Flag (anime)

Flag

Official North American DVD cover of FLAG
フラッグ
(Furaggu)
Genre Mecha, War, Action
Anime television series
Directed by Ryōsuke Takahashi, Kazuo Terada
Studio The Answer Studio
Licensed by
Network Bandai Channel, SKY Perfect - Perfect Choice ch160 Anime
Original run June 6, 2006 – March 2, 2007
Episodes 13

Flag (フラッグ Furaggu) is a 13-episode Japanese mecha-genre anime series directed by veteran director Ryosuke Takahashi. It was broadcast as pay per view streaming web video on Bandai Channel starting on June 6, 2006. Episodes 1 and 2 were scheduled to be broadcast on the anime PPV channel SKY Perfect Perfect Choice ch160 Anime from August 18, 2006. Stylistically, the series makes use of a still and video cameraman POV, as well as "web cam" images to create a documentary-like narrative, despite being an animated drama.

Setting

Saeko Shirasu is a 25-year-old war frontline photo-journalist who became a celebrity after taking a picture of civilians raising a makeshift UN flag in war-torn Uddiyana. The image then became an instant symbol for peace. However, just before the peace agreement is achieved, the flag was stolen by an armed extremist group in order to obstruct the truce. The UN peacekeepers decide to covertly send in a SDC (pronounced as Seedac—Special Development Command) unit to retrieve the flag. Because of her connection with the "Flag" photo, Saeko Shirasu was offered the job of following the SDC unit as a frontline journalist. The SDC unit is equipped with an HAVWC (High Agility Versatile Weapon Carrier—pronounced "havoc") mecha armored vehicle.

Main characters & casts

Shirasu's Front

Akagi's Front

Episodes

# Title Original air date
01 "Flag"
"Furaggu" (フラッグ) 		2006-06-16
An armed extremist faction had stolen the Flag, which was previously seen as the symbol of peace that triggered the cease-fire initiative between armed factions and the government forces in Uddiyana. The UN secretly dispatched an SDC unit to retrieve the Flag. Saeko Shirasu was assigned as the embedded reporter. 
02 "Portrait"
"Pōtorēto" (ポートレート) 		2006-06-30
Saeko started her reporting inside the SDC secret base. However, Captain Chris denied Saeko's request to follow any military operations involving the use of HAVWC. Saeko tried to capture the soldiers on camera as they returned to base. 
03 "Frontline Reporting"
"Dōkō Shuzai" (同行取材) 		2006-07-14
The SDC unit is planning scouting missions in area where the FLAG was believed to be hidden. Once again Saeko's request to accompany the unit was denied. Nadi Olowokandi offered his helping hand. 
04 "The Night of New Moon"
"Shingetsu no Yoru" (新月の夜) 		2006-07-28
It was established that the defence capabilities of the armed faction base were much stronger than expected. The SDAC unit decided to launch an operation to retrieve the Flag on the night of the new moon. Preparation of the HAVWC mecha, the key element of the operation, became a race against time, and Saeko spent all night covering the activities of the unit. Meanwhile on the same night, as reporter Akagi was pursuing a young girl, a reincarnate of the goddess Kuhura. 
05 "Parabola of Darkness"
"Kurayami no Sōkyokusen" (暗闇の双曲線) 
On the night of the new moon, the SDC unit began its campaign to retrieve the flag and was heading towards the "Ruins", the armed faction's stronghold. Shirasu witnessed the crossfire while accompanying the unit. At the same time, the journalists, suspicious of the UN forces, found out about the UN's plan to bomb the city. Akagi had some idea where the target of the bombing would be. 
06 "Light in Darkness"
"Yami no Naka no Hikari" (闇の中の光) 
Ichiyanagi stormed into the armed faction's stronghold to retrieve the flag. As the team were following the IC tag signal, something unexpected was waiting for them. They discovered the conspiracy to hinder the ceasefire. Facing return attack from the enemy and with nowhere to retreat, he attempted to break through. 
07 "Reactivation"
"Saishidō" (再始動) 
08 "XR-2 Longku"
"Ikkusuāru-Tsū Ronkū" (XR-2 ロンクー) 
09 "Yurts and the Land"
"Geru to Taichi" (ゲルと大地) 
10 "SDAC + 1"
"Shīdakku Purasu Wan" (シーダック+1) 
11 "Reunion through the Viewfinder"
"Faindā-goshi no Saikai" (ファインダーごしの再会) 
12 "Recapture the Flag"
"Furaggu Dakkan" (フラッグ奪回) 
13 "Into the Light"
"Hikari no Naka e" (光の中へ) 

Production staff

Produced by The Answer Studio and Aniplex

Music

References

    Further reading

    External links

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