Gunparade March

Gunparade March

Cover of the Playstation video game
ガンパレード・マーチ
(Ganparēdo Māchi)
Genre Action, Mecha
Game
Kōkidō Gensō Gunparade March
Developer Alfa System
Publisher Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform PlayStation
Released 28 September 2000
Manga
Written by Rei Hiroe
Published by ASCII Media Works
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Dengeki Comics
Original run 20012003
Volumes 3
Anime television series
Gunparade March: The New March
Directed by Katsushi Sakurabi
Studio J.C.Staff
Licensed by
Network MBS, TV Kanagawa
Original run 6 February 2003 24 April 2003
Episodes 12
Anime television series
Gunparade Orchestra
Directed by Yutaka Sato, Toshiya Shinohara
Studio Brain's Base, Bandai Visual
Network ABC, NBN, TV Asahi
Original run 5 October 2005 29 March 2006
Episodes 24 + 3 OVA

Gunparade March (ガンパレード・マーチ Ganparēdo Māchi) is a Japanese video game that was later turned into a 3-volume manga and a 12-episode anime.

The video game, Kōkidō Gensō Gunparade March (高機動幻想ガンパレード・マーチ), was released on 28 September 2000, for the PlayStation. It was developed by Alfa System and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. Due to its creativity and attention to detail, it won the prestigious Seiun Award in 2001.

The manga by Hiroyuki Sanadura was serialized in the magazine Dengeki Daioh. The three volumes published by MediaWorks between 2001 and 2003 were translated by ADV Manga between 2004 and 2005.

The anime, Gunparade March: The New March (ガンパレード・マーチ 〜新たなる行軍歌〜 Ganparēdo Māchi: Aratanaru Kōgunka), which was produced by J.C.Staff was broadcast on MBS from 6 February 2003 to 23 April 2003. It is licensed for distribution in the United States by Media Blasters as simply "Gunparade March".

Plot

In 1945, World War II was abruptly ended when an alien race appeared on Earth and began to slaughter the human population. This alien force, known as the "Phantom Beasts" (or Genjyu in Japanese) had effectively taken over more than half of the Earth. The year is 1999 – 54 years later, mankind is still fighting to survive against the alien forces. Earth forces now use advanced mecha called Humanoid Walking Tanks (HWTs) to combat the invaders, but throughout the ordeal, far too many pilots have been killed in action. To ensure the future of the human race, the Japanese government enforced a student draft which recruited high school students to become HWT pilots. Gunparade March follows the lives of the 5121th Platoon, which consists mainly of drafted high school students and their struggle to defeat the Phantom Beasts and at the same time, lead a normal social life.

Characters

Atsushi Hayami (速水 厚志 Hayami Atsushi) Voiced by: Akira Ishida (Japanese); Larry Law (English)
One of the main protagonists in the story and an HWT pilot. Hayami is probably one of the most shy and naive characters in Gunparade March. His personality renders him to be dubbed a "goof" among his colleagues and become somewhat an interest for several of the female characters. When he meets Mai, he develops an interest for her and gradually becomes infatuated with her. However, his timidity prevents him from admitting his true feelings and publicly, he considers her as a "good partner on the job". As an HWT pilot, his attributes are quite balanced and this caused him to be teamed with Mai for piloting the two-seater "Tandem" HWT. However, Hayami tends to be nervous during battles and has the habit of messing up. He also seems to be well aware of the concept that the Genjyu feed upon Human's fear and hatred for them which causes them to attack. This is shown when he elaborates a fairy tale (it is speculated that a fairy tale can bring one's childhood innocence back which eliminates most of one's hatred and fear) aloud while carrying Mai to a safe area when they were stranded in a forest full of Genjyu and the Genjyu were rendered motionless. Later on, the whole platoon tried to pair Mai and Hayami up by setting false tasks and trying to trap them into admitting each others true feelings. It initially appeared to be successful until Hayami's naive personality ended the operation in failure. During the New Year's Eve of 2001, Hayami admitted love to Mai and still pilots the Tandem with her.
Mai Shibamura (芝村 舞 Shimabura Mai) Voiced by: Akemi Okamura (Japanese); Deborah Sale Butler (English)
Another main protagonist in the story and an HWT pilot. Mai was a transfer pilot to the 5121st Platoon. She initially separated herself from everyone in the division but formed a friendship with Nonomi and eventually, the whole female crew of the platoon. She first saves Mibuya and Hayami when they were in the effective range of the PBE. Afterwards, she gained the gratitude of Hayami and a slight rivalry with Mibuya. Her skills as an HWT pilot are at near perfection. However, her teamwork is as relatively poor as her communication skills. Later on, Mai reveals that is the daughter of the head of Shibamura Industries. Despite that, she tries to lead a normal life and care for Nonomi, thinking she is responsible for her condition. When Hayami and Mai were stranded, she revealed why she came to join the army despite her status as being the daughter of the head of Shibamura. When she was in her old high school, she became infatuated with an elite HWT pilot but never admitted her feelings to him as he died fighting the Genjyu. Holding a grudge against the Genjyu, she trained to be an elite pilot and was eventually transferred to the 5121st platoon. After Hayami saves her, Mai begins to be infatuated with him but again, she is too shy to admit her true feelings to him.

Adaptations

Anime

Gunparade

Episodes
No. Title Original air date[1]
01 "Playback -The Visitor-"
"Pureibakku -The Visitor-" (プレイバック -The Visitor-) 
6 February 2003
02 "Do whatever you like - Going My Way"
"Katte ni Shi ya Gare -Going My Way-" (勝手にしやがれ -Going My Way-) 
13 February 2003
03 "Summer Blues -Fireworks-"
"Samātaimu Burūsu -Fire Works-" (サマータイムブルース -Fire Works-) 
20 February 2003
04 "Let's Have Tea Together -Duelist-"
"Ni-nin de Ocha o -Duelist-" (二人でお茶を -Duelist-) 
27 February 2003
05 "Withered Leaf"
"Kareha -Thursday's Child-" (枯葉 -Thursday's Child-) 
6 March 2003
06 "After You Left"
"Kimi Sarishi Nochi -I Guess Everything Reminds You Of Something-" (君去りし後 -I Guess Everything Reminds You Of Something-) 
13 March 2003
07 "A Long Night"
"Nagai Yoru -In The Forests Of Nights-" (長い夜 -In The Forests Of Nights-) 
20 March 2003
08 "In April, She Will"
"Shigatsu ni Nareba Kanojo wa -With Your Musket, Fife, And Drum-" (四月になれば彼女は -With Your Musket, Fife, And Drum-) 
27 March 2003
09 "You Are the One Who Makes My Heart Pound"
"Kimi ni Koso Kokoro Tokimeku -A Day In The Life-" (君にこそ心ときめく -A Day In The Life-) 
3 April 2003
10 "Hello Sadness Once Upon a Dime"
"Kanashimi yo Kon'nichiwa -Once Upon A Dime-" (悲しみよこんにちは -Once Upon A Dime-) 
10 April 2003
11 "I Couldn't Bring It Up a Good Reward for Their Labor"
"Īdashi Kanete -A Good Reward For Their Labour-" (言い出しかねて -A Good Reward For Their Labour-) 
17 April 2003
12 "Every Time I Say Goodbye Gunparade March"
"Sayonara o Iutabi ni -Gun Parade March-" (さよならを言う度に -Gun Parade March-) 
24 April 2003

Gunparade Orchestra

The story focuses and revolves around the 108th Guard Squad, stationed in Aomori, Aomori. A poorly equipped unit with very little military standing, it is often viewed as a 'reject camp' for pilots not making the grade for the elite units based in Hokkaido. The apparent helpless nature of this force is hardly a deterrent for the encroaching enemy armies, ever closing in on both the 108th and the rest of the empire. The young pilots of the 108th, who had dreamed on returning home, are plunged forcefully and unwillingly into a war.

Episodes
No. Title Original air date[2]
01 "First Battle"
"Uijin" (初陣) 
5 October 2005
02 "Outbreak"
"Autobureiku" (アウトブレイク) 
12 October 2005
03 "A Bridge Too Far"
"Tōsugita Hashi" (遠すぎた橋) 
19 October 2005
04 "Special Day"
"Tokubetsuna Ichi-nichi" (特別な一日) 
26 October 2005
05 "Underground"
"Andāguraundo" (アンダーグラウンド) 
2 November 2005
06 "Seven Gold"
"Ōgon no Nana-nin" (黄金の七人) 
9 November 2005
07 "Haru Futō" (春不遠) 16 November 2005
08 "Unfinished Symphony"
"Mikansei Kōkyōgaku" (未完成交響楽) 
23 November 2005
09 "Beyond the War"
"Senka no Kanata" (戦火のかなた) 
30 November 2005
10 "Dogs of War"
"Sensō no Inu-tachi" (戦争の犬たち) 
7 December 2005
11 "High Noon"
"Mahiru no Kettō" (真昼の決闘) 
14 December 2005
12 "The Wind Has Risen"
"Kaze Tachinu" (風立ちぬ) 
21 December 2005
13 "Tracker"
"Tsuiseki-sha" (追跡者) 
11 January 2006
14 "Strawberry Field"
"Noichigo" (野いちご) 
18 January 2006
15 "Rebel Without a Cause"
"Riyū Naki Hankō" (理由なき反抗) 
25 January 2006
16 "Duel!"
"Gekitotsu!" (激突!) 
1 February 2006
17 "All Quiet on the Western Front"
"Seibu Sensen Ijō Nashi" (西部戦線異状なし) 
8 February 2006
18 "The Door into Summer"
"Natsu e no Tobira" (夏への扉) 
15 February 2006
19 "Planet Love"
"Koi Suru Wakusei" (恋する惑星) 
22 February 2006
20 "Sea of Prayers"
"Inori no Umi" (祈りの海) 
1 March 2006
21 "Satomi's World"
"Satomi no Sekai" (里美の世界) 
8 March 2006
22 "Senju of the South Island"
"Minami no Shima no Senju" (南の島の千寿) 
15 March 2006
23 "Marathon Man"
"Marason Man" (マラソン・マン) 
22 March 2006
24 "In Late Summer"
"Natsu no Owari ni" (夏の終わりに) 
29 March 2006

Reception

On release, Famitsu magazine scored the game a 31 out of 40.[3]

References

  1. GUNPARADEMARCH 新たなる行軍歌. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  2. ガンパレード・オーケストラ. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  3. プレイステーション - ガンパレード・マーチ. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.24. 30 June 2006.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, April 23, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.