Mega Man Star Force (anime)

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Mega Man Star Force
流星のロックマン
(Shooting Star Rockman)
Genre Sentai, Science Fiction, Action Adventure
TV anime
Director Various
Studio XEBEC
Network Flag of Japan TV Tokyo
Flag of the United States Toonami Jetstream, Cartoon Network
Flag of India Cartoon Network
Original run 7 October 2006 – 29 March 2008
Episodes 76 (55 original series; 21 Tribe) (Episode list)
Manga: Shooting Star Rockman
Author Masaya Itagaki
Publisher Flag of Japan Shogakukan
Demographic Shōnen
Serialized in Flag of Japan CoroCoro Comic
Original run September 2006 – ongoing
Volumes 2 (current)

Mega Man Star Force, known in Japan as Shooting Star Rockman (流星のロックマン Ryūsei no Rokkuman?) in the original Japanese language version, is an anime and manga series based on the video game of the same name.

The anime first premiered in Japan on October 7, 2006, two months before the game's Japanese release, and concluded March 29, 2008. The manga was serialized in CoroCoro Comic in September 2006. The anime was licensed by Viz Media and first premiered in English on the online streaming video service Toonami Jetstream on July 23, 2007. On August 25, the series made its television premiere on Cartoon Network with a 2-hour special.

Mega Man Star Force follows the adventures of Geo Stelar and his AM partner Omega-Xis, a duo capable of merging together through "Electromagnetic Wave Change" to combat the invading FM Planet's forces.

Contents

[edit] History

Airing October 7, 2006 on TV Tokyo, the Shooting Star Rockman anime filled the timeslot previously held by Rockman EXE Beast+, the series's predecessor. Each of its episodes are approximately ten minutes in length as the program also shares the thirty-minute segment Oha Coliseum with the Saru Getchu anime series.

On April 17, 2007, VIZ Media announced that they acquired the rights for an English anime release titled Mega Man Star Force.[1] The press release mentioned that 13 episodes were to be released at lengths of 20 minutes each. During the E3 2007 video-game convention, IGN revealed in their hands-on impressions of the Star Force video game that the English anime would premiere on Toonami Jetstream on July 23, 2007.[2] The show made its television debut on Cartoon Network on August 25 edited as a 2-hour faux-movie presentation comprised of Japanese episodes 1 thru 9 and heavily slimmed-down versions of episodes 12, 15, and 16. Currently, it is unknown when the series will air in normal episodic format on television, but subsequent episode airings online reveal that the unusual edits are exclusive to the television premiere.

Currently, the series is no longer being shown on Toonami Jetstream.

According to the September 2007 issue of CoroCoro Comic, the anime would conclude in Japan on October 27, 2007 and, following the trend of its predecessor, continue with a new series called Shooting Star Rockman Tribe, premiering on November 3, 2007. The new anime follows the events of the second video game (also due out in Japan in November).[3] According to an interview with Fuyuka Ōura (Geo's seiyū in the Japanese version) at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, Tribe has a deeper and "cooler" storyline than before, and the new character Solo is a prominent character in the plot.[4]

As of October 6, 2007, the time-slot previously held by Saru Getchu was replaced with the Zero Duel Masters anime. On March 29, 2008, Tribe concluded with 21 episodes, and its time-slot was replaced with Pengin no Mondai. There are currently no known plans for another Mega Man anime in Japan. (This is the first time a Mega Man anime has not been on the air in Japan since the six month hiatus between MegaMan NT Warrior and MegaMan NT Warrior Axess in 2003.)

The Shooting Star Rockman manga began running in CoroCoro Comic September 2006. The first volume was released March 28, 2007[5]. Contrary to popular belief, Ryo Takamisaki (author of the Rockman EXE manga) did not produce this manga, but instead, it was picked up by Itagaki Masaya. The manga is a more comical and exaggerated work, similar to the Rockman Zero manga. There are presently no plans for an English adaptation.

[edit] Production

Mega Man Star Force's Electromagnetic Wave Change sequences take after the Cross Fusion sequences of its predecessor. Depicted here is Geo at the beginning of his transformation.
Mega Man Star Force's Electromagnetic Wave Change sequences take after the Cross Fusion sequences of its predecessor. Depicted here is Geo at the beginning of his transformation.

Mega Man Star Force's animation is overseen by XEBEC, with musical arrangements by Naoki Maeda.[6] Character designs (which have in some cases deviated from Capcom's original concepts) are handled by Mitsuru Ishihara and Shingo Adachi (who is also one of the series' art directors, some of the others being Masayuki Nomoto, Akira Takahashi, and Yasuo Shimizu).[6] The art directors usually work independently of each other on any given episode. Shogakukan manages computer-generated imagery.[6]

The title sequences of each series are sung by Misato Fukuen as Sonia Sky. In the original series, the song is entitled "Heart Wave" and in Tribe, the song is entitled "Kizuna Wave" (literally "Bond Wave"). Several characters appearing in the original series opening are colored incorrectly.

A background identical to that used for Cross Fusion sequences is employed in the anime's Electromagnetic Wave Change scenes. Easter eggs referencing other series within the Mega Man/Rockman franchise are also inserted into the program on occasion. Examples include a broadcast of a girl wearing Roll Caskett's clothes from Mega Man Legends, as well as a boy in Shepar's class wearing Lan Hikari's clothes from Mega Man Battle Network headband.[7][8]

With the premiere of the English version, it was revealed that two Japanese version episodes are combined to create one English version episode to fill a 30-minute time slot. Furthermore, in order to fill more time, a few minutes of footage from various episodes are added at the start of episodes, usually narrated by a particular member of the cast, acting as a recap of previous episodes and slight foreshadowing of upcoming events.

One noticeable oddity however exists in English episode 13. Instead of combining Japanese episodes 25 and 26, the next two episodes in order, Viz opted to fill 26's time with ten minutes of recycled footage with narration by Geo Stelar. This was done because the series ends on an odd number of episodes, with the only other alternative to ending the series with enough footage being to skip an episode entirely.

Unlike the English version of the series' predecessor, Rockman EXE, the dub for Shooting Star Rockman currently features a considerably more accurate translation with far less cut footage and censorship. And while many names and terms are changed, they mostly coincide with the changes first made by Capcom of America for the English versions of the video games. However, there are a number of translation inconsistencies. Some examples include (but are not limited to) the character of Misora Hibiki who is referred to as Sonia Strumm in the English games but Sonia Sky in the English anime. There are also instances where the original Japanese name is used instead of the localized version used in the games, such as an instance where Mega Man shouts "Rock Buster" instead of "Mega Buster." Furthermore, appearances of Japanese text (such as on signs or hard subtitles for setting information) are left untranslated.

The animation for the introduction sequence is also left completely unchanged. However, all of the original background music is removed—including the introduction song "Heart Wave"—and original scores performed by Thorsten Laewe are put in place of the Japanese version's soundtrack. There is none of the original Japanese music used or remaining in the dub. But indeed, all the original Japanese sound effects are kept.

[edit] Plot

The year is 220X. Technology has advanced rapidly since the age of the internet, leading to the creation of new and more efficient modes of transportation, as well as the construction of futuristic cities, all linked together by three satellites orbiting the Earth—Pegasus, Leo, and Dragon. The satellites accomplish this by maintaining a network of EM waves around the planet's atmosphere, thereby powering the invisible EM Wave World. The human population carries portable devices called Transers to interface with the EM Wave World and other electronic devices. Problems caused by criminals and EM Wave Viruses manipulating the EM Wave World are commonly dealt with by the Satella Police.

[edit] Original series

Main article: List of Mega Man Star Force episodes (original series)

A proud warrior of the FM Planet, Omega-Xis, betrays his kind and escapes to Earth where he makes contact with Geo Stelar. Like his fellow extraterrestrials called FM-ians, Omega-Xis is capable of initiating a process known as "Electromagnetic Wave Change," which transforms ordinary humans of the same frequency as themselves into "EM Wave Humans," allowing them to freely operate in the EM Wave World. With these new powers, Geo becomes known as Mega Man, a hero of Echo Ridge. However, Omega-Xis holds the key to accessing the weapon Andromeda, capable of destroying planets. As such, many FM-ians pursue Omega-Xis with the intent of retrieving the key in their goal to destroy the Earth. Meanwhile, Omega-Xis also knows the secret to the disappearance of Geo's father in a catastrophic space accident months ago.

[edit] Tribe

Main article: List of Mega Man Star Force episodes (Tribe)

The second series is to follow the events of the second video game, focusing on the lost continent of Mu. The ancient civilization vanished ages ago, and a few of its remnants still exist as myths and legends called UMAs (unidentified lifeforms similar to FM Aliens that has the ability to fuse with humans). The UMAs begin merging with humans in order to search for the treasures of Mu, the powerful ooparts, which will give them the power to revive Mu. After Geo and Omega-Xis encounter several unusual enemies, they meet a professor named Doctor Orihime who sends them on a quest to find the ooparts and stop the UMAs. Using the ooparts, Mega Man is able to take new forms, primarily the sword-wielding Thunder Berserk form. The series premiered November 3, immediately after the original series's conclusion, and concluded March 29, 2008.[9]

[edit] Manga

In the manga, the plot so far revolves around the Wave Coliseum, a Wave Battle tournament that various EM Wave Humans participate in. The grand prize is the "Star Force," a power that Geo is told can help him find his father.

[edit] Cast

Main article: List of Mega Man Star Force characters

The series has a wide array of personalities outside of Geo Stelar and his AM-ian partner Omega-Xis including: classmates Luna Platz, Bud Bison, Zack Temple, and Pat Sprigs; pop-singing heroine Sonia Strumm; Aaron Boreal and Tom Dubius of the AMAKEN Laboratories; and various members of the planet FM.

[edit] References

  1. ^ VIZ Media Presents Exciting Properties at 2007 MIPTV. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
  2. ^ E3 2007: Mega Man Star Force Hands-On. Retrieved on 2007-07-13.
  3. ^ Latest RnR 2 Details @ Atomic-Fire. Retrieved on 2007-09-14.
  4. ^ Tokyo Game Show 2007 @ Atomic-Fire. Retrieved on 2007-10-02.
  5. ^ Amazon Japan Product Information (Volume 1). Retrieved on 2007-02-28.
  6. ^ a b c XEBEC. Shooting Star Rockman Staff & Cast. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.
  7. ^ Shooting Star Rockman Episode 11, 2006.
  8. ^ Shooting Star Rockman Episode 13, 2007.
  9. ^ Ryusei no Rockman Tribe @ Xebec. Retrieved on 2007-10-19.

[edit] External links

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Mega Man Star Force video games
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