Marvel Anime

Premise

The project reimagined select top Marvel characters and adapts them 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, and then in the United States on G4 between July 2011 and April 2012. Each of the series largely features Japan as the setting for the storyline.

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.

Production

The entire series was produced in collaboration between Marvel Entertainment, anime studio Madhouse, and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan. 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. The series was guided by writer Warren Ellis. "It will create an entire parallel universe for Marvel," said Simon Philips, president of Marvel International about Marvel Anime.

''Iron Man''

Iron Man (DVD title: Iron Man: Animated Series; spelled IRONMAN on-screen) is the first show of the series with 12 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, and ended on December 17, 2010. While Iron Man premiered in the US on G4 on July 29, 2011, a "sneak peek" of the first episode aired on July 23, 2011, following G4's Comic-Con 2011 Live coverage. 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. A follow-up direct-to-video film called Iron Man: Rise of Technovore was released on April 16, 2013.

Plot

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. But the Iron Man Dio goes berserk and it is up to Tony as Iron Man to stop it along with an organization, known as 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 believed to be dead, is alive and is operating the Iron Man Dio armor for the Zodiac's goals.

Cast

''Wolverine''

Wolverine (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, 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. 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.

Plot

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

''X-Men''

X-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 X-Men franchise such as Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Professor X and Beast. It premiered in the United States on G4 on October 21, 2011. 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.

Plot

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 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.

Cast

''Blade''

Blade (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.

Plot

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 had killed his mother Tara Brooks, but also goes up against a mysterious organization of vampires, known as "Existence".

Cast

Films

Following the 4 TV series, Madhouse animated different Marvel Anime films.

• The first was Iron Man: Rise of Technovore, a direct-to-video film directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki, which was released on April 16, 2013, in the United States.
• The second was Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher which was released on March 25, 2014, in the United States.

Other Marvel anime projects

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

''Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers''

Main article: Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers

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''

Main article: Marvel Future Avengers

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.

Release

Broadcast

The Marvel Anime series aired in Japan on Animax between October 2010 and September 2011. An English-language version later aired in North America on G4 between July 2011 and April 2012. Additionally, the Marvel Anime series aired in Australia on Sci Fi. |access-date = August 11, 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110929183531/http://www.scifitv.com.au/Blog/2011/07/iron-man-wolverine-coming-to-sci-fi-in-august/ |archive-date = September 29, 2011

References

References

1. (August 25, 2008). "Iron Man, Wolverine in Marvel, Madhouse's 1st TV Anime (Updated)". [[Anime News Network]].
2. (August 26, 2008). "Marvel, Madhouse's Iron Man Anime Image Posted Online". [[Anime News Network]].
3. (July 6, 2010). "Marvel to behold". C21 Media.
4. (July 23, 2010). "Marvel Anime to Run on G4 in the United States". [[Anime News Network]].
5. (July 26, 2010). "SDCC: G4 Announces New Marvel Anime Series". [[Superhero Hype!]].
6. Gustines, George. (August 24, 2008). "Superheroes to Be Recast for Japan". The New York Times.
7. "Iron Man Anime comes to G4".
8. [http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2010/07/26/marvel-anime-coming-to-g4-in-2011/ Marvel Anime Coming To G4 In 2011]
9. (June 23, 2011). "Anime Iron Man and Wolverine Premiere July 29". SuperheroHype.com.
10. "G4 TV Schedule; Sat, July 23, 2011". G4 Media.
11. "アイアンマン {{!}} ソニー・ピクチャーズ公式".
12. "Iron Man: Rise of Technovore Coming to Blu-ray 4/16 More on Marvel.com". MARVEL.
13. (October 8, 2012). "Madhouse, Marvel Team Up Again for New Iron Man: Rise of Technovore Film". Anime News Network.
14. "Vic MIGNOGNA (voice actor)".
15. [http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/36875/toonzone-goes-to-wondercon-2011-updated-apr-7-945-am Toonzone Goes to WonderCon 2011 (UPDATED Apr 7, 9:45 AM)] {{webarchive. link. (June 18, 2011)
16. "ウルヴァリン {{!}} ソニー・ピクチャーズ公式".
17. "Wolverine Cast Credits". IMDb.
18. "Crispin FREEMAN (voice actor)".
19. "Stephanie SHEH (voice actor)".
20. "Roger Craig SMITH (voice actor)".
21. (February 18, 2011). "News: X-Men Anime, Nichijou Promo Videos Streamed". [[Anime News Network]].
22. "'X-Men' Anime Debuts In October With Scott Porter As Cyclops".
23. "X-メン {{!}} ソニー・ピクチャーズ公式".
24. [http://marvel.com/news/story/15264/watch_the_x-men_anime_japanese_teaser_trailer Watch the X-Men Anime Japanese Teaser Trailer]
25. "X-Men Cast Credits". IMDb.
26. "ブレイド {{!}} ソニー・ピクチャーズ公式".
27. (July 17, 2023). "Blade, Fairy Tail, Ro-Kyu-Bu! Promo Videos Streamed". Anime News Network.
28. (October 14, 2011). "Blade English Dub's Lead Cast – Interest". [[Anime News Network]].
29. "Christopher SMITH (voice actor)".
30. "Steven Jay BLUM (voice actor)".
31. "Blade Cast Credits". IMDb.
32. "Michael SINTERNIKLAAS (voice actor)".
33. "Neil KAPLAN (voice actor)".
34. This marked the first time G4 had aired anime since the now-defunct anime programming block Anime Unleashed
35. [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/07/26/g4-announces-exclusive-deal-with-sony-pictures-television-for-four-new-anime-series-based-on-marvel-characters-916425/20100726g402/ G4 Announces Exclusive Deal With Sony Pictures Television for Four New Anime Series Based on Marvel Characters]