Geneshaft | |
ジーンシャフト (Jīn Shafuto) |
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Genre | Adventure, Mecha, Biopunk |
TV anime | |
Directed by | Kazuki Akane |
Studio | Satelight, Studio Gazelle, Bandai Visual |
Licensed by | Bandai Entertainment Madman Entertainment |
Network | WOWOW, Animax |
English network | TechTV/G4techTV |
Original run | April 15, 2001 – June 28, 2001 |
Episodes | 13 |
Geneshaft (ジーンシャフト Jīn Shafuto ) is a Japanese science fiction anime television series set in space, produced by Bandai Visual in 2001, and directed by Kazuki Akane (of Escaflowne fame). It was broadcast on the WOWOW network and was translated and dubbed into English by the anime television network Locomotion, who broadcast it within its respective networks in Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent and around the world.
The story revolves around the voyages of the Bilkis spaceship across the Solar system, and its crew of genetically engineered humans, as they attempt to uncover the mysteries of an alien technology threatening to destroy the Earth, and whose nature may reveal the true origins and destiny of humanity in the late 23rd century.
The series is characterized by its exploration of the theme of genetic engineering, and the possible consequences of this technology dominating and defining future human society. It also contains a distinctive Metal soundtrack with electronica elements (composed by Akira Takasaki), often featuring electric guitar solos at dramatic moments.
Featured as a central plot element is the 'Shaft', a Mecha with a peculiar appearance. Made entirely using CGI, this barely humanoid robot seems to be made of structures resembling gray mechanical cranes, lacking appealing characteristics common to other Mecha, such as bright colors or even a 'head'.
Contents |
Geneshaft is set in a future where genetic engineering is the dominating technology, defining society entirely. The government of Earth is totalitarian and as a result there has been peace for 200 years. The government is in control of human reproduction, and is in charge of all (artificial) births, as well as altering the genetic characteristics of each new individual, according to their function in society. One such alteration common to all individuals limit their lifespan to 45 years, in order to limit the extent of aging so that they remain healthy and able throughout all of their adult lives.
People are largely rated by the quality of their DNA, and those whose DNA is relatively unrefined, such as those of the 'white' gene type, are generally considered inferior. In order to prevent irrational behavior caused by strong emotional attachment, family structures have been disbanded, and the emotions of love and lust eliminated. The ratio of men to women is 1:9, as it is considered that males are more aggressive than females, and this was part of what led past societies to destruction. Modern society is completely peaceful, the few men typically having leading positions and commonly being of gene types granting them enhanced decision-making skills, while females are in charge of lesser positions. Men are assigned Registers - emotionless, drone-like women - whose purpose is to document all actions that a man takes, as men's DNA contains elements of destructive desires that cannot be eliminated, while acting as his assistant.
The story begins at the time when a 500 kilometer in diameter ring-shaped structure had appeared near the Earth five years prior. Dispatched from nearby Markanan space station, several female astronauts were about to investigate its nature when it produces a massive energy blast which destroys the space station and a large portion of the surface of the Earth, after which it disappears. This instigates the moblization of a special group of men and women with specific genetic characteristics, who set out aboard the Bilkis spaceship to investigate the origins of the ring, and the possible connection with mysterious alien technology found in Jupiter's moon Ganymede.
During their voyages they encounter several instances of the Ring technology, which they fight with the giant mecha, called 'Shaft'. The technology of Shaft is mysterious and the mecha requires very special skills to be piloted. Along the way, they also encounter situations and people which make them question their nature as 'superior', and raise doubts about how 'perfect' their society really is.
Mika was very close to her "mother," the woman who genetically engineered her, and her sentient dog. Her friend Ryoko was killed in the previous year, and she blames Amagiwa for her death, believing that he murdered her to save his own life (although since in this society humans are considered to be nothing more than the sum of their genes, Ryoko's death would never be considered murder since she had an identical twin). She repeatedly threatens him because of this, but finds it bewildering that he is so confident in her potential and abilities, especially since she is a "white."
Mika eventually teams up with Amagiwa and helps defeat Mir and Sneak. She also finds that she has fallen in love with her former enemy.
Sofia's faith in her society begins to waver when she encounters a gang of 21st century astronauts who are still attached to the idea of love, lust and family. Sofia eventually sacrifices herself to save the Shaft (with Mika in it) and the Bilkis, but confesses to Mika before she dies that she wishes she could have been a mother.
He is also haunted by the loss of Ryoko because she committed suicide to save him, although he does not show it outwardly. The crew considers him almost robotic in his chilly command style,but he seems to be struck by the more loving, friendly demeanor of Mario. Despite Mika's initial hatred for him, Amagiwa teams up with her to defeat Sneak, and falls in love with her as well.
Hiroto's sidearm of choice is the FN Herstal (Five-Seven), a Belgian pistol that can carry 5.7X28mm SS190, an armor piercing ammunition used for P90 submachine guns.
Unlike her charming and mature brother, Tiki is hyperactive, childlike and rather obnoxious, often insulting Mika for the fun of it. She is a capable Shaft driver but loses focus too easily if nothing interesting is happening around her. However, she becomes more focused toward the end of the series, when her brother dies saving the Bilkis.
Mario briefly serves as captain of the Bilkis when Amagiwa falls ill. However when the Bilkis is attacked by a former classmate of his, Jean, Mario invades Jean's ship and assassinates him. He suffers from severe nerve damage from the transport, but is still able to detonate a bomb strapped to his body, killing both himself and Jean, and saving the Bilkis.
The only person she actually seems to respect is Lord Sneak, and she is badly shaken when he admits in the first episode that he used her to weed out terrorists. However, his smooth talk and flattery soon make her devoted to him again because of his perfect genetics. Even when Sneak's treachery is revealed, Mir attempts to help him for a while, fighting the "inferior white" Mika, but is defeated by her and after subsequently talking to both Mika and Tiki realizes that she has others who care about her. She then returns to the Bilkis.
It turns out that Remmy is more complex than anyone thought: she is part of a rebel terrorist faction hoping to restore humanity's natural order, and she is actually in league with Lord Sneak. When she learns his true plans, she attempts to save the Bilkis and he murders her.
Sometimes called the Desert Medusa.
It is revealed that he is actually malignant and destructive on a far wider scale, and believes that he must cleanse the universe of human beings. For this end, he has been in league with Oberus all along. He is killed by lava on Europa.
All episode titles are references to science-fiction books.
# | Japanese title | English title | Original work title (Japanese) | Original work title (English) | Author |
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1. | 惑星(ほし)を継ぐもの | Successors to the Stars | 星を継ぐもの | Inherit the Stars | James P. Hogan |
2. | 歌う戦艦(ふね) | The Ship Who Sang | 歌う船 | The Ship Who Sang | Anne McCaffrey |
3. | 宇宙(そら)のランデブー | Rendezvous in Space | 宇宙のランデヴー | Rendezvous with Rama | Arthur C. Clarke |
4. | 前哨 | The Sentinel | 前哨 | Expedition to Earth | Arthur C. Clarke |
5. | 天使と宇宙船 | Angels and Spaceships | 天使と宇宙船 | Angels and Spaceships | Fredric William Brown |
6. | 過去からのホットライン | Hotline from the Past | 未来からのホットライン | Thrice Upon a Time | James P. Hogan |
7. | リング・ワールド | Ring World | リングワールド | Ringworld | Larry Niven |
8. | 月は無慈悲な闇の帝王 | The Moon is a Harsh Lord of the Darkness | 月は無慈悲な夜の女王 | The Moon is a Harsh Mistress | Robert Heinlein |
9. | 人間以下 | Less Than Human | 人間以上 | More Than Human | Theodore Sturgeon |
10. | 女たちの知らない男 | The Men Women Don't See | 愛はさだめ、さだめは死 | Love Is the Plan the Plan Is Death | James Tiptree, Jr. |
11. | 成長への儀式 | Rite of Passage | 降伏の儀式 | Footfall | Larry Niven |
12. | ガニメデの優しい男 | A Gentle Man In Ganymede | ガニメデの優しい巨人 | The Gentle Giants of Ganymede | James P. Hogan |
13. | 幼年期の始まり | The Beginning of Childhood | 幼年期の終わり | Childhood's End | Arthur C. Clarke |
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Ending: