Superior Defender Gundam Force

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Superior Defender Gundam Force
SDガンダムフォース (Esudī Gandamu Fōsu)
Genre	Mecha, Comedy, Action
TV anime
Director	Yuuichi Abe
Studio	Sunrise
Network	TV Tokyo GMA Network, Cartoon Network, QTV 11, Hero TV Cartoon Network YTV
Original run	January 7, 2004 – December 29, 2004
Episodes	52

Superior Defender Gundam Force (SDガンダムフォース, Esudī Gandamu Fōsu^?) is a Japanese anime series. The scenario was created by Yuuichi Abe.

1 Overview
2 Synopsis
3 Characters
4 Cast & Crew
- 4.1 Japanese Cast
- 4.2 English Cast
5 Episode guide
6 Title cards
7 Differences between English and Japanese version
8 The Ride
9 The Games
10 Manga & Side Stories
11 Trivia
12 See also
13 External links

[edit] Overview

A Japan/America co-production, SD Gundam Force initially broadcasted on Cartoon Network in US for 26 episodes, and later on TV Tokyo for 52 episodes, making it the longest Gundam series to date. Currently there has been no official word on the fate of the show within the US other than odd mentions, though fans continue to campaign for the release of the final 26 episodes on DVD. Unlike previous SD Gundam series, SD stands for Superior Defender. It is a crossover series based on the three SD settings that were used in earlier SD Gundam anime and manga: SD Command Chronicles, a science-fiction-styled militaristic setting; SD Sengokuden, a setting with samurai-themed robots; SD Gundam Gaiden, a medieval European fantasy-themed setting. It also contains many references and homages to the standard Gundam shows, especially those of the Universal Century, Future Century, and After Colony timelines. In a sharp contrast to the dark nature of most of the other Gundam series, SD Gundam is extremely lighthearted, though it does at times get more serious as the series goes on, but it's never as dark as the more "traditional" Gundam series.

[edit] Synopsis

The story is set in the futuristic city of Neotopia, a happy peaceful place where humans and robots co-exist, until the Dark Axis, an evil force from another dimension, arrives.

Aware of the Dark Axis in advance, Neotopia established the secret Super Dimensional Guard to combat the invaders whilst keeping the conflict a secret from the public. A young boy named Shute becomes accidentally involved in the first battle between the Dark Axis and the SDG's Gundam Force robot hero, Captain Gundam. Shute's friendship with Captain is critical to activating Captain's Soul Drive, his mysterious power source that is the key to victory. As the fighting continues, Gundams from other dimensions such as Zero and Bakunetsumaru arrive to help out. As the Gundam Force beat back the mono-eyed invaders the battle spreads beyond Neotopia into the dimensions of Lacroa and Ark, leading into a final confrontation with the supreme leader of the Dark Axis - General Zeong.

[edit] Characters

See List of Superior Defender Gundam Force characters

The characters of SD Gundam Force are split into two major factions- Super Dimensional Guard and Dark Axis. Amongst these are various sub-factions/alliances, usually designated by their members land of origin.

[edit] Cast & Crew

[edit] Japanese Cast

Shute - Paku Romi
Sayla, Nana - Akiko Nakagawa
Keiko - Aya Hisakawa
Captain Gundam - Hiroshi Kamiya
Bakunetsumaru - Susumu Chiba
Zero - Mitsuki Saiga
Genkimaru -Yumiko Kobayashi
Gundiver - Kazuya Nakai
Cobramaru - Kiyoyuki Yanada
Daishogun - Juurouta Kosugi
Commander Sazabi - Shuichi Ikeda
Deathscythe - Kentaro Ito
Professor Gerbera - Akio Otsuka

[edit] English Cast

Shute - Deborah Sale Butler
Captain Gundam, Grappler Gouf - Doug Erholtz
Bakunetsumaru - Yuri Lowenthal
GunEagle - Dave Wittenberg
Mayor Margaret Gathermoon, Noah - Philece Sampler
Tallgeese, Zakerello Gate: Paul St. Peter

[edit] Episode guide

His Name is Captain
Soul Drive, Activate!
Zero, the Flying Knight
Attack the Enemy Musai!
Gundam Force, Team Up!
The Blazing Samurai Comes to Neotopia
Go! Gunbike!
A Princess, A Cake, and the Winged Knight
Bakunetsumaru's Struggle
Gundam Force Triple Attack!
The Mystery of Lacroa Part 1: Arrival
The Mystery of Lacroa Part 2: Trapped
The Mystery of Lacroa Part 3: Return
Undercover Mission! Learn the Gundam Force's Secrets!
Mach Wings: GunEagle!
Masters of the Deep Sea: GunDivers!
Ashuramaru: The Old Rival Returns
Fly, Captain! The SDG Base Hangs by a Thread!
Showdown! Bakunetsumaru vs. Ashuramaru
Fenn's Disaster
Awakening! Feather Dragon
Attack of the Big-Zam
Fire Up! Captain System
Trouble! Stolen Soul Drive
Neotopia's Moment of Truth
The Final Battle! Commander vs. Captain
Breaking in! The Dark Axis
Three Paths
Sure-Win Technique Sealed!? The Menace of the Minovs Sea Border
Revival! We're in Charge?
Evil Sword Epyon
Epyon's Assault
Rescue! The Cursed Princess Lacroa
The Dark Robe of Princess Lacroa
The World's Greatest! Genkimaru~!
Riceballs and the Garden of Wisdom
Clash! The Dark Deathscythe
Princess Rele, Revive!
Gerbera's Call
Kibaomaru's Invasion!
Captured Shute and Rele
Wars of Ark
Final Move! Kibaomaru vs Shute
Bakushinmaru, Ignite!
Gundam Force, Assemble!
Cobramaru's Tears
Startup! Musha Daishinsho
Universe Castle in flames, Genkimaru shouts!
Prelude to Ruin, the True Colors of Gerbera
The World Disappears!? The General's Threat
Decisive Battle! The General vs Everyone!
The Way Home

[edit] Title cards

Each episode title is presented over a card, the art of which changed over the series to reflect the evolution of the main cast:

A simple shining Gundam Force badge
The three main Gundams assemble and Captain fires his rifle directly at the screen. After the glow subsides the Gundams are seen together and Shute leaps into frame and joins them.
The three Gundams stand in the background as Shute leaps up in the foreground, doing a triumphant pose.
The Gundams appear in the regular forms before the card spins around to reveal them in their most powerful forms.

[edit] Differences between English and Japanese version

Although SD Gundam Force was designed with US standards in mind, there exists subtle differences between the English and Japanese language versions of the show. These include:

Various specific eyecatches are used in the Japanese version, whilst the English release uses only one. Examples of differences in the Japanese version include one featuring Mayor Margaret with the various Neotopian Ball mecha and subtle changes to the standard animation such as Bakunetsumaru tripping over, causing his helmet to fall off.
The Japanese version has a set of specific OPs and EDs whilst the US version uses scenes/screenshots from the show. Whilst the Japanese version uses similar for its OPs, the EDs are mostly new animation:

ED 1- A Zako soldier steals Sayla's umbrella, prompting Shute to give chase. Initially unsuccessful, Captain convinces him not to give up and Shute finally manages to retrieve it.
ED 2- Various members of the cast dancing (The visuals are very similar to at least one of the EDs used for Keroro Gunsou).
ED 3- The Gundamusai flying through the Minov Sea.
ED 4- Scenes of Princess Rele.

In the episode 'Cobramaru's Tears', Cobramaru attempts ritual suicide to repent for failing his master Kibaomaru. As the issue of attempted suicide in a children's show would be controversial in most English-speaking countries the dialogue in the English language version is changed to imply that Kibaomaru is ordering Cobramaru to kill himself and/or go into exile.
In the Japanese version, certain characters are voiced by the seiyū of the past Gundam characters they are referencing. As the Gundam dubs have used various voice acting casts this homage was not used in the English language version.

[edit] The Ride

During the show's run in Japan, a limited time attraction was opened. Titled SD Gundam Force: Destructive Daishogun Appears!!Zako?, the twenty minute show used a special theater to present a whole new SD Gundam Force adventure which the audience could interact with. Seemingly set in between episodes 26 and 27 (although overall it is best treated as being non-canon), the stars of the show are the Zakos who have been forced to become the SDG's cleaning crew. The Lacroan villain Da Jarle, Knight of the Hammer and the Ark Destructive Daishogun Hakaimaru seek to unify the world with the mysterious Zakarello Mobile. Da Jarle is able to change the appearance of others and Hakaimaru has a bath fetish that leads to him creating a 'Super Bathhouse' command station. The audience and the Zakos join the Gundam Force as they attempt to stop this new alliance.

Original characters were created for the show by Masato Ichishiki, author of the SD Gundam Musha Maruden/SD Gundam Force Emaki Musharetsuden/SD Gundam Musha Banchō Fūunroku manga. Motion capture data was taken from Japanese pro-wrestler Shinya Hashimoto for Hakaimaru's movements. Whilst Hakaimaru appears to be a generic Musha Gundam, Da Jarle resembles a OZ-12SMS Taurus.

The video portion of this attraction will be included as an extra on the forthcoming complete Japanese SD Gundam Force DVD boxset.

[edit] The Games

Two games have been released based on the show; a side scrolling platform game for the Game Boy Advance and a 3D action adventure game for the Playstation 2. The GBA game retold the story of the first 26 episodes of the show and allowed players to play as either Captain Gundam, Bakunetsumaru or Zero the Winged Knight. Characters could be switched at any time (for the cost of one bar from the special attack meter) and players would need to use each character's strengths to successfully complete the game.

The PS2 title was a much grander affair, presenting a brand new story. The mysterious Dimesional Halo appears in Neotopia and creates mirror versions of Neotopia, Lacroa and Ark. The Gundam Force are forced to battle their way through these copy dimensions and even face their own evil dopplegangers to reach De Scar Road and defeat the Dimensional Halo. Each Gundam Force member had a variety of new forms they could achieve including one super secret form for each which could only be unlocked by a code (the code was presented on a Japanese trading card and eventually filtered to the Western fandom). The game even eventually allowed the player to play as a Zako soldier.

The Dimensional Halo and it's minions were based on the weapons of the Zanscare Empire in Victory Gundam. The game also featured further references to the earlier UC, FC and AC timeline in the form of new villains to populate the mirror dimensions.

[edit] Manga & Side Stories

SD Gundam Force has received a few manga interpretations. These include a serialized retelling of the show, a prequel manga and a loosely connected sidestory. Similar to most TV-to-manga adaptations, the 3 volume adaptation makes various subtle but notable changes for pacing reasons. Examples include the complete absence of Gunbike/Gunpanzer and Madnug managing to override his brainwashing, only to be killed by Zeong for his betrayal. The prequel manga presents untold stories of Captain Gundam, Bakunetsumaru, Zero, Zapper Zaku, Grappler Gouf and Destroyer Dom. The sidestory, SD Gundam Force Emaki Musharetsuden, is set in the land of Ark and focuses on a band of heroic Musha Gundams.

[edit] Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

Although Gundam SEED had previously used the cel-shading animation technique, this is the first Gundam TV series to use it in the entire show.
SDGF holds the distinction of being the first Gundam show to receive it's world premiere in the US and having the longest run of any Gundam series (52 episodes).
A common misconception is that the show is solely an American creation. Whilst the series was designed with the American market in mind and premiered there it was animated in Japan and was always intended to be marketable to both Western and Eastern markets and the Japanese premier followed soon after the American one. A similar criticism is the belief that the series is not 'true' Gundam and instead a 'neutered' child friendly attempt. Many who make this claim are unfamiliar with the existing SD Gundam franchise (which SDGF draws from heavily) and believe that Gundam focuses solely on the military dramas that have been the franchise's focus in Western areas.