Full Metal Panic!

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Full Metal Panic!
フルメタル・パニック！ (Full Metal Panic!)
Genre	Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Mecha, Romance, Shounen
Novel: Full Metal Panic!
Authored by	Shouji Gatou
Artist	Shiki Doji
Publisher	Kadokowa Shoten
Publish date	September 09, 1998 – August 25, 2003
No. of volumes	9
TV anime : Full Metal Panic!
Directed by	Koichi Chigira
Studio	GONZO
Network	WOWOW HERO TV, GMA 7 Anione Anime Network A+ MTV Italia
Original run	8 January 2002 – 18 June 2002
No. of episodes	24

Full Metal Panic! (フルメタル・パニック!, furumetaru panikku^?, often abbreviated to FMP!) is a science fiction light novel series written by Shouji Gatou. The novels contain both mecha action and comedy segments. It is known outside of Japan primarily by its anime and manga adaptations. This article discusses the larger Full Metal Panic series of novels as well as the first animated adaptation.

The story has been animated in several separate occasions, following the plot of the novels in measured segments. The story is known for its mixture of its school segments focusing upon comedy and visual gags, and its longer and more serious plot arcs.

Both the novel and adaptations contain pop culture references, in-jokes, and oblique humor that is not readily obvious in its original language of Japanese. These include Monty Python, Limericks, and Puns in English. Additionally, certain character names and lines spoken are reminiscent of other famous anime series. Most recently, Full Metal Panic has been referenced in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Shouji Gatou contributed as screen writer in one of the episodes and an interview in the official fan book.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Adaptations 3 The Full Metal Panic World 4 Synopsis 5 Trivia 6 Notes & references 7 External links

[edit] Overview

The novels are written by Shouji Gatou and illustrated by Shikidouji. It has been serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Dragon Magazine since 1998.^[1] The novel is partially named as a homage to Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket and is unrelated to the later anime title Fullmetal Alchemist whose Japanese title differs significantly.

Many of the short stories published in the magazine are comedic in stark contrast to the full novels published by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko. The author's handling and balance between the serious character driven plot of the full plot arcs and its contrast with the caricature portrayal of the same characters in the comedy arcs is one of the most lauded aspects of the series.

The main story develops its characters carefully, and is the shadow or "unusual" events of the protagonist's life. These stories feature the mercenary group Mithril, thier mobile base TDD-1 Tuatha de Danaan, giant humanoid powered suits called Arm Slaves, and the various missions Sosuke Sagara is assigned to. A highlight of the series is a serious and semi-realistic view of humanoid robotic weapons on the battlefield. The Arm Slave has significant consideration in its portrayal, with explanations given for its power source, operations, maintenance and pilot user interface. The existence of such advanced weaponry and equipment is explained through Black Technology. (additional details in Arm Slave and Black Technology)

The comedic segments are the contrasting "normal life" portrayal of a high school student in Tokyo. These segments are in stark contrast to the more serious main story; Explosions are symbolic and humorous, and no death results from these visual gags, while in the main story characters are heavily injured and perish when hit by a bullet. The juxtaposition of gritty realism, within the main story, and the light fantasy touch of the "real and daily life" is similar to the style used in Elfen Lied.

This has led to two discrete series of books within the narrative; the collected short stories, and the full novels. As of June 2006, there have been eight novels and nine short story collections published. There is also a significant number of short stories that have not yet been published in a collection, making the stories difficult to find outside back issues of the magazine.

[edit] Adaptations

See also: list of Full Metal Panic! media

The series is notable for its success in the “media mix” presentation across multiple mediums. Unlike many other multimedia attempts, It has garnered reasonable success in each medium leading to sequels over a surprisingly long span of time.

The story has also been adapted into a manga in several discrete occasions. The first series was serialised in Newtype by Retsu Tateo, titled “Full Metal Panic”. This is collected in nine volumes, published by Kadokawa Comics. ^[1]. Much like the novel series, a parallel series was written by the same Retsu Tateo, titled “Full Metal Panic!: Comic Mission”. As of June 2006, there are five volumes published. A third and most recent manga adaptation is “Full Metal Panic!Σ (sigma)”, written by Hiroshi Ueda. As of June 2006, there are 3 volumes published.

The anime series originally aired in 2002, produced by GONZO Digimation. The series was licensed for North American release in 2003 by ADV Films, and the manga released by ADV Manga. The first three of the novels form the basis for the Full Metal Panic! anime.

A side-story, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, also known as FMP? Fumoffu was broadcast in 2003. It focuses almost entirely on the high school life of Sagara and Chidori, highlighted in the short story collections. The series was a departure from the serious tone set in the first anime adaptation, with its slapstick humor and comedy focus.

A spinoff manga was released by ADV Manga in June 2005 titled Full Metal Panic!: Overload! The plot involves Sousuke losing his memory, and is not considered canon. It has little if any relation to the main storylines. The series focuses on slapstick humor, overly cute characters, randomness, and proclaims to have "More laughs! More Explosions! More Panic!"

A third anime adaptation continued with Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid, now produced by Kyoto Animation in July 2005. It is the proper sequel to the first adaptation, following the events of the two "Full Metal Panic! End of Day By Day" novels.

The fourth and most recent anime adaptation as of June 2006 is based upon the short story 戦隊長のわりとヒマな一日 (The Battlegroup Commander's Sort of Boring Day). This The Second Raid OVA was released on May 26, 2006. As the title suggests, it features the Commander of the TDD-1 Tuatha de Danaan, Teletha Testarossa, affectionately known as Tessa. This OVA follows a day in the life of Tessa while she re-traces her steps to find an "item" she had misplaced the night before, with stops along the way showing you another side to a few of the main characters featured in the series. ^[2]

[edit] The Full Metal Panic World

The series is set in a parallel world, based upon actual world events around the late 20th century to the early 21st century. The story begins in Heisei 10 (1999AD), where the Cold War has yet to end. China has split into a north and south, with Hong Kong being split much like Berlin. The major differences are:

• North Korea in the story did not suffer the massive famines that have plagued the real nation. The nation is also showing economic recovery as they prepare to bring their first Palladium Reactor in operation. ^{[citation needed]}
• China has split into the Peoples Liberation Committee (North China) and the Democratic Chinese Alliance (South China) along the Yangtze River. Kowloon is North Chinese territory, while Hong Kong Island is held by South Chinese forces. Combat in Hong Kong is prohibited by terms of a recent peace treaty. ^{[3] [4]}
• A nuclear warhead was used in the 1992 Gulf War. This triggered the Fifth Middle East War. ^[5]
• Following the beginning of the fifth middle east war, the Soviet Union reinvaded Afghanistan successfully.
• Mikhail Gorbachev was assassinated, and the Perestroika was halted. ^{[citation needed]}
• Significantly different military technology such as Arm Slaves and Black Technology.

Other subtle differences differentiate the fictional world. Common changes are in the Japanese names, as they use homonyms to real life locations. The fictional Jindai(陣代) Highschool is based on the real life Tokyo Jindai (神代) Highschool. The closest station to the real life Jindai highschool is the Senkawa station, changed from (仙川) to (泉川). The Japanese calendar of Heisei era name is altered from (平成) to (平政). Other geography and names of location in the fictional Tokyo remain identical to reality.

These overt divergences in history forms the backdrop of the plot, while the less obvious divergences and cause of these differences form the many intriguing mysteries within the narrative.

[edit] Synopsis

See also: List of Full Metal Panic! characters, List of Full Metal Panic Media, and Episode Listing

Full Metal Panic!, the animated series follow the events of Sousuke Sagara, a soldier of a covert international anti-terrorist armed forces, and a Japanese high school student, Kaname Chidori. Sosuke is chosen by Mithril to be Kaname’s bodyguard from his Japanese heritage and young age allowing him to slip into her school undetected as a transfer student. He is not told the reason for these security measures. All he knows are his orders: to remain undetected, protecting Kaname from capture and abduction from an unknown hostile force until told otherwise. What he doesn't know is the dangerous and unfamiliar territory called "High School".

Sousuke's odd upbringing and background's incongruence within the classroom is almost instantly highlighted. In his sensitivity for any threats towards Kaname, he over reacts towards innocent events. The relationship between the two is rocky, with Chidori frequently angered by Sousuke's seemingly random and inexplicable behavior. The relationship between the two slowly softens, eventually blossoming into a genuine friendship when Kaname realizes Sosuke's earnest care and efforts to protect her.

It seems that the worries of Mithril, the secretive and covert anti-terrorist armed forces employing Sousuke were misplaced, as Kaname goes on living her uneventful life. However, a terrorist hijacking of the jetliner she and her classmates is aboard changes things. The coin has flipped, as she finds herself in a world much more familiar to Sousuke. Guns, bombs, tanks, bloodshed and arm slaves.

Kaname finds her self a key piece in the intrigue between Mithril, their Pacific Battlegroup and its flagship Tuatha de Danaan. Kaname slowly realizes that she has crossed the point of no return, and is now inextricably a part of a frightening and hostile reality. The world is arming itself with impossible technologies, and only a handful of super genius intellects can produce these items that defy scientific convention. As one of these Whispered, she is a latent Manhattan Project all on her own, a valuable source of stellar advances in technology that can tip the balance of world power. She meets Teletha Testarossa, and faces the mysteries surrounding her.

Not everything is different between high school and a multi billion dollar military submarine, though. As Kaname realizes her emotions towards Sousuke, a love triangle between Chidori, Sagara, and Teletha is formed. Super-genius or not, the teenagers nurture and learn from their still immature emotions and relationships.

An important subplot revolves around the obsessive interest of Gauron in Sousuke. A die hard terrorist and psychotic highly adept at utilizing the Lambda Driver, Gauron is the shadow of Sousuke's past. Sousuke and his Teammates Kurz Weber and Melissa Mao show why they are the best of the best as they face down Gauron and the ominous organization Amalgam behind him.

[edit] Trivia

• Full Metal Panic! was to premiere shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks, however, it was delayed due to a terrorist plane hijacking being an integral part of the first major plot arc. ^[6]

• In the first episode of the series, Kaname Chidori has a book titled, "Dolphins' last message to mankind...So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish." This is a reference to one of the books in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series.

• The novels show the hijacked jetliner is diverted to a military airbase in North Korea. This was altered in the animated adaptation for political reasons.

• In one episode Kaname reminisces about a movie she once saw. That movie is Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

• In the episode, "Is Narashino burning?", the lead Arm Slave of the Red Dragon team performs a special move called the "Red Stream Attack". This is an obvious reference to the "Jet Stream Attack" used by the Black Tri Stars in the original Mobile Suit Gundam TV series. The captain of the Red Dragons bears a resemblance to Char Aznable with his blonde hair, aviator sunglasses and red, sleeveless shirt. "Red Daikon" may have been a reference to "Rem Deikun", Char's birthname. Another reference is the Narashino pilot's remark "It's three times faster than normal", in concurrence with a running joke that anything Char-customized is three times more potent than normal.

• The mystery girl who's in photographs with Kaname is Ayame Chidori, her sister who decided to stay in New York with her father

• The music is reminiscent of the music from the ‘80s US TV series “A-Team”.

• Sousuke, Mao, and Kurz as well as their Arm Slaves appear as playable characters in the anime/mecha crossover game Super Robot Wars Judgement for the Gameboy Advance among other series such as Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and Mazinkaiser. Other characters from Full Metal Panic! and Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, including Tessa, Gauron, and Bonta-kun, appear in the game as well.

Previous installment:		Next installment:
None	Full Metal Panic!	Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu

[edit] Notes & references

[edit] External links

• ADV's Official Website
• Review at THEM Anime
• Comprehensive overview of FMP on the forum of animesuki
• The Anime Place FMP entry -(includes review)]
• Fullmetal Panic Gallery
• Full Metal Panic! (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia