Full Metal Panic! (フルメタル·パニック!,
Furumetaru Panikku!?, often abbreviated to
FMP!) is an ongoing series of
light novels written by
Shoji Gatoh and illustrated by Shiki Douji. The series follows
Sousuke Sagara, a member of the covert
anti-terrorist private
military organization known as
Mithril, tasked with protecting
Kaname Chidori, a spirited Japanese high school girl.
Individual chapters are published on
Monthly Dragon Magazine, followed by a
paperback compilation released by
Fujimi Shobo's Fujimi Fantasia Bunko. The novels are split between stories focusing on Sousuke's mission as a soldier of Mithril and comedic side stories centered on his life at Jindai High School.
The series has been adapted into different media; including three
animated television series:
Full Metal Panic! by
Gonzo in 2002,
Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu and
Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid by
Kyoto Animation in 2003 and 2005 respectively. An
OVA was also released in 2006; and five different
manga series.
Tokyopop licensed the novels for English-language publication in North America
[1] and released parts of the series, while
ADV Films licensed and dubbed the first s
NovelsFull Metal Panic! novels and stories were written by
Shoji Gatoh and illustrated by Shiki Douji. They were serialized in
Fujimi Shobo's
Monthly Dragon Age since 1998. There are two discrete series of books that exist within the narrative: the collected short stories, and the full novels. As of April 2007, there have been nine novels and ten short story collections published. There is also a significant number of short stories that have not yet been published in a collection, making the stories difficult to find outside back issues of the magazine. The main storyline is still continuing, with the latest novel,
Approaching Nick of Time, released on February 2008. Shoji Gatoh has recently stated in his blog that the next novel will be the
climax of the series.
[9] But actually after that it is became known that the next novel will be only the first part. On 20 May 2010 it was announced that novel "Full Metal Panic! 11: Always, Stand by Me Part I" will be released on 17 July 2010 in Japan.
[10][edit] MangaFull Metal Panic! was adapted into a manga on several occasions. The first series entitled
Full Metal Panic, was serialized in
Newtype by
Retsu Tateo. It is collected in nine volumes published by Kadokawa Comics. Much like the novels, a parallel series entitled
Full Metal Panic! Comic Mission, was written by
Retsu Tateo. Five volumes were published as of June 2006. Third and most recent manga adaptation
Full Metal Panic! Σ (sigma) was written by Hiroshi Ueda.
Full Metal Panic!Full Metal Panic! is the first manga adaptation of the light novels by
Retsu Tateo. The events of the manga parallel those of the first anime and the comedy anime
Fumoffu.
Full Metal Panic! OverloadFull Metal Panic! Overload is a comedy manga by Tomohiro Nagai that consists of five volumes. It is licensed and published in English by
ADV Manga.
Full Metal Panic! Comic MissionFull Metal Panic! Comic Mission is a comedy manga by
Retsu Tateo.
Full Metal Panic! ΣFull Metal Panic! Σ is a manga by Hiroshi Ueda. The storyline parallels the light novels, starting at the beginning of the anime season 3
The Second Raid and deals with the events after
The Second Raid.
Full Metal Panic! SurplusFull Metal Panic! Surplus is a single tankōbon manga by Tomohiro Nagai.
[edit] AnimeSee also:
List of Full Metal Panic! episodes[edit] Full Metal Panic!The anime series was produced by
Gonzo Digimation and originally aired in 2002 after its original air date was canceled because of the
September 11 attacks.
[citation needed] The series was licensed to
ADV Films for North American release in 2003. The first three novels form the basis for the anime.
[edit] Full Metal Panic? FumoffuMain article:
Full Metal Panic? FumoffuFull Metal Panic? Fumoffu (フルメタル? ふもっふ,
Furumetaru? Fumoffu?) is a companion series to the anime series
Full Metal Panic! by Kyoto Animation, and takes place between the first season and
The Second Raid. Markedly different in tone to the first series,
Fumoffu emphasizes the high school romantic comedy aspects of
Full Metal Panic! with often crude humor and focuses on the romantic tension between Sousuke Sagara and Chidori Kaname. It frequently parodies itself and anime
stereotypes. None of the mecha combat or political intrigue, which characterized much of the original
Full Metal Panic!, can be seen in the series. The only reference to the mecha aspect of
Full Metal Panic! is the Bonta-kun, which is one of the most prominent parodies in the anime. Sousuke uses spare Bonta-kun costumes to make highly-effective suits of power armor, but they look like teddy bears wearing army gear and can only say: "Fu" and "Mo" in different combinations.
[edit] Full Metal Panic! The Second RaidFull Metal Panic! The Second Raid (フルメタル TSR,
Furumetaru TSR?) is the direct sequel to the original anime series. It was produced by
Kyoto Animation and ran for 13 episodes. The series is based on
The End of Day by Day novels and takes place three months after the events that occurred in the
Tuatha de Danaan at the end of the original
Full Metal Panic! series. Mithril learns of a secret organization that has technology able to counter the ECS (Electronic Conceal System) mode. The organization, known as Amalgam, has access to
Black Technology, which was obtained from the
Whispered. Like the other intelligence agencies, Amalgam intends to obtain more. Sousuke's mission to protect Chidori is terminated by Mithril, instead leaving her in the care of an anonymous agent known as
Wraith (though this ends up being temporary).
[edit] Full Metal Panic! OVAThere is a one episode OVA that takes place after 'Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid'. It focuses on the Captain of the
Tuatha De Danaan:
Teletha Tessa
Testarossa, rather than the two main characters of the series. The OVA is based on short story
Wari to Hima na Sentaichou no Ichi Nichi in short story collection
Dounimo Naranai Gori Muchuu.
[11] Story is also told in chapters 13 & 14 in Full Metal Panic Sigma Volume 04.
On her day off, Tessa wakes up in her commander chair. After regaining her composure, she notices that her favorite stuffed animal is missing and thus tries to remember what actually transpired the night before. To do so, she will spend time with all the main characters of the
Danaan crew, and eventually recalls the events of the previous night.
[edit] Live Action filmA live action film adaptation was announced by
Mandalay Pictures in April 2009, with
Zac Efron rumored to be attached to the project.
[2] Efron has since confirmed a meeting took place regarding the project but added that the adaptation was unlikely to happen.
[12]eason and the spinoff, and released them in North America and the United Kingdom. The second season was licensed by
Kadokawa Pictures USA and
Funimation Entertainment with ADV Films producing the dub yet again.
Mandalay Pictures acquired the film rights to the series in 2009.
[2] At
Anime USA 2009, Funimation announced that it had acquired the rights to the first and second series of Full Metal Panic and both will be re-released remastered on
DVD &
Blu-ray in 2010.
[3][4]