Genre Science fiction, Drama Studio Gonzo Adapted from Yukikaze | Directed by Masahiko Ōkura Episodes 5 Director Masahiko Ohkura | |
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Produced by Kiyoshi Sugiyama (Bandai Visual)
Manabu Ishikawa (Gonzo)
Yuko Sakurai (Flying Dog) Written by Hiroshi Yamaguchi
Masahi Sogo
Yumi Tada Licensed by Madman Entertainment
Beez
Bandai Entertainment Released August 28, 2002 – August 26, 2005 Movies Danger Zone (1), Danger Zone (2), Fog of War (1), Yukikaze II: Fog of War, Evacuation Characters Rei Fukai, James Bukhar, Edith Foss Cast Masato Sakai, Jôji Nakata, Masako Ikeda, Yōko Asagami, Miho Yamada | ||
Yukikaze (戦闘妖精雪風, Sentō Yōsei Yukikaze, lit. Battle Fairy Yukikaze) Yukikaze (literally Windblown Snow) is a five-episode Japanese direct-to-video anime series produced by Gonzo and Bandai Visual and was released in Japan from August 28, 2002 to August 25, 2005. It is based on a popular science fiction novel of the same name by Chōhei Kambayashi, and was produced in commemoration of Bandai Visual's 20th anniversary. It was also later aired in Japan on the anime television network Animax, who later aired in its English language networks across Southeast Asia and other networks worldwide.
Contents
The series is notable for its air combat scenes, which were created with the help of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The JASDF worked with the Gonzo production team by recording actual sounds of the F-15J Eagle and running test flights at Komatsu Air Base, and having discussions on air combat tactics.
Yukikaze has twice won the Tokyo Anime Award for Original Video Animation in 2003 and 2006.
Premise
Yukikaze occurs in the early 21st century. Thirty-three years before the events of the series, an alien force known as the JAM invaded Earth through a dimensional portal that appeared over Antarctica. Without alarming the general public, the United Nations establishes a defense force to oppose the threat and after a series of bloody battles, manages to push the enemy back to the other side of the portal. The UN establishes five bases on a planet named "Fairy" to continue the offensive against the JAM with the Fairy Air Force (FAF) leading the way. The main character, Lt Rei Fukai, pilots the FFR-31MR/D Super Sylph fighter B-503, nicknamed "Yukikaze", an advanced armed tactical reconnaissance plane equipped with a near-sentient AI system, and belongs to the FAF's recon squadron, the Boomerang Squadron. Over the course of the series, Fukai and the FAF struggles to defeat the JAM, who have perfected the art of human cloning and planted agents all over the FAF.
Characters
Media
Based on a science fiction novel by Chōhei Kanbayashi, Yukikaze was produced by Gonzo, Victor Entertainment and Bandai Visual to commemorate Bandai Visual's 20th anniversary. The five episode series was originally released directly to DVD as an original video animation. It was later aired in Japan on the anime television network Animax, which also aired the series on its English language networks across Southeast Asia and other networks worldwide.
Yukikaze was licensed for an English language release in North America by Bandai Entertainment, and in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment. It was licensed for regional language releases in France by Beez Entertainment, Italy by Shin Vision, and Germany by Panini Video.
Reception
Yukikaze won the Tokyo Anime Award for Original Video Animation in both 2003 and 2006.