Kerberos Panzer Jäger

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Main article: Kerberos saga

Kerberos Panzer Jäger (ケルベロス 鋼鉄の猟犬, Keruberosu kōtetsu no ryōken) is a 2006 radio drama series based on a story written by Japanese filmmaker and novelist Mamoru Oshii. It is monthly broadcasted since April on Bunka Houso Kabushiki Gaisha's JOQR Radio station.

Contents

[edit] Title

Kerberos Panzer Jäger, the official international title, can be translated to English as "Hellhound Tank Hunter", with "Jäger" being the German word for "hunter". "Panzer" in German can mean "armour", in this context however it is commonly used as abbreviation of "Panzerwagen" which means "armoured vehicle" = tank. In military use the word "Panzer" always refers to tanks, so in WW II "Panzerjäger" were specially trained anti- tank units who were supposed to hunt enemy tanks down and destroy them. Although the correct German spelling would be "Kerberos-Panzerjäger". ケルベロス 鋼鉄の猟犬 is Japanese for "Kerberos Steel Hunting Dog".

[edit] Kerberos saga

[edit] Kerberos

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

Primarily, the term kerberos is a reference to Hades' three-headed watchdog of hell in the Greek mythology. It is also used to designate the Panzer Cops.

[edit] Protect-Gear

For more details on this topic, see Protect-Gear.

The Protect-Gear is the full body armour used by both the Kerberos Panzer Cop and Kerberos Panzer Jäger assault units. Various types are used within the saga.

[edit] Jäger

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

Jäger is a German military term for light infantry. There is a "Panzerjäger"- team in every squad of German infantry units. They are specially equipped with anti-tank weapons. In Kerberos Panzer Cop, the Panzer Jäger unit is part of the Ground Self-Defense Force (陸上自衛隊).

[edit] Prequel (1999)

For more details on this topic, see Kerberos Panzer Cop.

The Kerberos Panzer Jäger characters made their first appearance in 1999, in Kerberos Panzer Cop: Conclusion's Act 5 "War Dogs".

[edit] Anime adaptation project (2009)

For more details on this topic, see Kerberos Panzer Blitzkrieg.

On late May 2006, Mamoru Oshi has officially unveiled his plan to direct an anime feature of the German Kerberos blitzkrieg narrated in Kerberos Panzer Jäger [1].

Since recreating a such battle is extremely ambitious, the Japanese director doesn't plan to produce his project until 2009. In order to help the dramatization of the epic battle, the movie will heavily use 3DCG.

[edit] Short bootleg (2005)

For more details on this topic, see Images of the Last Battalion.

A 2005 young freelance director's short film, also based on 3DCG and really similar to the Kerberos Panzer Jäger story, was showcased at the Kerberos saga radio drama series launch party as a trailer [2].

[edit] Story

[edit] Chronicles

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

Kerberos saga historical background and significant dates in both the real and fictitious History.

[edit] Prologue

English map of Cpt. Maki's route from Warsaw to Stalingrad (courtesy of Hobby Japan)
English map of Cpt. Maki's route from Warsaw to Stalingrad (courtesy of Hobby Japan)

The plot of Kerberos Panzer Jäger is based on the popular Kerberos saga which started in 1987 as the black and white live-action feature film The Red Spectacles.

This 2006 extension explores the European, military, origins of the Kerberos Panzer Cops, the German troopers known as Kerberos Panzer Jäger. The story is mainly set on the "Eastern Front", in East Europe, during the 1940s, with the German fighting the Soviet and eventually defeating them at the 1942 Battle of Stalingrad, creating a paradox and a major change in the course of History leading to the parallel world portrayed in the Kerberos saga.

[edit] Plot

September 1942, German Captain Maki Stauffenberg in command of the 808th Propagandakompanie (Ärmelstreifen des Heeres) leaves the Warsaw station to start his long journey into the Sovietic mainland.

His duty in the Propagandakompanie sends him from a front to another one, conveying up-to-date information to both militarymen and civilians. But his real mission is to secretly store and transport Protect-Gears parts for the 101st Panzer Company fighting in the fierce battle of Stalingrad.

Captain Maki must join Warsaw to Stalingrad in an armoured train who does not have a mere window for maximum security. If successful, his secret mission, and long travel into the Far East, might change both the tide of the battle and the course of History.

[edit] Characters

For more details on this topic, see Kerberos saga characters.
  • Captain Maki Stauffenberg
  • Sergeant Major Hollerbach
  • Corporal Lauth
  • Captain Deisler
  • Major Klose
  • Sergeant Beinlich
  • Sergeant Kahn

[edit] Historical similarities

Character design inspiration for the Panzer Jäger (manga version): German infantry in Poland, 1939
Character design inspiration for the Panzer Jäger (manga version): German infantry in Poland, 1939
Kerberos Panzer Jäger Images of the Last Battalion History
101st Panzer Company SS Panzer Battalion (Normandy) 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion
Army Group North/Center/South - Barbarossa Army Group North/Center/South
Cpt. Maki Stauffenberg - Col. Claus von Stauffenberg

Claus von Stauffenberg was the German colonel who failed to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944 delivering him a bomb.

[edit] Chapters

[edit] Interview program

  • 2006.04.26: Interview Part.1: Radio drama's appeal
(ラジオドラマの魅力を探る)
  • 2006.04.26: Interview Part.2: Listeners questions about Kerberos Panzer Jäger
(ケルベロス鋼鉄の猟犬)を語る
  • 2006.04.26: Kenji Kawai & Mamoru Oshii
(川井憲次×押井守)

[edit] Drama program

[edit] Act I: Armoured Train

(装甲列車編, Sōkō ressha hen)

  • 2006.04.31: Vol.1: Propagandakompanie (Propaganda Company)
(宣伝中隊, Senden chūtai)
  • 2006.06.28: Vol.2: Kursk
(クルスク, Kurusuku)
  • 2006.07.26: Vol.3: Kriegspferd (Charger)
(軍馬, Gunba)

[edit] Act II: Panzer Jäger

(装甲猟兵, Sōkō ryoū hei)

  • 2006.08.30: Vol.1: Die GigantSoldaten Potsdam (Potsdam Giant Guards)
(ポツダムの巨人兵, Potsudamu no kyojin hei)
  • 2006.09.27: Vol.2: Die Dritte Armee (The Third Army)
(第三の軍隊, Daisan no gunntai)

[edit] Act III: Blitzkrieg

(電撃戦, Dengeki sen)

  • 2006.11.10: Vol.1: Blumenkrieg (Flowery War)
(花の戦争, Hana no sennsou)
  • 2006.11.24: Vol.2: StudiumWesten (Study of the West)
(西方研究, Seihō kenkyu)

[edit] Act IV: Barbarossa

(バルバロッサ, barubarossa)

  • 2007.01.12: Vol.1: Sauberung (Purge)
(粛清, Syukusei)

[edit] Licensed products

[edit] Books

  • Flag of Japan 2007.04: Kerberos Panzer Jäger Official Guide Book (official guide book)
Japanese text, Mamoru Oshii, Barque, 32p.

[edit] Production

[edit] Cast

[edit] Production staff

  • Original story / Scenario / Director: Mamoru Oshii
  • Music: Kenji Kawai
  • Sound director: Kazuhiro Wakabayashi
  • Recording: 宮澤二郎
  • Effects: 伊藤道広 (Soundring)
  • 音楽制作: 安田玲子 /　仲野智子　/ 奥澤麻由美 /　大久保絵美 (Aube Inc.)
  • 音響制作担当: 好永伸恵
  • 音響制作: フォニシア
  • 録音Studio: Tokyo TV Center
  • Supervisor: 小泉聰

[edit] Recording staff

  • Recording Engineer: Kitagawa Teruaki /　Kyouhei Fukushiro
  • Strings: 内田輝 Group　
  • A.Piano: Tohru Shigemi
  • Keyboards: Kenji Kawai
  • Recording studio: 一口坂 Studio /　Aube Studio /　i@ Recording Studio
  • Assistant Engineer: 山本篤士 /　中田武士 /　菊地和孝 (一口坂 Studio) / 長谷部智子 (Aube Studio) / 見留由紀 (i@ Recording Studio)

[edit] Musical theme

  • Die Antwort ("the answer"):
Composer:　Paolo Bozzola
Arrangement:　Kenji Kawai
Vocal:　Akane Kawabe

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ source: WatchImpress
  2. ^ source: WatchImpress

[edit] Sources

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Kerberos saga by Mamoru Oshii
Kerberos arc
While Waiting For The Red Spectacles (1987) • The Red Spectacles (1987) • Kerberos Panzer Cop (1988) • StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops (1991) • Jin-Roh (1999) • Kerberos Saga: Rainy Dogs (2003) • Kerberos Panzer Jäger (2006) • Kerberos & Tachiguishi (2006)
Tachiguishi arc
Kerberos files