Saber Marionette J to X

Plot summary

In the early episodes Otaru, Lime, Bloodberry and Cherry are shown leading comparatively ordinary lifestyles, cherishing the peaceful days that dawn on Japoness.

As the story progresses, due to uncanny circumstances, Faust appears once again, much more zealous, brutal and merciless than before, restarting his world-conquering agenda. He is accompanied by his subordinates, the Saber dolls. He is revealed to be a clone of the now introspective, atonement-seeking Faust, the embodiment of a measure taken by Gartland to secure the aspirations of Faust the First.

Later on, as Japoness stirs, more, and even much more sinister and ulterior motives are revealed, and the joint efforts, and investigations lead to the conclusion that Yan of Xian and Dr. Hesse, the former scientist and servant of Faust both have a hand in the matter.

They successfully kidnap the Marionettes and out of pure incidence, they make them lose their memories for a prolonged period, which they use for their own gains later on. The series concerns itself with the return of the Marionettes' memories extensively.

Yan also, but particularly Hesse are shown in-depth only in the end, showing their personal goals and past traumas, which will lead to the one last arc, an epic resolution to the man-machine conflict, with morals of technology and human responsibility.

Information

There is a clear shift from the overall lighter-on-the-viewer disposition of Saber Marionette J Again to more deeply drama-oriented narrative. The series sticks with the distinct art style, although with a little more intensive coloring compared to the first TV series.

There also seems to be some episodes of a different series overlapping within this series as Faust is still researching the Plasma event that appears in Saber Marionette J Again, leading some to believe these two Saber Marionette J sequels may have originally been alternate endings.

Characters

Almost all of the characters from the previous series make an appearance, and a great deal of supporting characters are introduced. Marine does not make an appearance. Marine is, however, briefly and indirectly mentioned by Hanagata during the intro of episode 4 as one of the only seven marionettes on Terra 2 to possess a maiden circuit.

Episode guide

PHASE 01: Civilization All Over the Place
PHASE 02: Wishes Are Granted to the Winner of the Float Battle
PHASE 03: Daddy is Coming! Daddy is Coming!
PHASE 04: The Saberdolls' Journey
PHASE 05: Shirataki Shines Forever
PHASE 06: Two Otaru's? The Tightrope of Love
PHASE 07: The Lonely Fairy
PHASE 08: Cherry's Babysitting Diary
PHASE 09: The Forest, An Iron Ball, and Everybody
PHASE 10: Onigiri Tastes Like Peace?!
PHASE 11: Redemption of Otaru the Man
PHASE 12: The Heaven's Cross of Fate
PHASE 13: Evil Ambitions and the Rise of the Iron Beast
PHASE 14: A Pair of Tickets for a Slow Train to Xi'an
PHASE 15: The Eternal City, Xi'an
PHASE 16: Birds Without Wings
PHASE 17: The Many Yesterdays and Today's
PHASE 18: Under the Plasma Sky
PHASE 19: 1/3 of Sorrow
PHASE 20: The Unrelenting Rain of Xi'an
PHASE 21: The Scarlet Awakening
PHASE 22: The Cry
PHASE 23: The Dream in the Circuit
PHASE 24: The Girls beyond the Rainbow
PHASE 25: Rays of Light
PHASE 26: A Forever Blue Sky

Music

Opening Theme:

"Proof of Myself" by Megumi Hayashibara

Ending Theme:

"Lively Motion" by Megumi Hayashibara