Full Metal Panic!

The light novel series Full Metal Panic! is written by Shoji Gatoh and illustrated by Shiki Douji. It was serialised by Fujimi Shobo in its monthly magazine Gekkan Dragon Magazine since June 1998 and published under the Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint in tankōbon format since September 1998. Gatoh often found delays in writing of the novels, which led to delays to the publication of the series' volumes.[10] The series focuses on Sergeant Sousuke Sagara's arrival to the Jindai High School where he was assigned to protect the student Kaname Chidori while also acting as a student.

A total of twelve full length volumes have been released from September 18, 1998, to August 20, 2010.[11][12] In parallel to the twelve volumes, nine standalone light novels of the series (which form the short story collection) have also been published from December 17, 1998, to August 20, 2011.[13][14] Finally two more volumes titled Side Arms[15][16] focusing on the past of some characters (which form the side story collection) and the birth of Mithril and Amalgam have been published on April 20, 2004, and July 20, 2006. In contrast to the full length volumes, short story collection focuses on the comedy elements from the series. In January 2010, Gatoh wrote another of these stories in celebration of Gekkan Dragon Magazine's 300th issue,[17] which has been included in the last short story collection volume. Another series of spin-off novels has been released by Naoto Ōguro with supervision of Shoji Gatoh from August 20, 2011, to February 20, 2016, consisting of thirteen volumes and set years after the original series' ending.[18] The light novels have also been adapted into various manga,[19] as well as three anime television series and an OVA episode for which Gatoh was also part of the staff.[20]

Tokyopop licensed the Full Metal Panic! series for North America release, publishing the first regular light novel on September 11, 2007.[21] The latest released volume is the fourth on February 1, 2011, which is a compilation from the original fourth and fifth full-length volumes from the series.[22][23] No short story collection volumes nor side story collection ones have been published and the company has shut down its publishing operations in North America on May 31, 2011. In 2015, at Anime Expo and San Diego Comic-Con, Tokyopop announced that it would be relaunching its publishing operations in North America in 2016 and that they will consider light novels,[24] but nothing has been disclosed about Full Metal Panic! novels publication.

On March 18, 2019, J-Novel Club announced that all the original 12 novels will be translated again and released in English.[25] The series was released as e-books starting that year, with the final volume released in 2021. Hardcover "Collectors Editions," each compiling three novels per volume, were released by J-Novel Club starting in 2020.[26] On July 1, 2022, J-Novel announced that they were translating the short stories.[27]

The Full Metal Panic! light novel series has been adapted to manga on multiple occasions. The first manga series: Full Metal Panic, was serialized in Monthly Comic Dragon by Retsu Tateo. This manga was collected in nine tankōbon volumes published from August 30, 2000, to July 1, 2005.[28][29] Announced in July 2003, Full Metal Panic! became one of the first manga series licensed by ADV Manga.[30] They released all of the volumes between November 10, 2003[31] and April 11, 2006.[32]

A parallel series titled Full Metal Panic! Comic Mission (フルメタル・パニック! Comic Mission) which focused more on the comedic elements from the franchise was also written by Retsu Tateo and ran for seven volumes between November 1, 2003, and September 1, 2006.[33][34]

Full Metal Panic! Overload! (いきなり! フルメタル・パニック!, Ikinari! Furumetaru Panikku!) was a spin-off series by Tomohiro Nagai. Five volumes were released between January 30, 2001, and April 1, 2003.[35][36] Overload was licensed by ADV Manga in December 2004,[37] and all of its volumes were published in English between June 6, 2005, and May 24, 2006.[38][39] Tomohiro Nagai also wrote Full Metal Panic! Surplus (フルメタル・パニック!SURPLUS) which is a single tankōbon manga published on July 1, 2003, focused more on the action elements from the franchise.[40]

Full Metal Panic! Sigma (フルメタル・パニック!Σ), written by Shoji Gatoh and illustrated by Hiroshi Ueda, focuses on the missions of Sousuke as a sergeant. The first volume was published on August 1, 2005, and the final volume: the nineteenth, was published on September 20, 2013.[41][42] The story and events of this manga adaption are based on the fourth Full Metal Panic! light novel and onwards.[19]

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.[43] The series was licensed by 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 to 2004.

The production of 3 director's cut movies based on the first television series was announced in 2017.[44] The 1st SECTION Boy Meets Girl premiered on November 25, 2017, at Kadokawa Cinema Shinjuku in Japan,[45] 2nd SECTION One Night Stand premiered on January 13, 2018,[46] and 3rd SECTION Into the Blue premiered on January 20, 2018.[47] Home video releases for the films were planned for February 28, 2018, for the 1st film, followed by March 28 for the 2nd film, and April 28 for the 3rd film.

Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu! (フルメタル・パニック? ふもっふ!, Furumetaru Panikku? 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 is based on the more comical short stories Gatou published alongside the main novels, emphasizing the high school romantic comedy aspects of Full Metal Panic! with often crude humor and focuses on the romantic tension between Sousuke Sagara and Kaname Chidori. It frequently parodies itself and anime stereotypes. 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 (フルメタル・パニック! TSR, Furumetaru Panikku! TSR) is the direct sequel to the original anime series. It was produced by Kyoto Animation and ran for 13 episodes. The series is based on the Ending 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. 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 is a humorous stand-alone story.[48] 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 (A comparatively leisurely day of the squadron commander) in short story collection Dounimo Naranai Gori Muchuu (Helpless in the thick of it). The story is also told in chapters 13 & 14 of Full Metal Panic Sigma manga volume 4.

Home video releases also included an "episode 000" and a 7-part Location Scouting in Hong Kong documentary. Episode 000 includes footage from various parts of the television broadcast episodes, but also includes new scenes. The Location Scouting in Hong Kong documentary includes various locations the television production staff members had gone to as inspiration for creating scenes used in the Hong Kong episodes, featuring appearances from the series producers, and commentaries from them.

Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory (フルメタル・パニック! インビジブル・ビクトリー, Furumetaru Panikku! Inbijiburu Bikutorī) is the fourth TV series in the franchise. Kyoto Animation had not returned to produce the fourth anime adaptation. Instead, it was produced by studio Xebec.[49] It premiered in April 2018.[50] During Anime Expo 2017, the series creator confirmed that Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory is a "continuation" that won't contain any "explanation or expository episodes." He stated that the pacing of the story is going to be "full throttle from the get-go" although it would still "follow the original work pretty closely."[51] The series consisted of 12 episodes.[52] The opening song is "Even...if" and the ending song is "Yes", both performed by Tamaru Yamada.

A live action film adaptation was announced by Mandalay Pictures in April 2009, with Zac Efron rumored to be attached to the project.[3] Efron has since confirmed a meeting took place regarding the project but added that the adaptation was unlikely to happen.[53]

Full Metal Panic! Fight! Who Dares Wins, developed by B.B. Studio and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., was released on May 31, 2018.[54] Specialist Box limited edition includes Invisible Victory behind-the-scenes Blu-ray, a special novel by Shoji Gatoh, drama CD, replica autographed mini script of "Megami no Rainichi: Date Hen," a case for the Blu-ray and CD, and a special Shiki Douji-illustrated box. Early purchases include download code for the 'Armed Slave-Use Special Weapons Three Set' (Boxer 2nd Revision 76mm Shot Cannon (Armor-Piercing Ammunition) Cartridge Extension Model, ASG96-B Revision 57mm Glide Cannon, GRAW-X Single Molecule Cutter (Repulsion Field Prototype Model)).[55]