Medabots
Medabots | |
Promotional image showing main characters | |
メダロット (Medarotto) | |
---|---|
Genre | Adventure, Comedy, Science-fiction, Mecha |
Game | |
Medarot | |
Developer | Natsume |
Publisher | Imagineer |
Platform | Game Boy |
Released | 1997 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Tensai Okamura |
Produced by |
Tomoko Gushima Yōko Matsushita |
Written by | Ryōta Yamaguchi |
Music by | Osamu Tezuka |
Studio | Bee Train |
Licensed by | Nelvana Limited |
Original network | TV Tokyo |
English network |
YTV Pop Max Fox Kids SABC, Jetix |
Original run | July 2, 1999 – June 30, 2000 |
Episodes | 52 |
Manga | |
Written by | Horumarin |
Published by | Kodansha |
English publisher | Viz Media |
Demographic | Children, Shōnen |
Magazine | Comic BomBom |
Original run | July 6, 1999 – June 6, 2000 |
Volumes | 4 |
Anime television series | |
Medarot Damashii | |
Directed by | Masatsugu Arakawa |
Produced by |
Tomoko Gushima Yōko Matsushita |
Written by | Yōsuke Nakagawa |
Music by | Osamu Tezuka |
Studio |
Trans Arts Production I.G (Cooperation) |
Licensed by | ADV Films |
Original network | TV Tokyo |
English network | Fox Kids |
Original run | July 7, 2000 – March 30, 2001 |
Episodes | 39 |
Medabots, known in Japan as Medarot (メダロット Medarotto), is a role-playing video game franchise developed by Natsume and published by Imagineer in Japan in 1997. The video game franchise was later adapted into a Japanese anime television series produced by Bee Train. Spanning 52 episodes, the series originally aired on TV Tokyo from July 2, 1999 until June 30, 2000. Medarot Damashii, a thirty-nine episode sequel to the anime series that was produced by Production I.G, aired from July 7, 2000 through March 30, 2001. Both the series and its sequel are licensed by Nelvana Limited. The Nelvana Limited English dubbed version of Medabots aired on the Fox Kids network from September 1, 2001 through November 2, 2002 and was one of the channel's highest rated new series at the time. Medarot Damashii followed a year later, airing from September 13, 2003 until March 7, 2004.
A manga series, written by Rin Horuma (credited as just Horumarin), was also produced. It was serialized in the shōnen magazine Comic BomBom in Japan and then published into collected volumes by Kodansha. The manga based on the first game, Medarot, was never translated into English, and further sequels Medarot 3, Medarot 4, Medarot 5, Medarot G, and spin-off manga Medarotter Rintarō and Medarot Navi were never licensed for release in the U.S. The manga based on the sequel, Medarot 2, was licensed for an English language release in North America by Viz Media, simply under the title Medabots. Medarot 2, 3, and 4, have also been translated into English for distribution in Singapore by Chuang Yi.
Several video games have been released for multiple platforms, including Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS. Other related merchandise alongside them are plastic models produced by Kotobukiya.
Plot
Medabots
The series centers around Medabots, artificially intelligent robots, whose purpose is to serve humans in a future time. The series begins with a ten-year-old boy named Ikki Tenryō, who wants to become a champion of the World Robattle Tournament. However, Ikki is unable to afford a Medabot, and his parents refuse to buy him one. However, he manages to get enough money to buy an outdated model, and, with a bit of luck, he finds a medal in a river. Ikki quickly inserts it into the Medabot he purchased named Metabee. The only problem is that the medal he found gives Metabee a severe attitude problem (a problem rarely seen in a Medabot), which leads Ikki to think he is defective. However, this theory is proven wrong later in the series, as it is revealed that Metabee actually has a "rare" medal.
The rare medals were kept secret by the Medabot Corporation, as very little was known about them. However, a Medabot with a rare medal would be able to call upon an attack called the "Medaforce". In the manga, the Medaforce is a form of medal mind control, as explained by Dr. Aki in the third graphic novel of Medabots. In the cartoon however, it is shown as a way of increasing the power of the Medabot's special skill into a focused beam attack.
Another important aspect is the story of Henry, the store clerk who sold Ikki Metabee. We find out that he is, quite obviously, Phantom Renegade. A running gag of the series was Henry almost telling everyone he is The Phantom, with no one ever discovering this fact. We are then introduced to Space Medafighter X, who is another one of Henry's secret identities, the number one medafighter in Japan. Later, during the World Finals, he rarely shows up to the fights, instead sending substitutes and working behind the scenes. This being because he supposedly started The Ten Days of Darkness, which occurred eight years before the events in the series during the World Robattle Cup when Henry fought as Hikaru Agata with the original Metabee ( however, the medal was different). The Medabots went on a rampage during the Ten Days of Darkness, which stopped when Hikaru Agata was forced to kill his Medabot by destroying his medal.
At the end of the second season, it is revealed that Victor (a medafighter for Team Kenya and Warbandit's owner) was helping Dr. Meta-evil to get medals during the tournament. During the finals, Metabee and Warbandit continue to fight, even with their partners lost and their bodies damaged. It is during this event that Dr. Meta-evil starts his plan using Metabee and Warbandit's medals; trapping them both in a dream. However, Ikki manages to get Metabee to wake up from the dream, while the other medabots, free now, help Metabee to fight against Dr. Meta-evil. Ikki must also stop the plans of the nefarious "RubberRobo Gang".
Later in the series, Medabots are found to be actually thousands of years old; remnants of an ancient civilization who called themselves Medalorians. The Medalorians were obsessed with war, and to become more effective warriors they fastened metal armor to themselves. However, their wars decimated the civilization, and the survivors coded their memories onto hexagonal pieces of metal. These, "Medals", cloned and mass-produced by the Medabot Corporation (a corporation founded by Dr. Aki), are the Medabot equivalent of a brain and soul. The original medals, referred to as "rare" medals, are kept in storage because of the extreme power they have.
Medarot Damashii (Medabots Spirit)
Medarot Damashii, a sequel to the original series, follows Ikki and Metabee, as they face a new challenge following the events of the original series. Kam Kamazaki, a twelve-year-old boy, has designed one of the most dangerous medabots in the entire story, called Kilobots (or Death Medarot, in the Japanese version), who use the X-Medal. These Kilobots have no feelings, since the emotion part of the Medabot medal has been removed, and more strength parts have been replaced instead, and can break the rules in order to win a fight. Because they have no personality, the Medaforce is useless against them. In the first episode, Ikki loses a Robattle to Ginkai and his Kilobot when it cheats and reloads. But he soon meets Nae, a Medabot mechanic and Dr. Aki's granddaughter, who gives Ikki new medaparts in order to defeat the kilobot through using a new feature called Action Mode (later Demolition Mode is introduced as well). Throughout the season, Ikki, Erika and their new friend Zuru (who also masks as the Mystery Medafighter) battle several of Kam’s friends and their Kilobots. The Mystery Medfighter’s ambition is to rid the world of Kilobots, with the help of his medabot Roks. Eventually, Ginkai re-discovers the true spirit of medafighting and ceases being a rogue medafighter and returns to using Medabots. Eventually Kam realizes the error of his ways and stops trying to develop stronger and more dangerous Kilobots, choosing to remain with his Kilobot Blackbettle, who has a personality installed into her medal.
The series is often criticized for the removal of several supporting characters such as Henry/Hikaru Agata/Phantom Renegade/Space Medafighter X and Arcbeetle, Rokusho, Koji and Sumilidon, Rintaro and Kantaroth, Karin and Neutranurse, Victor and Warbandit, Mr. Referee, the Rubberrobo Gang and the Chick Salesman, as well as for the fact that many of the new Kilobots and Medabots are simply slightly modified versions of the original series without relation to the original characters: Roks (Rokusho), Exor (Sumilidon), Arcdash (Arcbeetle), Unitrix (Warbandit).
Characters
- Ikki Tenryou (天領イッキ Tenryō Ikki), is a lively and easygoing boy, although a bit timid, he is the main protagonist of the series. At first Ikki is unable to afford a Medabot. But after finding a medal in a river, he manages to buy a model, which is named Metabee. However, the medal he found appears to be defective, as Metabee is short-tempered and disobedient. In spite of this, a strong bond grows between them after several robattles. Though Ikki is not a full-fledged Medafighter, he gradually matures through the Robattles he engages in. He is voiced by Michiru Yamazaki in the Japanese version, Samantha Reynolds in the English translation of the first series, and Julie Lemieux in the Spirits anime.
- Metabee (メタビー Metabī, whose name is a portmanteau of Metal Beetle) is the main antihero of the series, a Medabot belonging to Ikki Tenryou. Metabee is a beetle type Medabot, specializing in revolver tactics. He possesses a rare medal that allows him to access the Medaforce. Metabee is known to be a rebellious and arrogant Medabot who often causes problems due to his headstrong personality. He is often sarcastic to his owner Ikki, but he shares a close bond with him, and so Ikki trusts him deeply. In the English version he is voiced by Joseph Motiki.
Media
Video games
Medabots was initially a video game series, which has had numerous entries to date. Only three entries have ever been released outside of Japan – Medabots AX, Medabots, and Medabots Infinity.
Most games in the Medabots series come in two versions: Kabuto (lit. Rhinoceros Beetle), in which your starting Medabot's design is based on a Japanese rhinoceros beetle (a "KBT type" Medabot), and Kuwagata, in which it is based on a stag beetle ("KWG type"). Differences beyond the starting Medabot also exist, such as which Medabot parts the player is able to collect, and minor story differences. The only Medabots games not to have been released in two versions are Medarot R, Medabots Infinity, and the Parts Collection games.
The games draw significant influences from Nintendo's Pokemon franchise and Square-Enix's Front Mission series.
Main series
The games in the main series of Medabots are all numbered (all except Medabots DS), and all feature role-playing game gameplay focused on collecting and battling with the titular Medabots.
Title | Details |
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Medarot Original release date(s):[1]:121[2][3]
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Release years by system: 1997—Game Boy[1]:121[2][3] |
Notes: | |
Medarot Perfect Edition Original release date(s):[4]
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Release years by system: 1999—WonderSwan[4] |
Notes: | |
Medarot 2 Original release date(s):[1]:123[5]
|
Release years by system: 1999—Game Boy Color[1]:123[5] |
Notes: | |
Medarot 3 Original release date(s):[1]:125[6]
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Release years by system: 2000—Game Boy Color[1]:125[6] |
Notes: | |
Medarot 4 Original release date(s):[1]:126[7][8]
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Release years by system: 2001—Game Boy Color[1]:126[7][8] |
Notes: | |
Medarot 5: Susutake-mura no Tenkōsei Original release date(s):[1]:127
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Release years by system: 2001—Game Boy Color[1]:127 |
Notes: | |
Original release date(s):
|
Release years by system: 2002—Game Boy Advance 2015—Wii U Virtual Console[9][10][11] |
Notes:
| |
Medarot DS Original release date(s):[12]
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Release years by system: 2010—Nintendo DS[12] |
Notes:
| |
Medarot 7 Original release date(s):[13]
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Release years by system: 2012—Nintendo 3DS[13] |
Notes:
| |
Medarot 8 Original release date(s):[14]
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Release years by system: 2014—Nintendo 3DS[14] |
Notes:
| |
Medarot 9 Original release date(s):[15]
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Release years by system: 2015—Nintendo 3DS[15] |
Notes:
| |
Medarot Classics Original release date(s):[17]
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Release years by system: 2017—Nintendo 3DS[17] |
Notes: |
Spinoffs and side games
Several spinoffs of the Medabots series have been produced, some sticking closer to the RPG formula of the main series, and some branching out into other genres.
For Medarot 1, 2, R, and 3, supplementary games entitled Parts Collection were made. These are shorter games with less complicated stories, focusing mostly on battles. The main draw of them, and the reason for the name "Parts Collection", is that the player is able to collect robot parts and other items within the Parts Collection games and transfer them to the respective main games.
Title | Details |
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Medarot Parts Collection Original release date(s):[1]:121
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Release years by system: 1998—Game Boy[1]:121 |
Notes: | |
Medarot Parts Collection 2 Original release date(s):[1]:121
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Release years by system: 1999—Game Boy[1]:121 |
Notes: | |
Medarot 2 Parts Collection Original release date(s):[1]:123
|
Release years by system: 1999—Game Boy Color[1]:123 |
Notes: | |
Medarot R Original release date(s):[19]
|
Release years by system: 1999—PlayStation[19] |
Notes: | |
Medarot R Parts Collection Original release date(s):[20]
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Release years by system: 2000—PlayStation[20] |
Notes:
| |
Medarot Card Robottle Original release date(s):[1]:124
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Release years by system: 2000—Game Boy Color[1]:124 |
Notes:
| |
Medarot 3 Parts Collection Z kara no Chōsenjō Original release date(s):[21]
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Release years by system: 2000—Game Boy Color[21] |
Notes: | |
Medarot Navi Original release date(s):[1]:128
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Release years by system: 2001—Game Boy Advance[1]:128 2016—Wii U Virtual Console[22] |
Notes:
| |
Original release date(s):[23][24]
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Release years by system: 2002—Game Boy Advance[23] 2016—Wii U Virtual Console[24][25] |
Notes:
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Medarot G Original release date(s):[1]:146
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Release years by system: 2002—Game Boy Advance[1]:146 2015—Wii U Virtual Console[26] |
Notes:
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Original release date(s):[27]
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Release years by system: 2003—GameCube[27] |
Notes:
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Shingata Medarot Original release date(s):[1]:151
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Release years by system: 2004—Game Boy Advance[1]:151 |
Notes:
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Medarot DUAL Original release date(s):[28]
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Release years by system: 2013—Nintendo 3DS[28] |
Notes:
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Medarot Girls Mission Original release date(s):[29]
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Release years by system: 2016—Nintendo 3DS[29] |
Notes:
|
Anime
The Medabots anime series was adapted from the original 1997 video game, with its robotic combat elements inspired by Plawres Sanshiro.[2] Produced by Bee Train, the fifty-two episode series originally aired on TV Tokyo from July 2, 1999 until June 30, 2000. A thirty-nine episode sequel to the anime series that was produced by Production I.G, Medabot Damashii aired from September 19, 2003 through March 7, 2004. Both the series are licensed by Nelvana Limited. The Nelvana Limited's English dubbed version of Medabots aired on the Fox Kids network from September 1, 2001 through November 2, 2002 and was one of the channel's highest rated new series at the time.[31] Medabot Damashii followed a year later, airing from September 13, 2003 until March 7, 2004.
In 2007, Shout! Factory announced that they will be releasing the first two seasons of Medabots to Region 1 DVD,[32] containing the English dub only. The Japanese version has received a VHS and DVD release of the first series, while Medabots Souls has only received a VHS release. On January 29, 2010, a Region 2 boxset release known as MEDABOT DVD BOX 1 was released containing the first thirty episodes,[33] with a second boxset on February 19 finishing with the last twenty-two episodes.[34] Two boxsets for Medabots Souls were released on December 30, 2010.[35][36] This was Souls very first DVD release.
Manga
Written by Horumarin, the Medabots manga series was originally serialized in the shōnen magazine Comic BomBom in Japan and then published in four volumes by Kodansha. The series was licensed for an English language release in North America by Viz Media.[37]
Four sequel series followed, all written by Horumarin and published by Kodansha. The two volumes of Medabots 3 were released in Japan in December 2000 and April 2001. Medabots 4 followed later in 2001. The first volume of Medabots 5 was released in July 2002, but the second volume was not released until August 2007. Medabots G, a sequel to Medabots 5, was released in 2003.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 携帯型ゲーム機コンプリートガイド [The Complete Guide to Handheld Consoles] (in Japanese). Shufu no Tomo Infos. 2013. ISBN 978-4072879290.
- 1 2 3 Clements, Jonathan; Helen McCarthy (2001-09-01). The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917 (1st ed.). Berkeley, California: Stone Bridge Press. pp. 248–249. ISBN 1-880656-64-7. OCLC 47255331.
- 1 2 "Medarot: Kuwagata Version for GB". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
- 1 2 "Medarot: Perfect Edition for WS". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
- 1 2 "Medarot 2". GameSpot. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
- 1 2 "2000年のソフト販売本数ランキング" [Sales Ranking for Games Released in 2000] (in Japanese). Famitsu. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
- 1 2 "COMING SOON! メダロット4 カブトバージョン/クワガタバージョン" [COMING SOON! Medarot 4 Kabuto Version/Kuwagata Version] (in Japanese). Famitsu. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
- 1 2 "Medarot 4". GameSpot. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
- ↑ "Medabots™: Metabee". Retrieved 2018-01-14.
- ↑ "Medabots: Metabee". Nintendo. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
- ↑ "メダロット弐CORE カブトVer". Nintendo. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
- 1 2 "メダロットDS". Medarotsha.jp. Archived from the original on 2015-10-21. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
- 1 2 "Medabots 7: Kabuto Ver./Kuwagata Ver. Announced for 3DS - Interest". Anime News Network. 2012-05-30. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
- 1 2 "Amazon.co.jp: メダロット8 カブトVer.: ゲーム". Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
- 1 2 "メダロット9 カブトVer. - 3DS". Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
- ↑ "Medabots Maker Delta Arts Has Shut Down Its Studio". Siliconera. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
- 1 2 "メダロット クラシックス カブトVer. - 3DS". Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
- ↑ digifloyd (December 21, 2017). メダロット クラシックス (in Japanese). Imagineer. Scene: credits.
- 1 2 "メダロットR" [Medarot R] (in Japanese). Sony Interactive Entertainment. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
- 1 2 "メダロットR・パーツコレクション" [Medarot R Parts Collection] (in Japanese). Imagineer, Natsume. Archived from the original on June 23, 2000. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
- 1 2 "メダロット3・パーツコレクション" [Medarot 3 Parts Collection] (in Japanese). Imagineer, Natsume. Archived from the original on August 10, 2004. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
- ↑ "メダロット・ナビ カブト" [Medarot Navi Kabuto] (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
- 1 2 "Medabots AX". GameSpot. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
- 1 2 "Medabots AX Metabee Vers". Nintendo. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
- ↑ "Medabots AX: Metabee". Nintendo. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
- ↑ "メダロットG カブトバージョン" [Medarot G Kabuto Version] (in Japanese). Nintendoaccessdate=2018-01-15.
- 1 2 "Medabots Infinity". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
- 1 2 "『メダロットDUAL(デュアル) カブトVer./クワガタVer.』歴代シリーズ作品の人気キャラクターが登場" ["Medarot DUAL Kabuto Ver./Kuwagata Ver." – Popular Characters from a New Work in a Long-Running Series Make Their Appearance] (in Japanese). Famitsu. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
- 1 2 "『メダロット ガールズミッション カブトVer. / クワガタVer.』新たな"メダロット"の爽快アクシ ョンゲームが爆誕!" ["Medarot Girls Mission Kabuto Ver. / Kuwagata Ver." – An Exhilarating New Medarot Action Game Bursting onto the Scene!] (in Japanese). Famitsu. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
- ↑ "イマジニアがロケットカンパニーを吸収合併。『メダロット』の版権はイマジニアが保有" [Rocket Company merging with Imagineer. The "Medabots" Copyright Will be Owned by Imagineer] (in Japanese). Dengeki Online. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
- ↑ "Nelvana Spins a Deal to Bring Beyblade Phenomenon to North America" (Press release). PR Newswire. 2002-01-10. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
- ↑ "Shout! Factory expands family program" (Press release). Video Business. 2007-07-16. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
- ↑ "MEDABOT DVD BOX 1 (5-Volume Set)". Amazon Japan. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
- ↑ "MEDABOT DVD BOX 2 (4-Volume Set)". Amazon Japan. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
- ↑ "MEDAROT SOULS DVD BOX 1". Amazon Japan. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
- ↑ "MEDAROT SOULS DVD BOX 2". Amazon Japan. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
- ↑ "Viz Launches Medabots Manga". ICv2. 2002-01-18. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
External links
- Official Website
- Medabots in anime-paradijs Dutch
- Medabots (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Medabots (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Medabots at TV.com
- Medabots on IMDb
- Project Rising Beetle localization campaign