Protect-Gear

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Main article: Kerberos saga

Déjà vu, Yutaka Izubuchi's mecha design signature, used in both the Kerberos and the Labor helmets.

The Kerberos Protect-Gear (プロテクトギア, purotekutogia) is a key element of Mamoru Oshii's Kerberos saga, the helmet being used as saga logo. In a similar way the Labor head is used for Oshii's Headgear production team. The Protect-Gear was designed by Yutaka Izubuchi, a mechanical designer who's famous for his work on Patlabor.

1 Kerberos
2 Design inspirations
3 Armour versions
4 Licensed toy lines
5 Notes
6 External links

[edit] Kerberos

The feature trilogy Kerberos posing like superheroes. Clockwise: "Jigoku no banken ver.", "Jin-Roh ver." and "Akai megane ver.". (illustrated by Tetsuya Nishio, Production I.G)

For more details on this topic, see Kerberos saga chronicles.

The Protect-Gear is the full body armour used by Tokyo's Kerberos Panzer Cop Anti-Vicious Crime Division units, from the '50s up to the '00s. A lighter version, named Light-Gear, exists and is actually a ballistic vest used by members of the Metropolitan Security Police (首都警). The origins of the Japanese Kerberos Panzer Cops Protect-Gears are actually German and military. The original Protect-Gears were used in the 1940s by the 101st Special Armored Division who fought at the Battle of Stalingrad against the Soviet Army.

Various versions were created since the 1987 original work. Model variations includes different patterns such as black (in Akai megane), blue (StrayDog) or "German gray" (Kerberos Saga Rainy Dogs).

Several Japanese toy manufacturers, such as Takara (through Tomy) or Medicom, have produced licensed Kerberos model kits.

[edit] Design inspirations

The Helghast are designed after the Kerberos.

The Protect-Gears appearing in Akai megane are inspired by the 1940s Schutzstaffel as it borrows many elements from the uniform, equipment and training program of this German corps:

Stahlhelm helmet and anti-shrapnel body armour.
Their weapons are German-built C96 semi-automatic pistols (1890s) and Maschinengewehr 42 machine guns produced by Mauser and used during WWII.
The designation "panzer" (from pancier, body armour) is a German term from this same era.
This inspiration is confirmed in Kerberos Panzer Jāger whose plot is located in Germany during WWII.

It should also be pointed, that the Kerberos personnal are described in Jin-Roh's narrative prologue as the "elite", individuals "selected for their superior intellectual and physics capacities", it should be pointed the similarity with the eugenic theory selection which is part of Nazi Germany perspective. See also Kerberos Dog-Master relationship.

Another design inspiration for the original 1987 Protect-Gear armor could be Star Wars' Darth Vader character:

Chest device ^[1] similar to the one in Vader's own armor (in the first trilogy).
Respiratory device.
All-in-black suit and helmet.
This inspiration is confirmed in the second live-action film, StrayDog, with the new armor and its particular breathing sound, made by Inui, which is an explicit homage, to Darth Vader.

The late samurai armors (yoroi) were also a strong inspiration in the Protect-Gear design as Oshii watched several chambara movies with his father during his youth^[2]. The second armor (3rd generation) was not designed by Oshii, but by famous character designer Yutaka Izubuchi. This version is closer to the samurai armor shape than was the original model. The 1st Generation armor's (Jin-Roh) vintage design, is the closest to the samurai yoroi armor.

New suits were produced for the Tokyo Riot Police in the 1990s, they included helmet, red glasses and gaz mask and anti-ballistic armor. The overall design was meant to impress and to fear the rioters. Similar inspired designs includes:

Armored Division characters in Tony Takezaki's 1990 AD Police manga.
Yukito Kishiro's Berserker characters in Gunnm (English title Battle Angel Alita), a 1991 manga series.

[edit] Armour versions

[edit] Akai Megane ver. (1987)

film version '87

The original black model designed by Yutaka Izubuchi. This model is used by Koichi, Midori and Soichiro in The Red Spectacles ('90s/'00s). The machine-gun used with this model is the MG34. The device was built into the chest was actually a regular pocket calculator.

Designer: Yutaka Izubuchi
Mask: -
Armor: -
Uniform: -
Equipment: -
Weapon: Mauser MG34, Mauser C96

[edit] Kerberos Panzer Cop ver. (1988~2000)

manga version '88

This design is almost the same armor as the one appearing in the 1987 movie. However, a light modification was done in the manga illustrated by Kamui Fujiwara, since the chest device was removed. This armour is named "type 92" (92式). In 2006, Tomy released a model kit line, named "Cool Girl" and, based on this version.

Designer: Yutaka Izubuchi
Mask: -
Armor: -
Uniform: -
Equipment: -
Weapon: -

[edit] Jigoku no Banken ver. (1991)

film version '91

The blue model used by Inui and Koichi Todome in StrayDog. The shield is used as a holster for the Mauser C96. MG34 is used with this model which was also designed by Yutaka Izubuchi. Unlike the 1st version this new version features a dual breathing device (instead of a single). An ID number is spraypainted, in white, on the back of each Kerberos helmet. The five dots logo is not featured in this Protect Gear type. The Japanese company Buildup produced the Protect-Gear for this movie. Medicom released a limited edition 'Kubrick' toy of this armor type.

Designer: Yutaka Izubuchi
Mask : Dual gas mask
Armor: Robotic / Yoroi
Uniform: Schutzstaffel (blue)
Equipment: Helmet / Shield / Backpack
Weapon: Mauser MG42 / Mauser C96

[edit] Kerberos Panzer Cop: Conclusion ver. (1999)

manga version '99

The Panzer Jäger company parading on foot of the Mount Fuji in Act 5 use the Self-Defense Force military version of the Protect-Gear. The mask is similar to the 1991 version and the helmet's five dots logo is replaced by the Airborne Brigade emblem. The spraypainted ID number is still in use in this helmet version though.

Designer: Yutaka Izubuchi
Mask: Dual gas mask
Armor: Robotic / Yoroi
Uniform: Camouflage / Cape
Equipment: Helmet
Weapon: Mauser MG42

[edit] Jin-Roh ver. (1999)

anime version '99

The vintage model appearing in Jin-Roh ('50s) was influenced by samurai armors (yoroi). Kerberos equipped with this armor uses a MG42. This model is similar to the "type '92", but more old-fashioned in design. This type was "adopted" in the 2004 video game Killzone, and released as a limited edition 'Kubrick' toy. Other influences include; Ninja Gaiden, where a later update replaced the "knock offs" with a more original design, and Perfect Dark Zero.

Designer: Yutaka Izubuchi
Mask: Single gas mask
Armor: Yoroi
Uniform: Green
Equipment: Helmet
Weapon: Mauser MG42 / Mauser C96

[edit] Akai Ashiato ver. (2003)

The helmet was redesigned to look like a dog face in the Kerberos Saga Rainy Dogs version. The back of the helmet is spraypainted just like the StrayDog Protect Gear, but it has the five dots logo than wasn't included in the live-action movie.

Designer: -
Mask: -
Armor: -
Uniform: -
Equipment: -
Weapon: -

[edit] Kerberos Panzer Jäger ver. (2006)

drama version '06

The silver German model used by the Jäger trooper in Kerberos Panzer Jäger ('40s). The shape is influenced by European medieval plate armors and is the original model prior to the one used by Japanese police. This armor was renewed to celebrate the saga's 20th anniversary. It was designed by 未弥純氏, who worked on video games such as Wizardry Llylgamin Saga (monster design) or Rengoku: The Tower of Purgatory (graphic design).

Designer: 未弥純氏
Mask: Dog
Armor: Knight
Uniform: Gray
Equipment: Helmet / Shield / Backpack
Weapon: na / na

[edit] Light-Gear

Light version of the Protect-Gear mainly consisting of a light armor parts combiend with a ballistic vest. It is is notable for its use of infrared googles and cap instead of helmet and mask. This version is used by Kerberos instructors during training, as portrayed in Kerberos Panzer Cop Act 5. Some Kerberos also use Light Gears during the siege in StrayDog. Some Self-Police assault units also use it as seen in StrayDog and Kerberos Saga Rainy Dogs.

[edit] Licensed toy lines

Akai Megane ver.

2006 Real Action Heroes 310 Protect Gear Kerberos 01 Koichi Todome version 300mm figure, Medicom Toy.

Kerberos Panzer Cop ver.

199X Kerberos Panzer Cop Protect Gear 1/6 figure, Kaiyodo.

2000 S003 Kerberos Panzer Cop L.E. Kubrick figure, Medicom Toy.

2005 Cool Girl / Kerberos Panzer Cop Protect Gear：Midori Washio in CG line, Takara-Tomy ¹.

200X Kerberos Panzer Gear Comic Real Action Heroes, 12inch action figure, Medicom Toy

Jigoku no Banken ver.

1990 Protect Gear Straydog Kerberos Panzer Cop, 1/6 action figure, Buildup ³.

200X Kerberos Panzer Gear Movie Real Action Heroes, 12inch action figure, Medicom Toy

2002 Straydog Protect Gear 12" Figure, 1/6 action figure line, Yamato

2002 Straydog Protect Gear 12" Figure, 1/6 action figure line (HK bootleg), Dragon Models Ltd.

Jin-Roh ver.

2000 Jin-Roh Protect Gear L.E. Kubrick figure, Medicom Toy.

2001 Jin-Roh Protect Gear 1/6 Scale Soft Vinyl Kit (sculpted by Takuma Katsuo), 1/6 action figure, Kaiyodo

2001 Jin-Roh Protect Gear Kit 5inch Size Action Figure, action figure, Kaiyodo

200X Jin Roh Protect Gear Real Action Heroes, 12inch action figure, Medicom Toy

2001 Jin-Roh Protect Gear 1/20 Blister Action Figure (sculpted by Akira Tani & Eiichiro Matsumoto), 6" action figure, Kaiyodo (Xebec)

[edit] Notes

^ [1]
^ Avalon un film de Mamoru Oshii" booklet by Bertrand Rougier available in the Avalon DVD collector edition published by Studio Canal, France, 2001