Black Heaven
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Black Heaven | |
|---|---|
| 課長王子 (Black Heaven) |
|
| Genre | Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction, Light drama |
| TV anime | |
| Director | Yasuhito Kikuchi |
| Studio | AIC |
| Licensor |   Pioneer |
| Network |  WOWOW     AXN Asia |
| Original run | 8 July 1999 – 7 October 1999 |
| Episodes | 13 |
{{nihongo|Black Heaven|課長王子|} is a thirteen episode anime TV series about a short-lived heavy metal band. The series has also been referred to as The Legend of Black Heaven, or Kacho-Oji. The Japanese title of the series is a multi-layered pun. It can either be translated as "section-chief Oji", "old section-chief", or literally "Section Head Prince".
Similar to the way music was influential in Macross, alien research has shown that the music of the disbanded rock band "Black Heaven" is able to power their ultimate weapon and turn the tables on what is inferred as a losing war.
Contents |
[edit] Characters
[edit] Main
Oji Tanaka AKA Gabriel - lead guitarist. After the breakup of Black Heaven, he took an office job to support his growing family. Years later, he's facing mid-life wondering what went wrong. That's when Layla Yuki approaches him asking him to play for her.
Yoshiko Tanaka - groupie. Oji married Yoshiko when he found out she was pregnant with Gen. She now plays the role of the housewife, taking care of Gen and watching in dismay as Oji reverts to his rocker persona. With Layla fetching Oji to play for the ultimate weapon, she's under the impression that the two are having an affair.
Kotoko, Eriko and Rinko - Layla's subordinates. They work in the same building as Oji and Layla, and are to help Layla with her assignments. They are very much based on the Three Stooges, although without all the physical slapstick. They are identified with their hair colors: blue, purple, green respectively.
Layla Yuki - Tasked with tracking down Oji and getting him on their side to play music in order to activate the ultimate weapon. After finding him, she basically plays the role of an agent, acting as the go between the band and Fomalhaut, the space army commander. She reports on Oji's status to Fomalhaut and he in turn tells her when Oji is needed.
[edit] Minor
Sato AKA Michael - Guitar.
Yamada AKA Luke - drums. After the break-up of Black Heaven, he went into the real-estate business.
Suzuki AKA Raphael - bass. After the break-up of Black Heaven, he opened up a grocery store.
Watanabe AKA Joseph - keyboardist. After the break-up of Black Heaven, he went to New York to try to make it in the music business. However, while roaming the streets one night, he attempted to aggravate a tanked lobster outside a restaurant, only to have it clamp on to his middle finger. While nursing the wound, a passing large African-American man took this as Watanabe giving him "The Finger" and proceeded to beat him up until hammer throwing him through a billboard, causing his death. His remains were recovered by "the enemy" and made into a clone to combat the reunited Black Heaven.
[edit] Episodes
Note: the links are to the article of the song probably referenced.
| # | Title | Original air date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Stairway to Heaven" (天国への階段) |
July 8, 1999 | ||
| 02 | "All Night Long" (オール・ナイト・ロング) |
July 15, 1999 | ||
| 03 | "Hot House" (ホット・ハウス) |
July 22, 1999 | ||
| 04 | "Space Child" (スペース・チャイルド) |
July 29, 1999 | ||
| 05 | "These are the days" (輝ける日々) |
August 5, 1999 | ||
| 06 | "Walk Away" (ウォーク・アウェイ) |
August 20, 1999 | ||
| 07 | "In Need" (イン・ニード) |
August 26, 1999 | ||
| 08 | "All Right Now" (オールライト・ナウ) |
September 2, 1999 | ||
| 09 | "Get off of My Cloud" (ひとりぼっちの世界) |
September 9, 1999 | ||
| 10 | "10 Year Vision" (幻の１０年) |
September 16, 1999 | ||
| 11 | "The feeling which we would like to do" (やりたい気持ち) |
September 23, 1999 | ||
| 12 | "Into the Arena" (イントゥー・ジ・アリーナ) |
September 30, 1999 | ||
| 13 | "The End" (ジ・エンド) |
October 7, 1999 | ||
[edit] Themes
[edit] Opening
"Cautionary Warning" by John Sykes
[edit] Ending
"Yappari Onna no Hoga Iiya (I Like To Be A Woman After All)" by Riyu Konaka
[edit] Real world references
- The name Black Heaven is a reference to seventies metal band Black Sabbath.
- Oji plays a Gibson Flying V, similar to one played by Michael Schenker, whom he idolizes.
- Like most famous bands, the songs are written primarily by two band members: Oji and Watanabe.
- Layla is probably a homage to Eric Clapton's Layla.
- Hamill is possibly a homage to Mark Hamill, or British singer-songwriter Claire Hamill
- Mulder and Scully are seen investigating a disappearance, only to be brushed aside by Layla's stooges.
- The band's ship is named Zappa, in reference to Frank Zappa.
- Oji's guitar is a Flying V (Flying Vee), and Gen's favorite show is called the Flying V (Flying Five). The band's ship Zappa also transforms into a giant Flying V.
- Oji's pick is a Japanese 10 yen coin, a homage to Brian May who used an old sixpence as a pick on Queen albums.
- All five stage names of Black Heaven: Gabriel, Luke, Michael, Raphael, and Joseph, derive from important figures of Christianity.
- The episode titles are based from famous rock songs.
- The lobster house where Joseph Watanabe was eventually killed was named "Dio Lobster", in homage to the band Dio.
- In Episode 9, Oji summons a U.F.O. by chanting "Ventura", in reference to Urusei Yatsura.
