A comprehensive review and recommendation of Combat Fairy Yukikaze ■ Public Media OVA ■ Original Media novel ■ Release date August 25, 2002 ■Release and sales Bandai Visual ■Frequencies half an hour ■ Number of Episodes Episode 5 ■Original Story Chohei Kanbayashi ("Battle Fairy Yukikaze <Revised>" and "Good Luck Battle Fairy Yukikaze" published by Hayakawa Publishing) ■ Director Masahiko Ohkura ■ Production・Animation production: GONZO
Produced by Bandai Visual, FlyingDog, GONZO ■Works ©2002 Chohei Kanbayashi, Hayakawa Publishing, Bandai Visual, FlyingDog ■ Story A huge pillar of mist suddenly appeared in a corner of Antarctica. It was a hyperspace passage for the alien JAM to invade Earth. On the other side of the "passage", on the planet Fairy, the Earth Defense Agency established the Fairy Air Force and set up an outpost to stop JAM's invasion. The battle between mankind and JAM has lasted for more than 30 years, and there is still no end in sight...
Fukai Rei, a young man who trusts the tactical combat electronic reconnaissance aircraft "Yukikaze" more than humans, comes into contact with Jam while collecting combat information in his beloved aircraft. While Jam is interested in Rei and Yukikaze, he uses all means at his disposal to challenge humans to a fight. What is the point of this fight? Soon, Jam launches an all-out attack on the Fairy Air Force... ■Explanation "Combat Fairy Yukikaze" based on the original work by Chohei Kanbayashi.
This masterpiece of Japanese science fiction has captivated many readers since its publication in 1984, and the creative group GONZO is taking on the challenge of bringing it to the screen in its entirety!
With the full cooperation of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the visuals and sound have been crafted to the utmost!
Experience an amazing full-digital sky action movie that stimulates all five senses! ■Cast・Fukai Rei/Sakai Masato/James Booker/Nakata Joji/Lynn Jackson/Ikeda Masako/Lydia Cooley/Asami Yoko/Edith Foss/Yamada Miho/Ansel Lombard/Hashi Takaya/Ito/Sugiyama Noriaki/Tom John/Yao Kazuki ■ Main staff・Original story: Chohei Kanbayashi (published by Hayakawa Publishing)
・Planning and setting producer: Umanosuke Iida・Director: Masahiko Okura・Composition: Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Seiji Togawa・Screenplay: Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Yumi Tada, Masahiko Okura, Seiji Togawa, Ikuto Yamashita, Seiji Kio・Character design: Yumi Tada・Animation and character design: Masahiro Aizawa, Koichi Hashimoto, Yaei Otsuka, Masahiro Sekino, Yu Kato・Mechanical design: Ikuto Yamashita, Seiji Kio, Atsushi Takeuchi, Kanetake Ebikawa・3D special effects director: Atsushi Takeuchi・Animation director: Koichi Hashimoto, Yaei Otsuka, Yu Kato・Mechanical animation director: Koji Abiru・Art director: Yusuke Takeda・Color design: Eriko Murata・Director of photography: Hiroo Yoshioka・Sound director: Yota Tsuruoka・Music: Satoshi Misiba, Dogen Shiono (The Crab)
Music Production: Victor Entertainment Special Cooperation: Japan Air Self-Defense Force Animation Production: GONZO
Produced by Bandai Visual, Victor Entertainment, GONZO ■ Main Characters・Fukai Rei
FAF Second Lieutenant (later Lieutenant). Born in Japan. Pilot of the Fairy Air Force Special Warfare 5th Squadron. Extremely quiet and introverted. Due to past emotional scars, he does not show interest in or try to interact with others. He has absolute trust in his beloved plane, the 3rd plane of the Special Warfare 5th Squadron (personal name "Yukikaze").
James Booker
FAF Major. Born in the UK. In charge of managing the Fairy Air Force's special warfare sorties. His main duties include desk work such as planning operations, instructing aircraft maintenance, and adjusting sortie schedules, and he continues to wait for the return of the special warfare squadron's aircraft, with the supreme command being "absolute survival." He shows more friendship than just professional to his subordinate, Lieutenant Fukai. His hobby is making boomerangs.
Lynn Jackson is a journalist from the United States. She is the author of the non-fiction book "The Invaders," which describes the Jam invasion of the planet Fairy and Earth's military activities against it. She continues to sound the alarm about Jam, which is perceived by Earth's human race as an "unrealistic story."
Lydia Cooley
Brigadier General of the FAF. Born in the United States. Vice Commander of the Fairy Air Force Special Forces. He volunteered to join the FAF, which is a place where criminals and the like are sent. He singlehandedly built up the Special Forces, a "group dedicated to collecting tactical combat information for data collection." He always carries out his duties with a cool-headed attitude.
Edith Foss
FAF Captain. Born in the United States. After obtaining a Master's in Aviation Psychiatry at graduate school, he volunteered for the FAF to explore his research topic, "The mental structure of those with exclusionary tendencies in actual combat." He is in charge of the mental care of Lieutenant Fukai, who has recovered from a long period of unconsciousness.
Ansel Lombard
FAF Colonel. Born in the UK. Commander of the Analysis Center of the Fairy Air Force Intelligence Corps (Fairy Base). After working at a bank, he volunteered for the FAF. Making use of his exceptionally intelligent mind, he has practical control over the FAF's intelligence agency. Behind his seemingly gentle smile, he hides some kind of ambition.
・Tom "Tomahawk" John
FAF Captain. Living in a poor family environment, he suffered from an incurable heart disease and has an artificial heart in his chest. He participated in the development of the FAF's flight management system and was later invited to Fairy. Although he is nicknamed "Tomahawk," he has a gentle and introverted personality. ■ Main robot items・Super Sylph "Yukikaze"
An improved version of the multi-purpose reconnaissance aircraft FFR-31MR "Super Sylph". The original "Super Sylph" is described as a large tactical fighter "Sylphid" modified for tactical reconnaissance, but in fact it is a separate aircraft in terms of design and performance. It is equipped with a powerful engine and an advanced electronic brain for intelligence gathering. In addition, the aerodynamic design has been improved to reduce resistance at high speeds and improve maneuverability. The sensor and data link equipment capabilities are basically the same as the conventional FFR-31MR, but the shape of the TARPS pod sensor blade has become more compact.
Total length: 22.0m
Width: 13.2m
Height: 6.25m (on ground) / 9.75m (with TARPS system "Element" sensor blades deployed)
Weight 12,188kg
Typical takeoff weight for reconnaissance missions: 25,500kg
Maximum takeoff weight 37,890kg
Engine: FNX-5011-D Phoenix MkXID turbofan x 2 units Thrust: 10,220 kg (military power. Both in Earth's atmosphere) 14,780 kg (with afterburner)
Maximum speed: Mach 3.2 (in Earth's atmosphere, altitude 16,000 m)
Cruising speed: Mach 1.7 (in Earth's atmosphere, altitude 16,000m)
Practical altitude limit: 24,000m (within the Earth's atmosphere)
Weapon: 20mm Gatling cannon x 1, 2 hard points under the wing, 2 hard points next to the engine pod *Equipped with long-range AAM-VII, medium-range AAM-V, short-range AAM-III, or high-speed HAM series Crew: 2 Reconnaissance system: TARPS = forward and side oblique camera, vertical camera, infrared imaging camera, infrared line scan, conformal phased array multiband ESM sensor blade, imaging radar, etc., depending on the mission. Real-time digital data link Aircraft load limit: 9G+
Maeve
This is a manned version of the FRX-99 Reif unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, developed as a tactical reconnaissance aircraft to replace the FFR-31MR. The operation and mission systems are also highly automated, just like the FER-99, and it is essentially capable of autonomous flight and operation. The engine is the FNX-5011-D-20 with a new vectored nozzle, which provides thrust even in extreme flight attitudes, such as an aircraft elevation of 90 degrees or more, and can respond to control operations. The reconnaissance system is built into the aircraft or conformally installed, just like the FRX-99, but the functions and performance are basically the same as those of the FFR-31MR Super Sylph.
Total length 18.00m
Width: 14.52m
Total height: 6.28m (Like the original FRX-99, the FRX-00 has a wide range of motion for the wings and tail, and the dimensions change greatly depending on which position they are in. In the above measurements, the total length is when the horizontal stabilizer is parallel to the ground, the total width is when the wings are parallel to the ground, and the total height is when the wings are perpendicular to the ground.)
Weight 12,160kg
Maximum takeoff weight 37,495kg
Engine: FNX-5011-D-20 Phoenix Mk.XI turbofan x 2 units Thrust: 10,220 kg (in Earth's atmosphere, military thrust) 14,930 kg (with afterburner)
Maximum speed: Mach 3.3 (in Earth's atmosphere, altitude 17,700 m)
Cruising speed: Mach 1.75 (in Earth's atmosphere, altitude 17,700m)
Practical altitude limit: 24,800m (within the Earth's atmosphere)
Weaponry: 1 x 20mm Gatling machine gun, 3 hardpoints under the fuselage, 2 hardpoints above and below the wing. *Equipped with long-range AAM-VII or medium-range AAM-V, short-range AAM-III. Typical armament examples include 2 medium-range AAMs via twin launchers on the hardpoints on the centerline of the fuselage, 1 long-range AAM each on launchers on the left and right hardpoints on the fuselage, and 4 AAMs via associated launchers on the top, bottom, left and right hardpoints on the wing.
Crew: 2 people Reconnaissance Systems: Various visible light and infrared cameras, infrared line scan, conformal multi-band ESM sensors, etc. selected depending on the mission.
Aircraft load limit: 9G+
・Sylphid
A large twin-engine tactical fighter named "Wind Fairy". To distinguish it from the Super Sylph, it is commonly called the Normal Sylph within the FAF. It is the FAF's main air superiority fighter.
Fern
A single-seater combat-type fighter that serves as the main force of the Fairy Air Force. Equipped with a ground combat attack system, it automatically detects and attacks Jam supply bases on the ground.
・Farn II
A new tactical fighter of the Fairy Air Force. The previous mainstay FA-1 Fern I lost its advantage due to the improved performance of the Jam fighter, so it was deployed to the Fairy Air Force as its successor. Originally designed as an ungrounded experimental aircraft concept, it has a very innovative design, with a kind of W-shaped wing that combines swept-back and forward-swept wings.
・Leif
An unmanned tactical reconnaissance aircraft that is the successor to the FFR-31MR. A central computer called the "brain part" is installed in the front of the fuselage (where the cockpit would be if it were a manned aircraft). It also integrates highly automated control and navigation systems and mission systems, enabling autonomous flight and operation.
・Jam TYPE I
A type commonly encountered among JAM aircraft. It is thought to be the equivalent of the FAF's tactical and air superiority fighters. It is a tailless aircraft with a large vertical wing under the center. Many aspects, such as the engine type, are unknown.
・Jam TYPE II
Jam's high-speed fighter. When Earth invaded Planet Fairy, the FA-1 Fern I fighters and others demonstrated equal or superior performance, but their advantage was soon lost with the emergence of this machine. ■Subtitle・OPERATION:1(2002/08/25)
・OPERATION:2(2003/02/25)
・OPERATION:3(2003/08/22)
・OPERATION:4(2004/04/23)
・OPERATION:5(2005/08/26) ■ Related works・Battle Fairy Girl Help! Maeve-chan ■ Theme songs and music・OP1
・Engage
・Composer: Clara
・Arrangement: The Crab (Mishiba Satoshi, Shiono Dogen)
・ED1
・RTB
1 to 4
Lyrics: Yumi Tada, Takeshi Yokoyama Composer: Satoshi Misawa, Clara
Arrangement: Keitaro Takanami Vocals: Monsieur Kamayatsu
・ED2
・RTB-AGL2
・5
・Composition: Satoshi Mishiba, Clara
Arrangement: Keitaro Takanami A comprehensive review and recommendation of Combat Fairy Yukikaze ■ Background and history of the work "Combat Fairy Yukikaze" is an OVA based on the science fiction novel by Kanbayashi Chohei. It began with the novel "Combat Fairy Yukikaze" published in 1984, and has been loved for many years, with sequels being released since then. This work is an epic tale of the battle against the alien planet Jam, and is notable for its particular focus on aerial combat and mechanical design. A total of five episodes of the OVA version were released between 2002 and 2005, faithfully recreating the worldview of the original while bringing out the unique charm of a film adaptation. ■ The appeal of the story The story of "Battle Fairy Yukikaze" begins with a hyperspace passageway of the alien planet Jam that suddenly appeared in Antarctica. Jam begins its invasion of Earth through this passageway, and the Earth Defense Agency sets up an outpost on the planet Fairy and continues to fight Jam. The protagonist, Fukai Rei, pilots the tactical combat electronic reconnaissance aircraft "Yukikaze" and is tasked with collecting combat information against Jam. Rei's distrust of humans and absolute trust in machines deeply portray his character, and the development of his background as the story progresses is not to be missed. The question of what the fight against Jam is for also prompts viewers to ponder deeply. ■Charm of the characters Each character in this work is unique, and a diverse human drama is depicted, including Fukai Rei's taciturn and introverted personality, James Booker's friendship, and Lynn Jackson's sense of mission as a journalist. In particular, Fukai Rei's character avoids interacting with others due to past emotional scars, but his absolute trust in his beloved machine, Yukikaze, supports his actions. This portrayal of the characters' inner lives evokes strong empathy from the viewer. Additionally, the backstories and relationships of each character are carefully depicted, enriching the story as a whole. ■ The appeal of mechanical design The mechanical designs for Combat Fairy Yukikaze were produced with the full cooperation of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and are remarkable for their realism and precision. In particular, the design of the "Super Sylph Yukikaze" faithfully reproduces the image of the original as a reconnaissance aircraft equipped with a powerful engine and advanced electronic brain. In addition, aircraft such as the "Maeve", "Sylphid" and "Farn" are also designed to reflect their respective roles and capabilities, adding to the excitement of the story with their visual appeal. Jam's fighter planes also have a unique design, visually expressing the threat of alien bodies. ■ The appeal of video and music The visuals of the OVA version of Combat Fairy Yukikaze are characterised by sky action that makes full use of digital technology. The aerial combat scenes feature detailed, realistic flight and battle scenes, which heighten the tension of the story along with their visual impact. In terms of music, the background music by Mishiba Satoshi and Shiono Dogen adds to the atmosphere of the work, with the opening theme "Engage" and the ending theme "RTB" in particular leaving a strong impression on viewers. The fusion of these visuals and music enhances the quality of the work as a whole. ■ Evaluation and recommendation "Combat Fairy Yukikaze" is a must-see for sci-fi and mechanic fans. The deep story and appeal of the original characters, combined with the visuals and music that can only be achieved through film, leave a strong impression on viewers. In particular, the production skills of GONZO, a group of creators with a particular focus on aerial combat and mechanic design, are a major factor in enhancing the quality of the work. Furthermore, Fukai Rei's human drama and the question of what the battle against Jam is for encourage deep contemplation in the viewer, enhancing the appeal of the story. Here are some reasons why I recommend this film: - The deep story and character appeal of the original work are further enhanced by its adaptation into film.
- Produced with the full cooperation of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the realistic mechanical design and powerful sky action made using full digital technology.
- The background music by Mishiba Satoshi and Shiono Dogen, as well as the opening and ending songs, add to the atmosphere of the work.
- The human drama of Fukai Rei and the question of what the fight against Jam is for encourage viewers to think deeply.
"Battle Fairy Yukikaze" is a work recommended not only for those who are interested in science fiction and mechanics, but also for those who want to enjoy deep human drama and epic stories. Please feel the meaning of the battle between Rei Fukai and "Yukikaze" and the battle with Jam through this work. |
