SoltyRei
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese anime
series by Gonzo and AIC
combining attributes of drama and sci-fi, about the inhabitants of a city where an Aurora
prevents aerial travel. It is directed by Yoshimasa Hiraike
and co-produced by TV Asahi
, Gonzo and AIC
with music by Toshiyuki Ōmori.
On April 2, 2006, Funimation Entertainment
confirmed at Anime Expo
that it had the rights to distribute SoltyRei.
On January 26, 2009, the series made its North American television debut on the Funimation Channel
.
in a broken city, a city where thousands have died in a mysterious event called the Blast Fall. Those who survived share the sting of loss. Countless Resembles walk the streets, people whose mangled bodies have been rebuilt with high-tech prosthetic devices
.
Yet there are those that even science cannot mend. Roy needs a miracle to escape his rut... and one night she falls from the sky. Like countless others, Solty is a Resemble, but one unlike the world has ever known. A young girl without a past, soon she will have a family. But in this world, pain and alienation are never too far away.
Blast Fall
Genuine
Hilga
New Rights Child
PROCEED
R.U.C. (Reestablishment Universe Committee)
Registered Citizen/Unregistered Citizen
Resemble
has acquired rights for distribution of Solty Rei in Australia and New Zealand and released it on six DVD volumes between 15 August 2007 and 23 January 2008. A complete collection, including the OVA as episodes 25 and 26, was released on 17 September 2008.
Ending Theme:: Episode:01 - 11, 13 - 23 and Extra Episode(25 - 26)
Insert Theme:
There is currently one volume of the manga released in Japan.
(ISBN 9784758060066)
There is one visual fanbook already released in Japan.
comments that "Studio Gonzo are famous for using computer-generated elements along with their traditional cell animation, and this same technique is used fairly frequently on Solty Rei. The hand drawn animation is nicely done and the CGI is good too". Hyper criticises the CGI graphics showing "the strings" in many sequences that use CGI, "which can be an unwelcome distraction".
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....
series by Gonzo and AIC
AIC (company)
, often abbreviated as AIC, is a Japanese anime studio with headquarters in Nerima, Tokyo.The company was founded on July 15, 1982. In addition to producing anime for domestic consumption in Japan, AIC has provided animation assistance on other animated series such as Inspector Gadget...
combining attributes of drama and sci-fi, about the inhabitants of a city where an Aurora
Aurora (astronomy)
An aurora is a natural light display in the sky particularly in the high latitude regions, caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere...
prevents aerial travel. It is directed by Yoshimasa Hiraike
Yoshimasa Hiraike
-Anime involved in:*Aria The Natural: Screenplay, Storyboard , Episode Director *Excel Saga: Episode Director *Kaleido Star: Director , Assistant director*Pretear: Episode Director...
and co-produced by TV Asahi
TV Asahi
, also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network....
, Gonzo and AIC
AIC (company)
, often abbreviated as AIC, is a Japanese anime studio with headquarters in Nerima, Tokyo.The company was founded on July 15, 1982. In addition to producing anime for domestic consumption in Japan, AIC has provided animation assistance on other animated series such as Inspector Gadget...
with music by Toshiyuki Ōmori.
On April 2, 2006, 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...
confirmed at Anime Expo
Anime Expo
Anime Expo, abbreviated AX, is an American anime convention held in Los Angeles, California and organized by the non-profit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation . With rare exceptions, the convention is traditionally held on the July 4th weekend and lasts for four days...
that it had the rights to distribute SoltyRei.
On January 26, 2009, the series made its North American television debut 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....
.
Story
Roy Revant is living the hard life of a bounty hunterBounty hunter
A bounty hunter captures fugitives for a monetary reward . Other names, mainly used in the United States, include bail enforcement agent and fugitive recovery agent.-Laws in the U.S.:...
in a broken city, a city where thousands have died in a mysterious event called the Blast Fall. Those who survived share the sting of loss. Countless Resembles walk the streets, people whose mangled bodies have been rebuilt with high-tech prosthetic devices
Prosthesis
In medicine, a prosthesis, prosthetic, or prosthetic limb is an artificial device extension that replaces a missing body part. It is part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of using mechanical devices with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control...
.
Yet there are those that even science cannot mend. Roy needs a miracle to escape his rut... and one night she falls from the sky. Like countless others, Solty is a Resemble, but one unlike the world has ever known. A young girl without a past, soon she will have a family. But in this world, pain and alienation are never too far away.
Glossary
Aurora Shell- A protective barrier that holds the atmosphereAtmosphereAn atmosphere is a layer of gases that may surround a material body of sufficient mass, and that is held in place by the gravity of the body. An atmosphere may be retained for a longer duration, if the gravity is high and the atmosphere's temperature is low...
of the planet in place. Any object that comes into contact with it is affected much the same as being struck by lightning. In addition to the AuroraAurora (astronomy)An aurora is a natural light display in the sky particularly in the high latitude regions, caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere...
-like waves of color produced at night, it also hinders air travel and EM waveElectromagnetic radiationElectromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space...
detection. It is revealed near the end of the series that it contains a large number of nanomachines; after the Blast Fall, children that were exposed to the falling nanomachineNanoroboticsNanorobotics is the emerging technology field of creating machines or robots whose components are at or close to the scale of a nanometer . More specifically, nanorobotics refers to the nanotechnology engineering discipline of designing and building nanorobots, with devices ranging in size from...
snow had their DNADNADeoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
altered, including Rose, Accela, Integra, Sylvia, and Celica.
Blast Fall
- A disaster that occurred approximately 12 years before the series, where an overly large building of old R.U.C. was struck by a massive lightningLightningLightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
from the Aurora Shell, causing widespread death and destruction from the falling debris.
- It was later verified that the Blast Fall was caused by a powerful laser, fired from the migration ship's defense system controlled by Eirene; and shot it into the Aurora Shell to prevent Hilga, with Ashley Lynx as its pilot, from taking off. The laser discharge converted itself into a massive, powerful lightning that obliterated the old R.U.C. headquarters just before Hilga could launch. The blast destroyed everything near the location of ground zero.
Genuine
- A term used to humans that have 100% full-body Resemble in them. Solty is the only example in the show of a Genuine Resemble.
Hilga
- A gargantuan vessel built for flight to space. Being designed as a space vessel, it has the ability to hoverLevitationLevitation is the process by which an object is suspended by a physical force against gravity, in a stable position without solid physical contact...
within the atmosphere and it is equipped with a powerful hyper beam cannon. It was constructed within the old R.U.C. headquarters. Though Hilga is overwhelmingly massive, it is a one-person vessel and Ashley first serves as its pilot. Their original mission was to investigate the sudden communication silence (and to see Illumina again) from the migration ship several years earlier. Before Hilga could launch it was struck by a powerful lightning, heavily damaging it; obliterated the old R.U.C. headquarters (Hilga's launch base); and part of the city that surrounds it. That disaster was later known as the Blast Fall. After that disaster, it was repaired and docked at the center of the new R.U.C. headquarters. Hilga's existence remained hidden in secret for 12 years until it was hijacked by Accela, its second pilot, who used Hilga as a weapon of destruction. It was heavily damaged when Accela forced to shut close Hilga's fully charged hyper beam cannon's opening to prevent its firing. It was repaired again for Solty's use, its third pilot, to stop Eirene and the migration ship from its collision course to a newly terra-formed planet. It successfully took off to outer space but was finally destroyed by Eirene's defense weapons.
New Rights Child
- A term describing children who were unconditionally granted rights as Registered Citizens after the Blast Fall. In the wake of the catastrophe, a large number of children who could not be identified were sent to city orphanages. In response, the city's political leadership decided to grant a number of these orphans residency in order to give them access to healthcare and other city amenities. The first individual to be identified as a New Rights Child is Rita Revant. After being visited by Roy Revant (who mistakenly believes her to be his daughter), Rita explains that she is able to receive welfare and live in the countryside because of her benefits as a New Rights Child.
PROCEED
- Name given to young girls genetically altered as a byproduct from the Blast Fall. Each altered female has many physical characteristics enhanced (strength, speed, etc.) and also a different degree of enhancement on human ability to interface with machines. As the alteration caused by the Blast Fall also changed even hair color on some cases, it is the reason why Rose changed from a redhead into a blonde girl.
- The quartet of specialist operatives commanded by Ashley Lynx are all PROCEEDs of high physical capacity. Probably the hability of easy interface with machines is also the reason why they bear the Power Suits we see them using when in a mission. These suits bear a striking resemblance to the Knight Saber's Hardsuits from Bubblegum CrisisBubblegum Crisisis a Japanese cyberpunk direct-to-video animated series. It displays strong influences from Blade Runner, also making occasional references to it.- Setting :...
, as the concept designer for both series is Kenichi SonodaKenichi Sonodais a comic book artist and animation character designer.-Professional career:Sonoda moved to Tokyo in 1984, at the age of 21, and began work at Artmic, an anime studio. During this time, he worked on Bubblegum Crisis, producing the original Knight Saber character designs...
. Notice that they are the only ones wearing Power Suits, which leads to think such could be only used by PROCEEDs. These suits allow certain abilities unique to each of the four members. Notably, while Ashley is fighting Integra, he refers to her ability as 'Overclock'. The abilities of the other members of the team may have names too, but these are not mentioned. The four members are all named after models of cars.
R.U.C. (Reestablishment Universe Committee)
- A general company/government that manages daily activities in the city, much like the Paradigm Group in The Big OThe Big Ois a Japanese animated television series created by director Kazuyoshi Katayama and designer Keiichi Sato for Sunrise Studios. The writing staff was assembled by the series' head writer, Chiaki J. Konaka....
. In addition to a private security force, they also have large four-leggeded mechas resembling construction cranes. The R.U.C. was created by the colony supervisor computer Eunomia as a means of regulating the city.
Registered Citizen/Unregistered Citizen
- A differential classification for residents of the city, established by Eunomia as a means of regulating resource distribution amongst the residents. Registered Citizens are officially sanctioned residents who are able to receive healthcare, schooling, welfare, and other amenities from the government. Unregistered Citizens, on the other hand, cannot receive municipal healthcare or many of the other amenities offered to Registered Citizens. While the Unregistered Citizens are not illegal occupants of the city per se, they are often regarded, both officially and effectively, as the lower caste among the residents of the city. Many Unregistered Citizens occupy the older, unregulated underground city, while most Registered Citizens live in residences built on the surface.
- While the original means of establishing the differentiation between the two groups is undisclosed, the classification system is maintained largely based on familial ties. All biological offspring of Registered Citizens are considered to also be Registered Citizens. In addition, each married pair of Registered Citizens is able to adopt one Unregistered Citizen as a child. As a result, the child becomes reclassified as a Registered Citizen. Celica Yayoi is an example of this.
- Conversely, offspring and wards of Unregistered Citizens will also be classified as Unregistered Citizens. An example of this principle can be found with regard to Vincent Greco's daughter, who was renamed Rita Revant. Greco explains that he cannot tell his daughter that he is her father, because the discovery of his true relationship to her would cause a revocation of her rights as a Registered Citizen as a New Rights Child.
Resemble
- A broad term for technologically advanced prostheses used to replace human body parts, became more widespread after the Blast Fall due to the sheer number of injuries sustained during the event. Humans who use this technology are known as Resembles. It is later revealed that their Resemble parts are linked to Eunomia, the central computer of R.U.C.
Anime
Madman EntertainmentMadman Entertainment
Madman Entertainment is an Australian company that distributes international films as well as Japanese anime and manga in Australia and New Zealand. The company is owned by Funtastic Limited and is one of the major entertainment companies in Australia. It employs 130 people and has an annual...
has acquired rights for distribution of Solty Rei in Australia and New Zealand and released it on six DVD volumes between 15 August 2007 and 23 January 2008. A complete collection, including the OVA as episodes 25 and 26, was released on 17 September 2008.
Music
Opening Theme:- "clover": Episode:01 - 23 and Extra Episode(25 - 26)
- Lyrics and composition by: meg rock
- Arrangement by: Daisuke KatouDaisuke Katôwas a Japanese actor who appeared in over 150 films, including Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai , Rashomon, Yojimbo , and Ikiru, and Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai Trilogy and Chushingura.-Filmography:* Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji...
- Performed by: meg rockMegumi Hinatais a Japanese singer, lyricist and musician. She is currently signed to Mellow Head.-Biography:Megumi Hinata began learning to play the piano at the age of four, and said she first became interested in music in the latter half of elementary school, which she spent in the United States...
Ending Theme:: Episode:01 - 11, 13 - 23 and Extra Episode(25 - 26)
-
- Lyrics and composition by: Masami OkuiMasami Okuiis a Rock/Pop/Anison singer who was born in Itami, Hyōgo, Japan. She began her professional musical career at age 21 as a concert backup singer.From almost the very beginning of her career, Masami has sung themes for anime TV and movies...
- Arrangement by: Jun Ichikawa
- Performed by: Tomoe OhmiTomoe Ohmiis a voice actress and singer with RAMS/evolution. She is from Saitama Prefecture, Japan and was born on October 13, 1982. She received training from the and RAMS Professional Education. She made her debut as a seiyū in the anime School Rumble...
- Lyrics and composition by: Masami Okui
- "Return to love": Episode:12 and 24
- Lyrics and composition by: Masami Okui
- Arrangement by: Jun Ichikawa
- Performed by: Tomoe Ohmi
Insert Theme:
- "take you there": Episode:04
- Lyrics, composition and arrangement by: R・O・N
- Performed by: R・O・N featuring Takuto Maeda from count lost
- "promise": Episode:05
- Lyrics, composition and arrangement by: R・O・N
- Performed by: R・O・N
- "Return to love (Jazz version)": Episode:12, 13 and 24
- Lyrics by: Masami Okui
- English lyrics by: Mika Watanabe
- Composition by: Masami Okui
- Arrangement by: Toshiyuki Ōmori
- Performed by: Geila ZilkhaGeila ZilkhaGeila Zilkha is a half Israeli-half Japanese jazz singer,choral director, and educator. Born and raised in Kobe,Japan....
- "(Why I’m right here) with you": Episode:16
- Lyrics, composition and arrangement by: R・O・N
- Performed by: R・O・N
- "Wish For...": Episode:18
- Lyrics, composition and arrangement by: R・O・N
- Performed by: R・O・N featuring Takuto Maeda from count lost
- "straying in the dark": Episode:22
- Lyrics, composition and arrangement by: R・O・N
- Performed by: R・O・N
- "wish": Episode:23
- Lyrics and composition by: meg rock
- Arrangement by: Daisuke Katou
- Performed by: meg rock
- "pieces": Episode:24 insert ending theme.
- Lyrics, composition and arrangement by: R・O・N
- Performed by: R・O・N featuring Junko from electlink
CD Albums
- Opening theme Single "clover" (LHCM-1015) performed by meg rock.
- Ending theme Single performed by Tomoe Ohmi.
- Insert theme Single performed by Tomoe Ohmi.
- Vocal album Single "promise" (LHCA-5029) performed by R・O・N.
- "SoltyRei Original Soundtrack Vol.1" (LHCA-5026) composed by Toshiyuki Ōmori.
- "SoltyRei Original Soundtrack Vol.2" (LHCA-5032) composed by Toshiyuki Ōmori.
- "Character & Radio Theme CD ~Solty × Rose~" (LHCM-1017) sung by Solty (CV: Momoko SaitoMomoko Saitois a Japanese voice actress from Hyogo prefecture, Japan.-Voice roles:* SoltyRei - Solty Revant* Chocotto Sister - Choco* Binchō-tan - Aloe* Mamotte! Lollipop - Sun Sherald* Renkin 3-kyū Magical ? Pokān - Uma...
) and Rose (CV: Masumi AsanoMasumi Asanois a Japanese voice actress from Noshiro, Akita who works for Aoni Production. She is also known by her nickname, Masumin.- Notable voice roles :Anime* Saga in A Little Snow Fairy Sugar...
).
Books
(ISBN 9784758060066)
- Release date: June, 2006
There is one visual fanbook already released in Japan.
- SoltyRei Visual Fanbook (ISBN 9784775304815)
- Release date: July 29, 2006
Staff
- Director: Yoshimasa HiraikeYoshimasa Hiraike-Anime involved in:*Aria The Natural: Screenplay, Storyboard , Episode Director *Excel Saga: Episode Director *Kaleido Star: Director , Assistant director*Pretear: Episode Director...
- Script: Noboru Kimura
- Art: Takimiya Kazutaka
- Storyboard: Hirotaka Endo, Katsuyuki Kodera, Michio Fukuda, Ryuichi KawamuraRyuichi Kawamurais a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor and record producer. He is best known as lead singer of the rock band Luna Sea. After the group disbanded in 2000, Ryuichi went on to a successful solo career. In 2005 he formed Tourbillon with, fellow Luna Sea member, Inoran and Hiroaki Hayama...
- Episode Director: Masashi AbeMasashi Abeis a Japanese nordic combined skier who competed during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He won the 3 x 10 km team event at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer...
, Ryuichi Kimura, Yoshihiko Iwada - Character Design: Shujirou Hamakawa
- Art Director: Toshihiro Kohama
- Chief Animation Director: Shujirou Hamakawa
- Animation Director: Sawako Yamamoto, Shuichi Hara, Toshiharu Murata
- Mechanical Design: Kanetake Ebikawa
- Art Design: Hajime Satou
- Director of Photography: Kosuke Tanaka
- Executive Producer: Koji Kajita
- Producer: Kazuhiko Inomata, Naomi Nishiguchi
- 3-D Director: Hirotsugu Shimoyama
- Animation Producer: Hisao Fuke
- Conceptual Design: Kenichi SonodaKenichi Sonodais a comic book artist and animation character designer.-Professional career:Sonoda moved to Tokyo in 1984, at the age of 21, and began work at Artmic, an anime studio. During this time, he worked on Bubblegum Crisis, producing the original Knight Saber character designs...
, Range MurataRange Muratais a Japanese artist and designer, known for his unique style combining Art Deco and Japanese anime elements. He is best known for his conceptual design work on anime series Last Exile and Blue Submarine No. 6.... - Editing: Kiyoshi Hirose
- Music Producer: Junji Fujita, Yoshiyuki Ito
- Music: Toshiyuki Ōmori
- Planning: Shouji Murahama, Shujirou Hamakawa
- Planning Assistance: Goro TaniguchiGoro Taniguchiis a Japanese anime director, writer, producer and storyboard artist, who is among Sunrise's noted new directors.-TV anime:*Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh...
- Sound Director: Yota Tsuruoka
- Theme Song Lyrics: meg rock, Masami OkuiMasami Okuiis a Rock/Pop/Anison singer who was born in Itami, Hyōgo, Japan. She began her professional musical career at age 21 as a concert backup singer.From almost the very beginning of her career, Masami has sung themes for anime TV and movies...
, R・O・N, Mika Watanabe - Theme Song Composition: meg rock, Masami Okui, R・O・N, Toshiyuki Ōmori
- Theme Song Arrangement: Daisuke KatouDaisuke Katôwas a Japanese actor who appeared in over 150 films, including Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai , Rashomon, Yojimbo , and Ikiru, and Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai Trilogy and Chushingura.-Filmography:* Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji...
, Jun Ichikawa, R・O・N, Toshiyuki Ōmori - Theme Song Performance: meg rock, Tomoe Ōmi, R・O・N, Takuto Maeda, Junko, Geila ZilkhaGeila ZilkhaGeila Zilkha is a half Israeli-half Japanese jazz singer,choral director, and educator. Born and raised in Kobe,Japan....
- Animation Production: Gonzo, AICAIC (company), often abbreviated as AIC, is a Japanese anime studio with headquarters in Nerima, Tokyo.The company was founded on July 15, 1982. In addition to producing anime for domestic consumption in Japan, AIC has provided animation assistance on other animated series such as Inspector Gadget...
Reception
HyperHyper (magazine)
Hyper is a multi-platform Australian video game magazine. Australia's longest running gaming magazine, it has been in publication since 1993, and was released the same month as the better known UK magazine Edge...
comments that "Studio Gonzo are famous for using computer-generated elements along with their traditional cell animation, and this same technique is used fairly frequently on Solty Rei. The hand drawn animation is nicely done and the CGI is good too". Hyper criticises the CGI graphics showing "the strings" in many sequences that use CGI, "which can be an unwelcome distraction".