Fireball (anime)

Fireball (ファイアボール, Faiabōru) is a series of CGI anime shorts created by Jinni's Animation Studios in conjunction with Disney and animation production by Walt Disney Animation (Japan), Inc. and produced in association of Disney Channel in the both animation production services prodived by Walt Disney Animation (Japan), Inc. second.^[1] The designer is Hitoshi Fukuchi.^[2] It is animated entirely in 3D with no cel-shading of any sort, as would be typical for the medium.

The show takes place in the distant future of the 13th, 4-9th millennium, and revolves around the happenings inside a giant manor (named 'Tempest Tower') inhabited by two robots; the gynoid duchess Drossel von Flügel (title and full name: the 1.9th Lord of Uranos' Kingdom's Tempest Domain, Drossel Juno Vierzehntes Heizregister Fürstin von Flügel; voiced by Miyuki Kawashō) and her massive cyclopian arachnoid servant, Gedächtnis (voiced by Toru Okawa). The episodes are usually nonsensical in nature, normally showing the two characters making idle conversation in the midst of a war with humanity. A third character, a monkey-robot named "Schadenfreude", joins them later.

Synopsis

Very little context is given about the setting of the show. Of that which can be discerned (explained by Gedächtnis), the characters reside in a gigantic manor surrounded by a presumably Robot-inhabited city, beyond which is a desert that humanity's forces slowly encroach across during the 144-year timeframe in which the series is set (Merkur Era 58,650-58,793).

Gedächtnis is Drossel's servant and guardian, having sworn to her late father to protect her. Drossel treats him very much after the manner of the 'spoiled princess' stereotype (no doubt to further the comedic aspect of the show, but also in-synch with her appearance and the stylised postures she assumes). A running gag in the series is that, at the beginning, Gedächtnis waits for Drossel to arrive and is called by a name Drossel chooses seemingly at random (although some, such as Sancho Panza and Rasputin, infer an unambiguously subservient status upon him). Gedächtnis then attempts (in a gentle, butler-like fashion) to remind Drossel of his name, upon which she abruptly tells him not to interrupt. Another recurring joke is Drossel claiming that she practices karate despite her moves obviously being capoeira.

Drossel was manufactured as having the mind of a 14-year-old girl, with Gedächtnis' being that of a 50-year-old man; neither's age is explicitly stated, although both are known to be at least 2,800 years old - Gedächtnis stated that he entered service with the von Flugel family 2,800 years ago, and that it has been his duty to remain by Drossel's side for all of that time. Both Gedächtnis and Drossel move and speak in markedly unconventional ways, for example: instantly replying to each other at inhumanly fast speeds; freezing in postures until a new one is assumed (this is especially true of Drossel, what with her many princess-stereotype poses); replying in seemingly unrelated ways (although this may be due merely to the series' nonsensical nature). They remark upon how illogical human speech seems to them and act in what could be said to be an unemotional manner (although some emotional elements are retained for the sake of comedy and dramatic convention).

The characters occasionally display knowledge of elements that would normally be considered on the other side of the fourth wall - Drossel makes reference to what happened 'in the last episode', and at another time points out that she has heard something already in an anime; Gedächtnis stops a laughter track (and indeed, the episode) by punching the screen, causing it to fracture in the accustomed glass-splinter visual code and then to fall sideways to the floor.

The series sometimes makes serious points in otherwise complete nonsense - the city in which Tempest Tower is built (shown during the opening title sequence) appears to be stereotypically dystopian in appearance; in the episode Butterfly, Gedächtnis discusses the nature of rules, and what it is to be 'real' in an almost philosophical fashion, and the last episode features some distinctive 'last stand' elements (it is this episode in which Drossel recites her entire name and title and then walks to face the human forces just as the series ends).

Crew

• Series Director: Wataru Arakawa (Walt Disney Animation (Japan), Inc.)
• Series Compisition: Hidemi Akao, Hitoshi Uehara, Mayumi Kawanishi and Nobumasa Hoshino
• Character Design: Hitoshi Fukuchi and Takayuki Yanase
• CG Director/Producer: Shigeyuki Watanabe (Walt Disney Animation (Japan), Inc.), Hiroki Kawashima
• Guest Design: Asato Mifune (Walt Disney Animation (Japan), Inc.) and Rie Tanaka
• Producers: Shogo Fukuwara, Nobumasa Hoshino (Jinni's Animation Studios), Hironori Motooka, Animation Production by Walt Disney Animation (Japan), Inc. (Produced in association of Disney Channel Japan).

Production

The anime series was created by Jinni's Animation Studios and animation production by Walt Disney Animation (Japan), Inc. (conjunction of Disney) and produced in association of Disney Channel, Fireball is a anime series of additional animation production services provided for all three of 2008, 2009 and Walt Disney Animation Japan of anime second for 2011. In April 2008, Walt Disney Animation (Japan), Inc. was partner Disney and Jinni's Animation Studios, for the anime television series titled Fireball, is a 2008 Disney Channel anime television series featured characters of its Drossel Von Flugel, Schadenfreude and Gedachtnis, It was announced Walt Disney Animation (Japan), Inc. of anime officially press released Fireball in April 2008 premiered on Disney Channel on April 7, 2008 to June 27, 2011 titled Fireball Charming.

In 2011, Walt Disney Animation Japan Anime second season of Fireball Charming, the sequel of television series Fireball was released, aimed at Walt Disney Animation Japan Anime market. The series features characters of its event of television series of anime CGI shorts Drossel Von Flugel, Schadenfreude and Gedachtnis.

Series overview

Episodes list

Fireball

Fireball Special

Fireball Charming

Sequel

On August 10, 2010, it was announced on the official of Fireball blog that the production for a second series had been green-lit, with director and writer Wataru Arakawa on board.^[7]

The sequel, titled Fireball Charming, was released in 2011 and is set chronologically before the events of Fireball (Fireball is set between the years 485650-487934; Charming begins in 41382134, as shown on each episode's title cards).

References

External links

• Official website
  • Official website of anime Walt Disney Animation Japan second television series Fireball, produced in assiciation of Disney Channel Japan — Alternative link
• Fireball (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Fireball at the Internet Movie Database
  • Fireball Charming (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
  • Fireball Charming at the Internet Movie Database