Kerberos Panzer Jäger
Encyclopedia
Kerberos Panzer Jäger is a 2006 radio drama
series based on a story written by Japanese filmmaker and novelist Mamoru Oshii
. It has been broadcast monthly since April on Bunka Houso Kabushiki Gaisha
's JOQR Radio
station.
as "Hellhound Tank Hunter", with "Jäger" being the German
word for "hunter".
"Panzer" in German can mean "armour", in this context however it is commonly used as abbreviation of "Panzerwagen" which means "armoured vehicle" = tank.
In military use, the word "Panzer" always refers to tanks, so in World War II "Panzerjäger"
were specially trained anti- tank units who were supposed to hunt enemy tanks down and destroy them.
Although the correct German spelling would be "Kerberos-Panzerjäger," ケルベロス 鋼鉄の猟犬 is Japanese for "Kerberos Steel Hunting Dog".
' three-headed watchdog of hell
in the Greek mythology
. It is also used to designate the Panzer Cops.
is a German military term for light infantry. There is a "Panzerjäger
"- team in every squad of German infantry units. They are specially equipped with anti-tank weapons. In Kerberos Panzer Cop, the Panzer Jäger unit is part of the Ground Self-Defense Force (陸上自衛隊).
feature of the German Kerberos blitzkrieg
narrated in Kerberos Panzer Jäger .
Since recreating such a battle is extremely ambitious, the Japanese director doesn't plan to produce his project until 2009. In order to help the dramatization of the epic battle, the movie will heavily use 3DCG.
The plot of Kerberos Panzer Jäger is based on the popular Kerberos saga
which started in 1987 as the black and white live-action feature film The Red Spectacles
.
This 2006 extension explores the European, military, origins of the Kerberos Panzer Cops, the German troopers known as Kerberos Panzer Jäger. The story is mainly set on the "Eastern Front
", in East Europe, during the 1940s, with the Germans fighting the Soviets
and eventually defeating them at the 1942 Battle of Stalingrad
, creating a paradox and a major change in the course of History leading to the parallel world portrayed in the Kerberos saga.
station to start his long journey into the Soviet mainland.
His duty in the Propagandakompanie sends him from one front to another, conveying up-to-date information to both military-men and civilians. But his real mission is to secretly store and transport Protect-Gears parts for the 101st Panzer Company
fighting in the fierce battle of Stalingrad.
Captain Maki must journey from Warsaw to Stalingrad in an armoured train
which does not even have windows, in order to maintain maximum security. If successful, his secret mission, and long travel into the Far East, might change both the tide of the battle and the course of History
.
Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg
was the German colonel who failed to assassinate Adolf Hitler
in 1944 delivering him a bomb.
(クルスク, Kurusuku)
(軍馬, Gunba)
(第三の軍隊, Daisan no gunntai)
(西方研究, Seihō kenkyu)
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
series based on a story written by Japanese filmmaker and novelist Mamoru Oshii
Mamoru Oshii
Mamoru Oshii is a Japanese filmmaker, television director, and writer. Famous for his philosophy-oriented storytelling, Oshii has directed a number of popular anime, including Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer, Ghost in the Shell, and Patlabor 2...
. It has been broadcast monthly since April on Bunka Houso Kabushiki Gaisha
Nippon Cultural Broadcasting
is a Japanese radio station in Tokyo which broadcasts to the Kanto area. It is one of the two flagship radio stations of National Radio Network and also has a relationship with JOLF and Fuji Television....
's JOQR Radio
Nippon Cultural Broadcasting
is a Japanese radio station in Tokyo which broadcasts to the Kanto area. It is one of the two flagship radio stations of National Radio Network and also has a relationship with JOLF and Fuji Television....
station.
Title
Kerberos Panzer Jäger, the official international title, can be translated to EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as "Hellhound Tank Hunter", with "Jäger" being the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
word for "hunter".
"Panzer" in German can mean "armour", in this context however it is commonly used as abbreviation of "Panzerwagen" which means "armoured vehicle" = tank.
In military use, the word "Panzer" always refers to tanks, so in World War II "Panzerjäger"
were specially trained anti- tank units who were supposed to hunt enemy tanks down and destroy them.
Although the correct German spelling would be "Kerberos-Panzerjäger," ケルベロス 鋼鉄の猟犬 is Japanese for "Kerberos Steel Hunting Dog".
Kerberos
Primarily, the term kerberos is a reference to HadesHades
Hades , Hadēs, originally , Haidēs or , Aidēs , meaning "the unseen") was the ancient Greek god of the underworld. The genitive , Haidou, was an elision to denote locality: "[the house/dominion] of Hades". Eventually, the nominative came to designate the abode of the dead.In Greek mythology, Hades...
' three-headed watchdog of hell
Cerberus
Cerberus , or Kerberos, in Greek and Roman mythology, is a multi-headed hound which guards the gates of the Underworld, to prevent those who have crossed the river Styx from ever escaping...
in the Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
. It is also used to designate the Panzer Cops.
Protect-Gear
The Protect-Gear is the full body armour used by both the Kerberos Panzer Cop and Kerberos Panzer Jäger assault units. Various types are used within the saga.Jäger
JägerJäger (military)
Jäger is a term that was adopted in the Enlightenment era in German-speaking states and others influenced by German military practice to describe a kind of light infantry, and it has continued in that use since then....
is a German military term for light infantry. There is a "Panzerjäger
Panzerjäger
Panzerjäger was a branch of service of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War which were the anti-tank arm-of-service who operated anti-tank artillery, and made exclusive use of the tank destroyers which were also named Panzerjäger...
"- team in every squad of German infantry units. They are specially equipped with anti-tank weapons. In Kerberos Panzer Cop, the Panzer Jäger unit is part of the Ground Self-Defense Force (陸上自衛隊).
Prequel (1999)
The Kerberos Panzer Jäger characters made their first appearance in 1999, in Kerberos Panzer Cop: Conclusions Act 5 "War Dogs".Anime adaptation project (2009)
On late May 2006, Mamoru Oshi has officially unveiled his plan to direct an animeAnime
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....
feature of the German Kerberos blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg
For other uses of the word, see: Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg is an anglicized word describing all-motorised force concentration of tanks, infantry, artillery, combat engineers and air power, concentrating overwhelming force at high speed to break through enemy lines, and, once the lines are broken,...
narrated in Kerberos Panzer Jäger .
Since recreating such a battle is extremely ambitious, the Japanese director doesn't plan to produce his project until 2009. In order to help the dramatization of the epic battle, the movie will heavily use 3DCG.
Short bootleg (2005)
A 2005 young freelance director's short film, also based on 3DCG and similar to the Kerberos Panzer Jäger story, was showcased at the Kerberos saga radio drama series launch party as a trailer .Chronicles
Kerberos saga historical background and significant dates in both the real and fictitious History.Prologue
Kerberos saga
The is a military science fiction franchise and alternate history universe created by the Japanese writer and filmmaker Mamoru Oshii in 1986. The saga is centered around the fictitious Tokyo police Special Armed Garrison which emblem and nickname is Kerberos , the mythological three-headed...
which started in 1987 as the black and white live-action feature film The Red Spectacles
The Red Spectacles
is a 1987 absurdist, surrealist Japanese film directed by Mamoru Oshii, co-written with Kazunori Ito, and starring Shigeru Chiba and Mako Hyodo.This is the first film of the Kerberos saga and last episode in Oshii's Orwellian Watchdog of Hell feature trilogy.-Chronicles:Kerberos saga historical...
.
This 2006 extension explores the European, military, origins of the Kerberos Panzer Cops, the German troopers known as Kerberos Panzer Jäger. The story is mainly set on the "Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
", in East Europe, during the 1940s, with the Germans fighting the Soviets
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and eventually defeating them at the 1942 Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
, creating a paradox and a major change in the course of History leading to the parallel world portrayed in the Kerberos saga.
Plot
In September 1942, German Captain Maki Stauffenberg, in command of the 808th Propagandakompanie (Ärmelstreifen des Heeres), leaves the WarsawWarsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
station to start his long journey into the Soviet mainland.
His duty in the Propagandakompanie sends him from one front to another, conveying up-to-date information to both military-men and civilians. But his real mission is to secretly store and transport Protect-Gears parts for the 101st Panzer Company
101st SS Heavy Panzer Detachment
SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 101 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 101 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 101 (in German Schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101, commonly abbreviated as s.SS-Pz. Abt. 101 was one of Waffen-SS's elite armored units, acting as a fire brigade and a crack assault unit on all fronts...
fighting in the fierce battle of Stalingrad.
Captain Maki must journey from Warsaw to Stalingrad in an armoured train
Armoured train
An armoured train is a train protected with armour. They are usually equipped with railroad cars armed with artillery and machine guns. They were mostly used during the late 19th and early 20th century, when they offered an innovative way to quickly move large amounts of firepower...
which does not even have windows, in order to maintain maximum security. If successful, his secret mission, and long travel into the Far East, might change both the tide of the battle and the course of History
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
.
Characters
- Captain Maki Stauffenberg
- Sergeant Major Hollerbach
- Corporal Lauth
- Captain Deisler
- Major Klose
- Sergeant Beinlich
- Sergeant Kahn
Historical similarities
| Kerberos Panzer Jäger | Images of the Last Battalion Images of the Last Battalion Images of the Last Battalion is a 2"29, black and white, Retro-fiction 3DCG/Animation short film directed by Koichi Kishita in 2005, then he was student at the Digital Hollywood graduate school of Tokyo... |
History Eastern Front (World War II) The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945... |
|---|---|---|
| 101st Panzer Company | SS Panzer Battalion (Normandy Operation Overlord Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings... ) |
101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 101st SS Heavy Panzer Detachment SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 101 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 101 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 101 (in German Schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101, commonly abbreviated as s.SS-Pz. Abt. 101 was one of Waffen-SS's elite armored units, acting as a fire brigade and a crack assault unit on all fronts... |
| Army Group North/Center/South | - | Barbarossa Army Group North/Center/South Operation Barbarossa Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare... |
| Cpt. Maki Stauffenberg Kerberos saga characters This is a character guide to the radio drama, film, manga and anime works Kerberos saga . Characters are sorted by organizations or groups according to the original works... |
- | Col. Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg |
Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg
Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg
Claus Philipp Maria Justinian Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg commonly referred to as Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg was a German army officer and Catholic aristocrat who was one of the leading members of the failed 20 July plot of 1944 to assassinate Adolf Hitler and remove the Nazi Party from...
was the German colonel who failed to assassinate Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
in 1944 delivering him a bomb.
Interview program
- 2006.04.26: Interview Part.1: Radio drama's appeal
- 2006.04.26: Interview Part.2: Listeners questions about Kerberos Panzer Jägerを語る
- 2006.04.26: Kenji Kawai & Mamoru Oshii
Act I: Armoured Train
(装甲列車編, Sōkō ressha hen)- 2006.04.31: Vol.1: Propagandakompanie (Propaganda Company)
- (宣伝中隊,
- 2006.06.28: Vol.2: Kursk
- 2006.07.26: Vol.3: Kriegspferd (Charger)
Act II: Panzer Jäger
(装甲猟兵, Sōkō ryoū hei)- 2006.08.30: Vol.1: Die Langen Kerle Potsdam (Potsdam Giant Guards)
- (ポツダムの巨人兵,
- 2006.09.27: Vol.2: Die Dritte Armee (The Third Army)
Act III: Blitzkrieg
(電撃戦, Dengeki sen)- 2006.11.10: Vol.1: Blumenkrieg (Flowery War)
- (花の戦争,
- 2006.11.24: Vol.2: Westaufklärung (Study of the West)
Act IV: Barbarossa
(バルバロッサ, barubarossa)- 2007.01.12: Vol.1: Säuberung (Purge)
- (粛清,
Books
2007.04: Kerberos Panzer Jäger Official Guide Book (official guide book)- Japanese text, Mamoru Oshii, Barque, 32p.
Cast
- Yoshiko SakakibaraYoshiko Sakakibarais a Japanese voice actress.-Direct-to-video animation:* 1983 Dallos - Melinda Hurst* 1985 Greed - Mimau* 1985 Area 88 - Yasuda* 1985 Cream Lemon – Rio* 1985 Megazone 23 – Reina* 1985 The Karuizawa Syndrome - Kaoru Matsunuma...
: Cpt. Maki Stauffenberg (マキ・シュタウフェンヴェルク大尉) - Michihiro IkemizuMichihiro Ikemizuis a Japanese voice actor from Kanagawa Prefecture and a graduate of Waseda University who works for Aoni Production.Among his other roles, he has performed the characters Onsen-Mark , Isao Ohta and Kinnikuman Super Phoenix .-TV anime:*Ashita no Joe 2 *Attacker You!...
: Sgt. Major Hollerbach (ホラーバッハ曹長) - Yuya UchidaYuya Uchidais a Japanese actor and singer, who is regarded as a major figure in Japanese popular music.He began his music career in 1957, and became one of Japan's pivotal rock and roll figures. He became good friends with John Lennon after touring with The Beatles in 1966...
: Cpl. Lauth (ラウト伍長) - Masashi EbaraMasashi Ebara, better known as , is a Japanese voice actor, actor, and narrator from Kanagawa Prefecture. He stands at 175 centimeters and is affiliated with 81 Produce....
: Cpt. Deisler (ダイスラー大尉) - Ikuya SawakiIkuya Sawaki, better know by his stage name , is a Japanese voice actor who is affiliated with Arts Vision.-TV Anime:*Berserk *Cyborg 009 , better know by his stage name , is a Japanese voice actor who is affiliated with Arts Vision.-TV Anime:*Berserk (Boscogne)*Cyborg 009 (2001) , better know by his stage...
: Mjr. Klose (クローゼ少佐) - Tetsuo GotoTetsuo Gotois a Japanese seiyū from Gifu Prefecture.-Animation:*Angel Heart *Cyborg 009 *Death Note *Dinosaur King *Gallery Fake *The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy...
: Sgt. Beinlich (バインリヒ軍曹) - Otoya KawanoOtoya Kawanois a Japanese voice actor who was born in Taketa, Ōita.-Notable voice roles:*Seishiro Sakurazuka in X/1999 the series*Gain Bijo in Overman King Gainer*Bougan man in Samurai 7*Ikazuchi no Takamaru in Onmyou Taisenki*Ryūjirō Sasaki in Samurai Champloo...
Sgt. Kahn (カーン軍曹)
Production staff
- Original story / Scenario / Director: Mamoru Oshii
- Music: Kenji KawaiKenji Kawai, born April 23, 1957 in Shinagawa, Tokyo, is a Japanese music composer, for motion pictures, anime movies, video games and televised programs. He has contributed to the musical scores for numerous films from Japan and other countries in Asia, working in film genres as diverse as anime, horror,...
- Sound director: Kazuhiro Wakabayashi
- Recording: 宮澤二郎
- Effects: 伊藤道広 (Soundring)
- 音楽制作: 安田玲子 / 仲野智子 / 奥澤麻由美 / 大久保絵美 (Aube Inc.)
- 音響制作担当: 好永伸恵
- 音響制作: フォニシア
- 録音Studio: Tokyo TV Center
- Supervisor: 小泉聰
Recording staff
- Recording Engineer: Kitagawa Teruaki / Kyouhei Fukushiro
- Strings: 内田輝 Group
- A.Piano: Tohru Shigemi
- Keyboards: Kenji Kawai
- Recording studio: 一口坂 Studio / Aube Studio / i@ Recording Studio
- Assistant Engineer: 山本篤士 / 中田武士 / 菊地和孝 (一口坂 Studio) / 長谷部智子 (Aube Studio) / 見留由紀 (i@ Recording Studio)
Musical theme
- Die Antwort ("the answer"):
- Composer: Paolo Bozzola
- Arrangement: Kenji Kawai
- Vocal: Akane Kawabe
Sources
- Kerberos Panzer Jäger official website (Japanese)
- Kerberos Panzer Jäger@Raiden Kinema channel 2 (kinema) (Japanese)
- Kerberos Panzer Jäger@Raiden Kinema channel 9 (archives) (Japanese)
- Mamoru Oshii's official website (Japanese)
- Kenji Kawai's official website (Japanese/English)
- JOQR Radio (Japanese)
- Images of the Last Battalion@Digital Frontier Grand Prix 2005 (Japanese)
- DCAJ Digital Contents Association of Japan (Japanese/English)
- Digital Hollywood (Japanese)
- Axis Animation (English)
- Watch Impress (Japanese)
External links
- Keruberosu Koutetsu No Ryōken Gaisetsu Wiki (Japanese)
- Kerberos saga official website (Japanese)