Gall Force
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| Gall Force | |
|---|---|
| ガルフォース (Gall Force) |
|
| Genre | Adventure, Science Fiction |
| Movie: Eternal Story | |
| Directed by | Katsuhito Akiyama |
| Studio | AIC |
| Released | 26 July 1986 |
| Runtime | 86 min |
| OVA: Destruction | |
| Directed by | Katsuhito Akiyama |
| Studio | AIC, ARTMIC |
| No. of episodes | 1 |
| Released | 21 November 1987 |
| OVA: Stardust War | |
| Directed by | Katsuhito Akiyama |
| Studio | AIC, ARTMIC |
| No. of episodes | 1 |
| Released | 2 November 1988 |
| OVA: Rhea Gall Force | |
| Directed by | Katsuhito Akiyama |
| Studio | AIC, ARTMIC |
| No. of episodes | 1 |
| Released | 21 March 1989 |
| OVA: Earth Chapter | |
| Directed by | Katsuhito Akiyama |
| Studio | AIC, ARTMIC |
| No. of episodes | 3 |
| Released | 25 December 1989 |
| OVA: New Era | |
| Directed by | Katsuhito Akiyama |
| Studio | AIC, ARTMIC |
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Released | 1 December 1991 |
Gall Force is a group of science fiction anime OAV series by the studio Artmic, with production by Youmex and AIC. The original character designs were by Kenichi Sonoda, though these were dropped for the Gall Force Revolution remake (which, as of 2005, is also the only series not to have been released in North America).
It is considered by some anime fans to be a classic of 80s anime.
Contents |
[edit] Unofficial Prequel
- Star Front Gall Force
This was the precursor to the Gall Force story. Originally appearing in the monthly 'Model Graphix' magazine in Japan as a 3D photo story using detailed models, this later set the stage for the animated films. Rabby, Patty, and Rumy were the only main Solnoid characters featured, and they were equipped with different uniforms, weapons, and vehicles than those shown in the regular Gall Force OVAs. Although a prequel to the Gall Force mythos proper, Star Front’s place in the official continuity is questionable due to contradictions between it and Eternal Story. Fanon suggests it serves as a stand alone story set in the same universe, but a different reality.
[edit] Series
[edit] First story arc
- Gall Force: Eternal Story
A galactic war rages between the all-female Solnoids and the amorphous Paranoids. In the midst of battle, a plan which was secretly hatched by the leaders of both sides comes into fruition, and an unsuspecting crew of seven Solnoid soldiers aboard the 'Star Leaf' is caught up in the middle.
- Gall Force 2: Destruction
Ten years later, one of the two survivors of the 'Star Leaf', Lufy, is recovered from space by Solnoid forces. There, she is confronted with the secret plan which had become reality in the previous episode: to genetically unite both races. Wracked by self-doubt, Lufy is forced to make a decision as Solnoids and Paranoids face each other in battle in the very solar system in which the new life form and the last 'Star Leaf' survivor have established an existence - and the Solnoid army - unaware of the plan - intend to deploy a weapon of mass destruction to wipe out the enemy once and for all...
- Gall Force 3: Stardust War
The destruction of the new future is averted, but Lufy and her friends find themselves in another twist: in a desolate solar system, the Solnoids and Paranoids intend to finish the war by fighting to the last. An encounter with the Solnoid instigator of the secret plan convinces the crew to try and walk a different path - to attempt both sides to stop the senseless fighting by reminding them what they have already lost...
- Ten Little Gall Force (a super deformed parody which depicts the "making of " 'Eternal Story' and 'Destruction')
A very humorous behind-the-scenes look (if Gall Force were a real-life series instead of being animated). Cast and crew members run into difficulties as things do not turn out as they should; Lufy almost drowns as she is object of a whole crowd of spectators while in the nude; the director's obsession with realistic filming causes some high-voltage friction with one of the cast; and in the end, after the premiere, the girls end up in an on-stage tussle about which one is the most popular character.
- Scramble Wars (Get Going! Race of Genom Trophy Rally)
In their super-deformed forms, the Gall Force girls participate in a race for the Genom Trophy, which is worth 60 billion dollars! Of course, each party wants to be the one to get it, and all bonds of friendship and honor are off as they resort to using VERY dirty tricks to get to the goal. Also included are super-deformed characters from Bubblegum Crisis, Genesis Survivor Gaiarth, and Riding Bean.
[edit] Rhea/Earth Chapter arc
- Rhea Gall Force
- Earth Chapter 1–3
In the 21st century the discovery of derelict alien technology on the Moon - which are in fact the remnants of the events in Eternal Story - ignited an arms race as the "West" and "East" blocs rushed to deploy the technology as weapons, including a form of artificial life based on the Paranoids which both sides grow and implant weapons and control systems in. Now after the resulting nuclear holocaust, what little of humanity left on Earth fights for survival against the resurrected Paranoids, now known as the NME. The female characters in this series are all apparent reincarnations of the Solonoid soldiers from Gall Force except for one character who is actually a survivor from that war millions of years in the past.
[edit] New Era arc
- Gall Force New Era 1–2
Centuries after Earth Chapter humanity is suddenly wiped out by the resurrected NME/Paranoids except for another set of reincarnations who are rescued to flee into space.
[edit] Gall Force – The Revolution
- Gall Force – The Revolution 1–4
This 1996 OVA was a reimagining of the series, which replaced the Paranoids with a civil war between the "West" and "East" Solnoid armies. The main characters, alternate versions of the original cast, find themselves drawn into a rebellion that's attempting to end the war once and for all.
[edit] Characters of Gall Force(Spoiler Warning)
Rabby: The central character and next in line after Eluza in the chain of command, Rabby is loyal to her shipmates above all other things, and it is that loyalty which causes her to spare the first example of the "third race" (because it looks so much like Patty). When she finally understands the way her shipmates have been used and discarded, her disillusionment causes her to make a choice which determines the fate of all intelligent life. Her Rhea/Earth Chapter reincarnation "Sandy Newman" is still the central character, driven by a desire to make up for her father's role in creating the NME.
Eluza (spelled "Elza"): The eldest and highest ranking of the major characters. With the captain of the Star Leaf in a meeting on the fleet flagship, Eluza is the next highest officer and in temporary command when the Paranoids attack the fleet. Her will is very strong and it is her inflexibility which leads to her final fate. Her Rhea/Earth Chapter bloc reincarnation, "Fortin" demonstrates a similar difficulty in letting go of old enmities, even when the alternative is death.
Rumy: The youngest of the shipmates, she is the least capable and hardened of the soldiers and fills in the anime Mascot cliché role. Rabby acts as a big sister to her, scolding and shielding her. She dislikes Lufy. Her R/EC reincarnation "Mitty" is even younger, but has street-urchin survival instincts that let her survive in an apocalyptic wasteland even before Soundy comes along to protect her.
Lufy: Technically not even a member of the Star Leaf crew, Lufy crashlands in a crippled fighter just before the Star Leaf jumps into hyperspace. She's a cocky ace fighter pilot who pretends not to take dangerous situations seriously and doesn't follow orders very well. Lufy has a reputation for being the sole survivor from her flight groups and becomes the main character in Destruction and Stardust War. If she's aware that Rumy doesn't like her, she doesn't seem to care. Her R/EC reincarnation has the same reckless daring.
Pony: The shy and easily frightened computer expert of the crew, Pony gets along much better with artificial intelligences than she does with any of the organic crewmembers. Her closest friends are Catty and the ship's computer, OX-11. Her close relationship with OX-11 and Catty leads her to her fate.
Patty: A follower, not a leader, Patty's distinguishing characteristic is her tendency to go into trance-like moments of distraction. This trait may be related to why she doesn't reject the experiment the way Eluza did.
Catty: A soft-seeming and idealistic crewmember, Catty has a hidden agenda and is eager to sacrifice herself for the plan. In reality, she is an android created by Solnoid intelligence to monitor the development of the "third race".
[edit] Trivia
- Although never explained in the films, early design images shown by Artmic detailed some of the character’s unique helmet and head gear designs as being inspired by animals: rabbit (Rabby), cat (Patty), and ram (Rumy).
[edit] Video Game
In 1986 (the same year as when Eternal Story was released) Hal Labs, creator of the popular Kirby series put out their first game for the Nintendo Famicom system. The game, itself was a top down shooter and didn't bother to follow the storyline of the games. It featured Rabby flying across Terra in one level and space in another to rescue each of her crew members one at a time.
