| Outlaw Star | |
 Cover ofOutlaw Star volume 1 as released byShueisha | |
| 星方武侠アウトロースター (Seihō Bukyō Autorō Sutā) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Created by | Hajime Yatate,Takehiko Itō |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Takehiko Itō |
| Published by | Shueisha |
| Magazine | Ultra Jump |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | September 20, 1996 –May 20, 1999 |
| Volumes | 3(List of volumes) |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Mitsuru Hongo |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | Katsuhiko Chiba |
| Music by | Kow Otani |
| Studio | Sunrise |
| Licensed by | Crunchyroll |
| Original network | TV Tokyo |
| English network | |
| Original run | January 8, 1998 – June 25, 1998 |
| Episodes | 26(List of episodes) |
| Light novel | |
| Outlaw Star Ginga no Ryuu Myaku Hen | |
| Written by | Tiba Katsuhiko |
| Illustrated by | Saitou Takuya |
| Published by | Shueisha |
| Imprint | Super Dash Bunko |
| Demographic | Male |
| Original run | October 1998 –February 1999 |
| Volumes | 2 |
| Light novel | |
| Unkai no El Dorado Seihō Bukyō Outlaw Star | |
| Written by | Miho Sakai |
| Illustrated by | Saitou Takuya |
| Published by | Shueisha |
| Imprint | Super Dash Bunko |
| Demographic | Male |
| Published | July 14, 2000 |
| Volumes | 1 |
| Spin-off | |
 Anime and manga portal | |
Outlaw Star (星方武侠アウトロースター,Seihō Bukyō Autorō Sutā, lit. "Starward Warrior Knight Outlaw Star") is aJapanese media mix primarily consisting of ananimetelevision series produced by Sunrise (now a division ofBandai Namco Filmworks) and a correspondingseinenmanga series written and illustrated byTakehiko Itō. The series takes place in the "Toward Stars Era" universe in whichspacecraft are capable of travelingfaster than the speed of light. The plot follows protagonistGene Starwind and his motley crew of an inherited ship dubbed theOutlaw Star, as they search for a legendary outer spacetreasure trove called the "GalacticLeyline".
Planned by Sunrise (under theHajime Yatatepseudonym) and Itō,Outlaw Star first appeared as a manga originally serialized in the monthlyShueisha magazineUltra Jump between 1996 and 1999 for a total of 21 chapters. Three volumes of collected chapters were published in Japan between August 1997 and January 1999. Although no official English version of the manga exists, it has been published in Chinese, German, Italian, and Spanish. Sunrise produced a 26-episodeanime adaptation that was directed byMitsuru Hongo and aired on the Japanese stationTV Tokyo in early 1998. The animated series has since been translated and broadcast worldwide. This includes an English version fromBandai Entertainment that received anedited airing on the North AmericanCartoon Network blocksToonami in early 2001 and later onAdult Swim in early 2002.Outlaw Star has been licensed for release inAustralia andNew Zealand byMadman Entertainment and in Europe byBeez Entertainment. A few Japanese-exclusive audio CDs andlight novels have been spawned since the start of the manga's publication.
Critical reception forOutlaw Star has been mostly positive. Many reviewers praised the anime series, particularly its animation style and its balance of dramatic and comedic elements. However, some found fault with the show's pacing, believing that the storyline quality begins to wane after the first few episodes. Sunrise produced a spin-off television series titledAngel Links (星方天使エンジェルリンクス,Seihō Tenshi Enjeru Rinkusu, lit. "Starward Angels Angel Links"), which aired in Japan in 1999. Preliminary plans were made to create a direct sequel in the form of a single-episode (OVA) calledSword of Wind, but production never began.
Outlaw Star is aspace opera/space Western set in the fictional "Towards Stars Era" (到星歴,Tōseireki) universe.[4][5][6][7] During its past, an asteroid containing a material known as "dragonite" crashed in the fictional Arashon desert of northern China. Scientists found that the dragonite contained properties related to "ether", an energy source that would allowspacecraft to travelfaster than the speed of light, and thus traverse large distances of the universe in a short time.[6] As new colonies were formed throughout the vast reaches of outer space,pirates, assassins, and outlaws began to threaten humanity's new frontier. To create order, the Earth Federation established four empires: USSA, Einhorn, Piotr, and Tenpa.[4] However, internal power struggles within the factions and conflicts amongst one another become abundant, leading to inevitable lawlessness. The storyline starts shortly after an infamous outlaw named"Hot Ice" Hilda flees from the Kei Pirates, a branch of the Tin'Pa. Hilda has stolen from them a highly-advanced prototype ship dubbed theXGP15A-II and a suitcase containing a bio-android calledMelfina, the only being capable of interfacing with the ship.[4]
Outlaw Star opens on the backwater planet Sentinel III, on which the protagonistGene Starwind and his 11-year-old business associate and best friendJames "Jim" Hawking run a small jack-of-all-trades business.[8] After the two take a job as bodyguards for a disguised Hilda and engage in a brief skirmish with the Kei Pirates, Gene and Jim find themselves the owners of the XGP15A-II (which they nickname the "Outlaw Star") and the caretakers of Melfina, though Hilda is killed in the process.[4] Hilda reveals that the ship's true purpose is to locate the "Galactic Leyline" (銀河の龍脈,Ginga no Ryū Myaku, lit. "Galactic Dragon Vein"), a place which popular claims say is a holder of immense treasure, knowledge, and power.[4] Throughout the course of the series, the crew grows to include the kimono-garbed contract killer"Twilight" Suzuka and the Ctarl-CtarlaliencatgirlAisha Clanclan.[4][8]
TheOutlaw Starmanga series andanimated television series are paced differently.[9] The anime episodes often involve Gene and his comrades taking on various jobs or missions to fund their ship's massive maintenance costs.[4] Throughout their travels, the crew often encountersRonald MacDougall andHarry MacDougall, a pair ofbounty hunters responsible for the death of Gene's father.[4] Ronald acts as a rival to Gene, while Harry wishes to form a bond with Melfina, a bio-android like himself, who instead develops strong feelings for Gene. The crew also contends with others that learn of the Outlaw Star's connection to the Galactic Leyline. They areNguyen Khan, a scientist wishing to gainomniscience through the Leyline; andLord Hazanko, the leader of the ruthless assassin organization theAnten Seven that seek the Leyline to gain ultimate power.[4] The series climaxes when all parties meet on the physical plane of the Leyline.[10] In the end, Ron MacDougall retreats, saved by a computer copy of his brother Harry (who is killed trying to protect Melfina from Hazanko), Khan is integrated into the Leyline as data, Gene reveals to Melfina that he is in love with her and frees her from the Leyline by making it their shared wish to be together forever, and Hazanko is eventually defeated by the Outlaw Star crewmembers. Once the conflict comes to a close, Gene and his friends return to Sentinel III and go their separate ways, but ultimately reunite to continue their adventures together.
Outlaw Star was created by Morning Star Studio.Takehiko Itō was the manga's director, writer, and chief artist. Itō was aided in his duties byHajime Yatate, a pseudonym of writers atSunrise.[11][12] Others who contributed to the work include producer Kenzoh Tomita; starship designerShoji Kawamori; character concept and imageboard illustratorsYutaka Minowa and Hajime Jinguji; and a team of production designers and assistant artists.[11]Outlaw Star takes place in the Toward Stars Era, the same universe as Itō'sUchuu Eiyuu Monogatari (宇宙英雄物語, lit. "Space Hero Story"), apulp-science fiction manga that was first serialized byKadokawa Shoten in 1988.[4][13][14] Itō has described this earlier work as "something out of boy's dream" and took a much more mature, scientific approach when writingOutlaw Star.[15] The author also referenced aspects ofChinese culture when creatingOutlaw Star.[16]
The animated television series ofOutlaw Star was produced by Sunrise and directed byMitsuru Hongo, whose previous credits include the comedyCrayon Shin-chan and themagical girl seriesShamanic Princess.[17] The script was chiefly written byKatsuhiko Chiba [ja], who wrote about three-quarters of the episodes.[4] Character designs were handled byHiroyuki Hataike (Detonator Orgun,Armored Trooper Votoms) andTakuya Saito.[8][18] The show's vehicles were designed byJuniya Ishigaki [ja] andMacross andGundammecha artistShōji Kawamori, the latter of whom designed the Outlaw Star ship itself.[8][19]Kow Otani composed the musical score for theOutlaw Star anime.[20] The series features the opening theme "Through the Night" written and performed Masahiko Arimachi, and two closing themes, "Hiru no Tsuki" (昼の月, lit. "Daytime Moon") and "Tsuki no Ie" (月の家, lit. "House of the Moon"), both written and performed byAkino Arai.[15][21] "Through the Night" was chosen for the opening among several candidate songs. Itō and Sunrise agreed that the theme should be one that had not been used in a recent animation and that it should feature male vocals.[15] Arimachi wrote the song to resemble a story, took into account its long-term impact, and felt it fitOutlaw Star perfectly.[15]
Outlaw Star was serialized in Japan's monthlyShueisha magazineUltra Jump between 1996 and 1999.[22][23] A total of 21 chapters were published, and 17 of these chapters were compiled among threetankōbon (collected volumes), released in Japan from August 1997 to January 1999.[24][25][26][27] Each volume also contains information on the series' universe; detailed spaceship and planet descriptions; and character profiles.[5] AChinese version of the manga was published inHong Kong bySharp Point Press.[16][28] The series has also been published inGerman andItalian byPlanet Manga.[13] No official English translation of theOutlaw Star exists, though Morning Star Studio's official website suggests that a release in theUnited States was planned at one time.[29]
The 26-episode anime adaptation ofOutlaw Star began broadcasting in Japan onTV Tokyo from January 8, 1998, and ended on June 25, 1998, though the broadcast began on January 9, as it was in a 1:15 A.M. time slot.[17] The series was licensed byBandai Entertainment. The English version was produced by ZRO Limit Productions and was aired on the eveningToonami block beginning on January 15, 2001 and ended on February 21, 2001.[30] This broadcast of the show was heavilyedited due to its adult content. Profanity was removed, scenes with violence and lewd behavior were cut or toned down, and many scenes containing nudity were altered by digitally inserting clothing onto characters.[18][31] Episode 23, in which the Outlaw Star crew visits ahot spring planet, was not aired due to nudity and suggestive themes.[32] However, some instances of adult language were not removed for the anime's initial run.[33] Toonami's creative director Sean Akins claimed that Cartoon Network made all of their own edits to their licensed properties during this time period, which they did "in a way that preserves the story".[34] The role ofFred Luo, a recurringhomosexual character, was considerably toned down. Cartoon Network had no specific editing policy with regard to gay characters, but that "overt sexuality or implied sexuality of any kind are not allowed".[35]Outlaw Star was also aired on the late nightAdult Swim block throughout 2002.[36] However, the broadcast was cancelled late in the year and (according to Akins) the network allowed its rights to the anime to expire by 2003.[37][38]Outlaw Star was aired in the United Kingdom onCNX in October 2002.[39]
Bandai released the first 13 episodes ofOutlaw Star onDVD in Japan on August 25, 1999, and the remaining 13 episodes on November 25, 1999.[40][41] A Japanese "remastered" DVD boxset containing the entire series was published by Bandai on September 22, 2006.[42] Yet another DVD boxset,Emotion the Best: Seihō Bukyō Outlaw Star, was released in Japan on September 24, 2010.[43] Bandai released the series in North America in three DVD collections on September 1, 2000, February 14, 2001, and March 6, 2001.[44][45][46] TheOutlaw Star Perfect Collection Box Set, a DVD compilation of the entire series, was released on September 10, 2002.[47] The series was again re-released on March 28, 2006, as theOutlaw Star Complete Collection.[48]Outlaw Star additionally received DVD releases inAustralia andNew Zealand byMadman Entertainment on June 23, 2004, and in theUnited Kingdom byBeez Entertainment on April 25, 2011.[49][50][51] Following the closure of Beez, the show was re-licensed by Anime Limited who would re-release the series in 2013. AtOtakon 2013,Funimation andSunrise had announced that they have rescuedOutlaw Star, along with a handful of other former BEI titles.[52] In October 2014,[53][54] the entire series was released in Japan for the first time on Blu-Ray, with the set including such features as staff commentary, an art gallery board, book breaks of Gene and Melfina, and various songs.[55]
On March 16, 2017, Funimation announced[56] thatOutlaw Star would be released in North America in both standard and Collector's Editions on June 13, 2017. Each edition includes a DVD and Blu-ray copy of the series, while the Collector's Edition comes in a metallic chipboard artbox designed after the XGP-15A2 and includes a 100-page artbook. Following Funimation's acquisition of the series, it aired again on Cartoon Network as part ofAdult Swim on the Toonami programming block starting on August 20, 2017, and concluding on March 18, 2018. Due to its late night broadcast on Adult Swim, the anime was aired with fewer edits and included the U.S. television premiere of episode 23.[57]
The opening theme and the two closing themes ofOutlaw Star were published in Japan in 1998 as CD singles byVictor Entertainment andJVC respectively.[21][58][59] Victor Entertainment published a two-volume originalsoundtrack for the series on March 31, 1998, and June 24, 1998. The CDs consist of a total of 61 background and vocal music tracks.[60][61] Another two-disc album containing severaldrama tracks,Seihō Bukyō Outlaw Star Sound & Scenario Tracks (星方武侠アウトロースター サウンド&シナリオトラック), was released on August 21, 1998.[62][63]
A series oflight novels based onOutlaw Star has been released in Japan by Shueisha under itsSuper Dash Bunko label.Outlaw Star Ginga no Ryū Myaku Hen (OUTLAW STAR 銀河の龍脈編, lit. "Outlaw Star: Chapter of the Galactic Dragon Vein"), was written by Katsuhiko Tiba (千葉 克彦Chiba Katsuhiko), illustrated by Takuya Saitou (斎藤 卓也Saitō Takuya), and released in two volumes in October 1998 and February 1999. The two books are an adaptation of the anime series, retelling the early events that trigger Gene and company's search for the Galactic Leyline.[64][65] Another light novel,Unkai no El Dorado Seihō Bukyō Outlaw Star (雲海のエルドラド 星方武侠アウトロースター, lit. "El Dorado Covered With Clouds: Starward Warrior Knight Outlaw Star"), was written by Miho Sakai, illustrated by Takuya Saitou, and released as a single volume on July 14, 2000. The novel features an original plot involving the Outlaw Star crew pursuing a serial killer named Billy McAglen in a mining town called El Dorado.[66]
A hardcover guidebook titledMuhōmono no Kioku – Seihō Bukyō Outlaw Star (無法者の記録―星方武侠アウトロースター, lit. "Outlaw Record – Starward Warrior Knight Outlaw Star") was published byFujimi Shobo as part of itsDragon Magazine imprint in November 1998. The guide contains summaries of the manga and anime, character profiles, sketches, animationcels, and interviews with the production staff.[67] In 2001, Bandai released anOutlaw Staraction figure set as part of a line based on its licensed anime franchises. The set contains the Outlaw Star ship and the characters Gene and Melfina.[68][69] Asako Nishida, one of the show's animation directors, compiled her contributions to the Toward Stars Era franchise in a 2009art book.[70]
Critical reception forOutlaw Star has been favorable. Eric Luce, Ivevei Upatkoon, and Michael Poirier of EX.org all gave similarly positive reviews for the Japanese manga, Japanese anime, and English anime versions ofOutlaw Star respectively.[9][71][72] Luce was complimentary of the manga's "raw" yet "good and distinctive" artwork, detailed backgrounds, and good placement of characters among one another. However, he was annoyed that all the women have a "disturbing tendency to all have the samesilicone stiffened chests" and that characters typically wear mad grins.[9] Upatkoon found the artwork of the anime version to be good, and he particularly enjoyed the opening sequence, but took issue with the occasionally inconsistent character designs. He also appreciated the show's dichotomy between serious and humorous subject matter, shown by the titular ship in its grappler mode and how it communicates with the crew.[71] Poirier found the main protagonist Gene to be the anime's best characterization: "Gene Starwind is a sly, sharp-shooting hero whose success with his gun (and with the ladies) is matched only by his propensity to get space-sick. Imagine that: the star of a space-faring series has to continually worry about vomiting onto his control panel. This sort of ironic comedy can be found throughoutOutlaw Star, creating excellent segues between the fantastic action sequences and the delightful characters." Poirier was intrigued by its other characters as well, and was impressed by the "sharp but fluid" animation style and the spaceship designs.[72] Mania.com's David Owens appreciated the artistic style specifically for the characters, nearly all of which he incidentally found likeable.[73] Jacob Churosh of THEM Anime Reviews additionally noted high animation quality throughout.[74] Although he proclaimed the vehicle designs ofOutlaw Star to be superb,Protoculture Addicts writer Martin Ouellette judged the animation and character designs to be "less lucky" and lacking in "the special aura" of Sunrise's acclaimed 1998 seriesCowboy Bebop.[8]Jonathan Clements andHelen McCarthy, authors ofThe Anime Encyclopedia agreeably denotedOutlaw Star as "no competition forCowboy Bebop in terms of style, content, or execution".[18]
Critical reception for the plot ofOutlaw Star has been mixed. Churosh found that though the series features many clichés of 1990's science fiction anime,Outlaw Star manages to transcend them as well. "Maybe it doesn't go anywhere that other series haven't already been", the reviewer stated. "But boy, does it have a damn good time getting there."[74] Upatkoon observed that the plot "[takes] off with a bang at the beginning" and then begins to drag.[71] Keith Dawe ofAnimerica also noted this about the anime's pacing, stating that even as the first few episodes do well to begin the narrative, the show's writers rely too heavily on inertia to advance it. He went on to remark that the series suffers from "unfocused scripting" and that "one has to endure the occasional cheesy episode to reap the rewards of a show that is clever, pragmatic and amusing". However, Dawe did regard the English script writing and voice acting, and called the over-the-top introductory narration for each episode a reminder that the show should be enjoyed for what it was.[4] Owens commented that the plot will not seem very original, but that it does seem to have direction, despite said direction not being very clear.[73]
Outlaw Star has received very modest commercial success and miscellaneous viewer recognition. The initial shipment of the manga's first volume sold out nationwide in Japan.[75] According to Morning Star Studio's English website, theOutlaw Star manga has sold 250,000 copies, though the anime series was less successful.[76][77] TheOutlaw Star television series was aired in Japan during a late night timeslot because it was not likely to obtain more than one or two percent viewership likeprime time shows.[78]Outlaw Star was voted as the 20th best anime of 1999 in the JapaneseAnimage Anime Grand Prix.[79] During a summer 2001 online poll to determine which show would return to Toonami,Outlaw Star received approximately two-thirds of the more than 150,000 votes cast.[80][81] In August 2002, Cartoon Network announced that the late-night Adult SwimOutlaw Star received aNielsen rating of 0.9, up 125 percent for that same time slot and a delivery of 414,000, up 135 percent for the 18–34 age range.[36] TheOutlaw Star Complete Collection was the 21st best-selling anime DVD in the United States in 2006 and the 25th in 2007.[82] In 2012, Bandai's North American division, Bandai Entertainment, listedOutlaw Star as one of its top five most successful anime properties.[83] Josh Pool ofIGN listedOutlaw Star at number six on its "Top Ten Anime Themes and Soundtracks of All-Time", noting a stark polarity between the opening and ending themes.[84]
In 1999, Sunrise produced a spin-off television series titledAngel Links (星方天使エンジェルリンクス,Seihō Tenshi Enjeru Rinkusu, lit. "Angels of the Stars: Angel Links").Outlaw Star andAngel Links take place in the same universe; characters from both series appeared in an episode ofOutlaw Star, but the two have little else in relation.[85][86] Morning Star Studio alsodrafted a proposed sequel toOutlaw Star in the form of a single-episodeOVA special titledOutlaw Star 2: Sword of Wind on its official website with character designs and a plot outline.[87][88] Set three years after the events ofOutlaw Star, it was to continue the adventures of Gene Starwind in his new starship named "Sword of Wind". Due to the lack of the franchise's popularity in Japan and the busy schedule of animation director Mitsuru Hongo, no production date was set.[76][89] In October 2001, Takehiko Itō commented that his team only had static, preliminary plans for the sequel series and that they could perhaps continue the manga series in the future.[89]
Release schedule * OUTLAWSTAR COMICS USA Var.
