Outlanders (manga)

Outlanders

Princess Kahm on the cover of Dark Horse's Outlanders #15
アウトランダーズ
(Autorandāzu)
Genre Magical girlfriend, comedy, science fiction
Manga
Written by Johji Manabe
Published by Hakusensha
English publisher
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Comicomi Magazine
Original run 1985 – 1987
Volumes 8
Original video animation
Directed by Katsuhisa Yamada
Kenji Terada
Sukehiro Tomita
Yusaku Saotome
Produced by Hideaki Suda
Hiroshi Iwata
Kenji Yoshida
Tomoko Sato
Studio AIC & Tatsunoko
Licensed by
Central Park Media, L.A. Hero, Inc.
Released December 16, 1986
Runtime 48 minutes

Outlanders (アウトランダーズ Autorandāzu) — is a popular[1] manga comic written by Johji Manabe, combining aspects of the space opera, science fantasy, fan service,[2] magical girlfriend and harem genres.

Plot

Outlanders tells the story of alien Princess Kahm and Tokyo News Photographer Wakatsuki Tetsuya as they try to save the Earth from the invasion forces led by Kahm's father, emperor of the interstellar Santovasku Empire. The Santovasku use giant organic spaceships, or "Biomech," their advanced technology and their mastery of sorcery in their assault.

Tetsuya learns from Kahm that her ancestors in fact came from earth and they've returned to reclaim their sacred home planet that mankind has subsequently spoiled (due to pollution). However, the invasion of the "sacred planet" is really the front for a struggle between two secret fractions from the Santovasku Empire, ancient rivals which have vowed to destroy each other no matter what the cost - even if this includes all of humankind. And Earth, too, has her share of sinister conspirators who seek advancement for their own benefit only ...

Characters

Princess Kahm (カーム Kāmu)

Voiced by: Fumi Hirano (Japanese); Trish Ledoux (Animaze), Liza Jacqueline (CPM) (English)

Tetsuya Wakatsuki (若槻哲也 Wakatsuki Tetsuya)

Voiced by: Mitsuo Iwata (Japanese); Tom Fahn (Animaze), Sean Schemmel (CPM) (English)

Geobaldi (ゲオバルディ Geobarudi)

Voiced by: Kenji Utsumi (Japanese); Dougary Grant (Animaze), Sean Schemmel (CPM) (English)

Battia (バティア Batia)

Voiced by: Mari Yokoo (Japanese); Dorothy Elias-Fahn (Animaxe), Rebecca Soler (CPM) (English)

Production and medial history

Outlanders was produced by AIC on behalf of Tatsunoko Production and is not listed on Tatsunoko's web site. There is an Outlanders OVA and the Outlanders manga was distributed by Dark Horse Comics in the United States prior to the expiration of their license on the property. The Dark Horse version was translated by Toren Smith of Studio Proteus.[3]

U.S. Renditions released the OVA on VHS with an English dub produced by Animaze. In 2005 Central Park Media released a remastered version of the Outlanders OVA with a new English dub. A poll was conducted to select the voice actors, and 18,000 voters selected Sean Schemmel to play Tetsuya and Rebecca Soler selected to play Battia.[2]

Manabe would later revisit the Outlanders universe with the one-shot manga, The Key of Graciale. Although it is not a direct prequel to his earlier Outlanders manga in terms of plot, Princess Kham does return as heroine complete with her band of trusted servants in tow. The principal characters also make several cameos in Manabe's subsequent works, as do those from the other titles he has produced.

The OVA condenses roughly the first half of the series into a single self-contained episode less than an hour in length; all but the main story elements, in addition to most of the non-essential characters, are subsequently dispensed with.

References

  1. ↑ Schodt, Frederick L. (1996). Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga. Berkeley, CA: Stone Bridge Press. ISBN 978-1-880656-23-5.
  2. 1 2 Luscik, Joseph (December 2005). "A Classic Revisited". Anime Fringe. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
  3. ↑ Pilcher, Tim; Brad Brooks (2005). The Essential Guide to World Comics. London: Collins & Brown. ISBN 1-84340-300-5.
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