Stratos 4

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Stratos 4
Title screen
ストラトス・フォー (Stratos4)
Genre	Science fiction, Slice of life
TV anime
Director	Takeshi Mori
Studio	Studio Fantasia, Bandai Visual
Network	Animax, Bandai Channel Animax
Original run	January 5, 2003 – March 30, 2003
Episodes	13
OVA
Director	Takeshi Mori
Studio	Studio Fantasia, Bandai Visual
Episodes	2
Released	28 May 2004
OVA: Stratos 4: Advance
Director	Takeshi Mori
Studio	Studio Fantasia, Bandai Visual
Episodes	6
Released	25 March 2005
OVA: Stratos 4: Advance Kanketsu Hen
Director	Takeshi Mori
Studio	Studio Fantasia, Bandai Visual
Episodes	2
Released	22 September 2006

Stratos 4 (ストラトス・フォー, Sutoratosu Fō^?) is an anime series by Studio Fantasia and Bandai Visual, and directed by Takeshi Mori. Originally spanning a 13-episode anime TV series, which premiered across Japan between January 5, 2003 to March 30, 2003, the series was continued onto three OVA-series sequels, the first of which was released on 28 May 2004 and spanned 2-episodes, followed by Stratos 4: Advance, which spanned 6 episodes and was released on 25 March 2005, and Stratos 4: Advance Kanketsu Hen, which was released on 22 September 2006 and spanned 2-episodes, respectively.

The series has been broadcast by the anime satellite television network, Animax, across its respective networks worldwide, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Latin America, and other regions. The original 13-episode television series and its first subsequent two-episode OVA series were licensed for North American distribution by Bandai's distributive unit across the region, Bandai Entertainment.

Contents 1 Story 2 Characters 2.1 Main characters 2.2 Secondary characters 3 Background 3.1 Locations 3.2 Technology 4 Vehicles and weapons 4.1 Stratos 4 (TV) - 2003 4.1.1 Aircraft 4.1.2 Spacecraft 4.1.3 Land vehicles 4.2 Stratos 4: Return to Base (OVA) - 2004 4.3 Stratos 4: Advance (OVA) - 2005 4.3.1 Aircraft 4.3.2 Spacecraft 4.4 Stratos 4: Advance Kanketsu Hen (OVA) - 2006 4.5 Weapons 4.5.1 Firearms 4.5.2 Missiles 4.6 Flight profile 5 Episodes 5.1 Stratos 4 (TV, 2003) 5.2 Stratos 4 OVA (2004) 5.3 Stratos 4 Advance OVA (2005-2006) 5.4 Stratos 4 Advance Kanketsu Hen OVA (2006) 6 Music 6.1 Theme music 6.2 Original soundtrack 6.3 Character song album 7 Trivia 8 External links

[edit] Story

Fifty years before the series begins, scientists learn that a group of comets will enter the Solar System on a collision course with Earth. The United Nations set up a two-tiered global defense system against the threat: the primary one being a space-based Comet Blaster group and the secondary being a ground-based Meteor Sweeper group. Most of the series takes place on an airbase on Shimoji Island in 2024, where Mikaze and her friends are tasked to defend the Earth from large fragments left over after a failed attempt by the Comet Blasters, who are based on one of seven space stations, to annihilate a comet. All is going well until a large meteorite crashes into a lightly populated island leading the girls on a run to find out the truth about the comets.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Main characters

• Shimoji airbase:
  • Mikaze Honjou¹ (本庄 美風, Honjō Mikaze^?), (Seiyū - Yumi Kakazu), (English - Rachel Kempel), candidate pilot. The protagonist and a slacker, 16 years old, despite coming from an elite class pilot family, Mikaze initially had no interest in becoming a pilot and was an underachiever. However, she learns later the importance of piloting.
  • Shizuha Doi (土井 静羽, Doi Shizuha^?), (Seiyū - Kaori Shimizu) (English - Lisa Enochs), candidate pilot and also the daughter of a photographer. Studious and ambitious, Shizuha is the yes-woman of the group. She is 16 years old.
  • Ayamo Nakamura (中村 彩雲, Nakamura Ayamo^?), (Seiyū - Shiho Kikuchi/Mie Sonozaki in Stratos 4 Advance Kanketsuhen) (English - Elisa Fiorillo), candidate pilot and also the daughter of politician. Ayamo is fiery and hot-headed and eager to become a Comet Blaster and is fed up with Mikaze's laziness. She is 17 years old.
  • Karin Kikuhara (菊原 香鈴, Kikuhara Karin^?), (Seiyū - Fumiko Orikasa) (English - Stacey Q), candidate pilot. Karin is a quiet girl who seems to be distracted from reality and likes to text-message her cell phone. She is afraid of cats in general and is 15 years old.
  • Sayaka Kisaragi (如月 沙弥華, Kisaragi Sayaka^?), (Seiyū - Sayaka Ohara) (English - Michael-Ann Rowe), sub-commander and instructor. She is 29 years old.
  • Kazuma Iwasaki (岩崎 和馬, Iwasaki Kazuma^?), (Seiyū - Kōji Tsujitani) (English - Greg Lastrapes), official pilot and instructor. He is 32 years old.
  • Kouichiro Sako (佐古 浩一郎, Sako Kōichirō^?), (Seiyū - Mitsuo Iwata) (English - Milton Lawrence), chief mechanic. He is married to Miharu, but has been separated from her for various years when the series starts. He is 36 years old.
  • Robert Reynolds (ロバート・レイノルズ, Robāto Reinoruzu^?), (Seiyū - Yousuke Akimoto) (English - Lou Savage), Shimoji base commander, he is of British nationality and is 63 years old.

Note 1 - Alternate spellings: Honjo

[edit] Secondary characters

• Shimoji airbase:
  • Kei Fujitani (藤谷 圭, Fujitani Kei^?), (Seiyū - Tomokazu Seki), (English - Thomas Scofield), official pilot and instructor. He is 30 years old.
  • Tsubasa Miyazaki (宮沢 翼, Miyazaki Tsubasa^?), (Seiyū - Hideki Tasaka), (English voice - Devin Kamin), candidate pilot. He is 17 years old.
  • Sora Ikeda (池田 空, Ikeda Sora^?), (Seiyū - Hiroyuki Yoshino), (English - Chris Ogden), candidate pilot. He is 16 years old.
  • Touko Mukai (向日 塔子, Mukai Tōko^?), (Seiyū - Misa Kimura), (English - Alla Kardot), air traffic controller
• Kouchin Restaurant:
  • Rin Mikuriya (御厨 リン, Mikuriya Rin^?), (Seiyū - Hisako Kyouda), (English - Debbie Grattan), Kouchin restaurant chef
  • Ran Mikuriya (御厨 ラン, Mikuriya Ran^?), (Seiyū - Michiko Neya), (English - Carrie Gordon), Kouchin restaurant waitress. She is 22 years old.
  • Alice "Admiral" Mikuriya (御厨 アリス（テイトク）, Mikuriya Arisu (Teitoku)^?), (Seiyū - Mayumi Asano), old female cat of 18 years old.
• Orbital Station #7:
  • Miharu Ohzora³ (宙 美春, Ōzora Miharu^?), (Seiyū - Yōko Soumi), (English - Leisa Jo Waller), Orbital Station #7 commander. She is 28 years old.
  • Chizuru Kubo (久保 千鶴, Kubo Chizuru^?), (Seiyū - Akiko Hiramatsu), (English - Sara Sido), member of Comet Blasters
  • Annette Kerry (アネット・ケイリー, Anetto Keirī^?), (Seiyū - Megumi Toyoguchi), (English - Laurel Hatfield), member of Comet Blasters
  • Betty Boozeman (ベティ・ブーゼマン, Beti Būzeman^?), (Seiyū - Satsuki Yukino), (English - Alla Kardot), member of Comet Blasters
  • Chris Calman (クリス・カルマン, Kurisu Karuman^?), (Seiyū - Yuu Asakawa), (English - Melissa Saltzman), member of Comet Blasters

Note 3 - Alternate spelling: Oozora

[edit] Background

[edit] Locations

• Shimoji Island
  • Shimoji airbase
    • Control tower
    • Hangars
    • Runway
    • Classrooms
    • Simulator rooms
    • Gym
  • Kouchin Restaurant
    • Boarding house
• Okinawa Island
  • Agency building
• Guam Island
  • Andersen AFB
• Tanegashima Island
• Outer space
  • Orbital Station #7
  • Orbital Station #8

[edit] Technology

Some of the technological devices and systems used in Stratos 4:

• Zero-Length Launch (ZELL) system, a TELAR truck-based method for runway-less takeoff of interceptor aircraft, similar to surface-to-air missile launcher trucks
• Rocket-Assisted Takeoff (RATO), booster rockets fixed under the wings of the interceptors
• Reaction Control System (RCS), a system of puffers used to turn air- and spacecraft in very thin air and outer space
• Lightweight Pressure Suits, special suits worn by crews for high-atmosphere and space flights

[edit] Vehicles and weapons

The aircraft used in the anime span from the 1950s to the present day. All spacecraft are fictional.

Most aircraft are from the Cold War era, retrofitted with modern powerplants, avionics and flight control systems. The anime demonstrates well a hypothetical joint-use of American, European, Soviet and Japanese technologies for the common goal of shooting down meteor debris and protecting the Earth.

[edit] Stratos 4 (TV) - 2003

[edit] Aircraft

Name	Image	Type	Number	Description
BAC TSR-2MS		Very-high altitude interceptor	8	Shimoji Island's main interceptor aircraft.
Yakovlev Yak-28MST		Trainer aircraft	4+	Shimoji Island's main trainer aircraft.
Raytheon Hawker 800		Business jet	1	Shimoji Island's main shuttle aircraft between the island and mainland Japan.
CH-47 Chinook		Large transport helicopter	1	Shuttles the airbase staff between Shimoji Island and "some hot springs".
C-17 Globemaster III		Four-engined jet transport	1	Makes an unannounced landing at Shimoji airbase, carrying armed government troops as well as CEMA agents.
SAC-0 "Stratos 0/4"		Prototype interceptor spaceplane	1	A proposed spaceplane, based on an old supersonic bomber (B-58 Hustler) but with modern jet engines and a large rocket in the tail.
Sud Aviation Caravelle		Jet airliner	1	The airliner flown by Mikaze's father. Carries the friends and families of the airbase's staff to the festival in episode 08.
??? aircraft (Magenta-colored)		Personal jet	1	The jet flown by Mikaze's older sister. Has a canard configuration.

[edit] Spacecraft

Name	Image	Type	Number	Description
Orbital Station #7		Space station	1	Home of the Comet Blasters. Governed by Commander Miharu Ohzara.
SAC-1B		Anti-comet space interceptor	3+	Carries a Trident Missile in the nose, which is launched along with the main body at an incoming comet. The ship's crew separates from the weapon module in an escape pod (the cockpit, basically), which is used to fly back to the space station.

[edit] Land vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Number	Description
TELAR		Mobile launch platform for interceptor aircraft	8+	8×8 mobile launch platform truck, for Zero-Length Launch (ZLL) takeoffs. They carry the interceptors from the hangars to the launch area.
Small motorbike		Motorcycle	4	Kouchin Restaurant's delivery bikes, used by the 4 protagonists to deliver takeout orders. Also used to travel from the boarding house to the Shimoji Airbase when they wake up late.

[edit] Stratos 4: Return to Base (OVA) - 2004

Same as Stratos 4 (TV) - 2003.

[edit] Stratos 4: Advance (OVA) - 2005

[edit] Aircraft

Name	Image	Type	Number	Description
Mikoyan MiG-31MS		Very-high altitude interceptor	2	Shimoji Island's new interceptor aircraft. Has increased payload and max speed over the TSR-2MS. Launched from the same TELARs.
C-130 Hercules		Four-engined turboprop transport	1	Carries support equipment and spare parts for the two MiG-31MSes, as well as the simulators for those planes. Is also Lud's transport.
Vickers-Supermarine Type-559MS		Experimental interceptor aircraft	1	An experimental interceptor aircraft air-dropped from the YB-60 at medium altitude. Equipped with an ultra-long-range radar, a very advanced flight computer and a simulation missile ("dummy missile") without warhead. Has two rocket engines. Has poor maneuverability.
Convair YB-60		Carrier aircraft	1	Converted jet bomber. Carries the Type-559MS experimental aircraft on the starboard wing between the fuselage and inboard starboard engine pod.

[edit] Spacecraft

Name	Image	Type	Number	Description
Orbital Station #8		Space station	1	The new home of the Comet Blasters. Built after the destruction of Orbital Station #7. Governed by Commander Earheart.
Ilyushin Il-SX1		Unmanned interceptor spacecraft	2+	Remote-controlled interceptor drone ship. Was supposedly used to avoid risking human lives in comet interception missions.

[edit] Stratos 4: Advance Kanketsu Hen (OVA) - 2006

Same as Stratos 4: Advance (OVA) - 2005.

[edit] Weapons

[edit] Firearms

• Howa Type 64: This rifle was used by Mikaze and others at the shooting range in episode 4.
• QBZ-95: This rifle was used by the security forces deployed from a C-17 landed at Shimoji airbase in episode 12.
• HK MP5 submachine-gun: The research institute guards shot at the black sedan with this SMG during the car chase scene in episode 11.
• Glock 17: Mikaze was shot by Miharu with this pistol in episode 6 of Advance.

[edit] Missiles

5 different missiles have been known to be used in the 4 anime and OVA series.

Name	Image	Type	Number	Description
Trident Missile (Air, Regular)		Air-to-air anti-meteor missile	Abundant	The main missile used throughout the Stratos 4 franchise by the ground-based interceptors, TSR-2MS and MiG-31MS.
Trident Missile (Air, Powerful)		Air-to-air anti-meteor missile	Scarce	Two of these missiles were used to shoot down Orbital Station #7 in Stratos 4: Return to Base.
Trident Missile (Air, Dummy)		Air-to-air anti-meteor missile (inert warhead)	Abundant	These missiles are used during practice missions against "virtual" meteors. Also carried by the Type-559MS, which shot one against an actual meteor.
Trident Missile (Space, Regular)		Space-to-space anti-comet missile	Abundant	The main missile used by the space-based interceptors. Its 3 warheads produce 3 rings of plasma, which intersect and projects a powerful, hot beam at the target comet and pulverizes it into smaller pieces, some of which are then picked up by the Meteor Sweepers if the pieces fall into the Earth's atmosphere.
Trident Missile (Special, Stratos 4)		Space-to-space anti-comet missile	Scarce	The missile used by the SAC-0 "Stratos 4" in OVA ??. It is buried in a protective sheath, which is jettisoned at launch.

[edit] Flight profile

In the event a comet approaches the Earth with a high collision probability, all Meteor Sweeper (MS) bases are put on Standby. In the case where the Comet Blasters fail to shatter completely the comet, allowing one or more fragments to fall into the Earth's atmosphere, the Meteor Sweepers in the expected impact zones are dispatched to intercept those fragments.

Stratos 4 focuses on one such MS team, located on the island of Shimoji in Japan. The Shimoji MS squadron operates a fleet of TSR-2MS interceptors, each armed with one Trident anti-meteor hi-explosive missile, and equipped with an internal booster (named "Third Engine") and two booster packs (RATOs).

The aircraft take off in a rocket-like manner where it is launched at an angle from a truck-mounted railed launchpad rather than taking off conventionally by runway (except in episode 10 and OVA 5 of Advance). For redundancy reasons, always two aircraft are launched together per dispatch. The pilots fly the aircraft in a prone position. This is never explained; it is assumed to be used to counteract G-force. At mid altitude (30,000-40,000 ft), the boosters burn out and are dropped.

The TSR-2MSs rise swiftly into the stratosphere, where they fly in an inverted position like the space shuttle before delivering their payload. The "Third Engine" is ignited while inverted. At high altitude (80,000-100,000 ft), jet throttle is reduced, then, at very high altitude (120,000-150,000 ft), "Third Engine" throttle is also reduced. Both aircraft return to an upright attitude, lock onto the target and fire the Trident missile one after another (within approximately 5 seconds apart).

The TSR-2MS is depicted in episode CODE 103: Decision Height as being able to fly high enough to reach low Earth orbit before it runs out of fuel and stalls. The TSR-2MS has no braking chute, but has an arresting hook for emergency landings. The aircraft that "gets the kill" is later painted with a red comet icon on the fuselage side.

With the meteor destroyed, the base returns to Standby.

[edit] Episodes

[edit] Stratos 4 (TV, 2003)

• CODE 101: Initial Point
• CODE 102: Fox One
• CODE 103: Decision Height
• CODE 104: Tally Ho!
• CODE 105: Go Around
• CODE 106: Checking Six
• CODE 107: High Speed
• CODE 108: Go Gate
• CODE 109: Vapor Trail
• CODE 110: Mission Abort
• CODE 111: Target Merge
• CODE 112: Engage!
• CODE 113: Final Approach

[edit] Stratos 4 OVA (2004)

• CODE X-1: Return To Base (28/05/2004)
• CODE X-2: Dispersión (27/08/2004)

[edit] Stratos 4 Advance OVA (2005-2006)

• CODE 201: Wave Off (25/03/2005)
• CODE 202: Roll Out (27/05/2005)
• CODE 203: Angle of Attack (22/07/2005)
• CODE 204: Clear Air Turbulence (23/09/2005)
• CODE 205: Dash One (25/11/2005)
• CODE 206: Lost Position (27/01/2006)

[edit] Stratos 4 Advance Kanketsu Hen OVA (2006)

• CODE 207: Cross-Wind Take Off (22/09/2006)
• CODE 208: Piper on the Target (27/10/2006)

[edit] Music

The music for Stratos 4 was composed by Masamichi Amano.

[edit] Theme music

Opening theme

1st Priority by Melocure (Ritsuko Okazaki & Megumi Hinata)

Ending themes

Himawari by Melocure (eps. 01-12)

So Far, So Near by Melocure (ep. 13)

Rainbow Kind of Feeling by Melocure (first OVA series)

Chiisa na Uta by Megumi Hinata (second OVA series: Stratos 4: Advance)

[edit] Original soundtrack

• 01 - S.S. Keikaku
• 02 - 1st Priority (TV size)
• 03 - Mikaze no Theme
• 04 - Uturo
• 05 - Suisei Sekkin
• 06 - Hijyou Keikai Taisei
• 07 - Kunren
• 08 - Kunrensei no Nichijyou
• 09 - Ashita wo Yume Mite
• 10 - Nigiyaka na Nakama-Tachi
• 11 - Akogare
• 12 - So Far, So Near (TV size)
• 13 - Kinkyuu Hasshin
• 14 - Geigeki Kaishi!!
• 15 - Kyodai Suisei no Kyoui
• 16 - Semarikuru Kiki
• 17 - Hisho! Stratos4
• 18 - Yujyo
• 19 - Madoromi
• 20 - Heiwa Heno Inori
• 21 - Himawari

[edit] Character song album

• 01 - 1st Priority
• 02 - Tojei Jikake no Tsubasa
• 03 - Mabushii Kara
• 04 - Doko ni Ite mo
• 05 - Sabishii Mama de
• 06 - So Far, So Near (Acoustic version)
• 07 - Himawari (TV size)
• 08 - Unnamed BGM 1
• 09 - Unnamed BGM 2
• 10 - Unnamed BGM 3
• 11 - Unnamed BGM 4
• 12 - Unnamed BGM 5
• 13 - Unnamed BGM 6
• 14 - Unnamed BGM 7
• 15 - Himawari (Original karaoke)

[edit] Trivia

• In episode CODE 108: Go Gate, Dita Liebely and Meia Gisborn appear as cameos.
• Most of the seiyū who provide the voices for the characters in the series also provide the voices for the characters in Vandread. This anime was also directed by Takeshi Mori.
• In episode 11 of the TV series, there is a chase between a few cars. In one scene, the license plate is shown. The car has a European license plate with a "D", which stands for Germany. The complete code is "BYA-AD-2003". Note that "BYA" is not an official beginning of a German license plate.
• In Mikaze and Shizuha's room, there is a official US Air Force F-15 Eagle Poster. The poster is first seen in episode one and again in other episodes.
• The four main characters of Mikaze, Shizuha, Ayamo and Karin make a cameo appearance in Najica Blitz Tactics as the 4 C'zNs (Four Seasons idol group) under the names Haruka, Akina, Fuyuki and Natsuyo.

[edit] External links

• Official Stratos 4 website (Japanese)
• Bandai Channel's official homepage for Stratos 4 (Japanese)
• Stratos 4 at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia (English)