Black Heaven

Plot Summary

Middle-aged Oji Tanaka has a wife, a child and a mundane job as a salary man in Tokyo's modern society. But his life wasn't always so dull; 15 years ago he was known as "Gabriel", lead guitar of a short-lived heavy metal band called "Black Heaven". Oji's life takes a sudden turn when he is invited by an enigmatic woman to pick up his Gibson Flying V and once again display his legendary guitar skills. Little does he know the effects this will have on his family, on the other remaining members of Black Heaven, on an alien interstellar war with a mysterious ultimate weapon, or on the fate of the planet Earth.

Characters

Oji Tanaka

Voiced by: Kouji Ishii (Japanese); Beau Billingslea (English)Formerly Gabriel, the lead guitarist of Black Heaven, Tanaka takes an office job following the break-up of the band to support his growing family. Years later, he's facing mid-life, wondering what went wrong, when Layla Yuki approaches him, asking him to play for her.

Layla Yuki

Voiced by: Miho Yamada (Japanese); Diva West (English)A major in the Alien Army, she is asked with tracking down Oji and getting him on their side to play music in order to activate the ultimate weapon. After finding him, she basically plays the role of an agent, acting as the go between the band and Colonel Fomalhaut, the space army commander.

Yoshiko Tanaka

Voiced by: Kae Araki (Japanese); Michelle Ruff (English)A former groupie of Black Heaven, she marries Oji when he finds out she is pregnant. She plays the role of the housewife and mother, watching in dismay as Oji reverts to his rocker persona and suspicious that he may be having an affair with Layla. She is called "Yokko" by Oji.

Gen Tanaka

Voiced by: Rikako Aikawa (Japanese); Ian Hawk (English)Oji's and Yoshiko son, who has a fascination with an outer space television show that he watches daily. He also believes that Layla is a character from the show.

Kotoko Voiced by: Atsuko Enomoto (Japanese); Emilie Brown (English), Eriko Voiced by: Miwa Yanagihara (Japanese); Sherry Lynn (English), and Rinko Voiced by: Ayako Kawasumi (Japanese); Bambi Darro (English)

Layla's bumbling 3 Stooge-like subordinates, who work in the same building as Oji and Layla and help with her assignments. They are identified with their respective hair colors of blue, purple, and green. They are susceptible to various rumors and often misinterpret human words and concepts.

Sato

Voiced by: Yuji Ueda (Japanese); Tom Fahn (English)Formerly Michael of Black Heaven, he plays guitar and is the lead vocalist.

Yamada

Voiced by: Hidenari Ugaki (Japanese); Joe Romersa (English)Formerly Luke of Black Heaven, he plays drums. After the break-up of the band, he went into the real-estate business.

Suzuki

Voiced by: Ryuuzou Ishino (Japanese); Dan Martin (English)Formerly Raphael of Black Heaven, he plays bass. After the break-up of the band, he opened up a grocery store.

Watanabe

Voiced by: Atsushi Murai (Japanese); Steven Blum (English)Formerly Joseph of Black Heaven, he played keyboard. After the break-up of the band, he went to New York to try to make it in the music business, only to meet an unfortunate end through an aggravated lobster and an insulted gangster. His remains are recovered by "the enemy" and used to create a clone/android to combat the reunited Black Heaven.

Episodes

Note: the links are to the article of the song probably referenced.

Opening

"Cautionary Warning" by John Sykes

Ending

Episodes 1-12: "Yappari Onna no Hoga Iiya (I Like To Be A Woman After All)" by Riyu KonakaEpisode 13: "Let Me Go, Let You Go" by Koichi Korenaga