title_name=Area 88
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Area 88
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エリア88
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Area 88
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Military
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Animanga/Manga| Information
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Animanga/OVA| Information
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Animanga/Anime| Information
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This article is about the manga series. For the videogame, see U.N. Squadron .
is a popular
Manga series by
Kaoru Shintani that has twice been adapted into an
Anime series, and used as the theme for a video game. It is well-known for its realistic depiction of aircraft and air combat.
'Area 88' takes place in the late
1970s /early
1980s and is largely set in a
Middle East ern, war-embroiled country called the Kingdom of Asran in the Middle East. The war uses
Mercenary fighter pilots, with its headquarters at a secret desert military airbase called 'Area 88'. Up-and-coming ace airline pilot Shin Kazama gets tricked into signing up by 'friend' Satoru Kanzaki as part of his jealousy-fueled plot to steal Shin's girlfriend Ryoko Tsugamo. Facing execution for deserting from 'Area 88', Shin reluctantly turns into a fighter pilot and attempts to serve his three year contract out.
Area 88 attracts all kinds of people, with all kinds of assorted (and often sordid) pasts. Among the other mercenaries are Mick Simon, an American who couldn't adjust to normal life after his tour of duty in the
Vietnam War . Mick becomes Shin's best friend at Area 88. Another familiar sight at Area 88 is McCoy, a greedy weapons dealer who sells everything the mercenaries need from toilet paper to the planes that the mercenaries fly in battle. The Commander of Area 88 is Saki Vashtal, who is actually a prince of the nation of Asran, though his royal heritage means nothing there. Also prominent on the base are the war photographer Rocky (presented as Makoto Shinjou in the 2004
Anime ), the Dane Greg Gates (later featured in the
Video Game adaptation) and the numerous pilots with whom Shin flies (most of whom die over the course of the series, often in the issue in which they were introduced). Though the series focuses mostly on Shin, other characters (notably Rocky and Mick) did have their own individual storylines.
There are only three ways to leave Area 88: Survive three years (highly unlikely), buy out your contract for one and a half million dollars (difficult as a mercenary must pay for all his expenses) or desertion (a capital offense if caught). With each enemy plane brought down, Shin faces his shifting acceptance of the violence and killing that fills every day, as well as suppressing his feelings of wrong-doing. Eventually earning his release after numerous setbacks, he returns to normal life only to discover he has changed and can no longer fit into the life he once knew.
''Important combat aircraft seen in the productions include:''
- A-4F Skyhawk -Unnamed pilots, Greg Gates, Leon, Randy, Campbell (OVA, 2004 Anime)
- A-10 Thunderbolt II - Greg Gates (OVA)
- Blackburn Buccaneer - Roundell (2004 Anime)
- Dassault Mirage F-1 - Kitori Palvanaff, Unnamed pilots (2004 anime)
- English Electric Lightning - Escape Killers (OVA)
- F-4J/E Phantom II - Unnamed pilots, Mickey Simon, Patrick Reed, Shin Kazama, Claus (2004 anime), Bugsy (OVA), Palof (2004 Anime)
- F-5E Tiger II - Shin Kazama, and Unnamed pilot(OVA)
- F-8E Crusader - Shin Kazama, Boris
- F-14A Tomcat - Mickey Simon (modified for single-pilot operation)
- F-16A Fighting Falcon - Invulnerable Charlie (OVA)
- F-20 Tigershark - Shin Kazama (OVA)
- F-100 Super Sabre - Mickey Simon (OVA)
- F/A-18A Hornet - unnamed pilots (OVA)
- IAI Kfir - Saki, unnamed pilots (OVA)
- J-35J Draken - Unnamed pilots (2004 anime)
- MiG-23 Flogger - Patrick Reed and Unnamed pilot (2004 anime)
- MiG-27 Flogger - Wolfpack (OVA)
- Sea Harrier FRS Mk.1 - Kim Aoba (2004 anime) and unnamed pilot (OVA)
The enemies against which the Area 88 mercenaries fight often fly different types of planes, ranging from:
''Other aircraft that appear throughout the productions include:''
An . Only the first volume was subsequently released to DVD, but the English subtitles on the DVD suffered from poor translation. An updated 13-episode TV series with CG graphics was created in 2004 and was first aired in Japanese and Asian TV stations by Animax and its branches.
ADV Films took responsibility for distributing it in English and it was released, both regular and boxsets, starting on July 19, 2005.
Central Park Media would later let the original OAV license lapse, which allowed
ADV Films to release it on an undisclosed date in 2006.
Each version of the ''Area 88'' told slightly different variations on the same basic premise, and often shared individual story arcs. However, there are several key differences between each version, especially in the endings. The original manga ending had Shin returning to Japan, but losing all memory of his time in Area 88; the OAV trilogy had Shin return to Area 88 and his (surmised) death when the Area was overrun, and the 2004 anime truncated the story to just after Shin lost his F5E.
The 2004 anime also introduced the permanent characters of Kim, from the manga, and Saki's cousin Kitori, who had never appeared in any prior versions.
See Also: U.N. Squadron
A shooter video game by
Capcom was created in the late 80's, but it was released in the U.S. as ''UN Squadron'', with only the characters connecting the two versions. Versions released included the
Super Nintendo ,
Commodore 64 , and
Amiga , as well as a stand-up arcade game.
In the game, the player could select from Shin, Mick, or Greg as the pilot to play. Each came with a different plane and various advantages; for example, Mick could handle air-to-air dogfights well while Greg excelled at air-to-ground attacks. Each pilot also had special abilities; Shin mastered normal weaponry at the highest speed, Mick inflicted extra damage with his armaments, and Greg recovered from attacks almost before they occurred.
Practically none of the emotion or character development that occurred in the manga or OAVs were transferred over to the game. McCoy and Saki receive zero character development and all the pilots keep the same generic quotes after completing a mission.
Opening Theme:
"How Far to Paradise" by
Derek Jackson
Ending Theme:
"「悲しみのＤｅｓｔｉｎｙ」 (Kanashimi no Destiny)" by
MIO
Opening Theme:
"Mission (Fuga)" by
Angels
Ending Theme:
1: "Dance in the Battlefield" by
Keiko Terada (eps 1-8)
2: "Dance in the Battlefield (English Version)" by
Keiko Terada (eps 9-12)
Area 88 Opening Theme: Mission - Fuga (Released on February 25, 2004)
# Mission (FUGA)
# Dance in the Battlefield
# Mission (FUGA) - Instrumental Version
# Dance in the Battlefield - Instrumental Version
Area 88: Sound File 1 (Released on March 17, 2004)
# MISSION (FUGA) (TV Size)
# Awakening
# Dawn
# Area of remote region
# Drying
# Shivering
# Tension
# The Anthem 2003
# Night of the desert
# Star of the desert
# Sun of the desert
# The evening sun of the desert
# Truth makoto
# Loneliness
# Ambition
# Summons
# Maneuvers meeting
# Combat mission
# Out Of The Blue (Mauro Picotto Remix)
# Bloom of one wheel
# Heart shaking
# Tenshi
# Speed of sound
# Suffering bullet
# Strike
# Symsonic (Vocal Mix)
# Ryoko
# Smile
# Warm
# Can be wrapped
# Far
# In addition, it climbs
# Tsubasa
# Angels theme (G-Aria) (TV Size)
# Dance in the Battlefield (TV Size)
Area 88: Sound File 2
# plot
# ambition
# destiny
# trap
# good job
# dancer
# On The Move (DuMonde Remix)
# dogfight
# Temptation
# a hell on earth
# stand by
# lock on
# Spread Your Wings
# step by step
# sin
# Solstice
# ryoko #1
# ryoko #2
# ryoko #3
# memories
# peace
# serenity
# light
# We Know What You Did
# True Sin
# Dance in the Battlefield (English Version)
Area 88: Mission Cyber Trance
# Mission (FUGA) - (Original Extended Mix)
# Awakening
# The Anthem 2003
# Out of The Blue (Mauro Picotto Remix)
# Symsonic (Vocal Mix)
# Tenshi
# Traffic
# Temptation
# angels theme (G-Aria) - (Wippenberg Dub)
# Solstice
# We Know What You Did...
# Obsession
# On The Move (DuMonde Remix)
# Spread Your Wings
# Mission (FUGA) - (Rock in Heaven Mix)
# angels theme (G-Aria) - (Cyber Trance Mix)
