Overman King Gainer

Overman King Gainer (OVERMAN（オーバーマン）キングゲイナー, Ōbāman Kingu Geinā) is a mecha anime television series, created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, written by Ichirō Ōkouchi, and featuring character designs by Yoshihiro Nakamura, Kinu Nishimura and Ken'ichi Yoshida. The series ran from September 7, 2002 to March 22, 2003 on Japan's WOWOW network, spanning a total of 26 episodes. Following the 2012 closure of Bandai Entertainment, Sunrise announced at Otakon 2013, that Sentai Filmworks has acquired Overman King Gainer, along with a handful of other former BEI titles.[1]

Overman King Gainer
OVERMANキングゲイナー
(Ōbāman Kingu Geinā)
Created byYoshiyuki Tomino
inspired by La Compagnie des glaces
by Georges-Jean Arnaud
Anime television series
Directed byYoshiyuki Tomino
Produced byMichiko Suzuki
Yoshitaka Kawaguchi
Jun Yukawa
Written byIchirō Ōkouchi
Music byKohei Tanaka
StudioSunrise
Licensed by
Original networkAnimax, WOWOW
Original run September 7, 2002 – March 22, 2003
Episodes26
Manga
Written byYoshiyuki Tomino
Illustrated byYoshihiro Nakamura
Published byMedia Factory
MagazineComic Flapper
DemographicSeinen
Original run2002 – 2009
Volumes7

Plot

The setting and plot of Overman King Gainer are a loose adaptation of the novel series La Compagnie des glaces by the French writer Georges-Jean Arnaud.[2] After an environmental cataclysm, much of the world's population retreated into domed cities called Domepolis, which are run by an organization known as "London IMA" (International Management Authority) and its police arm, "Saint Regan". However, the Domepoli are maintained and supplied by privatized firms such as the "Siberian Railroad Company". Many years have passed since the cataclysm, and many have begun to believe that the world environment has recovered sufficiently enough for humans to begin living outside Domepoli. As such, some inhabitants begin planning Exoduses to leave these cities and to resettle their ancestral homelands. However, this does not sit well with the London IMA or the private firms that monopolize trade between the Domepoli, as the loss of people would not only lead to a loss in tax and trade revenue, but if the Exodus were to be successful, it would show the people that it was no longer necessary to rely on the London IMA or the private firms for survival. They fiercely oppose any Exoduses, spreading propaganda on the evils effects of Exoduses on the Earth's environment, and using military force to prevent any attempted Exodus.

The story begins in a Domepolis in Siberia, where championship video game player Gainer Sanga is arrested by Siberian Railroad policewoman Adette Kistler on suspicion of being an Exodus member. Ironically he isn't, but his friends Sara Kodama and Bello Korissha along with his schoolteacher Mamado Azaf are members of the Gauli team, a militia unit of the local Exodus group. At the same time, Exodus expert and coordinator Gain Bijou lets himself be arrested by the Siberian Railroad police as part of his plan to infiltrate the city and steal an "Overman", which is a biomechanical giant robot, for use in defending the Exodus.

Gain is placed in the same prison cell as Gainer, and when Gain initiates his escape, only Gainer is willing to escape as well. They infiltrate the castle of Duke Medaiyu and steal an Overman in the Duke's secret museum collection, which Gainer logs into as his video game handle: "King Gainer". As Gainer gets the hang of piloting a real Overman, he and Gain encounter shut-in Princess Anna, the Duke's daughter, who supports the Exodus and wants to see the world and people other than her tutor, Lioubov Smettana. Using an annual festival presented by idol singer and co–Exodus leader, Meeya Laujin, as cover, the Exodus executes their plan: take much of the Domepolis, block by block, using heavy hauler machines called Silhouette Mammoths and move them over 3000 km across the Siberian tundra to their ancestral homeland, "Yapan". As the Exodus moves out, the Siberian Railroad police chief, Yassaba Jin, mobilizes his forces to stop them. Other obstacles to the Exodus are Kistler's and Jin's subordinates Jaboli Mariela, Kejinan Datto, and Enge Gam, Siberian Railroad president Kizz Munt, Saint Regan policemen Asuham Boone and Zakki Bronco, and Overman aces Cynthia Lane and Kashmir Valle.

Characters

Yapan Exodus
Gainer Sanga

Gainer is the headstrong main protagonist of the series. He lived his days as a high school truant and online gaming champion before meeting Gain Bijou, an Exodus specialist under the captivity of the Siberian Railway forces. Gainer initially opposes the Yapan Exodus, but through a series of coincidences and his connections with Gain and Sara, he suddenly finds himself soldiering for their cause. He pilots the long-haired Overman dubbed "King Gainer" after his online gaming handle. Despite being a "general purpose" Overman, King Gainer is noted to be far faster and more powerful than other Overmen of its class.

Sara Kodama

Sara Kodama is a diligent high school student and member of the Gauli Squad, a rebel soldier faction which supports the Yapan Exodus. Her work ethic is matched only by her heart, which she devotes mainly to Gainer. Her plan upon completion of the Yapan Exodus is to cultivate a farm.

Gain Bijou

A self-proclaimed 'Exodus specialist', Gain is an expert sniper and important member of the Yapan Exodus. His nickname, 'Black Southern Cross', was earned by his reputation for leaving bullet wounds in the shape of a cross within his fallen enemies. His affable demeanor outside the battlefield is pierced upon discussion of his mysterious past. He pilots the Silhouette Machine named Gottiko, which is mounted with a large railgun and has an Overman's left arm, later revealed to be one of the left arms of the legendary Early Overman Brunhilde. He later pilots the pseudo-Overman known as Emperanza, which is built from both Overman and Silhouette Machine parts.

Princess Ana Medaiyu

Princess Ana is the daughter of Duke Medaiyu. Her lively nature and insatiable curiosity lead her to join the Yapan Exodus under the guise of a hostage. She owns three intelligent pet squirrels that heed her every command.

Lioubov Smettana

Ana's kind, brave, and loyal retainer. She has trouble keeping up with the princess at times and wishes to protect her at all costs.

Adette Kistler

Adette debuts as a commander of the Siberian Railway forces, and infiltrates the traveling city units in order to capture Princess Ana. Gain quickly thwarts her attempt, and with nowhere else to go, she begrudgingly starts a new life on the Exodus as a high school teacher for Gainer and Sara's class. She's a tough and shrewd woman, but childlike in her temper and affection toward men.

Bello Korissha

A fellow Gauli Squad member and classmate of Gainer and Sara. He has feelings for Sara, but never seems to show them outside random acts of jealously toward Gainer. Despite this, he remains good friends with Gainer and Sara and a helpful ally on the battlefield. He typically commands the lead Silhouette Mammoth vehicle towing the city blocks, which is also typically where King Gainer is stored.

Meeya Laujin
  • Voiced by: Yumiko Nakanishi (Japanese), Kate Davis (English)

A quasi-religious figure idolized by Exodus supporters, who is a key feature at festivals as she sings and dances. Despite her apparent status as an important figurehead, she is often treated more like a pop idol and has a ditzy and easily distracted nature.

Louvre Won Dara

Meeya's handler and manager.

Mamado Azaf
Hughes Gauli
  • Voiced by: Toru Kusano (Japanese), Tony Oliver (English)

Hughes is the commander of the Gauli Squad, trained in the way of the ninja. He'll stop at nothing to support the Yapan Exodus.

Cona Madaya

Cona is the temperamental young mechanic who repairs the Silhouette machines and King Gainer. Early on, she competes with Lioubov for Gain's affection, but quickly moves on to capture the attention of Gain's former comrade.

Nann
Toun
  • Voiced by: Yohei Obayashi (Japanese), Dave Mallow (English first), Jim Taggert (English second)
Elizabeth
  • Voiced by: Tomoko Hayashi (Japanese), Alexu Greene (English)

Five Wisemen
Gach Wige
Citran Vie
  • Voiced by: Naoki Shirakami (Japanese), Jane Alan (English)
Manman Douton
Pelhar Pey
  • Voiced by: Hiroaki Harakawa (Japanese), Steve Kramer (English)

Wulgusk Domepolis
Duke Medaiyu
  • Voiced by: Harumi Munechika (Japanese), Russel Thor (English)

Siberian Railroad Authority
Cynthia Lane
  • Voiced by: Rena Mizuki (Japanese), Tara Malone (English)

During her first appearance, Cynthia is simply an online gaming buddy of Gainer's hidden behind a virtual avatar. However, it is discovered later on that she is part of the Siberian Railroad forces, raised and favored by Kizz Munt. She is almost always eating candy and seems to treat piloting as a game, as well as dating. Her trademark whimsy and inability to take things seriously comes with major consequences, as she ends up hurting a Gainer later in the series during a friendly piloting competition between Overmen. Cynthia's natural piloting ability is said to have come from her mother, whose name is never mentioned; her only living relative appears to be Martina Lane. The shape-shifting Dominator is her Overman of choice.

Yassaba Jin

A Siberian Railway squad commander who originally pilots the time-stopping Overman Rushrod and later the stealthy Overman Blackmail. He is the first major opposition the Yapan Exodus faces. After being captured by the Yapan Exodus and escaping, he meets a young fortune-telling girl in the city blocks and they decide to Exodus together to her homeland in the south. He is only 32 years old despite looking much older.

Kashmir Valle

The Operations Director of the Siberian Railway, a flamboyant man obsessed with maintaining the perfect "diagram," meeting any deviations to his meticulous scheduling with unchecked rage. He primarily pilots Netta-type Overmen with Overskills that affect the minds of opponents.

Jaboli Mariela
  • Voiced by: Maki Tamura (Japanese), Mia Bradly (English)

A Siberian Railway officer who is initially Adette's direct subordinate. She is noted to become fanatically devoted to anyone in power, clinging to whoever is the highest authority at the time.

Kejinan Datto

A Siberian Railway officer obsessed with gaining ranks and status. He is partnered with Enge and is denoted by his ugly face and bad posture. He is usually controlling a Silhouette Machine, but is given an Under-Golem Overman when briefly under Asuham Boone's ommand and once pilots the Overman Mexbrute, which can create illusions.

Kizz Munt

President of the Siberian Railway. Despite his eccentric personality, he is actually a fairly ruthless man who mercilessly stops any Exodus that could threaten his organization.

Enge Gam

A Siberian Railway officer partnered with Kejinan, denoted by his eyepatch and slightly more professional demeanor compared to his partner. Though he is usually behind the controls of a Silhouette Machine, he is given an Under-Golem Overman when he is briefly under Asuham Boone's command.

Ariel Nielson
  • Voiced by: Hiroshi Takahashi (Japanese), Kurt Strauss (English)

London IMA
Asuham Boone

Asuham is a recurring antagonist and member of the Saint Regan police force. His only real objective is to capture Gain and force him to confront his sister, Karin, who has conceived and raised Gain's child alone. He does so to the point of obsessiveness and madness until the very end of the series when Karin drags him home in an Overman, claiming to have no interest in Gain. He usually pilots a Golem-type Overman, which is a mass-produced London IMA model for high-ranking pilots. He also once pilots the Overman Jinba, with the ability to "steal" anything within a certain range.

Zakki Bronco

Asuham's direct subordinate, who typically pilots a Golem-type Overman.

Others
Karin Boone

Karin is Asuham's sister and Gain's former lover. After a one-night stand, she ends up conceiving Gain's daughter; however, she has no lingering feelings for Gain and only appears to rescue Asuham.

Martina Lane

Game appearances

Overman King Gainer is included in Another Century's Episode 3 for the PlayStation 2 and Another Century's Episode R for the PlayStation 3. The series made its debut into the long-running Super Robot Wars series in Super Robot Wars Z and has also appeared in Super Robot Wars K for the Nintendo DS.

References
  1. "Sentai Filmworks Adds Sacred Seven, The Big O, Kurokami, More". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  2. "Critique: Overman King Gainer". Scifi-universe.com. September 4, 2008. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
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