is a Japanese animated

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....

 TV series co-produced by Sunrise

Sunrise (company)

is a Japanese animation studio and production enterprise. It is a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings. Its former name was Nippon Sunrise, and prior to that, Sunrise Studios...

, TV Tokyo

TV Tokyo

is a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...

 and I&S BBDO. The series was broadcast by TV Tokyo affiliates in 1991 on the Monday 5:30PM time slot and aired weekly from April 7 to December 23, lasting 37 episodes.

Metal Jack was originally planned as a sequel to the live-action tokusatsu

Tokusatsu

is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....

 show Dennou Keisatsu Cybercop, but due to complications with the show's production, it was made into an animated series instead without any official ties to Cybercop. However, due to low viewership, the length of the show's run was shortened by one cours. Head writer Hiroyuki Kawasaki would later recycled some of the same situations from Metal Jack in Brave Police J-Decker

Brave Police J-Decker

Brave Police J-Decker was the fifth series of the anime television meta Brave series that aired in Japan during 1994 and 1995....

. The show was also the debut of Nobutoshi Canna

Nobutoshi Canna

is a seiyū who was born on June 10, 1968 in Tokyo. Canna is currently affiliated with Aoni Production.He is most known for the roles of Tasuki , Ban Mido , Nnoitra , Basara Nekki , Kabuto Yakushi , Guts , Knuckles the Echidna Lee...

 (who acted under the stage name of Nobutoshi Hayashi).

Plot

In the year 2015, cyber-crimes, murders and terrorism have become an epidemic in Tokyo and the average police force are not capable enough to handle it all. Commander Masanao Daigo of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department

Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department serves as the police force for the entire Tokyo metropolis. Founded in 1874, it is headed by a superintendent general, who is appointed by the National Public Safety Commission and approved by the prime minister.The Metropolitan Police, with a staff of more...

 plans to solve this problem by searching for talented candidates for his "Metal Project".

One day, a robot sent out by the criminal organization Ido targets Jun Zaizen, the young heir of the Zaizen Konzern, during a party held in his honor. Three young men, MPD officer Ken Kanzaki, F1 race car driver Ryo Aguri, and professional wrestler Go Goda, are mortally wounded while protecting the young boy. Because of their heroic deed, the three men are chosen for the Metal Project and brought back to life as cyborgs, forming the Armored Police Metal Jack.

Characters

Metal Jack

/

Voice: Nobutoshi Hayashi

Nobutoshi Canna

is a seiyū who was born on June 10, 1968 in Tokyo. Canna is currently affiliated with Aoni Production.He is most known for the roles of Tasuki , Ban Mido , Nnoitra , Basara Nekki , Kabuto Yakushi , Guts , Knuckles the Echidna Lee...

Age 20. A cheerful, but easily irritated officer in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. He is an expert marksman whose favorite gun is a Magnum

Magnum

Magnum may refer to several things:* Moses Magnum, a Marvel Comics villain*Magnum, P.I., a television series** Thomas Magnum, the lead character...

 that once belonged to his father Genichirou. After being resurrected, he is forced to keep his membership in the Metal Jack unit a secret from his coworkers, although he eventually reveals his secret to the Chief in Episode 30. Loves his cybernetic police dog Lander. His blood type is a rare RH minus T type. When he undergoes the Hyperization process after he is mortally wounded a second time, his cells develop a high rate of necrosis to compensate for his actual biological origin. He is deeply afraid of snakes.

/

Voice: Daiki Nakamura

Daiki Nakamura

is a Japanese voice actor and member of 81 Produce.-Anime:* The Brave Express Might Gaine * Colorful * Cromartie High School * Grandpa Danger...

Age 23. A snobbish Formula 1 driver with a high sense of pride. He dislikes being overly formal to other people and only smiles in the company of intimate friends. Like Ken, he keeps his occupation as a member of Metal Jack to his friends and family. In Episode 18, it is revealed he doesn't know how to ride a bicycle

Bicycle

A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....

.

/

Voice: Ken Yamaguchi

Ken Yamaguchi

was a Japanese voice actor. He was represented by OYS Produce.He was most known for the roles of Ashuraman, The Omegaman, Prisman , Genji Togashi , Flazzard , Tarantula Arachne , and Ein .Yamaguchi died on October 24, 2011 due to illness.-Notable voice...

Age 21. A professional wrestler who aims to become the world's best, his ring name is "Go Gonzales". He lives in a hospital and is a poor swimmer. Despite being the comic relief of the team, it is him, and not Ken, who ends up developing a romantic relationship with Ken's police partner Eriko.

/

Voice: Yuu Shimaka

His real name is , also known by the codename B-9. Formerly a member of an armed special forces from an unspecified country, he was used as a test subject for the "B Project", where he was subjected into a prototype of the Jack Armor developed by Dr. Zaidenberg. He suffered a memory lost as a result of the experiment. His desire to seek revenge has led him to Japan. He is not an actual member of Metal Jack, but always intervenes in their operations by using an old police radio which intercepts the calls between Metal Jack members.

Voice: Seizō Katō

The initiator of the Metal Project and the commander of Metal Jack unit. He has instructed the team to keep their real identities a secret from everyone else, including their friends and families.

Voice: Yūko Sazaki

A young female scientist who plays an integral role in the second phase of the Metal Project. When Ken is mortally wounded a second time, she initiates the Hyper Project and brings him back to life stronger than before. Despite having many would-be suitors due to her good looks, she is a mechaphile who is more attracted to machines than men.

Friends and relatives

Voice: Yuri Amano

Yuri Amano

is a Japanese voice actor. She was born .- Films :* Soreike! Anpanman: Baikinman no Gyakushuu , Akachanman* Mobile Suit Gundam F91 , Jessica* Tobé! Kujira no Peek...

Ken's partner in the MPD. She becomes romantically involved with Go.

Voice: Minoru Inaba

Minoru Inaba

is a Japanese voice actor from Shizuoka Prefecture. He is affiliated with Ken Production.Inaba is best known for his roles in Disney productions , Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory , Buzz Lightyear of Star Command , and The Transformers .-Television animation:*After War Gundam X - Rike Anto,...

Chief of the MPD's special investigations unit and boss to Ken and Eriko. He was involved in a robotic weapons smuggling case 18 years before the events of the series.

Voice: Kae Araki

Kae Araki

, better known by the stage name , is a Japanese voice actress. After standing in for Kotono Mitsuishi when Mitsuishi had appendicitis, Araki originated the role of Chibiusa in the same series soon after...

Ken's younger sister. She's very close and protective of Ken, despite not being actually blood-related. She feels a sense of affection for Jun.

Voice: Kazuhiko Nishino

Ken and Sayuri's father, who was fatally wounded by a convict named Makieda when Ken was 10. On his deathbed, he revealed that Ken was adopted and was not his biological son.

Voice: Hiroko Nishi

Ken and Sayuri's mother.

Voice: Hiroshi Ito

Go's professional wrestling trainer and gym partner.

Ido/Neo Ido

Voice: Yuzuru Fujimoto

The leader of Ido. Although he tries to assassinate Jun, he is later revealed to be a bioroid created by Jun himself.

Voice: Shō Hayami

A sub-leader of Ido who is also a bioroid like Megadeth. When he learns about his true origin from a dying Megadeth, he becomes driven by revenge and seeks to destroy the entire human race in order to purify the world for bioroids. In Episode 18, it is revealed he is allergic to crabs.

Voiced: Kenichi Ono

Kenichi Ono

is a seiyuu, tarento, and actor from Tokyo. His birth name is .-TV anime:* Super Pig * Zillion * Martian Successor Nadesico * Kindaichi Case Files...

His true name is . He forms Neo Ido after Megadeth's downfall.

Voice: Yumi Tōma

Yumi Toma

is a Japanese singer and voice actresss from Chiba. She has been part of the singing group Goddess Family Club. Tōma also works for Aoni Production. Because of her mature voice, she often plays strong, beautiful women....

A female android created by Jun, although she is reprogrammed to serve Torodail when Neo Ido is formed. Although she is unemotional at first, she gradually develops a sense of affection for Torodail.

Zaizen Konzern

Voice: Mari Maruta

The young heir of the Zaizen Konzern. Despite his young age, he is a gifted and highly-intelligent engineer and was in fact the one who constructed Megadeth and Torodail. Later it is revealed that he and Jun are brothers in a sense. In Episode 28, he is brainwashed and becomes the leader of Neo Ido.

Voice: Kenichi Ono

Chief Secretary of the Zaizen Konzern. He holds a certain sense of adoration for Jun and always addresses him as "Mr. Jun".

Voice: Tatsuyuki Jinnai

Jun's father and chairman to the Zaizen Konzern. He is killed during the assassination attempt on his son during the first episode, although many secrets are revealed about him throughout the course of the series.

Others

Voice: Yasuo Tanaka

A convicted criminal who was responsible for the death of Ken's father, Genichirou. He escapes from prison and helps out Torodail in one of their plots.

Equipment

The bracelet worm by each member of Metal Jack, which they used to summon the Jack Suits and the Jack Armors. They also function as wireless communicators. The devices featured the Armored Police emblem stored in a compartment inside, which the team used to get a free pass during investigations. The Jack Brace used by Shadow is an older model fulled of scratches and equipped with a volume knob, and unlike the Jack Braces used by the main three heroes, it is not adorned with any emblem.

The primary armor of the Metal Jacks, equipped during the initial phases of an investigation or a battle. They are transmitted unto the wearer's body through a Jack Brace through the command "Suit On!". The suits are all equipped with a small compression cylinder which allows for better evasive movement and the inhaling of gas.

A rescue tool used by the team when wearing the Jack Suits, its primary function is to save people's lives. In Episode 4, it was used to cut the cable of a shutter in order to rescue a group of people trapped inside a building. It also has the ability to clean up rubble.

A patrol car with the capability of flight. It is used by both, the Metal Jacks and the regular police.

The standard-issue sidearm of the Metal Jacks. It can be transformed into a rifle by setting the long barrel that is folded underneath the standard barrel. This gimmick was carried over to the toy version, which changes the sound effect caused by the toy gun. The toy version was re-released as part of the Brave Police J-Decker

Brave Police J-Decker

Brave Police J-Decker was the fifth series of the anime television meta Brave series that aired in Japan during 1994 and 1995....

toyline.

A nightstick-like weapon used by the Metal Jacks. The sticks can be covered with energy that allows them to

Jack Armors

The are the secondary equipment of the Metal Jacks, which are wore over the Jack Suits when facing an extremely dangerous threat. They are transmitted unto the Jack Suits by the Jack Braces when the command "Jack On!" is given. The Jack Armors are actually support robots or vehicles that are dismantled into upper and lower armor, as well as weapons when they transform. When wearing a Jack Armor, the wearer's uncovered portions will not suffer damage even if the armors are destroyed. However, due to the fact that the armors are neurally linked to their bodies, their arms will sustain injuries if they carry too much load.

Ken's armor. It is transformed from Ken's robotic dog companion called . Lander is usually colored black like other robotic dogs, but turns red when Ken transforms into his Jack Suit (Lander's weight also increases and some of his details are changed). Lander can also transform into a hoverbike named the . Its special move is the , in which Ken approaches the enemy with a rolling dash, followed by strike with a super-vibrating fist. It is also equipped with a beam gun on its helmet. Its firearm is called the .

Ryo's armor. It is transformed from a flying jet board called the . Its special move is the , in which Ryo shoots freeze beams from both of his hands. Both of its arms are equipped with . Its firearm is called the

Go's armor. It is transformed from a large four-wheeled motorcycle called the , which has excellent underwater capabilities. Its special move is the , in which Go performs an accelerated body rush with his armor's booster. Both of its shoulders are equipped with homing missile launchers. Its firearm is called the .

Shadow's armor. It is transformed from a special security robot called . Shadow can only wear the armor for a limited since it was originally an experimental prototype developed military. As a safety mechanism, it is automatically unequipped when the wearer has used for five minutes. It is equipped with numerous weapons such as missile launchers from chests and front shoulders and cannon from its back shoulders.

A new type of armor that was developed in preparations with the ever-increasing strength of Ido's forces. It is eventually made into a second Jack Armor wore by Ken. It is transformed from a large three-wheeled bike called the , which also transforms into a jet board called the . Although it is highly efficient, Ken must carry on an even greater amount of weight than his regular Red Jack Armor. The head part of the Cepter machine can also split off from its body and form a bird-like mecha called the . Its special movie is the , in which Ken accelerates using a pair of boosters equipped on his elbows. Its firearm is the .

Others

A new type of armor wore by Torodail that was developed by Dr. Guilria to defeat the Metal Jack. Despite its similarities to the Jack Armors, it was never released as a toy.

Staff

• Chief Director: Hiroshi Matsuzono (first half), Kiyoshi Egami (second half)
• Character Designer: Yoshihisa Uchida
• Mechanical Designer: Yukihiro Makino
• Head Writer: Hiroyuki Kawasaki
• Music: Yasunori Iwasaki
• Production Cooperation: Studio Deen
  Studio DEEN
  is a Japanese company that produces anime. Three years after Sunrise was founded in 1972, Studio Deen was established by Sunrise's members in 1975. As a result of this, anime shows such as Cowboy Bebop that were produced by Sunrise may have had assistance from Studio Deen.-Produced anime:* Urusei...
  
  
• Executive Producers: Shinsuke Kurabayashi (TV Tokyo), Masafumi Kano (I&S), Yoichi Ikeda (Sunrise)
• Developed by: TV Tokyo
  TV Tokyo
  is a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...
  
  , I&S and Sunrise

Songs

• Opening theme: "JUST DREAM ON" (Lyrics/Composer/Arranger/Performer: Jack Bites)
• Ending theme: "HOLD ON" (Lyrics/Composer/Arranger/Performer: Jack Bites)
• Insert songs
  • "INTO THE NIGHT" (Lyrics/Composer/Arranger/Performer: Jack Bites)
  • "Shake!" (Lyrics and Composer: Kenji Morooka, Arranger: Satoshi Komuta, Performer: Kenji Morooka with Jack Bites)
  • "Smile..." (Lyrics and Composer: Kenji Morooka, Arranger: Satoshi Komuta, Performer: Kenji Morooka with Jack Bites)

} (Lyrics: Naomi Nomiya, Composer: Tatsuya Chiba, Arranger: Hiroshi Koizumi, Performer: Nobutoshi Hayashi (as Ken Kanzuki))
} (Lyrics: Natsumi Watanabe, Composer: Kenji Morooka, Arranger: Hiroshi Koizumi, Performer: Yuri Amano (as Eriko Yoshizawa))

• • "Hearts on fire" (Lyrics: Hyakuoku Sen'ya, Composer: Kenji Morooka, Arranger: Hiroshi Koizumi, Performer: Daiki Nakamura (as Ryo Aguri))
  • "HOLD ON" (Lyrics/Composer/Arranger: Jack Bites, Performer: Nobutoshi Hayashi)
  • "My Love" (Lyrics: Linda McCartney, Composer: Paul McCartney, Arranger: Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Makoto Saito, Tony St. James, Performer: Charito)

Episodes

Toys

Takara

Takara

Takara Co., Ltd. was a Japanese toy company founded in 1955, that merged with another prominent Japanese toy company, Tomy Co., Ltd., on March 1, 2006 to form Takara Tomy, also known in English as TOMY Company Ltd....

 released a set of action figures based on the show under a line called the "Armored Police Series". Each set came packaged with an action figure and a robotic partner or vehicle that could transform into powered suits wore by the figures. The available sets were Red Jack Armor, Silver Jack Armor, Blue Jack Armor, Shadow Jack Armor and Hyper Red Jack Armor. Model kits were also released of the five Jack Armors called the "Jack On Collection". Other toys were released by Takara, including toy versions of the the Jack Chaser, Jack Braces and Buster Shot.

Soundtracks

A CD single (Hold On), three albums and a drama CD (Count Down) were released by King Records.

• Armored Police Metal Jack: Hold On (KIDA-18, 1991/05/05)
• Armored Police Metal Jack: Count Down (KICA-63, 1991/07/16)
• Armored Police Metal Jack: HARD PLAY (KICA-67, 1991/10/21)
• Armored Police Metal Jack: Just Dream On (KICA-86, 1992/02/05)
• Armored Police Metal Jack: PARTY JACK (KICA-103 1992/04/04)

Video games

• Armored Police Metal Jack - Released by Takara for the Game Boy on January 8, 1992. It is a war simulation game that loosely follows the series' storyline. It was developed by KID.
• Armored Police Metal Jack - Released by Atlus for the Super Famicom on July 31, 1992. It is a side-scrolling action game. A North American version was planned, with the story's setting changed from Tokyo to Los Angeles. The heroes' names were also changed from Ken Kanzuki, Ryo Aguri and Go Goda to Ken Striker, Billy Crash and Jake Gonzales respectively. Ido's name was changed to CRASS.

Home video

The series was gradually released on VHS

VHS

The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....

 and Laserdisc

Laserdisc

LaserDisc was a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. Initially licensed, sold, and marketed as MCA DiscoVision in North America in 1978, the technology was previously referred to interally as Optical Videodisc System, Reflective Optical Videodisc, Laser Optical...

 following its original airing by King Records

King Records

is a Japanese record company, founded in 1931 as a division of Japanese publisher Kodansha. It became and began operating as an independent entity in the 1950s, but remains part of the publisher's Otowa Group...

. Ten volumes were released in total, with four episodes each for the first eight volumes, three episodes for Vol. 9 and two episodes and a special interview for Vol. 10. A later DVD

DVD

A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....

 set of all 37 episodes was released in Japan by King Records

King Records

is a Japanese record company, founded in 1931 as a division of Japanese publisher Kodansha. It became and began operating as an independent entity in the 1950s, but remains part of the publisher's Otowa Group...

on June 7, 2006 to commemorate the show's 15th anniversary.

Books

• Metal Jack Mini Mook, published by Movic Co. Ltd. in 1992.
• Armored Police Metal Jack, a two-volume novel published by Tairiku Novels in 1992.

External links

• Armored Police Metal Jack at Sunrise
• Armored Police Metal Jack DVD website