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Gunparade March

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Gunparade March
Cover of the PlayStation video game
ガンパレード・マーチ
(Ganparēdo Māchi)
GenreAction, Mecha
Created bySony Computer Entertainment
Video game
Kōkidō Gensō Gunparade March
DeveloperAlfa System
PublisherSony Computer Entertainment
GenreAdventure, Tactical RPG
PlatformPlayStation
Released28 September 2000
Manga
Illustrated byHiroyuki Sanadura
Published byASCII Media Works
MagazineDengeki Comics
DemographicShōnen
Original run2001 – 2003
Volumes3
Anime television series
Gunparade March: The New March
Directed byKatsushi Sakurabi
Written byFumihiko Takayama
Music byKenji Kawai
StudioJ.C.Staff
Licensed by
Original networkMBS, TV Kanagawa
Original run 6 February 2003 – 24 April 2003
Episodes12
Anime television series
Gunparade Orchestra
Directed byYutaka Sato (Chief)
Toshiya Shinohara
Written byYoshifumi Fukushima
Music byHikaru Nanase
Masayoshi Furukawa
StudioBrain's Base
Original networkABC, NBN, TV Asahi
Original run 5 October 2005 – 29 March 2006
Episodes24 + 3 OVA

Gunparade March (ガンパレード・マーチ, Ganparēdo Māchi) is a Japanese video game. It was released on 28 September 2000, for the PlayStation.[where?] It was developed by Alfa System and published by Sony Computer Entertainment.

A manga adaptation by Hiroyuki Sanadura was serialized in the magazine Dengeki Daioh. The three volumes published by MediaWorks between 2001 and 2003 were translated by ADV Manga between 2004 and 2005.

An anime television series adaptation titled Gunparade March: The New March (ガンパレード・マーチ 〜新たなる行軍歌〜, Ganparēdo Māchi: Aratanaru Kōgunka) was animated by J.C.Staff and aired on MBS from 6 February 2003 to 23 April 2003. It is licensed for distribution in the United States by Media Blasters as simply "Gunparade March". A spin-off, Gunparade Orchestra (ガンパレード・オーケストラ), was animated by Brain's Base and aired from 5 October 2005 to 29 March 2006. A trilogy of games, the Gunparade Orchestra Trilogy, were released for PlayStation 2 in 2006.

Plot

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In 1945, World War II was abruptly ended when an alien race appeared on Earth and began to slaughter the human population. This alien force, known as the "Phantom Beasts" (or Genjyu in Japanese) had effectively taken over more than half of the Earth. The year is 1999 – 54 years later, mankind is still fighting to survive against the alien forces. Earth forces now use advanced mecha called Humanoid Walking Tanks (HWTs) to combat the invaders, but throughout the ordeal, far too many pilots have been killed in action. To ensure the future of the human race, the Japanese government enforced a student draft which recruited high school students to become HWT pilots. Gunparade March follows the lives of the 5121st Platoon, which consists mainly of drafted high school students and their struggle to defeat the Phantom Beasts and at the same time, lead a normal social life.

Characters

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Atsushi Hayami (速水 厚志, Hayami Atsushi) Voiced by: Akira Ishida (Japanese); Larry Law (English)
Atsushi is the main protagonists of the story and an HWT pilot. Hayami is probably one of the most shy and naive characters in Gunparade March. His personality renders him to be dubbed a "goof" among his colleagues and become somewhat an interest for several of the female characters. When he meets Mai, he develops an interest for her and gradually becomes infatuated with her. However, his timidity prevents him from admitting his true feelings and publicly, he considers her as a "good partner on the job". As an HWT pilot, his attributes are quite balanced and this caused him to be teamed with Mai for piloting the two-seater "Tandem" HWT. However, Hayami tends to be nervous during battles and has the habit of messing up. He also seems to be well aware of the concept that the Genjyu feed upon Human's fear and hatred for them which causes them to attack. This is shown when he elaborates a fairy tale (it is speculated that a fairy tale can bring one's childhood innocence back which eliminates most of one's hatred and fear) aloud while carrying Mai to a safe area when they were stranded in a forest full of Genjyu and the Genjyu were rendered motionless. Later on, the whole platoon tried to pair Mai and Hayami up by setting false tasks and trying to trap them into admitting each others true feelings. It initially appeared to be successful until Hayami's naive personality ended the operation in failure. During the New Year's Eve of 2001, Hayami admitted love to Mai and still pilots the Tandem with her.
Mai Shibamura (芝村 舞, Shibamura Mai) Voiced by: Akemi Okamura (Japanese); Deborah Sale Butler (English)
Mai is the main heroine of the story and an HWT pilot. Mai was a transfer pilot to the 5121st Platoon. She initially separated herself from everyone in the division but formed a friendship with Nonomi and eventually, the whole female crew of the platoon. She first saves Mibuya and Hayami when they were in the effective range of the PBE. Afterwards, she gained the gratitude of Hayami and a slight rivalry with Mibuya. Her skills as an HWT pilot are at near perfection. However, her teamwork is as relatively poor as her communication skills. Later on, Mai reveals that is the daughter of the head of Shibamura Industries. Despite that, she tries to lead a normal life and care for Nonomi, thinking she is responsible for her condition. When Hayami and Mai were stranded, she revealed why she came to join the army despite her status as being the daughter of the head of Shibamura. When she was in her old high school, she became infatuated with an elite HWT pilot but never admitted her feelings to him as he died fighting the Genjyu. Holding a grudge against the Genjyu, she trained to be an elite pilot and was eventually transferred to the 5121st platoon. After Hayami saves her, Mai begins to be infatuated with him but again, she is too shy to admit her true feelings to him.

Adaptations

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Manga

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A manga adaptation by Hiroyuki Sanadura was serialized in the magazine Dengeki Daioh. The three volumes published by MediaWorks between 2001 and 2003 were translated by ADV Manga between 2004 and 2005.

Anime

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Gunparade March

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Episodes
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No. Title Original air date[1]
01"Playback -The Visitor-"
Transliteration: "Pureibakku -The Visitor-" (Japanese: プレイバック -The Visitor-)		6 February 2003 (2003-02-06)
02"Do whatever you like - Going My Way"
Transliteration: "Katte ni Shi ya Gare -Going My Way-" (Japanese: 勝手にしやがれ -Going My Way-)		13 February 2003 (2003-02-13)
03"Summer Blues -Fireworks-"
Transliteration: "Samātaimu Burūsu -Fire Works-" (Japanese: サマータイムブルース -Fire Works-)		20 February 2003 (2003-02-20)
04"Let's Have Tea Together -Duelist-"
Transliteration: "Ni-nin de Ocha o -Duelist-" (Japanese: 二人でお茶を -Duelist-)		27 February 2003 (2003-02-27)
05"Withered Leaf"
Transliteration: "Kareha -Thursday's Child-" (Japanese: 枯葉 -Thursday's Child-)		6 March 2003 (2003-03-06)
06"After You Left"
Transliteration: "Kimi Sarishi Nochi -I Guess Everything Reminds You Of Something-" (Japanese: 君去りし後 -I Guess Everything Reminds You Of Something-)		13 March 2003 (2003-03-13)
07"A Long Night"
Transliteration: "Nagai Yoru -In The Forests Of Nights-" (Japanese: 長い夜 -In The Forests Of Nights-)		20 March 2003 (2003-03-20)
08"In April, She Will"
Transliteration: "Shigatsu ni Nareba Kanojo wa -With Your Musket, Fife, And Drum-" (Japanese: 四月になれば彼女は -With Your Musket, Fife, And Drum-)		27 March 2003 (2003-03-27)
09"You Are the One Who Makes My Heart Pound"
Transliteration: "Kimi ni Koso Kokoro Tokimeku -A Day In The Life-" (Japanese: 君にこそ心ときめく -A Day In The Life-)		3 April 2003 (2003-04-03)
10"Hello Sadness Once Upon a Dime"
Transliteration: "Kanashimi yo Kon'nichiwa -Once Upon A Dime-" (Japanese: 悲しみよこんにちは -Once Upon A Dime-)		10 April 2003 (2003-04-10)
11"I Couldn't Bring It Up a Good Reward for Their Labor"
Transliteration: "Īdashi Kanete -A Good Reward For Their Labour-" (Japanese: 言い出しかねて -A Good Reward For Their Labour-)		17 April 2003 (2003-04-17)
12"Every Time I Say Goodbye Gunparade March"
Transliteration: "Sayonara o Iutabi ni -Gun Parade March-" (Japanese: さよならを言う度に -Gun Parade March-)		24 April 2003 (2003-04-24)

Gunparade Orchestra

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The story focuses and revolves around the 108th Guard Squad, stationed in Aomori, Aomori. A poorly equipped unit with very little military standing, it is often viewed as a 'reject camp' for pilots not making the grade for the elite units based in Hokkaido. The apparent helpless nature of this force is hardly a deterrent for the encroaching enemy armies, ever closing in on both the 108th and the rest of the empire. The young pilots of the 108th, who had dreamed on returning home, are plunged forcefully and unwillingly into a war.

Episodes
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No. Title Original air date[2]
01"First Battle"
Transliteration: "Uijin" (Japanese: 初陣)		5 October 2005 (2005-10-05)
02"Outbreak"
Transliteration: "Autobureiku" (Japanese: アウトブレイク)		12 October 2005 (2005-10-12)
03"A Bridge Too Far"
Transliteration: "Tōsugita Hashi" (Japanese: 遠すぎた橋)		19 October 2005 (2005-10-19)
04"Special Day"
Transliteration: "Tokubetsuna Ichi-nichi" (Japanese: 特別な一日)		26 October 2005 (2005-10-26)
05"Underground"
Transliteration: "Andāguraundo" (Japanese: アンダーグラウンド)		2 November 2005 (2005-11-02)
06"Seven Gold"
Transliteration: "Ōgon no Nana-nin" (Japanese: 黄金の七人)		9 November 2005 (2005-11-09)
07Transliteration: "Haru Futō" (Japanese: 春不遠)16 November 2005 (2005-11-16)
08"Unfinished Symphony"
Transliteration: "Mikansei Kōkyōgaku" (Japanese: 未完成交響楽)		23 November 2005 (2005-11-23)
09"Beyond the War"
Transliteration: "Senka no Kanata" (Japanese: 戦火のかなた)		30 November 2005 (2005-11-30)
10"Dogs of War"
Transliteration: "Sensō no Inu-tachi" (Japanese: 戦争の犬たち)		7 December 2005 (2005-12-07)
11"High Noon"
Transliteration: "Mahiru no Kettō" (Japanese: 真昼の決闘)		14 December 2005 (2005-12-14)
12"The Wind Has Risen"
Transliteration: "Kaze Tachinu" (Japanese: 風立ちぬ)		21 December 2005 (2005-12-21)
13"Tracker"
Transliteration: "Tsuiseki-sha" (Japanese: 追跡者)		11 January 2006 (2006-01-11)
14"Strawberry Field"
Transliteration: "Noichigo" (Japanese: 野いちご)		18 January 2006 (2006-01-18)
15"Rebel Without a Cause"
Transliteration: "Riyū Naki Hankō" (Japanese: 理由なき反抗)		25 January 2006 (2006-01-25)
16"Duel!"
Transliteration: "Gekitotsu!" (Japanese: 激突!)		1 February 2006 (2006-02-01)
17"All Quiet on the Western Front"
Transliteration: "Seibu Sensen Ijō Nashi" (Japanese: 西部戦線異状なし)		8 February 2006 (2006-02-08)
18"The Door into Summer"
Transliteration: "Natsu e no Tobira" (Japanese: 夏への扉)		15 February 2006 (2006-02-15)
19"Planet Love"
Transliteration: "Koi Suru Wakusei" (Japanese: 恋する惑星)		22 February 2006 (2006-02-22)
20"Sea of Prayers"
Transliteration: "Inori no Umi" (Japanese: 祈りの海)		1 March 2006 (2006-03-01)
21"Satomi's World"
Transliteration: "Satomi no Sekai" (Japanese: 里美の世界)		8 March 2006 (2006-03-08)
22"Senju of the South Island"
Transliteration: "Minami no Shima no Senju" (Japanese: 南の島の千寿)		15 March 2006 (2006-03-15)
23"Marathon Man"
Transliteration: "Marason Man" (Japanese: マラソン・マン)		22 March 2006 (2006-03-22)
24"In Late Summer"
Transliteration: "Natsu no Owari ni" (Japanese: 夏の終わりに)		29 March 2006 (2006-03-29)

Reception

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On release, Famitsu magazine scored the game a 31 out of 40.[3] Due to its creativity and attention to detail, it won the prestigious 32nd Seiun Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, beating October Sky, Bicentennial Man, Juvenile, X-Men, and The Iron Giant. and It was a nominee for the "Game of the Year" from Japan Game Awards but lost to Phantasy Star Online (for Dreamcast, GameCube, Xbox and Windows 9x Compatible-PC).

See also

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References

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  1. ^ GUNPARADEMARCH 新たなる行軍歌. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  2. ^ ガンパレード・オーケストラ. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  3. ^ プレイステーション - ガンパレード・マーチ. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.24. 30 June 2006.
  4. ^ Agossah, Iyane (10 February 2022). "Loop8, The Centennial Case Revealed on Nintendo Direct Japan". DualShockers. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  5. ^ Brunskill, Kerry (1 June 2023). "The end of the world can wait in this RPG: I've got a study session with a god". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
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