Marvel Anime

Marvel Anime
Genre Action, Adventure, Drama, Science fiction, Fantasy, Horror
Anime television series
Iron Man
Directed by Yuzo Sato
Written by Toshiki Inoue
Music by Tetsuya Takahashi
Studio Madhouse
Licensed by
Network Animax
English network
Sci Fi Channel
Original run October 1 December 17, 2010
Episodes 12
Anime television series
Wolverine
Directed by Hiroshi Aoyama
Written by Kengo Kaji
Music by Tetsuya Takahashi
Studio Madhouse
Licensed by
Network Animax
English network
Sci Fi Channel
Original run January 7 March 25, 2011
Episodes 12
Anime television series
X-Men
Directed by Fuminori Kizaki
Written by Mitsutaka Hirota
Music by Tetsuya Takahashi
Studio Madhouse
Licensed by
Network Animax
English network
Sci Fi Channel
Original run April 1 June 24, 2011
Episodes 12
Anime television series
Blade
Directed by Mitsuyuki Masuhara
Written by Kenta Fukasaku
Music by Tetsuya Takahashi
Studio Madhouse
Licensed by
Network Animax
English network
Sci Fi Channel
Original run July 1 September 16, 2011
Episodes 12
Related works

Marvel Anime is a series of four television anime series and two direct to video films produced in collaboration between Marvel Entertainment and Japanese animation studio Madhouse. The four twelve-episode series, based on Iron Man, Wolverine, X-Men, and Blade respectively, aired in Japan on Animax between October 2010 and September 2011. An English-language version aired in North America on G4 between July 2011 and April 2012. Each of the series, guided by writer Warren Ellis, largely features Japan as the setting for the storyline.

Premise

The project took top Marvel characters and reintroduced them for a Japanese audience via four 12-part series; Iron Man, Wolverine, X-Men, and Blade, which aired in Japan on Animax between October 2010 and September 2011.[1] The announcement was confirmed at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con. According to former Madhouse President and CEO Jungo Maruta, Marvel gave the anime studio "free reign" [sic] to re-imagine the Marvel superheroes for Japanese audiences. [2] An English version is currently airing in the United States on G4.[3] The series was guided by Warren Ellis.[4] “It will create an entire parallel universe for Marvel,” said Simon Philips, president of Marvel International about Marvel Anime.[5] The Marvel Anime series is being aired in Australia on Sci Fi.[6]

Iron Man

Cast of Iron Man, Tony Stark and Dr. Chika Tanaka

Iron Man (アイアンマン Aian Man) (DVD title: Iron Man: Animated Series) is the first show of the series with 12[7] episodes. The series was directed by Yuzo Sato, with Warren Ellis writing the story and Jamie Simone serving as voice director, casting director, and reversion producer for the English version. A special preview ran on Animax on September 25, 2010, before the series began airing on October 1, 2010,[8] and ended on December 17, 2010. While Iron Man premiered in the US on G4 on July 29, 2011,[9] a "sneak peek" of the first episode aired on July 23, 2011 following G4's Comic-Con 2011 Live coverage.[10] The entire series was released on DVD in the United States on April 24, 2012. A follow up direct-to-video film called Iron Man: Rise of Technovore was released on April 16, 2013.[11][12]

Plot

Tony Stark goes to Japan to produce a new arc reactor power station and showcase the Iron Man Dio, a new prototype armor, that will replace him when he retires. However, the Iron Man Dio goes out of control and it is up to Tony as Iron Man to stop it along with an organization called the Zodiac. Iron Man even gains an ally in JSDF operative Captain Nagato Sakurai piloting the Ramon Zero armor that his military group made for him. Iron Man soon discovers that his old friend Ho Yinsen (who Tony thought was dead upon his first time as Iron Man) is alive and is operating the Iron Man Dio armor for the Zodiac's goals.

Cast

Role Japanese Voice Actor English Voice Actor
Iron Man/Tony Stark Keiji Fujiwara Adrian Pasdar
Iron Man Dio/Ho Yinsen Hiroaki Hirata Kyle Hebert
Dr. Chika Tanaka Takako Honda Laura Bailey
Rasetsu/Minister of Defense Kuroda Unshō Ishizuka Neil Kaplan
Nanami Ōta Shizuka Itō Eden Riegel
Pepper Potts Hiroe Oka Cindy Robinson
Ramon Zero/Captain Nagato Sakurai Jin Yamanoi Travis Willingham
Ichiro Masuda Tomoyuki Shimura[13] Benjamin Diskin
Editor Nomura Shinya Fukumatsu[13] Daran Norris
Scorpio - Kyle Hebert (ep. 7)
Cancer (ep. 2) Yasuyuki Kase
Nakai (ep. 3) - Michael Donovan
Professor Micheline (ep. 3) - J.B. Blanc
Professor Ohno (ep. 3) - Troy Baker
Professor Satoshi Yamaguchi (ep. 3) - Roger Craig Smith
Kawashima (ep. 4) - Roger Craig Smith
Righella (ep. 4) - Vic Mignogna
Wolverine/Logan (ep. 4) Rikiya Koyama Milo Ventimiglia[13]
Maria (ep. 6) Houko Kuwashima[13] Kirsten Potter
Sho (ep. 6) - Michael Sinterniklaas (adult), Cindy Robinson (young)
Aki (ep. 8) Marina Inoue Laura Bailey
Oliver (ep. 9) - Laura Bailey
Shehla (ep. 9) - Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Village Children (ep. 9) - Laura Bailey
Eden Riegel
Michelle Ruff
Village Leader (ep. 9) - Lex Lang
Prime Minister (ep. 10) Kouji Ishii[13] Jamieson Price
Secretary (ep. 10) - Michelle Ruff
Zodiac Soldiers - Kyle Hebert (ep. 10)
Vic Mignogna (ep. 10)
Sam Riegel (ep. 11)

Wolverine

Cast of Wolverine, Logan, Mariko Yashida, Shingen Yashida, Kikyo Mikage, and Yukio.

Wolverine (ウルヴァリン Uruvarin) is the second show of the series with 12 episodes. It aired on Animax between January 7, 2011 and March 25, 2011. While Wolverine premiered in the US on G4 on July 29, 2011,[9] a "sneak peek" of the first episode aired on July 23, 2011 following the Iron Man "sneak peek" and G4's Comic-Con 2011 Live coverage.[10] Jamie Simone served as voice director, casting director, and reversion producer for the English version.

Plot

Logan learns that his true love, beloved sweetheart and girlfriend Mariko Yashida, who disappeared one year ago, has been taken to Tokyo by her father Shingen Yashida, the head of the Japanese crime syndicate Kuzuryu and a supplier of A.I.M., in order to be wed to Hideki Kurohagi. Wolverine goes on a quest to rescue Mariko and defeat Shingen and Hideki, encountering several opponents along the way.

Cast

Role Japanese Voice Actor English Voice Actor
Wolverine/Logan Rikiya Koyama Milo Ventimiglia
Mariko Yashida Fumiko Orikasa Gwendoline Yeo
Shingen Yashida Hidekatsu Shibata Fred Tatasciore
Hideki Kurohagi Kazuki Yao Vic Mignogna
Yukio Romi Park Kate Higgins
Omega Red/Arkady Rossovich Ryūzaburō Ōtomo J.B. Blanc
Kikyo Mikage Masato Hagiwara Steven Blum
Min Misato Fukuen Danielle Judovits
Koh Iemasa Kayumi J.B. Blanc
Tesshin Asano (ep. 1-2) Masaki Terasoma Crispin Freeman
Agent Machida (ep. 2-5) Kōsuke Takaguchi Roger Craig Smith
Agent Takagi (ep. 2-5) Hiroshi Tsuchida Vic Mignogna
Agent Tsukino (ep. 2-5) Fumie Mizusawa Stephanie Sheh
Scar-Faced Man (ep. 4, 5) Yuji Ueda Travis Willingham (ep. 4)
Troy Baker (ep. 5)
Shingen Yashida's Minion (ep. 5) - Travis Willingham
A.I.M. Scientist (ep. 5) - J.B. Blanc
Cyclops/Scott Summers (ep. 6) Toshiyuki Morikawa Scott Porter
Vadhaka (ep. 6, 7, 10) Takanori Hoshino Jamieson Price
Miyuki (ep. 7) Sayuri Stephanie Sheh
Juō Kurohagi (ep. 7) Sho Hayami Tony Oliver
Miyuki (ep. 7) - Stephanie Sheh
Kai (ep. 7) Tokuyoshi Kawashima Sam Riegel
Anh (ep. 8, 9, 10, 11) Kōsuke Takaguchi Lex Lang
Hideki Kurohagi's Minions - J.B. Blanc (ep. 9)
Jamieson Price (ep. 10)
Sam Riegel (ep. 11, 12)
Fred Tatasciore (ep. 12)
Dave Wittenberg (ep. 4)
Madripoor Inhabitants - Steven Blum (ep. 7)
Benjamin Diskin (ep. 7)
Kyle Hebert (ep. 6, 9)
Sam Riegel (ep. 9)
Stephanie Sheh (ep. 9)
Keith Silverstein (ep. 6)
Spike Spencer (ep. 9)
Terrence Stone (ep. 6)

X-Men

Cast of X-Men, Cyclops, Professor X, Wolverine, Storm, Armor, Beast

X-Men (エックスメン Ekkusu Men) (DVD title: X-Men: Animated Series) scheduled to air as the third show of the series with 12 episodes. It aired on Animax from April 1, 2011 to June 24, 2011. A preview trailer was released on February 18, 2011, featuring mutants such as Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm and Beast.[14] It premiered in the United States on G4 on October 21, 2011.[15] Jamie Simone as voice director, casting director, and reversion producer for the English version. The entire series was released on DVD in the United States on April 24, 2012.

Plot

Following the death of Jean Grey (who was being controlled by the Inner Circle), the X-Men are reassembled by Professor X to travel to Japan following the abduction of Armor and face the U-Men, who are abducting young mutants in order to harvest their organs. During their fight with the U-Men, the X-Men discover that some of the mutants in Japan are suffering from the "Damon Hall Syndrome", which causes problems for mutants during their second mutation. The X-Men must also deal with the next plot of the Inner Circle.[16]

Cast

Role Japanese Voice Actor English Voice Actor
Cyclops/Scott Summers Toshiyuki Morikawa Scott Porter
Wolverine/Logan Rikiya Koyama Steven Blum
Takeo Sasaki Atsushi Abe Steve Staley
Neuron Yutaka Aoyama Dave Wittenberg
Professor X/Charles Xavier Katsunosuke Hori Cam Clarke
Storm/Ororo Munroe Aya Hisakawa Danielle Nicolet
Jean Grey Yurika Hino Jennifer Hale
Riko Nirasaki Marina Inoue Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Mastermind Haruhiko Jō Travis Willingham
Kōichi Kaga Katsuyuki Konishi Troy Baker
Marsh Yuichi Nakamura Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Jake Rintarō Nishi -
Yui Sasaki Yoshiko Sakakibara Gwendoline Yeo
Rat Manabu Sakamaki Michael Sinterniklaas
Jun Sanada Tomokazu Seki Travis Willingham
Todd Wataru Takagi -
Beast/Hank McCoy Hideyuki Tanaka Fred Tatasciore
Armor/Hisako Ichiki Yukari Tamura Stephanie Sheh
Emma Frost Kaori Yamagata Ali Hillis
Kyoko Ayumi Fujimura Laura Bailey
Hisako's Mother Akemi Okamura Laura Bailey
Hisako's Father Seiji Sasaki Michael Sinterniklaas
Sublime - Troy Baker
Kōichi Kaga Katsuyuki Konishi Troy Baker

Blade

Blade

Blade (ブレイド Bureido) is the fourth and final show of the series. Comprising twelve episodes like the others, the story is written by Kenta Fukasaku, son of the late Kinji Fukasaku. Jamie Simone served as casting director, reversion producer, and voice director for the English version where he was assisted by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. It aired on Animax from July 1, 2011 to September 16, 2011.

Plot

Blade is a "daywalker" vampire hunter who was born with human and vampire blood in his veins after a vampire attacked his mother. Blade is visiting Japan on a mission where he not only confronts Deacon Frost (the vampire who killed his mother Tara Brooks), but also goes up against a mysterious organization of vampires known as "Existence".[17]

Cast

Role Japanese Voice Actor English Voice Actor
Blade/Eric Brooks
Young Eric Brooks (ep. 4)
Akio Ohtsuka
Junko Minagawa
Harold Perrineau[18]
Noah Bentley
Deacon Frost Tsutomu Isobe J.B. Blanc
Makoto Maaya Sakamoto Kim Mai Guest
Noah van Helsing Osamu Saka Troy Baker
Tara Brooks Atsuko Tanaka Nayo Wallace
Hayate (ep. 1) - Doug Stone
Ladu (ep. 1) - Grant George
Vampire Security Guard (ep. 1) - Steven Blum
Sam Riegel
Vampire Woman (ep. 1) - Laura Bailey
Detective Ikeda (ep. 2) - Sam Riegel
Detective Sakomizu (ep. 2) - Kirk Thornton
Lieutenant Hamasaki (ep. 2) - Liam O'Brien
Police Chief Gondou Head (ep. 2) - Joe Ochman
Tanaka (ep. 2) - Michael Sinterniklaas
Captain McRay (ep. 3, 4) - Steven Blum
Lord Howard (ep. 3) - Jamieson Price
Mandurugo (ep. 3) - Cindy Robinson
Matthes (ep. 3, 4) - Kat Purgal
Sailors (ep. 3) - Grant George
Liam O'Brien
Jamieson Price
Carol (ep. 3, 4) - Susan Dalian
English Police Officers (ep. 4) - Jamieson Price
Keith Silverstein
Prostitutes (ep. 4) - Laura Bailey
Kat Purgal
Cindy Robinson
Cimaron (ep. 5) - Keith Silverstein
Danas (ep. 5) - Janice Kawaye
Hagibus (ep. 5) - John Eric Bentley
Lucius Isaac (ep. 5-7) Hiroki Tochi Christopher Corey Smith
Lupit (ep. 5) - G.K. Bowes
Agus (ep. 6) - Richard Cansino
Saragi (ep. 6) Hisago Egawa Kyle Hebert
Sundel Bolong (ep. 6) - Kat Purgal
Wolverine/Logan (ep. 7) Rikiya Koyama Milo Ventimiglia
Djalal (ep. 7) - Johnny Yong Bosch
Sergei (ep. 7) - Kyle Hebert
Thugs (ep. 7) - John Eric Bentley
Grant George
Kyle Hebert
Patrick Seitz
Keith Silverstein
Vampire High Council Chairman (ep. 8, 11) - Neil Kaplan
Old Vampire High Council Members (ep. 8) - Steven Blum
Steve Kramer
Jamieson Price
Young Vampire High Council Members (ep. 8) - Steven Blum
Grant George
Jamieson Price
Kikyo Mikage (ep. 8-9, 12) Masato Hagiwara Steven Blum
Stan Davis (ep. 8) Shunsuke Sakuya Patrick Seitz
Stan Davis' Wife (ep. 8) - Kim Mai Guest
Alice (ep. 8) Hiromi Igarashi Janice Kawaye
Tanbu Yagyu (ep. 9) - Steve Kramer
Edgar Frost (ep. 10) - Bryce Papenbrook
Police Officers (ep. 10) - Neil Kaplan
Bryce Papenbrook
Vampire Hunters (ep. 10) - Steve Kramer
Keith Silverstein
Vampire High Council Members (ep. 11) - Steve Kramer
Jamieson Price
Vampire Knight (ep. 11) - Bryce Papenbrook
Ultimate Vampires (ep. 12) - Troy Baker
J.B. Blanc
Vampire Monster (ep. 12) - Keith Silverstein

Films

Following the TV series, Madhouse animated different Marvel Anime films.

See also

References

  1. "Iron Man, Wolverine in Marvel, Madhouse's 1st TV Anime (Updated)". Anime News Network. August 25, 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  2. "Marvel to behold". C21 Media. July 6, 2010. Archived from the original on December 12, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  3. "Marvel Anime to Run on G4 in the United States". Anime News Network. July 23, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  4. "SDCC: G4 Announces New Marvel Anime Series". Superhero Hype!. July 26, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  5. Gustines, George (August 24, 2008). "Superheroes to Be Recast for Japan". The New York Times. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  6. "Iron Man & Wolverine Coming To Sci Fi In August!: SCI FI PI//SCI FI Channel". 'Captain'. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  7. Iron Man Anime comes to G4
  8. Marvel Anime Coming To G4 In 2011
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Anime Iron Man and Wolverine Premiere July 29". SuperheroHype.com. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "G4 TV Schedule; Sat, July 23, 2011". G4 Media. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  11. "Iron Man: Rise of Technovore Coming to Blu-ray 4/16 More on Marvel.com". MARVEL. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  12. "Madhouse, Marvel Team Up Again for New Iron Man: Rise of Technovore Film". Anime News Network. October 8, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Toonzone Goes to WonderCon 2011 (UPDATED Apr 7, 9:45 AM)
  14. "News: X-Men Anime, Nichijou Promo Videos Streamed". Anime News Network. February 18, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  15. "'X-Men' Anime Debuts In October With Scott Porter As Cyclops".
  16. Watch the X-Men Anime Japanese Teaser Trailer
  17. "Blade, Fairy Tail, Ro-Kyu-Bu! Promo Videos Streamed". Anime News Network.
  18. "Blade English Dub's Lead Cast - Interest". Anime News Network. October 14, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2013.

External links