Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01

Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 (メタルスキンパニック MADOX-01, Metaru Sukin Panikku Madokkusu Zero Wan) is a 1987 original video animation produced by AIC, Soeishinsha and Pony Canyon and directed and conceptualized by Shinji Aramaki. It has been licensed in the United States by AnimEigo.[1] The plot centers on a mechanic who comes across the MADOX-01, a heavy powered armor suit designed to fight enemy tanks. After getting trapped in the suit before reading the user's manual, the military attempts to reclaim it, leaving him with no choice but to defend himself.

Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01
Cover of AnimEigo 15th Anniversary DVD
メタルスキンパニック MADOX-01
(Metaru Sukin Panikku Madokkusu Zero Wan)
GenreScience fiction
Mecha
Comedy
Created byShinji Aramaki
Original video animation
Directed byShinji Aramaki
Produced byAyumi Enomoto
Shigeo Yagita
Shūji Uchiyama
Music byKen Yajima
StudioAIC
Artmic
Licensed by
ReleasedDecember 16, 1987
Runtime41 minutes

Aramaki, who was in charge of the original idea, directing, and mechanical design, later recalled that he was still in his 20s and didn't know what to be afraid of when he made the OVA, which was also his directorial debut.[2]

Plot

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One day, Kōji Sugimoto, a young man who works as a mechanic at a car maintenance shop, inadvertently gets into the "Slave Trooper MADOX-01," a new anti-tank land weapon that was being transported in secret. He is unable to get out of the MADOX-01 due to a software bug. He can't figure out how to use the suit, and is subsequently chased by the military. Kōji, still stuck in the suit, heads for the building where he is to meet his girlfriend Shiori Nagura, but Lieutenant Kilgore, an American soldier with a personal grudge against MADOX-01, is waiting for him in a tank. With the advice of Eriko Kusumoto, the developer of MADOX-01, Kōji is able to battle Kilgore.

Characters

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Kouji Sugimoto (杉本 紘二, Sugimoto Kouji)
The main protagonist, a poor mechanic who works part-time majoring in engineering. His friend Haruo finds a top secret cargo in his truck and alerts his friend Kouji to check it out due to his engineering background. After wondering what to do Kouji takes the initiative to bring back the unknown cargo back to his apartment. Once they've dropped the cargo to his apartment, before leaving, Haruo passes down a message from his girlfriend Shiori that she'll be waiting at the NSR building tonight. Kouji begins to inspect the cargo while reading the manual that came along with it. While doing so he manages to open up the cargo revealing the MADOX-01. He successfully gets inside it but suddenly the MADOX-01 shuts Koji inside causing it to alert the military of its whereabouts. Kouji now needs to figure out how to get out of the suit while being hunted by the military.[3]
Eriko "Ellie" Kusumoto (楠本 枝里子, Kusumoto Eriko)
A female test ace pilot and lead software developer for the MADOX project. When the military is notified of the missing MADOX, they manage to pick up the signal of its whereabouts and begin a recovery operation to retrieve the MADOX. However, when Eriko finds out about Lt. Kilgore's evil intentions when independently joining the recovery operation, she proceeds to participate as well. She pilots the MADOX-0 in order to intercept the missing MADOX-01 and trying to prevent 1st Lt. Kilgore from wreaking havoc from his vengeful obsession with the MADOX-01. She later becomes a supporting character.
First Lt. Kilgore (キルゴア中尉, Kirugoa-chūi)
An elite tank driver who was involved in a VR (Virtual Reality) Simulation battle with the MADOX-01. Within 3 minutes the MADOX-01 decimated Kilgore and the other simulation drivers. While fueled by revenge, hate and his obsession towards the MADOX, the MADOX-01 sends out a signal that the military suddenly picked up. Hearing about this, Lt Kilgore independently participates the recovery operation sending himself off with his tank to hunt down the MADOX.
Haruo Onose (小野瀬 春男, Onose Haruo)
Delivery truck driver and friend of the main protagonist Kouji Sugimoto. Onose happens to find an unknown cargo inside the back of his truck. Realizing that his friend who is a mechanic, he brings Koji to come and check out what was inside his truck. He and Kouji then begins to bring the unknown cargo back to Koji's apartment. Onose also passes a message to Kouji that was from Nagura Shiori to meet her at a building in Nishi-Shinjuku, before bowing out of the special.
Shiori Nagura (名倉しおり, Nagura Shiori)
Kouji's girlfriend. Shown usually in flash backs of her, she tells him that she is being sent to study abroad by her father in England for 3 years in about 4 days.

Credits

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Cast

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Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 cast
Role Japanese[4] English
Swirl Films (1995)[4] World Wide Group (1996)[5]
Kouji Sugimoto Yasunori Matsumoto Scott Simpson Michael Magee
Eriko "Ellie" Kusumoto Youko Asagami Ellen Lee Nadia de Lemeny
Lieutenant Kilgore Kazuyuki Sogabe Zach Hanner Peter Woodward
Shiori Nagura Yuriko Ishida Connie Nelson
Haruo Onose Arihiro Hase Shaun O'Rourke John Stefaniuk
Ellie's Superior Michihiro Ikemizu Bill Sellers Marc Smith
US Army General Masashi Hirose Rick Forrester Allan Wenger
Mr. Okawasaki Kouzou Shioya Steve Vernon
High Official Kazuo Oka Gray Sibley
SDF Officer Masayuki Katou Pierre Brulatour
Technician Satoru Inagaki Robert Wailes
Store Clerk Hiroko Yamaguchi Melissa Stanley
Chopper Pilot Bobby Wilde
Ellie's Helicopter Pilot Chris Jarman
Obnoxious Driver (1) Hirohiko Kakegawa Steve Rassin
Obnoxious Driver (2) Yuuki Sato Mac Ingraham
Soldier Nathan Gray
Overstressed Elevator Jane Sampson

Staff

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Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 staff
Job Staff
Director Shinji Aramaki
Art Director Youichi Nango
Character Design Hideki Tamura
Director of Photography Masahide Okino
Mechanical Design Kimitoshi Yamane

Shinji Aramaki

Music Composer Ken Yajima
Storyboarding Shinji Aramaki
Sound Director Yasunori Honda

Release

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The anime was licensed by AnimEigo and its first release for Western audiences in 1989[6] and was distributed by Manga Entertainment (UK) along with different English dub versions[7] from the UK version and the AnimEigo version. On April 30, 2021, a Kickstarter was launched for a Blu-ray release of the OVA. It reached its goal within 42 minutes of its launch.[8][9]

Featurette

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A VHS featurette was released showcasing a live action documentary demo of weapons and vehicles being demonstrated that was used in the anime film. The title of the featurette was called The World of the Weapons of Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01. It showcased various military vehicles from the Japan Self-Defense Forces such as helicopters and tanks.[10]

References

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  1. ^ MADOX-01, AnimEigo.
  2. ^ 荒牧伸志氏(監督/メカニックデザイナー)【3DCGの夜明け 〜日本のフルCGアニメの未来を探る〜 第22回/2014年11月号】|INTERVIEW インタビュー|EE.jp
  3. ^ Merill, D (31 October 2015). "10th anniversary of 15th anniversary of Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01". letsanime.blogspot. DMerrill. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Madox-01 - Anime Liner Notes - AnimEigo (Japanese Animation)". 2005-02-11. Archived from the original on 2005-02-11. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  5. ^ "Metal Skin Panic: MADOX-01". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  6. ^ Merril, D (31 October 2015). "10th anniversary of 15th anniversary of Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01". letsanime.blogspot. DMerrill. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Metal Skin Panic MADOX- 01 (Video 1987) - IMDb". IMDb.
  8. ^ "AnimEigo's Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 BD Kickstarter Launches on April 30". 28 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 Anime's Kickstarter Campaign Reaches Goal in 42 Minutes". 28 August 2023.
  10. ^ McNichols, Det. "MADOX-01 Metal Skin Panic". youtube. DetMcNichols. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
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