Black Heaven
Encyclopedia
, also referred to as The Legend of Black Heaven and Kacho-Ōji, is a thirteen-episode anime
TV series about the middle-aged members of a short-lived heavy metal
band and their unexpected role in an alien interstellar war. The Japanese title of the series is a multi-layered pun; it can be translated as "section-chief Oji", "old section-chief", or literally "Section Head Prince". The opening theme "Cautionary Warning" was written and performed by English rock guitarist John Sykes
, who played with rock bands including Thin Lizzy
and Whitesnake
. In the US, the series has been available on DVD from Geneon
in four separate volumes since 2001 and in 4-disc box set since 2005.
), or on the fate of the planet Earth.
Layla Yuki: Tasked with tracking down Oji and getting him on their side to play music in order to activate the ultimate weapon. After finding him, she basically plays the role of an agent, acting as the go between the band and Fomalhaut, the space army commander.
Yoshiko Tanaka: A former groupie of Black Heaven, she marries Oji when he finds out she is pregnant. She plays the role of the housewife and mother, watching in dismay as Oji reverts to his rocker persona and suspicious that he may be having an affair with Layla.
Gen Tanaka: Oji's and Yoshiko son, who has a fascination with a outer space television show that he watches daily. He also believes that Layla is a character from the show.
Kotoko, Eriko and Rinko: Layla's subordinates, who work in the same building as Oji and Layla and help with her assignments. They are identified with their respective hair colors of blue, purple, and green.
Sato: Formerly Michael of Black Heaven, he plays guitar and is the lead vocalist.
Yamada: Formerly Luke of Black Heaven, he plays drums. After the break-up of the band, he went into the real-estate business.
Suzuki: Formerly Raphael of Black Heaven, he plays bass. After the break-up of the band, he opened up a grocery store.
Watanabe: Formerly Joseph of Black Heaven, he played keyboard. After the break-up of the band, he went to New York to try to make it in the music business, only to meet an unfortunate end through an aggravated lobster and an insulted black man. His remains are recovered by "the enemy" and used to create a clone/android to combat the reunited Black Heaven.
Episode 13: "Let Me Go, Let You Go" by Koichi Korenaga
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 about the middle-aged members of a short-lived heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band and their unexpected role in an alien interstellar war. The Japanese title of the series is a multi-layered pun; it can be translated as "section-chief Oji", "old section-chief", or literally "Section Head Prince". The opening theme "Cautionary Warning" was written and performed by English rock guitarist John Sykes
John Sykes
John James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
, who played with rock bands including Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
and Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
. In the US, the series has been available on DVD from Geneon
Geneon
is a Japanese music, anime and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Geneon has been involved in the production and distribution of several anime in Japan...
in four separate volumes since 2001 and in 4-disc box set since 2005.
Plot Summary
Middle-aged Oji Tanaka has a wife, a child and a mundane job as a salary man in Tokyo's modern society. But his life wasn't always so dull; 15 years ago he was known as "Gabriel", lead guitar of a short-lived heavy metal band called "Black Heaven". Oji's life takes a sudden turn when he is invited by an enigmatic woman to pick up his Gibson Flying V and once again display his "legendary" guitar skills. Little does he know the effects this will have on on his family, on the other remaining members of Black Heaven, on an alien interstellar war with a mysterious "ultimate" weapon (ala MacrossMacross
is a series of science fiction mecha anime, directed by Shōji Kawamori of Studio Nue in 1982. The franchise features a fictional history of Earth/Humanity after the year 1999. It consists of three TV series, four movies, six OVAs, one light novel and five manga series, all sponsored by Big West...
), or on the fate of the planet Earth.
Characters
Oji Tanaka: Formerly Gabriel, the lead guitarist of Black Heaven, Tanaka takes an office job following the break-up of the band to support his growing family. Years later, he's facing mid-life, wondering what went wrong, when Layla Yuki approaches him, asking him to play for her.Layla Yuki: Tasked with tracking down Oji and getting him on their side to play music in order to activate the ultimate weapon. After finding him, she basically plays the role of an agent, acting as the go between the band and Fomalhaut, the space army commander.
Yoshiko Tanaka: A former groupie of Black Heaven, she marries Oji when he finds out she is pregnant. She plays the role of the housewife and mother, watching in dismay as Oji reverts to his rocker persona and suspicious that he may be having an affair with Layla.
Gen Tanaka: Oji's and Yoshiko son, who has a fascination with a outer space television show that he watches daily. He also believes that Layla is a character from the show.
Kotoko, Eriko and Rinko: Layla's subordinates, who work in the same building as Oji and Layla and help with her assignments. They are identified with their respective hair colors of blue, purple, and green.
- , ,
Sato: Formerly Michael of Black Heaven, he plays guitar and is the lead vocalist.
Yamada: Formerly Luke of Black Heaven, he plays drums. After the break-up of the band, he went into the real-estate business.
Suzuki: Formerly Raphael of Black Heaven, he plays bass. After the break-up of the band, he opened up a grocery store.
Watanabe: Formerly Joseph of Black Heaven, he played keyboard. After the break-up of the band, he went to New York to try to make it in the music business, only to meet an unfortunate end through an aggravated lobster and an insulted black man. His remains are recovered by "the enemy" and used to create a clone/android to combat the reunited Black Heaven.
Episodes
Note: the links are to the article of the song probably referenced.| # | Title | Original air date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ending
Episodes 1-12: "Yappari Onna no Hoga Iiya (I Like To Be A Woman After All)" by Riyu KonakaEpisode 13: "Let Me Go, Let You Go" by Koichi Korenaga