Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid

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Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid
フルメタル パニック！The Second Raid (Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid)
Genre	Comedy, Drama, Mecha, Military, Romance, Shounen
TV anime
Directed by	Yasuhiro Takemoto
Studio	Kyoto Animation
Network	Fuji TV
Original run	July 13, 2005 – October 19, 2005
No. of episodes	13
OVA
Directed by	Yasuhiro Takemoto
Studio	Kyoto Animation
No. of episodes	1
Released	May 26, 2006
Runtime

Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid is the second sequel to the anime TV series Full Metal Panic! after Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu. It is produced by Kyoto Animation and has a length of 13 episodes.

Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid is based on The End of Day by Day novels, and continues the storyline of the first Full Metal Panic! series while including references to the Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu stories. The installment of the series was licensed for North American release in 2006 by Kadokawa Pictures USA.

Kadokawa Pictures USA gave the dub production to ADV Films, allowing the cast from ADV’s previous Full Metal Panic! dubs to return. Most other aspects of the North American release, however, such as post production, packaging, distribution, and marketing, were given to FUNimation.

Contents 1 Synopsis 2 In-depth Plot 3 Cast 3.1 Sousuke Sagara 3.2 Kaname Chidori 3.3 Teletha “Tessa” Testarossa 3.4 Leonard Testarossa 3.5 Andrei Sergeivich Kalinin 3.6 Melissa Mao 3.7 Kurz Weber 3.8 Richard Mardukas 3.9 Kyoko Tokiwa 3.10 Gates 4 Credits 4.1 Japanese staff 4.2 Cast 5 Episode and Sound Track Listing 6 Trivia 7 International Releases 8 Notes 9 External links

[edit] Synopsis

This series takes place two months after the events occurred in the Tuatha de Danaan at the end of the Full Metal Panic! series. Mithril learns of a secret organization that has technology able to counter the ECS (Electronic Cloaking System) mode. This organization, known as Amalgam, also has "Black Technology", obtained from "Whispered" like Kaname Chidori, and like the other intelligence agencies, they intend to obtain more. However, when Sousuke's mission to protect Chidori is terminated by Mithril, all seems to be in place for Amalgam's plans.

[edit] In-depth Plot

The Second Raid follows the events of the Full Metal Panic novel “End of Day by Day”, with some minor changes and additions made. The anime begins with Mithril disrupting military attacks in a Baltic nation. The leader of the Baltic military has somehow acquired advanced weaponry, most notably anti-ECS missile (missile able to detect systems with ECS invisibility). Due to these setbacks Sousuke must use the Arbalest to destroy the missile installations to allow the helicopters filled with refugees to escape.^[1] Since the end of the first series Sousuke has learned how to better control the Arbalest's Lambda Driver, but only slightly. In the following episode we are introduced to the main villain of the series, Gates.^[2] We later learn he is an operative of Amalgam, a mysterious organization that seems to be an opposite of Mithril.^[3] Causing terrorist acts, rather than preventing them. They are the organization that provided the Baltic army with these new weapons. We are also introduced to Xia Yu Fan and Xia Yu Lan, twin sisters who we later learn were raised by Gauron.^[4]

Following this we are presented with a short school related side-story, and then Mithril begins it’s next mission in Nanjing.^[5] The purpose of the mission is to rescue hostages taken by Gates and are being held in a sewer-like facility. Due to communications problems transmitters will be used, which requires the help of one of Mithril’s scientists, Vincent Blueno. Before the operation Sousuke asks to use an M9 as opposed to the ARX-7 Arbalest. His proposal is denied as he is the only one able to pilot the Arbalest, this begins Sousuke’s hate for the Arbalest and it’s unreliable Lambda Driver. During the operation, Blueno leaks the radio transmissions to Gates who uses it to his advantage. During the mission, Kurz Weber struggles against Xia Yu Fan, piloting the only Zy-98 Shadow-type Arm Slave in the battle, while Melissa Mao and a team of Mithril's infantry deal with Xia Yu Lan, who was hiding amongst the hostages, pretending to be one, and Sousuke is left to face Gates, who is operating a Venom-type Arm Slave. By using a quickly thought out plan after discovering they were being bugged, the De Danaan is able to use the radio information against Gates and lures him into a trap of their own. The terrorists are forced to flee when Gates's Arm Slave overheats, but the operation is still successful.

Following this, Vincent Blueno also escapes and is followed to Italy, where he is brought in by Mao and Kurz, with help from Sousuke.^[6] After being tortured, Blueno admits to being hired by Amalgam. It is here that Mithril first discovers the name, and even the existence, of the opposing organization.

For Sousuke to assist Mao and Kurz in their mission to capture Blueno, he leaves school yet again, adding to his string of absences. Kaname becomes worried about his grades, and Mao also worries over his future. Sousuke begins to reflect upon his life and begins to realizes he needs to start thinking ahead. It seems he decides he would like to remain a student. This is shown when Kyoko points out the fact that his hair has grown long and rather than cutting it himself he opts to go to a hair salon, like a normal high school student would. However, being his first time, his instincts again work against him and he ends up mistaking the haircut for another trap. This leads to Kaname offering to cut his hair for him and a touching scene is presented where Sousuke realizes how much Kaname is depending on him. The episode ends when Sousuke (who is beginning to realize his feelings for Kaname) is ordered to withdraw from guarding Kaname immediately, with all guard duties being entrusted to another agent, codenamed "Wraith."

After being called back, Sousuke falls into a slight depression, not wanting to pilot the Arbalest and wishing he were back at Jindai High. We are introduced to the new Uruz-1, Lieutenant Belfangan Groseaux. He tests Sousuke’s ability with the Arbalest, a test Sousuke fails miserably.^[7] Meanwhile Kaname is becoming increasingly suspicious that someone is following her. She discovers that Sousuke has left for good and realizes she is now completely alone.^[8] She decides to find out who is following her, and through a series of events discovers Wraith, who informs her that aside from himself, someone else seems to be following her. We discover this person is Xia Yu Lan, the younger twin. She shoots Wraith and then attacks Kaname. Kaname escapes, but is pursued and manages to surprise Yu Lan and shoot her with a Taser. After this she is met by Leonard Testarossa, Tessa’s brother and a fellow Whispered. He is an agent of Amalgam and has orders to kill Yu Lan. He orders one of his bodyguards (a miniature AS unit) to kill her. When this is done he expresses that he seems to have fallen in love with Kaname and steals her first kiss, which infuriates her. In exchange for her forgiveness, Leonard allows her to take back Wraith who seems to still be alive.^[9]

Back at Mithril the next mission is under way. It seems that someone piloting an AS unit is wreaking havoc in Hong Kong. The AS is equipped with a Lambda Driver and ECS and is piloted by Xia Yu Fan. Acting apart from Amalgam, she has done this at the wish of her Sensei, who we later learn also orders Yu Lan to kill Kaname. These two actions are what prompted Amalgam to kill the younger twin. Due to the ECS, the Chinese are unable to discover the location of the AS. Sousuke, Mao, Yan, and Wu are sent in to find the AS, while the rest of the Uruz team stand by to destroy it when it is found. During the mission Sousuke cannot concentrate due to reoccurring thoughts of Kaname. These distraction eventually cause him to crash the vehicle he is driving. Mao tells him she won’t work with him unless he can focus. Sousuke realizes he can’t and abandons the mission.^[10] Meanwhile tensions between North and South China force Mithril to order an assault on the enemy AS before it is found. While they battle the AS, Sousuke wanders through Hong Kong, eventually meeting a Chinese Woman who resembles Chidori. He goes with her to her apartment, most likely to have sex, but due to her appearance thoughts of Chidori constantly fill his mind. He decides to leave and eventually finds a newspaper that has a personal ad reading “To the son of Bdakshon’s Tiger. Meet Hamidra at Tsim sha Tsui.” *Please note: the Chinese in this episode were abysmal. Please do not attempt to learn from this, as even natives cannot comprehend one-third of the 'dialogues'.^[11] Essentially we learn that Sousuke was raised by a guerrilla fighter named Bdakshon’s Tiger, the rest leads Sousuke on a paper trail that brings him to the writer of the ad. This person turns out to be Gauron, who survived the self destruction of his AS at the end of the first series. We learn that he raised Yu Fan and Yu Lan long ago and they are carrying out his biding before he dies. He also tells Sousuke that Kaname is dead and pities him for becoming so weak. Sousuke ends up killing Gauron (for good this time), and feels as though he has no reason to live anymore.^[12] When the battle with Yu Fan seems like it cannot be won, Tessa orders the Arbalest to be sent to Sousuke to pilot. When it arrives Sousuke has no intention of piloting it, viewing the AS as a piece of scrap metal. As he turns to leave the scene he is confronted with Kaname, who used Wraith to find Sousuke. After beating him up she tells him he needs to pilot the Arbalest and save everyone. Feeling renewed confidence at seeing Kaname alive Souske finally realizes that he is the only one who can pilot the Arbalest and works together with the Al to fully make use of the Lambda Driver.^[13]

The final episode features the climax of the show with a AS battle between Sousuke and Gates. Gates, having been ordered to kill Yu Fan, decides to take out the Uruz team after his mission is complete. Sousuke arrives just in time and uses the Lambda Driver to its fullest potential.

The Second Raid ends with Sousuke finally understanding what he wants to do with his life: Pilot the Arbalest for Mithril and attend school with Kaname. He works out a deal with Mithril that allows him to do just that. We are left with both Kaname and Sousuke having realized their feelings for each other, but neither of them being able to admit it.

Short version:

Sousuke's and Kaname's relationship is put to the test after he is withdrawn from protecting Kaname, her encounter with Leonard Testarossa and his hate for the ARX-7 Arbalest.

[edit] Cast

See also: List of Full Metal Panic! characters

[edit] Sousuke Sagara

Main article: Sosuke Sagara

Sousuke is the hero of the story. He is a Sergeant at Mithril, and hopes to advance to Captain. His call sign is Uruz 7. He is still unaccustomed to the "normal" life that he lives while protecting Kaname. When his bodyguard mission is terminated by Mithril, he begins to understand that Kaname is more important to him than the organization. He is the only one who can operate Mithril's ARX-7 Arbalest's Lambda Driver, but despises the machine because it makes him feel like a tool of the organization. He is constantly annoyed with Al's "personality", activated when Sousuke tells the AI in its "Free Speech Mode" that Bunny, another "whispered" who developed Mithril's Lambda Driver, the Arbalest and Al, is dead.

[edit] Kaname Chidori

Main article: Kaname Chidori

The main female protagonist of the story, Kaname still has to keep an eye on Sousuke. After Sousuke leaves without notice, she gets very worried about him. She is sad because he is gone, but she gets more worried about that someone else from Mithril's Information Department is watching her. After an encounter with "Wraith", the code-name for the Mithril agent watching over her, an Assassin sent by Gauron tries to kill her, but it is stopped by Leonard Testarossa, who after ordering his ASs to kill the assassin and asks her to go with him, and kisses her. For that thing she hates him, because it was her first kiss. She finally finds Sousuke in Hong Kong with the help of "Wraith" and helps him tap the full power of the Arbalest's Lambda Driver when he faces off with several Codarl-M ASs. Amalgam's plans regarding "Whispered" is not very clear, but it is safe to say that it includes her given Leonard's determination. She loves Sagara Sousuke but cant express her feelings to him.

[edit] Teletha “Tessa” Testarossa

Main article: Teletha Tessa Testarossa

Captain of the revered Tuatha de Danaan, known as the "Toy Box" to the submarine captains of the world. She is very intelligent, but fairly clumsy and with little athletic abilities. Like Kaname, she is a "Whispered". She is in love with Sousuke, and jealous of how he treats Kaname (with no hard feelings, however). Her parents are deceased, but what exactly happened is never revealed. It seems she had a crush on Bunny, the "whispered" who developed Mithril's Lambda Driver installed in the Arbalest. She does not know the details regarding Bunny's death. She grew up under the shadow of her brother's genius accomplishments and finds herself opposing him as he is affiliated with Amalgam.

[edit] Leonard Testarossa

He is the brother of Tessa, and part of Amalgam. He is known in the organization as "Mr. Silver" and is accompanied by what it seems to be two men in coats, which in reality are man-sized AS's. After his AS's gets rid of the assassin sent by Gauron, he tries to convince Kaname to follow him, but when she refuses, he kisses her. He is also a "Whispered" and has a strange focus on Kaname. He thinks of Sousuke as nothing more than an obstacle to Kaname.

[edit] Andrei Sergeivich Kalinin

Sousuke's commanding officer and appointed to Tessa by Mithril as a military strategist. He is listed as the foster father of Sousuke in the forged documents used to have Sousuke accepted at the Jindai High School. He met Sousuke while serving with the Soviet Spetsnaz in Afghanistan (indirectly referred to in the anime as "Helmajistan"). They were enemies at first, but after something involving the guerilla group Sousuke belonged to and Gauron happened, they became allies. He used himself as bait to allow Sousuke to shoot Gauron in his head. He cares a lot for Sousuke, and certainly knows what he would do in most situations, never doubting at all his professionalism. He has a deceased wife and sons, but the whereabouts and conditions of his sons are unknown.

[edit] Melissa Mao

Main article: Melissa Mao

Melissa is the second-in-command of team Uruz. She is of Chinese descent, and a former US Marine. She joined the Marines the day of her arranged marriage. She usually smacks Kurz due to his crude and impolite behavior. She thinks of Sousuke and Kurz as her younger brothers, and tries to help Sousuke when she can. Her callsign is Uruz 2. Her M9 is fitted with a special antenna designed to jam enemy communications. Mao is very much an older sister figure to Sousuke. She is very good friends with the captain.

[edit] Kurz Weber

Main article: Kurz Weber

Mithril's best sniper, Kurz may seem to be single because of his constant hits on women, but he has a girlfriend with a disease and pays for her treatment. His callsign is Uruz 6, and he is Sousuke's most trusted friend. He often gets in trouble with Melissa because of his crude comments and actions, and is usually assigned jobs like cleaning the ASs, cleaning the decks and latrine duty for his behavior.

[edit] Richard Mardukas

He is the second in command of the Tuatha de Danaan, and Tessa's submarine situations advisor, Mardukas seems to hate Sousuke. The hat he wears was given to him when he served in the Royal Navy. He is known as "The Duke" because of his tactical prowess in Submarine Battles. The HMS Turbulent (S87) is a real British submarine.

[edit] Kyoko Tokiwa

Kaname's best friend, she is usually vouching for Sousuke. She wants to see Kaname happy, and she tries everything to make Sousuke and Kaname declare their feelings to each other. One can be deceived because her childlike appearance, but with the right hair style and clothing, her appearance changes to one of a young adult. She is usually seen around the school with her small pink digital camera, taking pictures of Kaname, Sousuke, and everything else.

[edit] Gates

An agent of Amalgam (specifically, the leader of the organization's Execution Squad, according to Gauron in episode 12), Gates is the primary villain of The Second Raid. He's the general leader of the Amalgam forces in TSR, answering only to Leonard Testarossa. Gates would be considered clinically insane, as his disregard for human life shows. A continuing theme in the series is his constantly killing his subordinates, usually in offhand motions such as pushing a soldier out of a flying helicopter, shooting another soldier in a tantrum, or using an AS to flick a third soldier off a building. At one point, he breaks out into a rendition of Ave Maria while his men slaughter a group of enemy soldiers. On the other hand, Gates is quite intelligent and knowledgeable when it comes to combat; in the second episode of the series, he manages to deduce the Arbalest's solo battle in the Baltic just by looking at its footprints. In addition, he's a competent tactician and AS pilot, and unlike Sousuke at the season’s beginning, he has the ability to fully utilize a Lambda Driver. Despite his antagonistic role, Gates remains the comic relief of the series, for those who enjoy dark humor. It can be assumed that Gates was known as "Mr. Kalium" throughout Amalgam, as in the light novel, A Dancing Very Merry Christmas, it is said that Gauron (otherwise known as Mr Iron) was responsible for the death of Mr. Kalium (Gauron does put into motion a series of events that end with Gates's death, though Gauron's only intention seems to have been to lure Sousuke to himself).

[edit] Credits

[edit] Japanese staff

• Director: Yasuhiro Takemoto
• Music: Toshihiko Sahashi
• Original creator: Shikidouji Shouji Gatou
• Character Design: Osamu Horiuchi
• Art director: Jouji Unoguchi
• Chief Animation Director: Osamu Horiuchi
• Mechanical design: Kanetake Ebikawa Toshiaki Ihara
• Director of Photography: Ryuuta Nakagami
• Animation producer: Yoko Hatta
• Character Conception: Shikidouji
• Color design: Rie Takagi
• Editing: Kengo Shigemura (Studio GONG)
• Layout: Hiroyuki Takahashi
• Music Director: Tomoko Shibuya (Scitron Digital Contents)
• Music producer: Takashi Watabe
• Series Composition: Shouji Gatou
• Sound director: Yota Tsuruoka
• Theme Song Performance: Mikuni Shimokawa

[edit] Cast

[edit] Episode and Sound Track Listing

(Sound Track and Episode Listing available on the List of Full Metal Panic Media page)

[edit] Trivia

• In the sixth episode, a 4 second sequence depicts some people who resemble characters from the manga Death Note (Light, Yagami Soichiro, Misa, and L respectively). For awhile fans of Death Note assumed this to be a implication that Kyoto Animation, was planning a Death Note anime. This appears to be false because of MADHOUSE releasing the Death Note anime in 2006.

• In episode 10 the van that Sousuke drives in Hong Kong has the License Plate number 1337 clearly an allusion to Leet.

• In the TSR OVA ('Tessa's Eventful Day') the DVDs in Belfangan Groseaux's bag that Kurtz turns into the lost and found are titled 'Conyan' which is a reference to Detective Conan or Case Closed as its known in America. This is proved by the fact that later on Belfangan Groseaux is shown to be viewing the DVDs in his room and the character onscreen bears a striking resemblence to Conan Edogawa the main character of Detective Conan.

• During episode 4 in the confusion within the tunnel, one of the PRT (Primary Response Team) members responds to directions with the NATO Phonetic code'Whiskey Tango Foxtrot' alluding to WTF, another allusion to internet culture.

[edit] International Releases

ADV Films and FUNimation Entertainment are currently handling the production and distribution of the series in America.

The series is to be released in the Italian-speaking market by Shin Vision.

Previous installment:
Full Metal Panic!	Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu	Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Episode 1
2. ^ Episode 2
3. ^ Episode 6
4. ^ Episode 12
5. ^ Episode 3
6. ^ Episode 5
7. ^ Episode 8
8. ^ Episode 7
9. ^ Episode 9
10. ^ Episode 10
11. ^ Episode 11
12. ^ Episode 12
13. ^ Episode 13

[edit] External links

• Official FUNimation site
• Official site (Japanese)
• AniDB entry
• The Anime Place FMP:TSR Entry
• Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia