F-ZERO Falcon Legend: Evaluating the ultimate fusion of speed and combat

F-ZERO Falcon Legend: A tale of space speed and justice

"F-ZERO Falcon Densetsu" is a TV anime series based on the popular Nintendo game series "F-ZERO", which aired on TV Tokyo from October 7, 2003 to September 28, 2004. The 51-episode series is set in a future space society and tells a thrilling story where racing and criminal investigations intersect.

■ Story

In the year 2201, humanity has expanded into space, but behind the scenes, the gap between rich and poor has widened, and huge crimes have spread across the planet. Meanwhile, Ryu, who had been cryopreserved, is awakened by the command of Jodie, the captain of the High Mobility Platoon. However, his freedom is taken away and he is forced to join the High Mobility Platoon and act as a pilot of the F-ZERO machine.

The High Mobility Platoon is a police organization that secretly participates in the F-ZERO Grand Prix, a race that is enthusiastically supported in the space community, and cracks down on villains who gather there in the hopes of winning the prize money. When Ryu learns that a dangerous criminal he let slip away 150 years ago has returned to life in this era, he decides to get behind the wheel again to catch the culprit.

■Cast

The cast that makes this work so fascinating includes the following voice actors:

• Ryu Suzaku: Toshiyuki Morikawa
• Jodie Summer: Kikuko Inoue
• Jack Levin: Kazuki Yao
• Dr. Stewart: Nobuo Tobita
• John Tanaka: Kazunobu Chiba
• Zoda: Shinpachi Tsuji
• Lucy Liberty: Nana Mizuki
• Captain Falcon, Bert Lemming: Hideyuki Tanaka

■ Main staff

The following staff members were involved in the production of "F-ZERO Falcon Densetsu":

• Original idea: "F-ZERO" series (Nintendo)
• Director: Aiumi Chibuki
• Supervised by: Shigeru Miyamoto, Takaya Imamura
• Series Composition: Akiyoshi Sakai
• Character design: Toyoo Ashida
• Mechanic design works: Hiroyuki Okawa, Shohei Obara
• F-ZERO car design: Katsuji Murakami
• Composite Designer: Tetsuji Hayakawa
• Chief animation director: Daisuke Yoshida
• Art director: Masatoshi Muto
• Color design: Umeda Yuki
• Director of photography: Koichi Sawaguchi
• Edited by: Shigeyuki Yamamori
• Sound Director: Noriyoshi Matsuura
• Music: Takayuki Negishi
• 3D-CGI Director: Hayashi Hidenori
• 3D-CGI cooperation: Tsuburaya Productions, discreet
• 3D Director: Takenori Sobue
• Producers: Azuma Fukashi, Sugiyama Yutaka, Hirase Kiyonori
• Producers: Mitsuhiro Masuda, Naoyuki Masaki
• Produced by: TV Tokyo, Dentsu, Ashi Productions

■ Main Characters

There are many unique characters in "F-ZERO Falcon Legend". The main characters are listed below:

Ryu Suzaku

Ryu, a machine detective, hits a hostage while chasing a criminal, and is put into cold sleep after hovering between life and death himself. He wakes up 150 years later in 2201 and becomes a member of a high-mobility platoon that challenges the space emperor who is ravaging the galaxy. He is a passionate, sensitive man with a strong sense of justice. Before he was put into cold sleep in 2051, before he was put into cold sleep, he became a machine detective due to his innate sense of justice, but while working as a detective, he also recorded amazing results as a racer. That is why he was a thorn in the side of the criminals.

Jodie Summer

Jodie, captain of the Galactic Federation High Mobility Platoon, lost her brother, who was the chief of the Galactic Police Department, to Black Shadow's right-hand man (Zoda), and was taken hostage by the enemy, sustaining serious injuries and leaving parts of her body cyborg. As the perpetrator who killed her brother was also a dangerous criminal that Ryu was pursuing, she decided to make Ryu a member of her platoon and try to eradicate evil. Her ruthlessness and willingness to make any sacrifice to achieve her goals is due to the trauma of her past, but behind her stern and cold iron mask, her suppressed hot blood brims.

Dr. Stewart

Dr. Stewart is a member of the High Mobility Platoon and a capable surgeon, who is also Jodie's advisor. He is calm, collected, and has good judgment, and is responsible for calming and controlling Jodie's sharp personality that tends to run wild. He was originally a capable doctor in the Space Federation, but was dispatched to the High Mobility Platoon as Jodie's assistant by the chief's orders. He is rather quiet, but he gives good advice at crucial times. He is a man who usually enjoys quietly drinking coffee while listening to classical music, but he is very sensitive and has no gaps.

Zoda

Zoda, a murderer from 150 years ago, was sentenced to eternal freezing, but after about 150 years, he was freed from the frozen prison by the Space Emperor. He became Black Shadow's right-hand man and ravaged the galaxy with his machines, and has been Ryu's nemesis for 150 years. He was once the leader of an evil organization that shook New York, and was feared even among villains for his cold-blooded ruthlessness, as there was nothing more frightening than when he laughed.

crash

Crash is a member of the High Mobility Platoon and is in charge of repairing and modifying machines. He is short-tempered and quick-tempered despite working with precision machinery. He is a machine maniac who lives in a machine warehouse and cannot relax unless he can smell the oil. He himself lives in the Galaxy Police Department's factory. When he has a tantrum or gets excited, he calms down if you take him to a place that smells of oil. He has a habit of becoming so engrossed and absorbed in machines that he forgets about everything else.

Lucy Liberty

On her way to the site to watch the race on a space shuttle bus, Lucy is hijacked by a space biker gang, but is saved by Ryu of the High Mobility Platoon, and is attracted to his boldness and decides to join. Although she is a rather clumsy and slow turtle, and often holds the team back, her strengths are that she is cheerful and never gives up. She admires Ryu. Even Jack, who is a womanizer, doesn't make a move on Lucy. Her strengths are that, unlike Jodie and others, she is feminine and good at cooking, which makes her highly valued by everyone.

Captain Falcon

Captain Falcon, a skilled pilot who has traveled the universe, is a mysterious man who appears out of nowhere and steals the prize money of races. He is a man who is unclear as to whether he is an ally or foe, but he is actually under the imperial command of the Federation. He is fearless, appears like a gale and disappears into space like a gale, and can be said to be Ryu's greatest rival.

Jack Levin

Jack Levin, an outlaw with a strong rivalry with Ryu, initially makes fun of Ryu, but gradually falls in love with his skills. He spends all his free time hanging out at clubs and picking up girls, and although he thinks he's handsome, he's not as popular as he thinks he is. He's a joker, a bit of a flirt, and loves silly jokes, but he's skilled, and it was his skills that got him accepted into the army.

John Tanaka

John Tanaka, the Chief of the Galaxy Police, appears to be a gentle and thoughtful gentleman, but deep down he is timid and indecisive when it matters. He is a pathetic middle manager who is at a loss as to what to do, being tossed around by orders from the Federation and the selfish actions of his platoon member, Jodie.

Misaki Haruka

150 years ago, Misaki Haruka was a circuit lesbian queen; a beautiful, cheerful and lively woman like a flower, who fell in love with Ryu.

EAD

He is a kind and strong type of EAD, so he is useful for heavy lifting, but he is also trusting and cannot hide anything. He speaks broken Japanese.

Samurai Goro

Samurai Goro, the leader of the Space Bandits, loves period dramas and always carries a Japanese sword as his weapon. He is an antique man of honor and humanity, rare in the distant future, who does nothing but bad things with his motto "I'll steal, but I won't kill." He is a big eater, but despite his appearance, he is also innocent and devoted to his wife (Lisa), whom he loves, and doesn't pay any attention to other women.

Lisa Brilliant

Goro's wife, Lisa Brilliant, has a voluptuous body and is very sexy, and her courage matches Goro's. Even though she does bad things, she has a refreshing attitude.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of "F-ZERO Falcon Legend" are as follows:

• Episode 1: The Legend Begins!! (2003/10/07)
• Episode 2: Captain Falcon (2003/10/14)
• Episode 3: Apprentice Lucy (2003/10/21)
• Episode 4: Samurai Goro Arrives! (2003/10/28)
• Episode 5: Brilliant Trap (2003/11/04)
• Episode 6: Diva Kate Allen (2003/11/11)
• Episode 7: Michael Chain's Trap (2003/11/18)
• Episode 8: Mysterious Woman, Miss Killer (2003/11/25)
• Episode 9: Jodie's Secret (2003/12/02)
• Episode 10: Roger and Drak (2003/12/09)
• Episode 11: The Boy from Planet Hell (2003/12/16)
• Episode 12: Laughing Black Shadow (2003/12/23)
• Episode 13: Honor (2004/01/06)
• Episode 14: Iron Man Nielsen (2004/01/13)
• Episode 15: Sniper Pico (2004/01/20)
• Episode 16: Leave it to Super Arrow! (2004/01/27)
• Episode 17: Ryu's Gorgeous Holiday (2004/02/03)
• Episode 18: The Adventures of Crank (2004/02/10)
• Episode 19: Lucy's Big Salty Plan (2004/02/17)
• Episode 20: The Disappearance of Mrs. Arrow (2004/02/24)
• Episode 21: Battle of the Passionate Women!! (2004/03/02)
• Episode 22: Ryu and Falcon (2004/03/09)
• Episode 23: Run! Spin Booster!! (2004/03/16)
• Episode 24: Octoman Dream (2004/03/23)
• Episode 25: Supermaterial Reactor Might! (2004/03/30)
• Episode 26: Zoda's Ambition (2004/04/06)
• Episode 27: Beast Hunter (2004/04/13)
• Episode 28: An Invitation from Black Shadow (2004/04/20)
• Episode 29: Mighty Gazelle! (2004/04/27)
• Episode 30: Another Falcon (2004/05/04)
• Episode 31: Memories (2004/05/11)
• Episode 32: Cry from the Darkness (2004/05/18)
• Episode 33: James MacLeod (2004/05/25)
• Episode 34: Crank and the Gazelle (2004/06/01)
• Episode 35: Falcon's Confession (2004/06/08)
• Episode 36: Haruka (2004/06/15)
• Episode 37: Grim Reaper Jack Levin (2004/06/22)
• Episode 38: Falcon's Red Flower (2004/06/29)
• Episode 39: High-mobility platoon, disbanded! (2004/07/06)
• Episode 40: Coffee Break (2004/07/13)
• Episode 41: Black Shadow Vanishes! (2004/07/20)
• Episode 42: Don Jeanie's Castle (2004/07/27)
• Episode 43: Awakening (2004/08/03)
• Episode 44: Black Shadow's Plan (2004/08/10)
• Episode 45: Zoda (2004/08/17)
• Episode 46: The Legendary Man (2004/08/24)
• Episode 47: Fate (2004/08/31)
• Episode 48: The Dark Reactor (2004/09/07)
• Episode 49: 150 Years of Resolution (2004/09/14)
• Episode 50: Black Shadow (2004/09/21)
• Episode 51: The Legend of Falcon!! (2004/09/28)

■ Theme songs and music

The theme songs and insert songs for "F-ZERO Falcon Densetsu" are as follows:

OP1: THE MEANING OF TRUTH

• Lyricist: Hiromitsu Aoki
• Composer: Takashi Nakayama
• Arrangement: Takashi Nakayama
• Sung by: HIRO-X

ED1: Resolution

• Lyricist: ai
• Composer: Marumo Shingo
• Arrangement: Shingo Marumo
• Sung by: AiM

IN1: Forever

• Lyrics: Fortuna, Yumi Kawanabe
• Composer: Fortuna, chaos
• Arrangement: Teruichi Moriyama
• Sung by: AiM

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"F-ZERO Falcon Densetsu" successfully draws viewers in by recreating the speed and thrill of the original game in the medium of anime while developing a unique story and characters. Highlights include dramatic developments such as the relationship between Ryu and Captain Falcon and the showdown with Zoda. Each character also has a distinct personality, leaving a deep impression on viewers.

This work skillfully combines the two elements of racing and criminal investigation, providing viewers with a fresh experience. The animation quality is also high, and the depiction of the racing scenes is particularly impressive. The music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the theme song and insert songs add depth to the story.

"F-ZERO Falcon Legend" is recommended not only for fans of the original game, but also for viewers who want to enjoy action and suspense. It is a long series with 51 episodes in total, but each episode has a different story, so you won't get bored. Please pay particular attention to the epic scale of the story set in space and the human drama of the characters.