Megazone 23: Difference between revisions

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[[File:MZ23,_Cover_Shot.jpg|frame]]
[[File:Megazone 2 3.png|thumb|400px]]

{{quote|''"Operator 7-G, please respond!"''}}
{{quote|''"Operator 7-G, please respond!"''}}


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Now if only he and his friends can survive his discoveries...
Now if only he and his friends can survive his discoveries...


Released somewhere around 1986, ''Megazone 23'' is historically signficant for being one of the very first [[OVA|OVAs]] and also was one of the first anime to extensively interweave music with the plot. The story itself was a mindbender at the time, and is a forerunner of such later American works as ''[[The Matrix]]'' and ''[[Dark City]]''. Since then, the plot twists and the character types have become standard in anime, almost cliche in some instances, but as a certified classic it is still worth seeing.
Released March 1985, '''''Megazone 23''''' (pronounced "Megazone Two Three") is historically significant for being one of the very first [[OVA]]s and also was one of the first anime to extensively interweave music with the plot. The story itself was a mindbender at the time, and is a forerunner of such later American works as ''[[The Matrix]]'' and ''[[Dark City]]''. Since then, the plot twists and the character types have become standard in anime, almost cliche in some instances, but as a certified classic it is still worth seeing.


The original American distributions of ''Megazone 23'' were anything but impressive. It was briefly released in North America by Harmony Gold as ''[[Robotech]] the Movie''. Carl Macek crudely spliced in footage from ''[[Robotech]]'' to force a linkage between the two shows, and of course the [[Macekre|usual Macek dub script]] was conjured up out of nothing to replace the original dialogue. <s>Macek</s>Harmony Gold also produced a dub of ''Part 2'', which was only released in Japan as an aid for teaching English. (The release also included the alternate ending for ''Part 1'' that was produced for the Robotech movie as an extra). Later, a different production house released a dub of an unbutchered version, but the result, reportedly, was still horrendous.
The original American distributions of ''Megazone 23'' were anything but impressive. It was briefly released in North America by Harmony Gold as ''[[Robotech]] the Movie''. Carl Macek crudely spliced in footage from ''[[Robotech]]'' to force a linkage between the two shows, and of course the [[Macekre|usual Macek dub script]] was conjured up out of nothing to replace the original dialogue. <s>Macek</s>Harmony Gold also produced a dub of ''Part 2'', which was only released in Japan as an aid for teaching English. (The release also included the alternate ending for ''Part 1'' that was produced for the Robotech movie as an extra). Later, a different production house released a dub of an unbutchered version, but the result, reportedly, was still horrendous.


For decades, only bootleg [[Fan Sub|fansubs]] of the original show were available in America, but it was rereleased with a new English dub in the summer of 2004 by [[ADV Films]].
For decades, only bootleg [[Fan Sub]]s of the original show were available in America, but it was re-released with a new English dub in the summer of 2004 by [[ADV Films]]. In 2019, [[AnimEigo]] announced plans to release ''Megazone 23'' on Blu-ray.


''Megazone 23'' was revived in 2007 with a Playstation 3 RPG game, ''Blue Garland''; the game takes place in an [[Alternate Continuity]] that diverges after ''Part I'', and revolves around Hiroto Takanaka, [[Legacy Character|the son of heroine Yui]].
''Megazone 23'' was revived in 2007 with a Playstation 3 RPG game, ''Blue Garland''; the game takes place in an [[Alternate Continuity]] that diverges after ''Part I'', and revolves around Hiroto Takanaka, [[Legacy Character|the son of heroine Yui]].


Not to be confused with [[Undocumented Features|MegaZone]].<ref>Brian Bikowicz, the co-author of ''[[Undocumented Features]]'', legally changed his name to MegaZone because he was such a big fan of this anime.</ref>
Not to be confused with [[Undocumented Features|MegaZone]].<ref>The person born {{spoiler|Brian Bikowicz}}, the co-author of ''[[Undocumented Features]]'', legally changed his name to MegaZone because he was such a big fan of this anime.</ref>

{{Unmarked Spoilers}}

{{tropelist}}
{{tropelist}}
* [[Adam and Eve Plot]]: Eve's interest in Shogo turns out to be in determining whether his love for Yui, and to a lesser extent his concern for his friends, might make them all candidates for repopulating earth after A.D.A.M. destroys the Megazone.
* [[Adam and Eve Plot]]: Eve's interest in Shogo turns out to be in determining whether his love for Yui, and to a lesser extent his concern for his friends, might make them all candidates for repopulating earth after A.D.A.M. destroys the Megazone.
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* [[Did Not Do the Bloody Research]] - the video game "Hard On". *snicker*
* [[Did Not Do the Bloody Research]] - the video game "Hard On". *snicker*
* [[Disney Death]]
* [[Disney Death]]
* [[Distressed Damsel]]
* [[Damsel in Distress]]
* [[Downer Ending]]: To Part 1 -- {{spoiler|after [[Storming the Castle]], Shogo is soundly defeated by B.D., who decides that he's [[Not Worth Killing]] - or thinks he's dead but doesn't even care enough to check.}}
* [[Downer Ending]]: To Part 1 -- {{spoiler|after [[Storming the Castle]], Shogo is soundly defeated by B.D., who decides that he's [[Not Worth Killing]] - or thinks he's dead but doesn't even care enough to check.}}
* [[The Dragon]]: B.D.
* [[The Dragon]]: B.D.
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* [[Evil Minions]]
* [[Evil Minions]]
* [[Eye Scream]]: The aliens in ''Part II'' love doing this to people. The very first guy they kill gets his eye popped straight out of his head and it gets better/worse from there.
* [[Eye Scream]]: The aliens in ''Part II'' love doing this to people. The very first guy they kill gets his eye popped straight out of his head and it gets better/worse from there.
* [[Face Heel Turn]]: {{spoiler|Shogo became Bishop Won Dai}}
* [[Face Heel Turn]]: {{spoiler|Shogo became Bishop Won Dai}}
* [[Fan Service]]: Shogo and Yui's sex scene in ''Part I'' serves only to provide eye candy while Shogo delivers a big load of [[Expospeak]] in voiceover. Conversely, their sex scene in ''Part II'' is completely gratuitous, just like the violence.
* [[Fan Service]]: Shogo and Yui's sex scene in ''Part I'' serves only to provide eye candy while Shogo delivers a big load of [[Expospeak]] in voiceover. Conversely, their sex scene in ''Part II'' is completely gratuitous, just like the violence.
* [[Fan Service Pack]]: Inverted in ''Part II'' -- Yui's still cute and all, but she's got absolutely ''nothing'' on the Yui in ''Part I''.
* [[Fan Service Pack]]: Inverted in ''Part II'' -- Yui's still cute and all, but she's got absolutely ''nothing'' on the Yui in ''Part I''.
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* [[Government Conspiracy]]
* [[Government Conspiracy]]
* [[Gratuitous English]]: the video game "Hard On"
* [[Gratuitous English]]: the video game "Hard On"
* [[Heel Face Turn]]: {{spoiler|1=In Part 3, Eiji switches from E=X to Sion's side}}
* [[Heel Face Turn]]: {{spoiler|1=In Part 3, Eiji switches from E=X to Sion's side}}
* [[Humanity on Trial]]: The effective purpose of Eve's talk with Shogo about life, the universe, and everything in Part II.
* [[Humanity on Trial]]: The effective purpose of Eve's talk with Shogo about life, the universe, and everything in Part II.
* [[I Know Mortal Kombat]]: Intentionally done by the Orange corporation in ''Part III''.
* [[I Know Mortal Kombat]]: Intentionally done by the Orange corporation in ''Part III''.
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* [[Shonen]]
* [[Shonen]]
* [[Shout-Out]]/[[Cultural Cross-Reference]]: The ''[[Silverhawks]]'' and ''[[Thundercats]]'' pinball machines in ''Part II''.
* [[Shout-Out]]/[[Cultural Cross-Reference]]: The ''[[Silverhawks]]'' and ''[[Thundercats]]'' pinball machines in ''Part II''.
** The movie the kids go to in Part I? [[Streets of Fire]]
** The movie the kids go to in Part I? ''[[Streets of Fire]]''
** Here's one that isn't cross-cultural: The cops in the car that Shogo kicks are [[Lupin III|Lupin and Jigen]] lookalikes.
** Here's one that isn't cross-cultural: The cops in the car that Shogo kicks are [[Lupin III|Lupin and Jigen]] lookalikes.
* [[Sparkling Stream of Tears]]
* [[Sparkling Stream of Tears]]
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* [[Transforming Mecha]]
* [[Transforming Mecha]]
* [[Virtual Celebrity]]: Eve Tokimatsuri
* [[Virtual Celebrity]]: Eve Tokimatsuri
* [[Wave Motion Gun]] / [[Chest Blaster]]: One of the enemy Garlands has this in Part 3 {{spoiler|and it is also something that Eiji may [[Attack Its Weak Point]] [[For Massive Damage]]}}
* [[Wave Motion Gun]] / [[Chest Blaster]]: One of the enemy Garlands has this in Part 3 {{spoiler|and it is also something that Eiji may [[Attack Its Weak Point]] [[For Massive Damage]]}}


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:AIC]]
[[Category:AIC]]
[[Category:Anime]]
[[Category:Anime]]
[[Category:Megazone 23]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime of the 1980s]]
[[Category:Original Video Animation]]

Latest revision as of 14:08, 17 December 2020

"Operator 7-G, please respond!"

Teenager Shogo Yahagi is a motorcycle nut with few cares in the world; he and his friends do little more than ride around and have fun. This all changes when one of his older friends leaves a mysterious, incredibly-advanced motorcycle called the Bahamut in Shogo's possession. The Bahamut is far more than it seems, and a mysterious cabal of men in black seems willing to do anything to get it back. Soon, Shogo discovers some of the secrets hidden in the Bahamut, and it leads him to even more -- secrets that will completely change his understanding of the world he lives in.

Now if only he and his friends can survive his discoveries...

Released March 1985, Megazone 23 (pronounced "Megazone Two Three") is historically significant for being one of the very first OVAs and also was one of the first anime to extensively interweave music with the plot. The story itself was a mindbender at the time, and is a forerunner of such later American works as The Matrix and Dark City. Since then, the plot twists and the character types have become standard in anime, almost cliche in some instances, but as a certified classic it is still worth seeing.

The original American distributions of Megazone 23 were anything but impressive. It was briefly released in North America by Harmony Gold as Robotech the Movie. Carl Macek crudely spliced in footage from Robotech to force a linkage between the two shows, and of course the usual Macek dub script was conjured up out of nothing to replace the original dialogue. MacekHarmony Gold also produced a dub of Part 2, which was only released in Japan as an aid for teaching English. (The release also included the alternate ending for Part 1 that was produced for the Robotech movie as an extra). Later, a different production house released a dub of an unbutchered version, but the result, reportedly, was still horrendous.

For decades, only bootleg Fan Subs of the original show were available in America, but it was re-released with a new English dub in the summer of 2004 by ADV Films. In 2019, AnimEigo announced plans to release Megazone 23 on Blu-ray.

Megazone 23 was revived in 2007 with a Playstation 3 RPG game, Blue Garland; the game takes place in an Alternate Continuity that diverges after Part I, and revolves around Hiroto Takanaka, the son of heroine Yui.

Not to be confused with MegaZone.[1]

WARNING! There are unmarked Spoilers ahead. Beware.

Tropes used in Megazone 23 include:
  1. ↑ The person born Brian Bikowicz, the co-author of Undocumented Features, legally changed his name to MegaZone because he was such a big fan of this anime.
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