hen, which was released on 22 September 2006 and spanned 2-episodes, respectively.

The series has been broadcast by the anime satellite television network, Animax, across its respective networks worldwide, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Latin America, and other regions. The original 13-episode television series and its first subsequent two-episode OVA series were licensed for North American distribution by Bandai's distributive unit across the region, Bandai Entertainment.

Contents

[edit] Story

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Fifty years before the series begins, scientists learn that a group of comets will enter the Solar System on a collision course with Earth. The United Nations set up a two-tiered global defense system against the threat: the primary one being a space-based Comet Blaster group and the secondary being a ground-based Meteor Sweeper group. Most of the series takes place on an airbase on Shimoji Island some time in the 21st century, where Mikaze and her friends are tasked to defend the Earth from large fragments left over after a failed attempt by the Comet Blasters, who are based on one of seven space stations, to annihilate a comet. All is going well until a large meteorite crashes into a lightly populated island leading the girls on a run to find out the truth about the comets.

[edit] Characters

Main article: List of Stratos 4 characters

[edit] Main characters

Main characters
Enlarge
Main characters
  • Shimoji airbase:
    • Mikaze Honjou¹ (本庄美風 Honjou Mikaze?), (Seiyū - Yumi Kakazu), (English - Rachel Kempel), candidate pilot
    • Shizuha Doi (土井静羽 Doi Shizuha?), (Seiyū - Kaori Shimizu) (English - Lisa Enochs), candidate pilot
    • Ayamo² Nakamura (中村彩雲 Nakamura Ayamo?), (Seiyū - Shiho Kikuchi) (English - Elisa Fiorillo), candidate pilot
    • Karin Kikuhara (菊原香鈴 Kikuhara Karin?), (Seiyū - Fumiko Orikasa) (English - Stacey Q), candidate pilot
    • Sayaka Kisaragi (如月沙弥華 Kisaragi Sayaka?), (Seiyū - Sayaka Ohara) (English - Michael-Ann Rowe), sub-commander and instructor
    • Kazuma Iwasaki (岩崎和馬 Iwasaki Kazuma?), (Seiyū - Kouji Tsujitani) (English - Greg Lastrapes), official pilot and instructor
    • Kouichiro Sako (佐古浩一郎 Sako Kouichiro?), (Seiyū - Mitsuo Iwata) (English - Milton Lawrence), chief mechanic
    • Robert Reynolds (ロバート・レイノルズ?), (Seiyū - Yousuke Akimoto) (English - Lou Savage), Shimoji base commander

Note 1 - Alternate spellings: Honjo, Honjyou
Note 2 - Alternate spelling: Ayamu

[edit] Secondary characters

Secondary characters
Enlarge
Secondary characters
  • Shimoji airbase:
    • Kei Fujitani (藤谷圭 Fujitani Kei?), (Seiyū - Tomokazu Seki), (English - Thomas Scofield), official pilot
    • Tsubasa Miyazaki (宮沢翼 Miyazaki Tsubasa?), (Seiyū - Hideki Tasaka), (English voice - Devin Kamin), candidate pilot
    • Sora Ikeda (池田空 Ikeda Sora?), (Seiyū - Hiroyuki Yoshino), (English - Chris Ogden), candidate pilot
    • Touko Mukai (向日塔子 Mukai Touko?), (Seiyū - Misa Kimura), (English - Alla Kardot), air traffic controller
  • Kouchin Restaurant:
    • Rin Mikuriya (御厨リン Mikuriya Rin?), (Seiyū - Hisako Kyouda), (English - Debbie Grattan), Kouchin restaurant chef
    • Ran Mikuriya (御厨ラン Mikuriya Ran?), (Seiyū - Michiko Neya), (English - Carrie Gordon), Kouchin restaurant waitress
    • Alice "Admiral" Mikuriya (御厨アリス（テイトク） Mikuriya Arisu (Teitoku)?), (Seiyū - Mayumi Asano), old female cat
  • Orbital Station #7:
    • Miharu Ohzora (宙美春 Ohzora Miharu?), (Seiyū - Yoko Soumi), (English - Leisa Jo Waller), Orbital Station #7 commander
    • Chizuru Kubo (久保千鶴 Kubo Chizuru?), (Seiyū - Akiko Hiramatsu), (English - Sara Sido), member of Comet Blasters
    • Annette Kerry (アネット・ケイリー?), (Seiyū - Megumi Toyoguchi), (English - Laurel Hatfield), member of Comet Blasters
    • Betty Boozeman (ベティ・ブーゼマン?), (Seiyū - Satsuki Yukino), (English - Alla Kardot), member of Comet Blasters
    • Chris Calman (クリス・カルマン?), (Seiyū - Yuu Asakawa), (English - Melissa Saltzman), member of Comet Blasters

[edit] Background

[edit] Locations

  • Shimoji Island
    • Shimoji airbase
      • Control tower
      • Hangars
      • Runway
      • Classrooms
      • Simulator rooms
      • Gym
    • Kouchin Restaurant
      • Boarding house
  • Okinawa Island
    • Agency building
  • Guam Island
    • Andersen AFB
  • Tanegashima Island
  • Outer space
    • Orbital Station #7

[edit] Technology

Top: TELAR/ZELL/RATOBottom: Pressure Suits
Enlarge
Top: TELAR/ZELL/RATO
Bottom: Pressure Suits

Some of the technological devices and systems used in Stratos 4:

[edit] Vehicles and weapons

Main article: Stratos 4 vehicles and weapons

The aircraft used in the anime span from the 1950s to the present day. All spacecraft are fictional.

Top row: TSR-2MS, Two Yak-28MSTsMiddle row: Raytheon Hawker 800, Four TSR-2MSsBottom row: Orbital Station #7, Two SAC-1Bs
Enlarge
Top row: TSR-2MS, Two Yak-28MSTs
Middle row: Raytheon Hawker 800, Four TSR-2MSs
Bottom row: Orbital Station #7, Two SAC-1Bs

[edit] Aircraft

[edit] Spacecraft

  • SAC-1B Anti-comet Space Interceptor
  • Orbital Station
    • Station #7
Top row: Trident Missile (Space)Middle & bottom rows: Trident Missile (Air)
Enlarge
Top row: Trident Missile (Space)
Middle & bottom rows: Trident Missile (Air)

[edit] Missiles

  • Trident Missile (Air)
  • Trident Missile (Space)

[edit] Flight profile

Flight profile of the TSR-2MS
Enlarge
Flight profile of the TSR-2MS

In the event a comet approaches the Earth with a high collision probability, all Meteor Sweeper (MS) bases are put on Standby. In the case where the Comet Blasters fail to shatter completely the comet, allowing one or more fragments to fall into the Earth's atmosphere, the Meteor Sweepers in the expected impact zones are dispatched to intercept those fragments.

Stratos 4 focuses on one such MS team, located on the island of Shimoji in Japan. The Shimoji MS squadron operates a fleet of TSR-2MS interceptors, each equipped with one "Trident" anti-meteor hi-explosive missile, an internal booster (named "Third Engine") and two booster packs (RATOs).

The aircraft take off in a rocket-like manner where it is launched from a truck-mounted railed launchpad rather than taking off conventionally by runway. For redundancy reasons, always two aircraft are launched together per dispatch. The pilots fly the aircraft in a prone position. This is never explained; it is assumed to be used to counteract G-force. At mid altitude (30,000-40,000 ft), the boosters burn out and are dropped.

The TSR-2MSs rise swiftly into the stratosphere, where they fly in an inverted position like the space shuttle before delivering their payload. The "Third Engine" is ignited while inverted. At high altitude (80,000-100,000 ft), jet throttle is reduced, then, at very high altitude (120,000-150,000 ft), "Third Engine" throttle is also reduced. Both aircraft return to an upright attitude, lock onto the target and fire the "Trident" missile one after another (within approximately 5 seconds apart).

The TSR-2MS is depicted in episode CODE 103: Decision Height as being able to fly high enough to reach low Earth orbit before it runs out of fuel and stalls. The TSR-2MS has no braking chute, but has an arresting hook for emergency landings. The aircraft that "gets the kill" is later painted with a red comet icon on the fuselage side.

With the meteor destroyed, the base returns to Standby.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Episodes

Stratos 4 (TV)

  • CODE 101: Initial Point
  • CODE 102: Fox One
  • CODE 103: Decision Height
  • CODE 104: Tally Ho!
  • CODE 105: Go Around
  • CODE 106: Checking Six
  • CODE 107: High Speed
  • CODE 108: Go Gate
  • CODE 109: Vapor Trail
  • CODE 110: Mission Abort
  • CODE 111: Target Merge
  • CODE 112: Engage!
  • CODE 113: Final Approach

Stratos 4 OVA

  • CODE X-1: Return To Base (28/05/2004)
  • CODE X-2: Dispersión (27/08/2004)

Stratos 4 Advance OVA

  • CODE 201: Wave Off (25/03/2005)
  • CODE 202: Roll Out (27/05/2005)
  • CODE 203: Angle of Attack (22/07/2005)
  • CODE 204: Clear Air Turbulence (23/09/2005)
  • CODE 205: Dash One (25/11/2005)
  • CODE 206: Lost Position (27/01/2006)

Stratos 4 Advance Kanketsu Hen OVA

  • CODE 207: Cross-Wind Take Off (22/09/2006)
  • CODE 208: Piper on the Target (27/10/2006)

[edit] Music

The music for Stratos 4 was composed by Masamichi Amano.

[edit] Theme music

Opening theme
1st Priority by Melocure (Ritsuko Okazaki & Megumi Hinata)
Ending themes
Himawari by Melocure (eps. 01-12)
So Far, So Near by Melocure (ep. 13)
Rainbow Kind of Feeling by Melocure (first OVA series)
Chiisana Uta by Melocure (second OVA series: Stratos 4: Advance)

[edit] Original soundtrack

  • 01 - S.S. Keikaku
  • 02 - 1st Priority (TV size)
  • 03 - Mikaze no Theme
  • 04 - Uturo
  • 05 - Suisei Sekkin
  • 06 - Hijyou Keikai Taisei
  • 07 - Kunren
  • 08 - Kunrensei no Nichijyou
  • 09 - Ashita wo Yume Mite
  • 10 - Nigiyaka na Nakama-Tachi
  • 11 - Akogare
  • 12 - So Far, So Near (TV size)
  • 13 - Kinkyuu Hasshin
  • 14 - Geigeki Kaishi!!
  • 15 - Kyodai Suisei no Kyoui
  • 16 - Semarikuru Kiki
  • 17 - Hisho! Stratos4
  • 18 - Yujyo
  • 19 - Madoromi
  • 20 - Heiwa Heno Inori
  • 21 - Himawari

[edit] Character song album

  • 01 - 1st Priority
  • 02 - Tojei Jikake no Tsubasa
  • 03 - Mabushii Kara
  • 04 - Doko ni Ite mo
  • 05 - Sabishii Mama de
  • 06 - So Far, So Near (Acoustic version)
  • 07 - Himawari (TV size)
  • 08 - Unnamed BGM 1
  • 09 - Unnamed BGM 2
  • 10 - Unnamed BGM 3
  • 11 - Unnamed BGM 4
  • 12 - Unnamed BGM 5
  • 13 - Unnamed BGM 6
  • 14 - Unnamed BGM 7
  • 15 - Himawari (Original karaoke)

[edit] Trivia

In episode CODE 108: Go Gate, Dita Liebely and Maia Gisborn appear as cameos.


[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../s/t/r/Stratos_4.html"
In other languages