Babel II (Japanese: バビル2世, Hepburn: Babiru Ni-sei) is a 1971 manga series by Mitsuteru Yokoyama. It was translated into an animated format in 1973 as a television series, in 1992 as an original video animation series and in 2001 as a thirteen-episode television series. Yokoyama's sequel to the series, set in a parallel universe, is entitled His Name Is 101 (その名は101, Sono Na wa Wan-Zero-Wan).
The series follows Koichi, a Japanese schoolboy, who learns that he is the reincarnation of the alien entity, Babel. As such, Koichi is entrusted with Babel's powers and joined by three protectors: Rodem, a shape-shifting black panther; Ropross, a pterodactyl-like flying creature; and Poseidon, a giant robot that always rises from the depth of the ocean when summoned. The boy hero commands his newfound powers and companions in order to defend the Earth.
Babel IIThe main character's real name is Koichi Yamano. (His family name differs by version, including
Furumi,
Yamano, and
Kamiya.) Koichi lives an ordinary junior high schooler's life, until one day when the computer of the Tower of Babel authorizes him as a master of the tower. Koichi is actually a distant descendant of the space alien Babel, who was cast ashore on Earth 5000 years ago and who tricked the people of Earth into building the legendary tower to signal to his friends where he had landed, only for one of the tower's computers to malfunction and explode, destroying the entire structure. Koichi inherits Babel's superhuman intellect, physical strength and other various supernatural powers. He leaves the Tower of Babel with three servants following him; with their help, he confronts Yomi for disturbing the world's peace.
YomiYomi is a vicious
monarch who conspires to rule over the world. He is a distant descendant of Babel and has supernatural power equivalent to that of Babel II. He owns secret bases across the world and is accompanied by miscellaneous subordinates, including scientists, engineers, psychics, and cyborg agents. Because Yomi sends remodeled men to each country as VIPs in the government, he can manipulate many nations at will. He produces various robot weapons to counter Babel II's three servants and challenges him to a fight. He had been invited to the Tower of Babel as a candidate for heir-apparent of the tower before. However, since the computer judged that he did not suit as successor, this memory was erased from him. Yomi is known to command combat robots called Baran that use iron ball-and-chain maces as weapons.
Yumiko FurumiYumiko is a daughter of Dr. Furumi and a classmate in Koichi's junior high school. In the anime version (1973), she is Koichi's cousin, and since Koichi lost his parents when he was young, Dr. Furumi took him in.
IgarashiIgarashi is a head of the National Security Bureau and a supporter of Babel II.
IganoIgano is a skilled investigator for the National Security Bureau.
LodemLodem is an intelligent living being of indeterminate form. It can transform itself into various forms, but prefers a black panther's figure. It also often chooses a female figure.
RoprossRopross is a huge robot in the form of a pterodactyl. It can fly in the sky at supersonic speed and has a
rocket launcher and the Supersonic Wave Generator in its mouth.
PoseidonPoseidon is a giant humanoid robot. It has a laser gun in one finger and a
torpedo launcher in its abdomen. Poseidon shows its abilities most in the sea, but it can be active and powerful on the land as well.
There is a boy called registration number "101" (one-zero-one) in a secret laboratory which is administered by the CIA. The boy is Koichi Yamano, who was once called Babel II and saved the world. Koichi discovers that his blood has the ability to save lives, and he provides the laboratory with his blood after fighting with Yomi.
However, he notices that the laboratory transfused his blood into subjects and produced supermen like him artificially. He escapes from the lab and decides to exterminate the supermen produced by his blood that are scattered all over the world.
As a result, the enemy sends espers to fight him one after another. Unfortunately, the three servants of Babel II, Lodem, Ropross, and Poseidon are confined in an underground nuclear test site by the CIA, so Koichi is forced to fight alone.
Helen McCarthy in 500 Essential Anime Movies stated that "this compressed version leaves some holes in the story, but the original concept is strong, and the animation is crisp". Streamline Pictures released this OVA on dubbed VHS in the 90s. Image Entertainment put this version of the anime on DVD in 2001. Discotek Media announced the acquisition of the title in 2017.
Media Blasters released this show on DVD.
Japanese manga artist Hirohiko Araki said that he paid homage to Babel II by letting Jōtarō Kūjō wear a Japanese school uniform in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 3.Video game developer Yu Suzuki of Sega says Babel II was his main inspiration in the creation of the arcade game Psy-Phi.