Neo Ranga
Encyclopedia
is an anime
television series created by Studio Pierrot
which consists of two seasons, totaling forty-eight episodes. The story is about the three orphaned sisters who have, through a mysterious twist of fate, inherited their very own god - the 18 meter tall Neo Ranga.
Neo Ranga was originally aired in Japan as part of the omnibus show Anime Complex
, and is currently aired on the Quinn channel in Australia.
. It follows them back to Japan, where Neoranga quickly runs afoul of the Japanese Self Defense Force.
Voice: Yuko Sumitomo (Japanese), Kaytha Coker
(English)
Ushio Shimabara is a somewhat tomboyish fifteen-year old with a keen sense of justice and selflessness. She quickly accepts Joel's presence, as well as her position as a keeper of Neo Ranga. Ushio is often seen as being more empathetic and sensible than her siblings, especially in regards to Neo Ranga's interactions with everyday Japanese people.
Voice: Yuko Miyamura
(Japanese), Kelli Cousins
(English)
Yuuhi Shimabara, thirteen years old, attends a private school in Shinagawa, Tokyo
as the result of a scholarship. She is not above using her cute appearance to receive expensive gifts and favors from admirers, even including her teacher. While she is outwardly the most selfish of the sisters, she is also the most popular. Yuuhi takes pleasure in using Neo Ranga to intimidate unsavory elements in her neighborhood such as the yakuza
, much to her sisters' consternation.
Voice: Eri Sendai
(Japanese), Kira Vincent-Davis
(English)
Joel is the harbinger of news from the older brother of the Shimabara trio, and apparently their nephew. He is always accompanied by a small white dragon, and wears his hair in a long braid.
Voice: Harunori Miyata (Japanese), Kevin Corn
(English)
Neo Ranga is the giant protector god of Barou, which resembles a cross between Godzilla and a large semi-organic mecha
(perhaps partially inspired by Neon Genesis Evangelion
), but perhaps more accurately described as being similar to a golem
. It is vaguely humanoid in shape, colored black and gray, and covered with red swirls. Neo Ranga does not talk, and is only able to express itself with its movements and its mysterious eyes.
Ending Theme:
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 created by Studio Pierrot
Studio Pierrot
is a Japanese animation/animation studio, founded in 1979 by former employees of Tatsunoko Production. Its headquarters is located in Mitaka, Tokyo.The company has a simple logo of the face of a clown...
which consists of two seasons, totaling forty-eight episodes. The story is about the three orphaned sisters who have, through a mysterious twist of fate, inherited their very own god - the 18 meter tall Neo Ranga.
Neo Ranga was originally aired in Japan as part of the omnibus show Anime Complex
Anime Complex
Anime Complex was a series of omnibus anime shows broadcast on WOWOW and KIDS STATION. It featured two unrelated series from various producers of 15 minutes each per airing, and cycled as one series ended. It had three runs from 1998 to 2001.The first, Anime Complex, was broadcast on WOWOW from...
, and is currently aired on the Quinn channel in Australia.
Story
The Shimabara sisters (Manami, Ushio, and Yuuhi) are living on their own, with the eldest sister as their breadwinner, when a young man from the fictional South Pacific Island of Barou arrives with news of their long-missing brother. Their brother had married into the Barou royalty, but since he died, leaving the sisters as the hereditary rulers of Barou. As the rulers of Barou, they now fall under the protection of the island's god, Neoranga, which turns out to be a gigantic monster, reminiscent of GodzillaGodzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
. It follows them back to Japan, where Neoranga quickly runs afoul of the Japanese Self Defense Force.
Characters
Minami Shimabara, twenty-four years old, is the eldest of the sisters and essentially acts as a surrogate mother to Ushio and Yuuhi. She works multiple jobs to provide for her family, including delivering newspapers and working as a hostess. She is also the owner of the Star Hole Company, which educates young people on how to handle media pressure as a celebrity, and this experience becomes critical when she and her sisters inherit Neo Ranga. Minami tends to be seen as cold and aloof, partially due to her protective nature and attitude, and partially due to her constant concern with money, and because she is using Neo Ranga for financial gain.Voice: Yuko Sumitomo (Japanese), Kaytha Coker
Kaytha Coker
Kaytha Coker is an American voice actress. She is known for dub voice work for ADV Films and Seraphim Digital.-Notable voice roles:*A.D. Police - Nancy Wilson*All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku - Arisa...
(English)
Ushio Shimabara is a somewhat tomboyish fifteen-year old with a keen sense of justice and selflessness. She quickly accepts Joel's presence, as well as her position as a keeper of Neo Ranga. Ushio is often seen as being more empathetic and sensible than her siblings, especially in regards to Neo Ranga's interactions with everyday Japanese people.
Voice: Yuko Miyamura
Yuko Miyamura
' is a Japanese voice actress, actress, J-pop singer and director of audiography. Her married name is ', although she still works under her maiden name. Miyamura was born in Kobe, and graduated from the theater division of the Tōhō Gakuen College of Drama and Music. Her pet name is '...
(Japanese), Kelli Cousins
Kelli Cousins
-Major anime roles:*Chance! Pop Sessions as Akari Mizushima*Diamond Daydreams as Akari Harada*Excel Saga as Ropponmatsu 1*Full Metal Panic! as Seina*Kino's Journey as Kino*Martian Successor Nadesico as Harumi Tanaka...
(English)
Yuuhi Shimabara, thirteen years old, attends a private school in Shinagawa, Tokyo
Shinagawa, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it is called Shinagawa City. The ward is home to nine embassies.As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population of 344,461 and a density of 15,740 persons per km². The total area is 22.72 km²....
as the result of a scholarship. She is not above using her cute appearance to receive expensive gifts and favors from admirers, even including her teacher. While she is outwardly the most selfish of the sisters, she is also the most popular. Yuuhi takes pleasure in using Neo Ranga to intimidate unsavory elements in her neighborhood such as the yakuza
Yakuza
, also known as , are members of traditional organized crime syndicates in Japan. The Japanese police, and media by request of the police, call them bōryokudan , literally "violence group", while the yakuza call themselves "ninkyō dantai" , "chivalrous organizations". The yakuza are notoriously...
, much to her sisters' consternation.
Voice: Eri Sendai
Eri Sendai
is a Japanese female voice actress who is represented by Production Baobab.-TV animation:*Atsuko Hongō - Yomigaeru Sora - RESCUE WINGS -*Arika - Medabots*Ayaka - xxxHolic*Ayumu Oume - Best Student Council*Furfur - Umineko no Naku Koro ni...
(Japanese), Kira Vincent-Davis
Kira Vincent-Davis
Kira Vincent-Davis is an American voice actress who works for Funimation Entertainment, ADV Films, and OkraTron 5000...
(English)
Joel is the harbinger of news from the older brother of the Shimabara trio, and apparently their nephew. He is always accompanied by a small white dragon, and wears his hair in a long braid.
Voice: Harunori Miyata (Japanese), Kevin Corn
Kevin Corn
Kevin Corn is an American voice actor who has voiced characters in several anime titles for ADV Films.-Voice roles:*Angelic Layer - Kotaro Kobayashi*D.N.Angel - Daisuke Niwa*Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu - Masatami Hyuga...
(English)
Neo Ranga is the giant protector god of Barou, which resembles a cross between Godzilla and a large semi-organic 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:...
(perhaps partially inspired by Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise
The franchise is an umbrella of Japanese media properties generally owned by the anime studio Gainax. It has grossed over 150 billion yen since 1995. The central works of the franchise feature an apocalyptic mecha action story which revolves around the efforts by the paramilitary organization...
), but perhaps more accurately described as being similar to a golem
Golem
In Jewish folklore, a golem is an animated anthropomorphic being, created entirely from inanimate matter. The word was used to mean an amorphous, unformed material in Psalms and medieval writing....
. It is vaguely humanoid in shape, colored black and gray, and covered with red swirls. Neo Ranga does not talk, and is only able to express itself with its movements and its mysterious eyes.
Music
Opening theme:- Episodes 1-24 : "Kaze no Nemuru Shima" - Yuko MiyamuraYuko Miyamura' is a Japanese voice actress, actress, J-pop singer and director of audiography. Her married name is ', although she still works under her maiden name. Miyamura was born in Kobe, and graduated from the theater division of the Tōhō Gakuen College of Drama and Music. Her pet name is '...
, Yuuko Sumitomo, and Eri SendaiEri Sendaiis a Japanese female voice actress who is represented by Production Baobab.-TV animation:*Atsuko Hongō - Yomigaeru Sora - RESCUE WINGS -*Arika - Medabots*Ayaka - xxxHolic*Ayumu Oume - Best Student Council*Furfur - Umineko no Naku Koro ni... - Episodes 25-48 : "Kami to Nare" - Kuniaki HaishimaKuniaki HaishimaKuniaki Haishima is a Japanese musician and composer.-Overview:Haishima is known for his music in several animated and Tokusatsu shows...
Ending Theme:
- Episodes 1-24 : "Prologue ~A City In The Sky " by Masaaki Ito
- Episodes 25-48 : "Kawaki No Miwa Ni Te" - Yuko Miyamura, Yuko Sumitomo, and Eri Sendai
Trivia
- Despite the often racy cover art (involving the Shimabara sisters clad solely in red body paint and strategically placed drapery), there is little to no such content in the first half of the series or most of the second half. For the US DVD releases the cover art was reversible, with the side as shipped showing the sisters appearing to be clad in black and red body suits. This may be due to the ages of the younger two sisters (13 and 15) and corresponding marketing considerations for selling DVDs of this title in the North American market. However, US distributor ADV Films' subsequent Thinpak release of the series features the original, racier artwork.
- The inspiration for the kingdom of the Southern Seas, Balou, is the Island of BaliBaliBali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
(IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
). The two opening credits use Balinese music (KecakKecakKecak is a form of Balinese dance and music drama, originated in the 1930s Bali and is performed primarily by men, although a few women's kecak groups exist as of 2006....
and Gong Kebyar); the temple, dresses, daily life and countryside scenes on Balou are Balinese. Each "waking up" of Ranga in the anime uses the Gong Kebyar theme.