Marvel Anime (Japanese: マーベルアニメ, Hepburn: Māberuanime) is an American-Japanese anthology collection of four anime superhero television series and two direct-to-video films produced in collaboration between Marvel Entertainment, Japanese animation studio Madhouse, and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan. The four twelve-episode series, based on Iron Man, Wolverine, X-Men, and Blade, aired in Japan on Animax between October 2010 and September 2011. An English-language version aired in North America on G4 between July 2011 and April 2012.[1] Each of the series, guided by writer Warren Ellis, largely features Japan as the setting for the storyline.

Marvel Anime
Marvel Comics logo used since 2012. Variations of this logo had been used for the titles of each anime series.
マーベルアニメ
Anime television series
Iron Man
Directed byYūzō Satō
Kenichi Kawamura (assistant)
Produced byTarō Morijima
Fuminori Hara
Cort Lane
Written byToshiki Inoue
Music byTetsuya Takahashi
StudioMadhouse
Licensed by
Original networkAnimax
English network
Original run October 1, 2010 December 17, 2010 (2010-12-17)
Episodes12 (List of episodes)
Anime television series
Wolverine
Directed byHiroshi Aoyama
Hajime Ootani (assistant)
Produced byTarō Morijima
Fuminori Hara
Cort Lane
Written byKengo Kaji
Music byTetsuya Takahashi
StudioMadhouse
Licensed by
Original networkAnimax
English network
Original run January 7, 2011 March 25, 2011 (2011-03-25)
Episodes12 (List of episodes)
Anime television series
X-Men
Directed byFuminori Kizaki
Written byMitsutaka Hirota
Warren Ellis
Music byTetsuya Takahashi
StudioMadhouse
Licensed by
Original networkAnimax
English network
Original run April 1, 2011 June 24, 2011 (2011-06-24)
Episodes12 (List of episodes)
Anime television series
Blade
Directed byMitsuyuki Masuhara
Chie Yamashiro (assistant)
Produced byTarō Morijima
Fuminori Hara
Cort Lane
Written byKenta Fukasaku
Music byTetsuya Takahashi
StudioMadhouse
Licensed by
Original networkAnimax
English network
Original run July 1, 2011 September 16, 2011 (2011-09-16)
Episodes12 (List of episodes)
Anime films
Other series

Premise edit

The project reimagined top Marvel characters for a Japanese audience via four 12-part series; Iron Man, Wolverine, X-Men, and Blade, which aired in Japan on Animax between October 2010 and September 2011.[2] The announcement was confirmed at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con. According to former Madhouse President and CEO Jungo Maruta, Marvel gave the anime studio free rein to re-imagine the Marvel superheroes for Japanese audiences.[3] The English version would premiere in the United States on G4.[4][5] The series was guided by Warren Ellis.[6] "It will create an entire parallel universe for Marvel," said Simon Philips, president of Marvel International about Marvel Anime.[7] The Marvel Anime series aired in Australia on Sci Fi.[8]

Wolverine appears in all four of the anime, being a guest star in Iron Man and Blade, with each appearance taking place either before or after his anime.

Iron Man edit

 
Cast of Iron Man, Tony Stark and Dr. Chika Tanaka

Iron Man (アイアンマン, Aian Man) (DVD title: Iron Man: Animated Series; spelled IRONMAN on-screen) is the first show of the series with 12[9] episodes. The series was directed by Yuzo Sato, with Warren Ellis writing the story and Jamie Simone serving as voice director, casting director, and reversion producer for the English version. A special preview ran on Animax on September 25, 2010, before the series began airing on October 1, 2010,[10] and ended on December 17, 2010. While Iron Man premiered in the US on G4 on July 29, 2011,[11] a "sneak peek" of the first episode aired on July 23, 2011 following G4's Comic-Con 2011 Live coverage.[12] The entire series was released on DVD in the United States on April 24, 2012. It was also released on Blu-ray in Japan on June 22, 2011.[13] A follow-up direct-to-video film called Iron Man: Rise of Technovore was released on April 16, 2013.[14][15]

Plot edit

Tony Stark goes to Japan to produce a new arc reactor power station and showcase the Iron Man Dio, a new prototype armor, that will replace him when he retires. However, the Iron Man Dio goes berserk and it is up to Tony as Iron Man to stop it along with an organization called the Zodiac. Iron Man even gains an ally in JSDF operative Captain Nagato Sakurai piloting the Ramon Zero armor that his military group made for him. Iron Man soon discovers that his old friend Ho Yinsen (who Tony thought was dead upon his first time as Iron Man) is alive and is operating the Iron Man Dio armor for the Zodiac's goals.

Cast edit

Role Japanese voice actor English voice actor
Iron Man/Tony Stark Keiji Fujiwara Adrian Pasdar
Iron Man Dio/Ho Yinsen Hiroaki Hirata Kyle Hebert
Dr. Chika Tanaka Takako Honda Laura Bailey
Rasetsu/Minister of Defense Kuroda Unshō Ishizuka Neil Kaplan
Nanami Ōta Shizuka Itō Eden Riegel
Pepper Potts Hiroe Oka Cindy Robinson
Ramon Zero/Captain Nagato Sakurai Jin Yamanoi Travis Willingham
Ichiro Masuda Tomoyuki Shimura[16] Benjamin Diskin
Editor Nomura Shinya Fukumatsu[16] Daran Norris
Righella Seiji Sasaki Vic Mignogna[17]
Wolverine/Logan (ep. 4) Rikiya Koyama Milo Ventimiglia[16]

Wolverine edit

 
Cast of Wolverine, Logan, Mariko Yashida, Shingen Yashida, Kikyo Mikage, and Yukio

Wolverine (ウルヴァリン, Uruvarin) (DVD title: Wolverine: Animated Series) is the second show of the series with 12 episodes. It aired on Animax between January 7, 2011 and March 25, 2011. While Wolverine premiered in the US on G4 on July 29, 2011,[11] a "sneak peek" of the first episode aired on July 23, 2011 following the Iron Man "sneak peek" and G4's Comic-Con 2011 Live coverage.[12] Jamie Simone served as voice director, casting director, and reversion producer for the English version. The entire series was released on DVD in the United States on July 31, 2012. It was also released on Blu-ray in Japan on June 22, 2011.[18]

Plot edit

Logan learns that his true love, beloved sweetheart and girlfriend Mariko Yashida, who disappeared one year ago, has been taken to Tokyo by her father Shingen Yashida, the head of the Japanese crime syndicate Kuzuryu and a supplier of A.I.M., in order to be wed to Hideki Kurohagi, a bloodthirsty yakuza boss. Wolverine goes on a quest to rescue Mariko and defeat Shingen and Hideki, encountering several opponents along the way.

Cast edit

Role Japanese voice actor English voice actor
Wolverine/Logan Rikiya Koyama Milo Ventimiglia
Mariko Yashida Fumiko Orikasa Gwendoline Yeo
Shingen Yashida Hidekatsu Shibata Fred Tatasciore
Hideki Kurohagi Kazuki Yao Vic Mignogna
Juo Kurohagi Shō Hayami Tony Oliver[19]
Yukio Romi Park Kate Higgins
Omega Red/Arkady Rossovich Ryūzaburō Ōtomo JB Blanc
Kikyo Mikage Masato Hagiwara Steve Blum
Vadhaka Takanori Hoshino Jamieson Price
Min Misato Fukuen Danielle Judovits
Koh Iemasa Kayumi JB Blanc
Tesshin Asano Masaki Terasoma Crispin Freeman[20]
Agent Tsukino Fumie Mizusawa Stephanie Sheh[21]
Agent Takagi Hiroshi Tsuchida Vic Mignogna[17]
Agent Machida Kousuke Takaguchi Roger Craig Smith[22]
Miyuki Sayuri Yamauchi Stephanie Sheh[21]
Cyclops/Scott Summers (ep. 5 & ep. 6) Toshiyuki Morikawa Scott Porter

X-Men edit

 
Cast of X-Men, Cyclops, Professor X, Wolverine, Storm, Armor, and Beast

X-Men (エックスメン, Ekkusu Men) (DVD title: X-Men: Animated Series) is the third show of the series with 12 episodes. It aired on Animax from April 1, 2011, to June 24, 2011. A preview trailer was released on February 18, 2011, featuring mutants and some from the 20th Century Fox X-Men franchise such as Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Professor X and Beast.[23] It premiered in the United States on G4 on October 21, 2011.[24] Jamie Simone served as voice director, casting director, and reversion producer for the English version. The entire series was released on DVD in the United States on April 24, 2012. It was also released on Blu-ray in Japan on December 7, 2011.[25]

Plot edit

Following the death of Jean Grey (who was being controlled by the Dark Phoenix, due to the sinister influence of the Inner Circle), the X-Men are reassembled by Professor X to travel to Japan following the abduction of Armor and face the U-Men who are abducting young mutants in order to harvest their organs. During their fight with the U-Men, the X-Men discover that some of the mutants in Japan are suffering from the "Damon Hall Syndrome" which causes problems for mutants during their second mutation. The X-Men must also deal with the next plot of the Inner Circle.[26]

Cast edit

Role Japanese voice actor English voice actor
Cyclops/Scott Summers Toshiyuki Morikawa Scott Porter
Wolverine/Logan Rikiya Koyama Steve Blum
Takeo Sasaki Atsushi Abe Steve Staley
Professor X/Charles Xavier Katsunosuke Hori Cam Clarke
Storm/Ororo Munroe Aya Hisakawa Danielle Nicolet
Jean Grey/Dark Phoenix Yurika Hino Jennifer Hale
Riko Nirasaki Marina Inoue Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Mastermind/Jason Wyngarde/Ju Sanada Tomokazu Seki (as Jun Sanada)
Haruhiko Jō (as Mastermind)
Travis Willingham
Kōichi Kaga Katsuyuki Konishi Troy Baker
Marsh Yuichi Nakamura Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Rat Manabu Sakamaki Michael Sinterniklaas
Yui Sasaki Yoshiko Sakakibara Gwendoline Yeo
Beast/Hank McCoy Hideyuki Tanaka Fred Tatasciore
Armor/Hisako Ichiki Yukari Tamura Stephanie Sheh
Emma Frost Kaori Yamagata Ali Hillis
Sublime/Jake Rintaro Nishi Troy Baker
Kick/Todd Wataru Takagi Dave Wittenberg
Kyoko Ayumi Fujimura Laura Bailey[27]
Neuron Yutaka Aoyama Dave Wittenberg

Blade edit

 
Cast of Blade, Eric Brooks

Blade (ブレイド, Bureido) (DVD title: Blade: Animated Series) is the fourth and final show of the series. Comprising twelve episodes like the others, the story is written by Kenta Fukasaku, son of the late Kinji Fukasaku. Jamie Simone served as casting director, reversion producer, and voice director for the English version where he was assisted by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. It aired on Animax from July 1, 2011, to September 16, 2011. The entire series was released on DVD in the United States on July 31, 2012. It was also released on Blu-ray in Japan on February 22, 2012.[28]

Plot edit

Blade is a "daywalker" vampire hunter who was born with human and vampire blood in his veins after a vampire attacked his mother. Blade is visiting Japan on a mission where he not only confronts Deacon Frost (the vampire who killed his mother Tara Brooks), but also goes up against a mysterious organization of vampires known as "Existence."[29]

Cast edit

Role Japanese voice actor English voice actor
Blade/Eric Brooks Akio Ohtsuka
Junko Minagawa (Young)
Harold Perrineau[30]
Noah Bentley
(Young)
Deacon Frost Tsutomu Isobe JB Blanc
Lucius Isaac Hiroki Tōchi Christopher Corey Smith[31]
Makoto Maaya Sakamoto Kim Mai Guest
Noah van Helsing Osamu Saka Troy Baker
Captain McRay Shinpachi Tsuji Steve Blum[32]
Tara Brooks Atsuko Tanaka Nayo Wallace[33]
Tanaka Tetsu Shiratori Michael Sinterniklaas[34]
Mattes Nanaho Katsuragi Kat Purgal [33]
High Council Chairman Seizo Kato Neil Kaplan[35]
Wolverine/Logan (ep. 7) Rikiya Koyama Milo Ventimiglia
Kikyo Mikage (ep. 8–9, 12) Masato Hagiwara Steve Blum

Films edit

Following the TV series, Madhouse animated different Marvel Anime films.

Other Marvel anime projects edit

Other anime television series based on Marvel characters have also been produced.

Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers edit

Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers is a 2014 anime series produced by Walt Disney Japan and Toei Animation. It follows five children that each gain the ability to summon a specific member of Avengers, who have been trapped in small devices called DISKs, as they travel the world to help the Avengers retrieve other superheroes' and supervillains' DISKs before they are used for evil. The series aired on TX Network and ran for 51 episodes.

Marvel Future Avengers edit

Marvel Future Avengers is a 2017 anime series produced by Madhouse and Walt Disney Japan. It follows three children who are rescued from Hydra by the Avengers and trained to become superheroes. The series aired for 39 episodes on the Dlife satellite channel, and was released internationally via Disney+ in 2020.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ This marked the first time G4 had aired anime since the now-defunct anime programming block Anime Unleashed
  2. ^ "Iron Man, Wolverine in Marvel, Madhouse's 1st TV Anime (Updated)". Anime News Network. August 25, 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  3. ^ "Marvel to behold". C21 Media. July 6, 2010. Archived from the original on December 12, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  4. ^ G4 Announces Exclusive Deal With Sony Pictures Television for Four New Anime Series Based on Marvel Characters
  5. ^ "Marvel Anime to Run on G4 in the United States". Anime News Network. July 23, 2010. Archived from the original on April 25, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  6. ^ "SDCC: G4 Announces New Marvel Anime Series". Superhero Hype!. July 26, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  7. ^ Gustines, George (August 24, 2008). "Superheroes to Be Recast for Japan". The New York Times. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  8. ^ "Iron Man & Wolverine Coming To Sci Fi In August!: SCI FI PI//SCI FI Channel". Captain. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  9. ^ "Iron Man Anime comes to G4". Archived from the original on August 25, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  10. ^ Marvel Anime Coming To G4 In 2011
  11. ^ a b "Anime Iron Man and Wolverine Premiere July 29". SuperheroHype.com. June 23, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  12. ^ a b "G4 TV Schedule; Sat, July 23, 2011". G4 Media. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  13. ^ "アイアンマン | ソニー・ピクチャーズ公式". www.sonypictures.jp. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  14. ^ "Iron Man: Rise of Technovore Coming to Blu-ray 4/16 More on Marvel.com". MARVEL. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  15. ^ "Madhouse, Marvel Team Up Again for New Iron Man: Rise of Technovore Film". Anime News Network. October 8, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  16. ^ a b c Toonzone Goes to WonderCon 2011 (UPDATED Apr 7, 9:45 AM) Archived June 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ a b "Vic MIGNOGNA (voice actor)". Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  18. ^ "ウルヴァリン | ソニー・ピクチャーズ公式". www.sonypictures.jp. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  19. ^ "Wolverine Cast Credits". IMDb. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  20. ^ "Crispin FREEMAN (voice actor)". Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  21. ^ a b "Stephanie SHEH (voice actor)". Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  22. ^ "Roger Craig SMITH (voice actor)". Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  23. ^ "News: X-Men Anime, Nichijou Promo Videos Streamed". Anime News Network. February 18, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  24. ^ "'X-Men' Anime Debuts In October With Scott Porter As Cyclops".
  25. ^ "X-メン | ソニー・ピクチャーズ公式". www.sonypictures.jp. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  26. ^ Watch the X-Men Anime Japanese Teaser Trailer
  27. ^ "X-Men Cast Credits". IMDb. Archived from the original on March 27, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  28. ^ "ブレイド | ソニー・ピクチャーズ公式". www.sonypictures.jp. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  29. ^ "Blade, Fairy Tail, Ro-Kyu-Bu! Promo Videos Streamed". Anime News Network. July 17, 2023.
  30. ^ "Blade English Dub's Lead Cast – Interest". Anime News Network. October 14, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  31. ^ "Christopher SMITH (voice actor)". Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  32. ^ "Steven Jay BLUM (voice actor)". Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  33. ^ a b "Blade Cast Credits". IMDb. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  34. ^ "Michael SINTERNIKLAAS (voice actor)". Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  35. ^ "Neil KAPLAN (voice actor)". Retrieved September 15, 2012.

External links edit