Full Metal Panic!
Encyclopedia
is an ongoing series of light novel
Light novel
A is a style of Japanese novel primarily targeting junior high and high school students . The term "light novel" is a wasei-eigo, or a Japanese term formed from words in the English language. Light novels are often called or for short...

s written by Shoji Gatoh and illustrated by Shiki Douji. The series follows Sousuke Sagara
Sousuke Sagara
is a fictional character and the main protagonist in the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. He was portrayed by Tomokazu Seki in the original anime and by Chris Patton in the English dub.-Overview:...

, a member of the covert anti-terrorist private military organization
Military organization
Military organization is the structuring of the armed forces of a state so as to offer military capability required by the national defence policy. In some countries paramilitary forces are included in a nation's armed forces...

 known as Mithril
Mithril (Full Metal Panic!)
Mithril is a fictional anti-terrorist private military company in the light novel, manga and anime series Full Metal Panic!. Many of the main characters within the series are members of this organization, among them include Sousuke Sagara, Melissa Mao, Kurz Weber and Teletha Tessa...

, tasked with protecting Kaname Chidori
Kaname Chidori
is a fictional character and the female protagonist of the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. She was voiced by Satsuki Yukino in the original Japanese anime and by Luci Christian in the English dubs by ADV Films and FUNimation Entertainment.-Overview:At first glance, Kaname...

, a spirited Japanese high school girl.

Individual chapters are published on Monthly Dragon Magazine, followed by a paperback
Paperback
Paperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...

 compilation
Bunkobon
In Japan, bunkobon are small-format paperback books, designed to be affordable and portable.The great majority of bunkobon are A6 in size...

 released by Fujimi Shobo
Fujimi Shobo
is a Japanese publishing company that specializes in the publication of light novels, manga, role-playing games and collectible card games. The company started in 1991 as a subsidiary of Kadokawa Shoten.-Magazines published:Light novel magazines...

's Fujimi Fantasia Bunko. The novels are split between stories focusing on Sousuke's mission as a soldier of Mithril and comedic side stories centered on his life at Jindai High School.

The series has been adapted into different media; including three animated
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....

 television series: Full Metal Panic! by Gonzo in 2002, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
is a companion series to the anime series Full Metal Panic! by Kyoto Animation, and takes place between the first season and The Second Raid....

and Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid by Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation
, abbreviated , is a Japanese animation studio located in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It was established in 1981, became a limited company in 1985 and then became a corporation in 1999. Presided by Hideaki Hatta, the company is affiliated with noted studio Sunrise and is also parent to the studio...

 in 2003 and 2005 respectively. An OVA was also released in 2006; and five different manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...

 series.

Tokyopop
Tokyopop
Tokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...

 licensed the novels for English-language publication in North America and released parts of the series, while ADV Films
A.D. Vision
A.D. Vision was an American international multimedia entertainment company headquartered in Houston, Texas, prior to its collapse and distress sale to four other Houston-based companies in 2009...

 licensed and dubbed the first season and the spinoff, and released them in North America and the United Kingdom. The second season was licensed by Kadokawa Pictures USA
Kadokawa Shoten
is a well-known Japanese publishing company based in Tokyo, Japan. Kadokawa has published both manga novels and magazines, such as Newtype magazine...

 and Funimation Entertainment
Funimation Entertainment
Funimation is an American entertainment company. Originally founded in 1994 by Gen Fukunaga, the company became a subsidiary of Navarre Corporation on May 11, 2005...

 with ADV Films producing the dub yet again. Mandalay Pictures
Mandalay Pictures
Mandalay Pictures is a film studio founded in 1995, part of Mandalay Entertainment Group. It teams up with Sony and Paramount Pictures for most of their films. The founder and CEO is Peter Guber. From 1997 until 2002, Lionsgate Entertainment owned a stake in Mandalay Pictures...

 acquired the film rights to the series in 2009. At Anime USA
Anime USA
Anime USA is a fandom convention for anime, manga and Japanese culture enthusiasts. It is an annual three-day event held over a weekend in Crystal City, Virginia , part of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area...

 2009, Funimation announced that it had acquired the rights to the first and second series of Full Metal Panic! and both would be re-released remastered on 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....

 and Blu-ray in 2010. The series began airing in North American on November 22, 2010, on the FUNimation Channel
FUNimation Channel
The FUNimation Channel is a 24-hour cable network which broadcasts anime series in the United States. OlympuSAT was chosen as the exclusive distributor of the network....

. The Fumoffu
Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
is a companion series to the anime series Full Metal Panic! by Kyoto Animation, and takes place between the first season and The Second Raid....

series made its North American television debut on the FUNimation Channel on November 15, 2010.

Plot

The series follows Sousuke Sagara
Sousuke Sagara
is a fictional character and the main protagonist in the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. He was portrayed by Tomokazu Seki in the original anime and by Chris Patton in the English dub.-Overview:...

, a member of a covert anti-terrorist private military organization
Military organization
Military organization is the structuring of the armed forces of a state so as to offer military capability required by the national defence policy. In some countries paramilitary forces are included in a nation's armed forces...

 known as Mithril
Mithril (Full Metal Panic!)
Mithril is a fictional anti-terrorist private military company in the light novel, manga and anime series Full Metal Panic!. Many of the main characters within the series are members of this organization, among them include Sousuke Sagara, Melissa Mao, Kurz Weber and Teletha Tessa...

, tasked with protecting Kaname Chidori
Kaname Chidori
is a fictional character and the female protagonist of the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. She was voiced by Satsuki Yukino in the original Japanese anime and by Luci Christian in the English dubs by ADV Films and FUNimation Entertainment.-Overview:At first glance, Kaname...

, a spirited Japanese high school girl. He moves to Japan to study at Chidori's school, Jindai High School, with assistance from his comrades Kurz Weber
Kurz Weber
is a character from the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. He was voiced by Shin-ichiro Miki in the original and by Vic Mignogna in the English dub.-Overview:...

 and Melissa Mao
Melissa Mao
is a fictional character from the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic! Her voice was provided by Michiko Neya in the original anime and by Allison Keith in the English dub.- Overview :...

. Having never experienced social interactions, Sousuke is found as a military maniac by his schoolmates as he interprets everyday situations from a combat perspective. He comes to relate with Chidori who realizes that Sousuke is protecting her, but he does not reveal the reasons due to orders as well as the fact he does not know why Chidori is being targeted by different organizations.

Setting

The series is set in a parallel world, based upon actual world events around the late 20th century to the early 21st century. The story begins in Heisei
Heisei
is the current era name in Japan. The Heisei era started on 8 January 1989, the first day after the death of the reigning Emperor, Hirohito. His son, Akihito, succeeded to the throne...

 10 (1998 AD), where the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...

 has yet to end. China has split into a north and south, with Hong Kong being split much like Berlin. The major differences between real life Earth and the Full Metal Panic! universe are:
  • China has split into the People's Liberation Committee (North China) and the Democratic Chinese Alliance (South China) along the Yangtze River
    Yangtze River
    The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...

    . Kowloon
    Kowloon
    Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...

     is a North Chinese territory, while Hong Kong Island
    Hong Kong Island
    Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...

     is held by South Chinese forces. Combat in Hong Kong is prohibited by terms of a recent peace treaty.
  • A nuclear warhead was used in the 1991 Gulf War
    Gulf War
    The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...

    . This triggered the Fifth Middle East War.
  • Following the beginning of the fifth Middle East war, the Soviet Union
    Soviet Union
    The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

     successfully reinvaded Afghanistan
    Afghanistan
    Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...

    , which is called Helmajistan in the series.
  • Mikhail Gorbachev
    Mikhail Gorbachev
    Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...

     was assassinated and Perestroika
    Perestroika
    Perestroika was a political movement within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during 1980s, widely associated with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev...

     was halted.
  • Distinct military technology such as Arm Slave
    Arm Slave
    Arm Slaves are fictional mecha from the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. These huge and tall robots are used primarily by military forces in the Full Metal Panic! universe, most especially by MITHRIL and Amalgam.-Overview:...

    s and Black Technology
    Black Technology
    Black Technology is a general term used to describe fictional technology in the Japanese light novel, manga and anime series Full Metal Panic!...

     were developed.


A number of other details differentiates the fictional world. Common changes occur in the Japanese names, as they use homonyms to the names of real life locations. The fictional Jindai (陣代) High School is based on the real life Jindai (神代) High School in Chōfu
Chofu, Tokyo
is a city located in the western end of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 224,878 and a population density of 10,440 persons per km². The total area was 21.53 km². Tokyo Stadium in Chōfu hosts soccer games for two J. League teams: F.C...

, Tokyo. The closest station to the real life Jindai High School is the Senkawa station, changed from 仙川 to 泉川. The Japanese calendar of Heisei
Heisei
is the current era name in Japan. The Heisei era started on 8 January 1989, the first day after the death of the reigning Emperor, Hirohito. His son, Akihito, succeeded to the throne...

 is altered from 平成 to 平政.

Light novels

The light novel
Light novel
A is a style of Japanese novel primarily targeting junior high and high school students . The term "light novel" is a wasei-eigo, or a Japanese term formed from words in the English language. Light novels are often called or for short...

 series Full Metal Panic! is written by Shoji Gatoh and illustrated by Shiki Douji. It was published by Fujimi Shobo
Fujimi Shobo
is a Japanese publishing company that specializes in the publication of light novels, manga, role-playing games and collectible card games. The company started in 1991 as a subsidiary of Kadokawa Shoten.-Magazines published:Light novel magazines...

 in its monthly magazine Gekkan Dragon Magazine
Gekkan Dragon Magazine
, frequently abbreviated as "Doramaga" or "DM", is a bimonthly Japanese seinen light novel magazine, first published in 1988. Many popular light novels which were later animated were originally serialized in it. The magazine also features one or two manga series at a time...

since September 9, 1998 under the "Fujimi Fantasia Bunko" imprint. Gatoh often found delays in writing of the novels, which lead to delays to the publication of the series' volumes. A total of twelve volumes have also been released from December 18, 1998 to August 20, 2010. In parallel to the twelve volumes, ten autoconclusive light novels of the series have also been published starting on December 17, 1998. Ten volumes have been published as of July 20, 2006. In contrast to the regular series, these light novel ones focus on the comedy elements from the series. In January 2010, Gatoh wrote another of these stories in celebration of Gekkan Dragon Magazines 300th issue.

Tokyopop
Tokyopop
Tokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...

 licensed the Full Metal Panic! series for North America release, publishing the first regular light novel on September 11, 2007. The latest released volume is the fourth on February 1, 2011 which is a compilation from the original fourth and fifth volumes from the series.

Manga

Full Metal Panic! was adapted into a manga on several occasions. The first series entitled Full Metal Panic, was serialized in Newtype
Newtype (magazine)
is a monthly magazine publication originating from Japan, covering anime and manga . It was launched by publishing company Kadokawa Shoten on March 8, 1985 with its April issue, and has since seen regular release on the 10th of every month in its home country...

 by Retsu Tateo
Retsu Tateo
is a female Japanese manga artist best known for illustrating the Full Metal Panic! manga, written by the author of the original light novels, Shoji Gatoh. She is also the manga artist of the series Endless Eden serialized in Comic Valkyrie....

. The first Full Metal Panic! manga was collected in nine tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...

volumes published from August 30, 2000 to July 1, 2005. Full Metal Panic! was one of the first manga licensed by ADV Manga, being announced in July 2003. They released all of its volumes from November 10, 2003 to April 11, 2006. A parallel series entitled , was also written by Retsu Tateo and focuses on the comedy elements from the series. Five volumes were published from November 1, 2003 to September 1, 2006.

Another spin-off series is by Tomohiro Nagai. In the story Sousuke suffers amnesia and starts remembering who he is across the manga. It was released in five volumes from January 30, 2001 to April 1, 2003. Overload was licensed by ADV Manga in December 2004, and all of its volumes were published in English from June 6, 2005 to May 24, 2006. Nagai also wrote is a single tankōbon manga published on July 1, 2003 focused more on the action elements from the franchise. The most recent manga adaptation was written by Hiroshi Ueda and focuses on the missions from Sousuke as a sergeant. It is still being published with the first volume published on August 1, 2005 and the latest volume, the fourteenth, published on November 9, 2010. Its events are based from the fourth Full Metal Panic! light novel onwards.

Full Metal Panic!

The anime series was produced by Gonzo Digimation and originally aired in 2002 after its original air date was canceled because of the September 11 attacks. The series was licensed to ADV Films for North American release in 2003. The first three novels form the basis for the anime. The series was available on the Anime Network on Demand from 2003-2004.

Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu

is a companion series to the anime series Full Metal Panic! by Kyoto Animation, and takes place between the first season and The Second Raid. Markedly different in tone to the first series, Fumoffu emphasizes the high school romantic comedy aspects of Full Metal Panic! with often crude humor and focuses on the romantic tension between Sousuke Sagara and Chidori Kaname. It frequently parodies itself and anime stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...

s. None of the mecha combat or political intrigue, which characterized much of the original Full Metal Panic!, can be seen in the series. The only reference to the mecha aspect of Full Metal Panic! is the Bonta-kun, which is one of the most prominent parodies in the anime. Sousuke uses spare Bonta-kun costumes to make highly-effective suits of power armor, but they look like teddy bears wearing army gear and can only say: "Fu" and "Mo" in different combinations.

Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid

is the direct sequel to the original anime series. It was produced by Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation
, abbreviated , is a Japanese animation studio located in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It was established in 1981, became a limited company in 1985 and then became a corporation in 1999. Presided by Hideaki Hatta, the company is affiliated with noted studio Sunrise and is also parent to the studio...

 and ran for 13 episodes. The series is based on The End of Day by Day novels and takes place three months after the events that occurred in the Tuatha de Danaan at the end of the original Full Metal Panic! series. Mithril learns of a secret organization that has technology able to counter the ECS (Electronic Conceal System) mode. The organization, known as Amalgam, has access to Black Technology, which was obtained from the Whispered
Whispered
The Whispered are unique individuals in the Full Metal Panic! universe who possess access to Black Technology, technology that outstrips the level of technology that should exist in the world.- Abilities :...

. Like the other intelligence agencies, Amalgam intends to obtain more. Sousuke's mission to protect Chidori is terminated by Mithril, instead leaving her in the care of an anonymous agent known as Wraith.

There is a one episode OVA that takes place after Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid. It focuses on the Captain of the Tuatha De Danaan: Teletha Tessa Testarossa, rather than the two main characters of the series. The OVA is based on short story Wari to Hima na Sentaichou no Ichi Nichi in short story collection Dounimo Naranai Gori Muchuu. The story is also told in chapters 13 & 14 in Full Metal Panic Sigma Volume 04.

Live action film

A live action film adaptation was announced by Mandalay Pictures
Mandalay Pictures
Mandalay Pictures is a film studio founded in 1995, part of Mandalay Entertainment Group. It teams up with Sony and Paramount Pictures for most of their films. The founder and CEO is Peter Guber. From 1997 until 2002, Lionsgate Entertainment owned a stake in Mandalay Pictures...

 in April 2009, with Zac Efron
Zac Efron
Zachary David Alexander "Zac" Efron is an American actor. He began acting professionally in the early 2000s and became known with his lead roles in the Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical, the WB series Summerland, and the 2007 film version of the Broadway musical Hairspray...

rumored to be attached to the project. Efron has since confirmed a meeting took place regarding the project but added that the adaptation was unlikely to happen.

Reception

The second DVD volume of Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid was given a favorable review by Theron Martin of Anime News Network for pushing the character developments of Sousuke and Kaname as well as dramatic elements beyond comedy and action. Describing the impact of the volume, Martin explains that "[t]he full impact of that [Sousuke and Kaname's relationship] comes out beautifully in episode 7, when Kaname seeks out Sousuke in a moment of fear and, for the first time, Sousuke isn't there for her. It's one of those telling moments that can define an entire series."
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