Birth (anime)
Encyclopedia
, also known in the West as Planet Busters or The World of the Talisman, is a 1984 anime
original video animation
(OVA), which was released on VHS
and DVD
in North America
by, variously, Streamline
and ADV Films. The Japanese DVD was released by video game developer Atlus
on March 25, 2005.
It is based on a far futuristic planet where four mercenaries
try to find the ultimate weapon which can either save humanity or destroy it. Against mecha
s and strange races, together they sweep the vast planet to reach their goal.
Aqualoid was a prosperous planet, but an attack from a mysterious life force, the Inorganics, transforms it into a post-apocalyptic shell of its former self. When Nam finds a mysterious sword, he is suddenly the object of a planet-wide chase. With the Inorganics closing in, will Nam and his friends discover the secret of the sword and save their world? Or will they destroy Aqualoid in favor of a new Birth?
acted as one of the OVA's key animators. Another noteworthy animator on Birth was a young Hideaki Anno
, who would go on to direct Neon Genesis Evangelion
.
and released by Streamline Pictures
in North America and the United Kingdom under the title The World of the Talisman. According to New Straits Times
, it briefly aired in Malaysia in late 1987. The OVA was later retitled yet again to Planet Busters. Harmony Gold's version changes some of the character names, tones down some of the more surreal Japanese humour to appeal to a younger audience, and contains more American-style dialogue, alternate music composed by Randy Miller
and additional voice-overs. The second dub by ADV Films, released on DVD on July 13, 2004, is much more faithful to the original Japanese version.
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
original video animation
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
(OVA), which was released on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
by, variously, Streamline
Streamline Pictures
Streamline Pictures was an American media company that was best known for its distribution of English dubbed Japanese animation. -Founding:Founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1988, Streamline Pictures was one of the first North American companies that was created primarily for the intention of...
and ADV Films. The Japanese DVD was released by video game developer Atlus
Atlus
is a Japanese computer and video game developer, publisher, and distributor based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for developing the console role-playing game franchise Megami Tensei. The first Megami Tensei was a Nintendo Entertainment System video game published by Namco based on a trilogy of...
on March 25, 2005.
It is based on a far futuristic planet where four mercenaries
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
try to find the ultimate weapon which can either save humanity or destroy it. Against mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
s and strange races, together they sweep the vast planet to reach their goal.
Aqualoid was a prosperous planet, but an attack from a mysterious life force, the Inorganics, transforms it into a post-apocalyptic shell of its former self. When Nam finds a mysterious sword, he is suddenly the object of a planet-wide chase. With the Inorganics closing in, will Nam and his friends discover the secret of the sword and save their world? Or will they destroy Aqualoid in favor of a new Birth?
Production
Yoshinori KanadaYoshinori Kanada
was an influential Japanese animator originally from Nara, Japan. He is best known for his popular 1984 work Birth, one of the first original video animations released in the market. Though he did not create many character designs, he was famous for his character animation skills...
acted as one of the OVA's key animators. Another noteworthy animator on Birth was a young Hideaki Anno
Hideaki Anno
is a Japanese animation and film director. Anno is best known for his work on the popular anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. His style has come to be defined by the touches of postmodernism that he injects into his work, as well as the thorough portrayal of characters' thoughts and emotions,...
, who would go on to direct Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion
, commonly referred to as Evangelion, is a commercially and critically successful Japanese anime series that began airing in October 1995. The series was highly influential, and launched the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise. It garnered several major animation awards...
.
English dubs
Two English dubs of Birth exist. The first was licensed in 1987 by Harmony GoldHarmony Gold USA
Harmony Gold is a television production and distribution company established in 1983. It is best known as the “creator” and main distributor of the anime series Robotech. It also partially dubbed the Dragon Ball series in the late 1980s....
and released by Streamline Pictures
Streamline Pictures
Streamline Pictures was an American media company that was best known for its distribution of English dubbed Japanese animation. -Founding:Founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1988, Streamline Pictures was one of the first North American companies that was created primarily for the intention of...
in North America and the United Kingdom under the title The World of the Talisman. According to New Straits Times
New Straits Times
The New Straits Times is an English-language newspaper published in Malaysia. It is Malaysia's oldest newspaper still in print , having been founded as The Straits Times in 1845, and was reestablished as the "New Straits Times" in 1965. The paper served as Malaysia's only broadsheet format English...
, it briefly aired in Malaysia in late 1987. The OVA was later retitled yet again to Planet Busters. Harmony Gold's version changes some of the character names, tones down some of the more surreal Japanese humour to appeal to a younger audience, and contains more American-style dialogue, alternate music composed by Randy Miller
Randy Miller
Randall J. "Randy" Miller was an American musician and drummer for the Seattle-based band, The Myriad.Miller was born in Long Beach, California in 1971 to Jack and Jayne Miller. He moved to Redding, California, in 1985 with his family. Miller graduated from Central Valley High School in Redding in...
and additional voice-overs. The second dub by ADV Films, released on DVD on July 13, 2004, is much more faithful to the original Japanese version.
Characters
In order of appearance - ADV(2004) / Streamline(1992,1987) / Japanese (1984)- Monga - Matt Hislope / __ / Fuyumi ShiraishiFuyumi Shiraishiis a Japanese voice actor.-Voice Roles:*Ashita no Joe *Osomatsu-kun 1966 *Obake no Q-Taro 1985 *Kaibutsu-kun 1968 *Mobile Suit Gundam 1979-1980 *Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam 1985...
- Mu-nyo - Cyndi WilliamsCyndi WilliamsCyndi Lou Williams is a voice actor and script writer. She has appeared in anime series mostly bt ADV Films. She was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Actress for her performance in Kyle Henry's film, Room, which was nominated for the Cassavetes Award.-Anime Roles:* Birth -...
/ __ / Chika SakamotoChika Sakamotois a Japanese voice actress from Tokyo affiliated with Arts Vision.-Television animation:*Baby and Me *Ashita no Nadja *Legend of the Mystical Ninja *Fighting Foodons *Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ... - Rasa - Alexis Chamov / Sandra Snow / Miina TominagaMiina Tominaga, better known by her stage name of is a Japanese seiyū and tarento from Nishi-ku, Hiroshima. She is currently attached to Mint Avenue....
- Kim/Keen - Bradley Carlin / Ryan O'FlanniganKerrigan MahanKerrigan Mahan is an American voice actor, also known as Ryan O'Flannigan.Mahan was born in Los Angeles, California. His voice ranges from young and exuberant to sneering and Lee Van Cleef-ish...
/ Kaneto ShiozawaKaneto ShiozawaKaneto Shiozawa , real name was a Japanese voice actor from Tokyo affiliated with Aoni Production. He had a distinctive cold, calm voice which usually typecast him in roles as villains or anti-heroes.... - Bao/Mo/Pao - James Phillips / Greg Snow / Ichiro NagaiIchiro Nagaiis a male seiyū from Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture. He was formerly represented by Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society, but is now represented by Aoni Production.-Television animation:*Akuma-kun *Bikkuriman...
- Nam's Ostrich - Cyndi WilliamsCyndi WilliamsCyndi Lou Williams is a voice actor and script writer. She has appeared in anime series mostly bt ADV Films. She was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Actress for her performance in Kyle Henry's film, Room, which was nominated for the Cassavetes Award.-Anime Roles:* Birth -...
/ __ / - Nam/Talon - Brent Werzner / Tony OliverTony OliverRafael Antonio Olivier , better known as Tony Oliver, is an American voice actor best known for voicing Rick Hunter from Robotech and Arsène Lupin III from Lupin The 3rd...
/ Kazuki YaoKazuki Yaois a veteran voice actor and actor currently represented by Mix Max.- Television animation :* Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple * Astro Boy * Beast Wars * Beast Wars Neo... - Arlia - Gemma Wilcox / __ / Keiko TodaKeiko Todais a Japanese actress and seiyū. Her most famous role is being the voice of the children's hero Anpanman on the long running anime Soreike! Anpanman...
- Orange Mole - Robert S. Fisher / __ /
- Inorganic Biker #1 - Robert MatneyRobert MatneyRobert Matney in Dallas, Texas, is a social web marketer, actor , theater director, and currently living in Austin, Texas. Robert is co-producing artistic director of Breaking String Theater and the technology designer at the Hidden Room Theatre...
/ A. Gregory / Ryunosuke Ohbayashi - Inorganic Biker #2 - Matt Hislope / __ / Yusaka Yara
- Inorganic Biker #3 - Robert S. Fisher / __ / Kozo ShioyaKozo ShioyaKōzō Shioya is a veteran seiyū born in Kagoshima Prefecture. He is currently represented by Aoni Production...
- Village Girl/Child - Samantha Inoue-HarteSamantha Inoue-HarteSamantha Inoue Harte , nicknamed Sami Harte or Sammy Harte, is a founder of an animation studio called Saiko Studios. She is also a voice actress for ADV Films, FUNimation Entertainment, New Generation Pictures and an animation instructor....
/ Rebecca ForstadtRebecca ForstadtRebecca Lynn Olkowski , better known by her maiden name, Rebecca Forstadt, is an American voice actor who is best known for playing anime girls with sweet voices. She is also known as Reba West and Becky Olkowski.After studying theater at Orange Coast College, in Costa Mesa, California, Ms...
/ Noriko TsukaseNoriko Tsukasewas a Japanese voice actress and chanson singer active during the 1970s and 1980s.Tsukase was born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. Her most popular roles included Spank in Ohayō! Spank, Miss Alphonne in the original Cutie Honey TV series, and Non in Majokko Megu-chan...
- Grandma/Mother - Mary Agen Cox / Lisa Michaels / Reiko Suzuki
- Grandpa/Father - Garry PetersGarry PetersGarry Lorne Peters is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre and head coach who played in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins...
/ __ / Joji YanamiJoji Yanamiis a Japanese voice actor currently represented by Aoni Production.- Television :* Ookami Shōnen Ken , Boss* Hustle Punch , Professor Garigari/Garigari Hagase* Osomatsu-kun , Tou-san... - Inorganic Biker Kid/Kooni - Jeffrey Mills / __ / Masahiro Anzai
- Monster Octopus - Robert S. Fisher / __ / Miki TakahashiMiki Takahashiis a seiyū and singer born on September 19, 1961 in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Together with her friend Chika Sakamoto, she participated in the third incarnation of the radio show Animetopia...
- Giant Inorganic - Vinnie Moxpar / __ / Yoko Kogayu
- Monga's Tribe - Bigjyl, Jim Damm, Robert S. Fisher, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Wil Ragan, Jessica Simon, Ben Turrabiarte, Racel Vasquez, Dominic Vitucci, Kenny Weigel