Marvel Anime Explained

Ja Kanji:マーベルアニメ
Type:tv series
Iron Man
Director:Yūzō Satō
Kenichi Kawamura (assistant)
Producer:Tarō Morijima
Fuminori Hara
Cort Lane
Music:Tetsuya Takahashi
Studio:Madhouse
Network:Animax
Episodes:12
Episode List:List of Marvel Anime episodes#Iron Man
Type:tv series
Wolverine
Director:Hiroshi Aoyama
Hajime Ootani (assistant)
Producer:Tarō Morijima
Fuminori Hara
Cort Lane
Music:Tetsuya Takahashi
Studio:Madhouse
Network:Animax
Episodes:12
Episode List:List of Marvel Anime episodes#Wolverine
Type:tv series
X-Men
Director:Fuminori Kizaki
Music:Tetsuya Takahashi
Studio:Madhouse
Network:Animax
Episodes:12
Episode List:List of Marvel Anime episodes#X-Men
Type:tv series
Blade
Director:Mitsuyuki Masuhara
Chie Yamashiro (assistant)
Producer:Tarō Morijima
Fuminori Hara
Cort Lane
Music:Tetsuya Takahashi
Studio:Madhouse
Network:Animax
Episodes:12
Episode List:List of Marvel Anime episodes#Blade
Anime films
Content:
Other series
Content:

is a 2010 Japanese superhero anime television series by Madhouse and is based on the Marvel Comics universe. It is an anthology collection consisting of four twelve-episode animated series and two direct-to-video films. The entire series notably depicts Iron Man, Wolverine, Blade, and the members of the X-Men going to Japan.

Premise

The project reimagined select top Marvel characters and adapts 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, and then in the United States on G4 between July 2011 and April 2012.[1] Each of the series largely features Japan as the setting for the storyline. Wolverine appears in all four of the anime, being a guest star in Iron Man and Blade, with each appearance taking place either before or after his anime.

Production

The entire series was produced in collaboration between Marvel Entertainment, anime studio Madhouse, and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan. 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 rein to re-imagine the Marvel superheroes for Japanese audiences.[2] [3] The series was guided by writer Warren Ellis.[4] "It will create an entire parallel universe for Marvel," said Simon Philips, president of Marvel International about Marvel Anime.[5]

Iron Man

(DVD title: Iron Man: Animated Series; spelled IRONMAN on-screen) is the first show of the series with 12[6] 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,[7] and ended on December 17, 2010. While Iron Man premiered in the US on G4 on July 29, 2011,[8] a "sneak peek" of the first episode aired on July 23, 2011, following G4's Comic-Con 2011 Live coverage.[9] The entire series was released on DVD in the United States on April 24, 2012. It was also released on Blu-ray in Japan on June 22, 2011.[10] 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 berserk 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
Adrian Pasdar
Kyle Hebert
Laura Bailey
Rasetsu/Minister of Defense Kuroda Neil Kaplan
Nanami Ōta Eden Riegel
Cindy Robinson
Ramon Zero/Captain Nagato Sakurai Travis Willingham
Ichiro Masuda Tomoyuki ShimuraBenjamin Diskin
Editor Nomura Daran Norris
Righella (ep. 4) Vic Mignogna[13]
Wolverine/Logan (ep. 4) Milo Ventimiglia[14]

Wolverine

(DVD title: Wolverine: Animated Series) 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,[8] 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.[9] Jamie Simone served as voice director, casting director, and reversion producer for the English version. The entire series was released on DVD in the United States on July 31, 2012. It was also released on Blu-ray in Japan on June 22, 2011.[15]

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, a bloodthirsty yakuza boss. 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
Milo Ventimiglia
Gwendoline Yeo
Fred Tatasciore
Hideki Kurohagi Vic Mignogna
Juo Kurohagi Tony Oliver[16]
Kate Higgins
JB Blanc
Kikyo Mikage Steve Blum
Vadhaka Jamieson Price
Min Danielle Judovits
Koh JB Blanc
Tesshin Asano Crispin Freeman[17]
Agent Tsukino Stephanie Sheh[18]
Agent Takagi Vic Mignogna
Agent Machida Kousuke Takaguchi Roger Craig Smith[19]
Miyuki Stephanie Sheh
Cyclops/Scott Summers (ep. 5 & ep. 6) Scott Porter

X-Men

(DVD title: X-Men: Animated Series) is 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 and some from the 20th Century Fox X-Men franchise such as Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Professor X and Beast.[20] It premiered in the United States on G4 on October 21, 2011.[21] Jamie Simone served 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. It was also released on Blu-ray in Japan on December 7, 2011.[22]

Plot

Following the death of Jean Grey (who was being controlled by the Dark Phoenix, due to the sinister influence of 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.[23]

Cast

Role Japanese voice actor English voice actor
Scott Porter
Steve Blum
Steve Staley
Cam Clarke
Danielle Nicolet
Yurika Hino Jennifer Hale
Riko Nirasaki Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Tomokazu Seki (Jun Sanada)
Haruhiko Jō (Mastermind)
Travis Willingham
Kōichi Kaga Troy Baker
Marsh Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Rat Manabu Sakamaki Michael Sinterniklaas
Gwendoline Yeo
Fred Tatasciore
Stephanie Sheh
Ali Hillis
Troy Baker
Kick/Todd Dave Wittenberg
Kyoko Laura Bailey[24]
Neuron Dave Wittenberg

Blade

(DVD title: Blade: Animated Series) 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. The entire series was released on DVD in the United States on July 31, 2012. It was also released on Blu-ray in Japan on February 22, 2012.[25]

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."[26]

Cast

Role Japanese voice actor English voice actor
Akio Ohtsuka
Junko Minagawa (Young)
Harold Perrineau[27]
Noah Bentley
(Young)
JB Blanc
Lucius Isaac Christopher Corey Smith[28]
Makoto Kim Mai Guest
Troy Baker
Captain McRay Shinpachi Tsuji Steve Blum[29]
Nayo Wallace[30]
Tanaka Michael Sinterniklaas[31]
Mattes Nanaho Katsuragi Kat Purgal
High Council Chairman Neil Kaplan[32]
Wolverine/Logan (ep. 7) Rikiya Koyama Milo Ventimiglia
Kikyo Mikage (ep. 8–9, 12) Steve Blum

Films

Following the 4 TV series, Madhouse animated different Marvel Anime films.

Other Marvel anime projects

Other anime television series based on Marvel characters have also been produced.

Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers

See main article: Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers.

Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers is a 2014 anime series produced by Walt Disney Japan and Toei Animation. It follows five children that each gain the ability to summon a specific member of Avengers, who have been trapped in small devices called DISKs, as they travel the world to help the Avengers retrieve other superheroes' and supervillains' DISKs before they are used for evil. The series aired on TX Network and ran for 51 episodes.

Marvel Future Avengers

See main article: Marvel Future Avengers.

Marvel Future Avengers is a 2017 anime series produced by Madhouse and Walt Disney Japan. It follows three children who are rescued from Hydra by the Avengers and trained to become superheroes. The series aired for 39 episodes on the Dlife satellite channel, and was released internationally via Disney+ in 2020.

Release

Broadcast

The Marvel Anime series aired in Japan on Animax between October 2010 and September 2011. An English-language version later aired in North America on G4 between July 2011 and April 2012.[33] [34] Additionally, the Marvel Anime series aired in Australia on Sci Fi.[35]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Iron Man, Wolverine in Marvel, Madhouse's 1st TV Anime (Updated) . . August 25, 2008 . December 29, 2008.
  2. Web site: July 6, 2010 . C21 Media . July 6, 2010 . Marvel to behold. https://web.archive.org/web/20101212162216/http://c21media.net/resources/detail.asp?area=79&article=56347 . December 12, 2010 .
  3. News: Marvel Anime to Run on G4 in the United States . . July 23, 2010 . July 24, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130425070621/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-07-23/marvel-anime-to-run-on-g4-in-the-united-states . April 25, 2013 .
  4. Web site: July 26, 2010 . . July 26, 2010 . SDCC: G4 Announces New Marvel Anime Series.
  5. News: Gustines. George. Superheroes to Be Recast for Japan. April 1, 2011. The New York Times. August 24, 2008.
  6. Web site: Iron Man Anime comes to G4 . August 22, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130825073659/http://www.bigshinyrobot.com/reviews/archives/31057 . August 25, 2013 . dead .
  7. http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2010/07/26/marvel-anime-coming-to-g4-in-2011/ Marvel Anime Coming To G4 In 2011
  8. Web site: Anime Iron Man and Wolverine Premiere July 29. June 23, 2011 . SuperheroHype.com. June 23, 2011.
  9. Web site: G4 TV Schedule; Sat, July 23, 2011 . G4 Media . July 22, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121017171949/http://www.g4tv.com/schedule/index.html?datetime=07/23/2011%2013:30%20PM . October 17, 2012 . dead .
  10. Web site: アイアンマン ソニー・ピクチャーズ公式. 2021-03-30. www.sonypictures.jp.
  11. Web site: Iron Man: Rise of Technovore Coming to Blu-ray 4/16 More on Marvel.com. MARVEL. March 18, 2013.
  12. Web site: Madhouse, Marvel Team Up Again for New Iron Man: Rise of Technovore Film . Anime News Network . October 8, 2012 . October 9, 2012.
  13. Web site: Vic MIGNOGNA (voice actor) . 25 August 2019.
  14. http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/36875/toonzone-goes-to-wondercon-2011-updated-apr-7-945-am Toonzone Goes to WonderCon 2011 (UPDATED Apr 7, 9:45 AM)
  15. Web site: ウルヴァリン ソニー・ピクチャーズ公式. 2021-03-30. www.sonypictures.jp.
  16. Web site: Wolverine Cast Credits. IMDb. September 30, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110507000000/https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1847521/fullcredits/cast/?ref_=tt_cl_sm. May 7, 2011. live. Alt URL
  17. Web site: Crispin FREEMAN (voice actor) . 23 October 2017.
  18. Web site: Stephanie SHEH (voice actor) . 25 April 2021.
  19. Web site: Roger Craig SMITH (voice actor) . 24 September 2021.
  20. News: News: X-Men Anime, Nichijou Promo Videos Streamed . . February 18, 2011 . February 20, 2011.
  21. News: 'X-Men' Anime Debuts In October With Scott Porter As Cyclops. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930112340/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2011/09/15/x-men-anime-scott-porter . dead . September 30, 2011 .
  22. Web site: X-メン ソニー・ピクチャーズ公式. 2021-03-30. www.sonypictures.jp.
  23. http://marvel.com/news/story/15264/watch_the_x-men_anime_japanese_teaser_trailer Watch the X-Men Anime Japanese Teaser Trailer
  24. Web site: X-Men Cast Credits. IMDb. December 30, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110327000000/https://m.imdb.com/title/tt2070571/fullcredits/cast/?ref_=tt_cl_sm. March 27, 2011. live. Alt URL
  25. Web site: ブレイド ソニー・ピクチャーズ公式. 2021-03-30. www.sonypictures.jp.
  26. Web site: Blade, Fairy Tail, Ro-Kyu-Bu! Promo Videos Streamed. July 17, 2023 . Anime News Network.
  27. Web site: Blade English Dub's Lead Cast – Interest. Anime News Network. October 14, 2011. April 29, 2013.
  28. Web site: Christopher SMITH (voice actor) . 15 August 2012.
  29. Web site: Steven Jay BLUM (voice actor) . 15 August 2012.
  30. Web site: Blade Cast Credits. IMDb. September 30, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110507000000/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1988235/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm. May 7, 2011. live. Alt URL
  31. Web site: Michael SINTERNIKLAAS (voice actor) . 19 September 2015.
  32. Web site: Neil KAPLAN (voice actor) . 15 September 2012.
  33. This marked the first time G4 had aired anime since the now-defunct anime programming block Anime Unleashed
  34. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/07/26/g4-announces-exclusive-deal-with-sony-pictures-television-for-four-new-anime-series-based-on-marvel-characters-916425/20100726g402/ G4 Announces Exclusive Deal With Sony Pictures Television for Four New Anime Series Based on Marvel Characters
  35. Web site: Iron Man & Wolverine Coming To Sci Fi In August!: SCI FI PI//SCI FI Channel . Captain . August 11, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110929183531/http://www.scifitv.com.au/Blog/2011/07/iron-man-wolverine-coming-to-sci-fi-in-august/ . September 29, 2011 . mdy-all.