Full Metal Panic!
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Full Metal Panic! (Katakana: フルメタル・パニック!, 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.
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. The novel is partially named as a homage to Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket and is unrelated to the anime title Fullmetal Alchemist (which came a few years later).
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. Appropriately, these stories feature a submarine, giant humanoid powered suits called Arm Slaves and people dying in combat. These events are extremely foreign to a normal Japanese high school student, bordering on unbelievable. A highlight of the series is a serious and semi-realistic view of humanoid robotic weapons on the battlefield. The Arm Slave has had significant consideration in its portrayal, ranging from its power source, operations, maintenance and pilot user interface. Much of the scientific hand waving is explained through Black Technology, for the amusement and interest of both readers and characters within the plot. (additional details in Arm Slave and Black Technology)
The comedic segments are the contrasting "normal life" portrayal of a high school student in Tokyo. This adds to the humor, as the comedic segments feature more implausible circumstances and explosions than in the more serious main story. The difference is that the comedic segments are a cartoon. Explosions are symbolic and humorous, no death results from these visual gags. In the main story, characters are heavily injured and perish when hit by a bullet. The juxtaposition of gritty realism within the "unusual and unreal" main story, and the light fantasy touch of the "real and daily life" is a constant source of entertainment and pleasure for many fans.
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.
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. . 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 , 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 OVA was released on May 26, 2006. As the title suggests, it features the Tuatha de Danaan Commander. Teretha Testarossa, affectionately known as Tessa.
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. [[Citing sources 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. Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid, Episode 3. Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid, Episode 10.
- A nuclear warhead was used in the 1992 Gulf War. This triggered the Fifth Middle East War. [[Citing sources citation needed]]
- Following the beginning of the fifth middle east war, the Soviet Union reinvaded Afghanistan successfully.
- Mikhail Gorbachev was assassinated, and the Perestroika was halted. [[Citing sources citation needed]]
- Significantly different military technology such as Arm Slaves and Black Technology.
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.
Synopsis
See also: List of Full Metal Panic! characters, Episode Listing.Full Metal Panic!, the animated series follow the events of Sosuke 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".
Sosuke'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 Sosuke's seemingly random and inexplicable behaviour. 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 Sosuke 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 Sosuke. 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 Sosuke, a love triangle between Chidori, Sagara, and Teletha is formed. Super-genuis 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 Sosuke. A die hard terrorist and psychotic highly adept at utilizing the Lambda Driver, Gauron is the shadow of Sosuke's past. Sosuke 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.
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.
- 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 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 mystery girl who's in photographs with Kaname is Ayame Chidori, her sister who decided to stay in New York with her father
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Notes & references
External links
- [ADV's Official Website]
- [Review at THEM Anime]
- [Comprehensive overview of FMP on animesuki]
- [The Anime Place FMP Entry (includes review)]
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