Rockman EXE: A nostalgic game turned into an anime! A thorough explanation of its appeal and reviews

Rockman EXE: Hero of the Network Era

"Rockman EXE", which aired from 2002 to 2003, is a TV anime based on Capcom's popular game series. The story is set in a future where the Internet has become highly developed, and tells the story of a program called NetNavi and its operator. Below, we will introduce the appeal and detailed information of "Rockman EXE", as well as provide a review and recommendation.

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

game

■ Broadcast period

From March 4, 2002 to March 31, 2003 Every Monday 18:30-19:00

■Broadcasting station

TV Tokyo series

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 56

■Original Story

(Original idea) Capcom

■ Director

Kato Takao

■ Production

・Animation Production: XEBEC
Produced by TV Tokyo, NAS, Shogakukan Shueisha Productions

■Works

©CAPCOM, Shogakukan, ShoPro

■ Story

The year is 200X. With the development of the Internet and other technologies, humanity has entered the age of networks. Everyone has a mobile information terminal called a "PET," and each PET has a pseudo-personality program called a NetNavi built into it. Hikari Netto, a fifth-grader, and his original NetNavi, Rockman, accidentally get caught up in a violent crime committed by a mysterious organization called WWW (World Three).

■Explanation

A TV anime based on Capcom's video game "Mega Man Battle Network Series." "Mega Man Battle Network" is set in a networked society and tells the story of a Net Navi and its operator working together to fight evil. While maximizing the appeal of the original game, the anime has gained support from a wide range of generations by depicting its own unique development and character growth.

■Cast

・Hikaru Netto/Higa Kumiko・Rockman/Kimura Akiko・Sakurai Meiru/Mizuhashi Kaori・Roll/Jo Masako・Oyama Dekao/Numata Yusuke・Gutsman/Shimoyama Yoshimitsu・Ayanokoji Yaito/Kanemaru Hinako・Glide/Kawazu Yasuhiko・Ijuin Enzan/Saiga Mitsuki・Bruce/Matsukaze Masaya

■ Main staff

・Supervisors: Inafune Keiji, Sakami Yasuyuki ・Planning cooperation: Shogakukan Character Business Center ・Concept cooperation: Kurosawa Makoto, Nishimaki Atsushi ・Series composition: Araki Kenichi ・Character design: Ishihara Mitsuru ・Prop design: Watanabe Koji ・Art director: Takayama Hachidai ・Color setting: Ban Natsuyo ・Director of photography: Hirose Katsutoshi ・3DCG production: Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment ・Editor: Henmi Toshio ・Music: Horii Katsumi ・Sound director: Aketagawa Jin ・Music producer: Nagasawa Takayuki ・Animation producers: Yamamoto Shunichi, Marukawa Naoko ・Producers: Kobayashi Noriko, Nakazawa Toshihiro

■ Main Characters

・Hikari Netto A fifth grader at Akihara Elementary School. He has a bright personality but is not very good at studying. However, he has a great compatibility with his navigation system, Rockman, and shows genius powers in virus busting.
・Rockman Net Navi that Netto received from his father. Although he may be small, he has great potential and defeats his enemies with his prized Rock Buster! He has a serious personality and sometimes scolds Netto.
・Sakurai Meiru: Cute and smart, she's the idol of the class. She's always tough on her childhood friend Netto, but in truth she seems to be a little interested in him. ・Role: Meiru's net navigator, cute and kind. She matches up perfectly with Meiru, is very caring, and supports everyone.
・Oyama Dekao He's a rare bully these days, and is usually a bully. But when the time comes, he's a real man who will put his life on the line to protect everyone. However, his virus-busting skills are not so great, and he often loses to Netto.
・Gutsman Dekao's NetNavi, he is good at powerful attacks using his large body, but he is also a reliable guy who will put his body on the line to protect everyone in times of emergency.
A genius girl who skipped a grade and made it to the 5th grade. She is also the daughter of the president of Gabugon, a major game manufacturer. Although she can be cheeky at times, she is actually kind and caring towards her friends.
Glide is a relatively quiet NetNavi who always makes calm decisions. He has a different personality from his operator Yaito, but they are both very knowledgeable.
Enzan Ijuin is proud and tends to look down on others. He is the best at busting viruses, and has a loyal Internet navigator, Bruce, by his side.
A NetNavi with excellent speed and power. His sword skills are particularly outstanding. He is loyal to his operator, Enzan, and their combination is overwhelming.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: Plug-in! Rockman! (2002/03/04)
Episode 2: Subway Rampage! (2002/03/11)
・Episode 3: Signal Panic! (2002/03/18)
・Episode 4: Count to Three! (2002/03/25)
Episode 5: The Runaway Fish Challenge! (2002/04/01)
Episode 6: A fierce battle below zero! (2002/04/08)
Episode 7: Midnight Duel! (2002/04/15)
・Episode 8: Revenge Fireman! (2002/04/22)
・Episode 9: The Terrifying Yoga Warrior! (2002/04/29)
・Episode 10: N1 Grand Prix! (2002/05/06)
・Episode 11: The Invisible Enemy! (2002/05/13)
Episode 12: Clash! Pink Sparks! (2002/05/20)
Episode 13: Scorching Hot Net Battle! (2002/05/27)
・Episode 14: Street Fight! (2002/06/03)
・Episode 15: Special Training! Program Advance! (2002/06/17)
・Episode 16: The Amazing Net Navi! (2002/06/24)
・Episode 17: The True Identity of Beef Commander! (2002/07/01)
・Episode 18: Secret Activities! World Three (2002/07/08)
Episode 19: Horror! Devil Chip! (2002/07/15)
Episode 20: Yaito-chan in dire straits! (2002/07/22)
・Episode 21: The Strongest Tag Team BR Whirlwind! (2002/07/29)
Episode 22: The End of the Final Battle (2002/08/05)
・Episode 23: Pharaohman, the King of Destruction! (2002/08/12)
・Episode 24: Rockman's Revival Plan! (2002/08/19)
Episode 25: Revive! Rockman! (2002/08/26)
Episode 26: Mystery! The Mystery of the Ghost Ship! (2002/09/02)
・Episode 27: I'm going to be an idol! (2002/09/09)
Episode 28: Rockman is Stolen! (2002/09/16)
・Episode 29: The Poisonous Snake Madame's Trap! (2002/09/23)
・Episode 30: Elekimama's Blitzkrieg! (2002/09/30)
・Episode 31: The Magnificent Curry Battle! (2002/10/07)
・Episode 32/Net City (2002/10/14)
Episode 33: Destroy the Virus Factory! (2002/10/21)
Episode 34: Electronic Money in Chaos! (2002/10/28)
Episode 35: 0 seconds before the dam collapses! (2002/11/04)
・Episode 36: Densan City Antarctic Plan! (2002/11/11)
・Episode 37: Red Flash! (2002/11/18)
・Episode 38: The Cutman Brothers are Strangely Strong! (2002/11/25)
・Episode 39: Puri Puri Princess! (2002/12/02)
・Episode 40: Battlefield! (2002/12/09)
・Episode 41: Famous Dog Rush! (2002/12/16)
・Episode 42: Gospel Music for a New Job! (2002/12/23)
Episode 43: Take Me to the Baseball Game! (2002/12/30)
・Episode 44: The Betrayed Knightman! (2003/01/06)
・Episode 45: Go to that moon! (2003/01/13)
・Episode 46: Dr. Wily's Legacy! (2003/01/20)
・Episode 47: Netmobile Grand Prix! (2003/01/27)
・Episode 48: Cyber ​​Monster! (2003/02/03)
・Episode 49/Gospel (2003/02/10)
・Episode 50/Forte (2003/02/17)
・Episode 51: The Hour of Collapse! (2003/02/24)
・Episode 52: The Secret of the Ayanokoji Family! (2003/03/03)
Episode 53: Beef Commander vs. Netto! (2003/03/10)
・Episode 54: Chisao Comes to Town! (2003/03/17)
・Episode 55: Bruce's Long Day (2003/03/24)
Episode 56: Virus Busters! (2003/03/31)

■ Related works

・Rockman EXE Access ・Rockman EXE Stream ・Rockman EXE Beast ・Rockman EXE Beast+
・Rockman EXE: Legacy of Light and Shadow

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Period/Episodes 1-56 ・Rockman's Theme ~Breaking Through the Wind~
Lyrics: Shinichiro Aoyama; Composition: Akira Tsuji; Arrangement: Akio Kondo; Singer: Hitoshi Hashimoto; ED1
・Period: 1~ (March 2002 - August 2002)
・Piece of Peace
Lyrics by Yuko Ebine, Music by Kohei Wada, Arrangement by Takahiro Ando, ​​Singer by mica
・ED2
・Period: September 2002-March 2003 ・begin the TRY
Lyrics: Keiko Kimoto; Composition: Takashi Hori; Arrangement: Takashi Hori; Singer: Shotaro Morikubo

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Mega Man Battle Network" was well received by many viewers as a work that depicts a new hero in a networked society. Below, we will explain the evaluation and recommendation in detail.

■Evaluation

1. **The appeal of the story and setting**
"Rockman EXE" is set in a future where the Internet has become highly developed, and tells the story of NetNavi and its operators. This setting was very fresh for children at the time, and it realistically portrays the possibilities and dangers of a networked society. In particular, the cooperative relationship between NetNavi and its operators, and the virus-busting scenes are captivating and draw viewers in. 2. **Charm of the characters**
The main characters, Netto Hikari and Rockman, are all unique and charming. The characters' growth and relationships are carefully depicted, such as Netto's bright personality and his compatibility with Rockman, Meiru's strong attitude and inner kindness, and Dekao's bullying ways. The members of the World Three, the villains, are also unique, so viewers will not tire of the series. 3. **Animation and Music Quality**
XEBEC's animation depicts the network space realistically, and the battle scenes are powerful. The theme songs and background music are also important elements in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the opening theme "Rockman's Theme - Breaking Through the Wind" in particular is a song that leaves a strong impression on viewers. 4. **Linkage with the game**
It is highly connected to the original game, and viewers who have played the game will find it even more enjoyable. The anime has its own story and character development, but it has also been praised for its successful incorporation of game elements. 5. **Educational value**
We also appreciate the fact that it portrays the dangers of a networked society and the importance of friendship and cooperation. It provides a particularly good opportunity to teach children about internet usage and ethics.

■Recommendation details

1. **As entertainment for children**
"Rockman EXE" is the perfect entertainment for children. The story, which depicts the future of the network society, and the unique characters stimulate children's imagination and allow them to learn while having fun. 2. **As a work for game fans**
For fans of the original game "Rockman EXE series", this is a work that allows them to enjoy the world of the game even more deeply. The anime also has its own story and character development, and those who have played the game will find new discoveries. 3. **As an opportunity to think about the future of the network society**
"Rockman EXE" depicts the future of the network society, and gives viewers an opportunity to think about its possibilities and dangers. In particular, in this day and age when the Internet is becoming more and more widespread, it will be a good opportunity to think about how to use the Internet and its ethics. 4. **As a work that teaches the importance of friendship and cooperation**
The friendship and cooperation between characters such as Netto and Rockman, Meiru and Roll, and Dekao and Gutsman teaches the viewers the importance of these things. It is especially good teaching material for children to learn the importance of cooperation with friends. 5. **As a work that can be enjoyed for its animation and music quality**
With high-quality animation by XEBEC and high-quality theme songs and background music, "Rockman EXE" is a satisfying work for viewers who enjoy animation and music. In particular, the opening theme "Rockman's Theme ~Through the Wind~" is a song that will leave a strong impression on viewers.

Conclusion

"Mega Man Battle Network" has been well received by many viewers as a work that depicts a new type of hero in a networked society. It has been praised for a variety of elements, including the appeal of its story and setting, the appeal of its characters, the quality of its animation and music, its linkage with games, and its educational value. It is a work that can be recommended to a wide range of people, as entertainment for children, as a work for game fans, as a way to think about the future of networked society, as a work that teaches the importance of friendship and cooperation, and as a work to enjoy the quality of its animation and music. Please watch "Mega Man Battle Network" and experience its charm for yourself.