"Full Metal Panic!" (2002) TV series

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Kôichi Chigira

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

8 January 2002 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Romance | Sci-Fi | Animation

Tagline:

A second coming of panic!

Plot Keywords:

Anti Terrorist Squad | Mecha | Piloted Giant Robot | Based On Graphic Novel | Real Robot

Cast

Jason Douglas

...

Additional Voices / ... (24 episodes)

(more)

Series Directed by
Kôichi Chigira		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Gatô Shôji		(24 episodes)

Series Produced by
John Ledford	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Mark Williams	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Toshihiko Sahashi		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Akihiko Nishiyama	....	storyboard artist (1 episode)
Kôichi Chigira	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Kyle Jones	....	adr director (24 episodes)
Cesar Inserny	....	adr recordist / dialogue editor (4 episodes)

Series Animation Department
Itsuko Takeda	....	animation director (1 episode)
Kôichi Usami	....	animation director (1 episode)
Kanetake Ebikawa	....	mechanical designer (unknown episodes)
Osamu Horiuchi	....	animation director / character designer (unknown episodes)
Toshiaki Ihara	....	mechanical designer (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Mark Clark Jr.	....	production assistant (24 episodes)
Brady Hartel	....	production assistant (24 episodes)
Kôichi Chigira	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Shouji Gatou	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Kôji Itô	....	mechanical design director (unknown episodes)
Carole Pavlik	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Fumihiko Shimo	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Masayuki Takano	....	original mechanical designer (unknown episodes)

Distributors

• ADV Films (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• AXN (2009) (Hungary) (TV) (re-release) (AXN Sci-Fi)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG (some episodes) | USA:TV-14 | South Korea:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (video rating) | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | UK:12 (some episodes) | UK:PG (some episodes)

Quotes:

Kaname Chidori: I don't have any regrets. I'm glad I met you, Sousuke Sagara.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#33.8)" (2005)

great sci-fi military action

I was half dragged into watching this series, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. Much as the great title suggests, the series is mech based. It revolves around a special force called special "Mithril", and an elite specialist soldier named Sagara. Add to the mix a schoolgirl named Chidori and you've got the title - Full Metal Panic!

The mechs used in the show are far from the standard fare. They're unique enough and the Mithril force is unique enough that it manages to feel fresh. Sagara is a dead clone of Heero Yui, but that's not a bad thing. Sagara is described as the most "professional of the professional", an elite soldier through and through. Taking this pure military mind and placing him into a urban highschool situation is actually quite funny. There's some hilarious moments that alone make the series worth watching.

Chidori bugs me a bit, but she serves her purpose in the series. I just find her about impossible to like early in the show. I'm quite sure this is purposely done though, and as the series goes on she becomes much more likable.

The action sequences is where the show really shines. Elite forces, big mechs, guns, explosions, tanks... lots of fun for all. It's very well animated and very well timed. Being from GONZO, I would certainly expect this. They've done every bit as good as they did with the Vandread series.

If you like the title, you'll probably like the anime. It's really as simple as that. A Heero like main character, plenty of fan service, GONZO's wonderful artists, and a storyline that makes you want to watch just one more episode every single time. It's a refreshingly well put together show.

- Rirath_com