Stray Dog: Kerberos Panzer Cops
Encyclopedia
StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops, lit. , a 1991 Japan
ese film directed by Mamoru Oshii
and starring Shigeru Chiba
and Yoshikatsu Fujiki
. It is the first theatrical film related to the Kerberos saga
manga Kerberos Panzer Cop
, the second one being Jin-Roh
(1999).
, released in 1987, and followed by Jin-Roh premiered in 1999.
However the trilogy's timeline is set backward; this film is the prequel to The Red Spectacles and the sequel of Jin-Roh.
' three-headed watchdog in Greek mythology
. It is also used to designate the Panzer Cops.
and written by Mamoru Oshii. In the 1990s, the first volume was published in North America, Germany and United Kingdom as Hellhounds: Panzer Cops.
, Taiwan
. It is revealed later that Inui's release was engineered by the Public Security Force (公安部隊) and that his contact, Hayashi, is actually an agent of this intelligence service looking for Koichi who escaped once with the intention of creating a new Kerberos organization abroad and returning to Tokyo. Inui picks up on the trail of Koichi after finding Tang Mie, a teenage Taiwanese girl that Todome has been involved with. She tells Inui that Koichi also left her, and the two team up to search for the Panzer Cop officer. They find Koichi fishing pawns, and after a brawl, the trio settle down together.
However, the peace is soon broken. Hayashi contacts Inui to propose him a deal: either Koichi surrenders to be extradited and the Japanese government will be forgiving and allow the young man to remain in Taiwan with his beloved Tang Mie, or himself and Koichi will be hunted by the Public Security Force forever. In order to defeat the Public Security Force platoon, Inui needs Koichi's saved Protect-Gear and equipment. The two Kerberos fight together and Inui is the strongest. With his superior's suitcase in hand, Inui heads toward Hayashi's rendezvous point, an abandoned hotel. Inui confronts and captures the agent and orders him to help with the wearing of the Protect-Gear. Armed with Koichi's MG42
machinegun, Inui stalks the hotel and kills the Public Security Force squad. However, when killing the squad's leader in an abandoned Kerberos fortress, he is fatally wounded and passes away, in the ground, slowly, alone, like a dog...
.
The English version title, "StrayDog Kerberos Panzer Cops", was already used in the Japanese theatrical poster as well as in the domestic market VHS back cover, as an alternate title.
1991.03.21: StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops [CD] (Apollon, BCCE-1)
1991.09.25: Keruberosu: Jigoku no Banken [VHS] (Bandai Visual, BES-567) 1991.12.19: StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops (upgrade edition) [2LD] (Bandai Visual / Emotion, BELL-475) 2003.02.25: Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy [4DVD+1CD+1BOOK] (Bandai Visual / Emotion, BCBJ-1519) 2003.11.04: Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy [3DVD+1CD] (Bandai Entertainment, 2430) 2003.11.04: Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy [3DVD+1CD] (Bandai Entertainment, 2430) English subtitled 2003.11.04: StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops [DVD] (Bandai Entertainment, 2432B) English subtitled
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese film directed by 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...
and starring Shigeru Chiba
Shigeru Chiba
is an actor and voice actor. He has also worked as a sound effects director and music director. He is employed by the talent management firm 81 Produce....
and Yoshikatsu Fujiki
Yoshikatsu Fujiki
, is an actor and veteran seiyū, or voice actor.He is famous for his roles in the Kerberos saga, as Inui , Kazuki Fuse , Chuichi Koshiramaru and also for his unusual stature of 190 cm per 86 kg.Fujiki more recently featured in Mamoru Oshii's live-action movie Assault Girls .-External...
. It is the first theatrical film related to the Kerberos saga
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...
manga Kerberos Panzer Cop
Kerberos Panzer Cop
Kerberos Panzer Cop, also known as Kerberos Panzer Cops literally , is a 1988 to 2000 Kerberos saga manga written by Mamoru Oshii and illustrated by Kamui Fujiwara with mechanical design by Yutaka Izubuchi. This comic series tales events prior to those portrayed in Oshii's 1987 live-action feature...
, the second one being Jin-Roh
Jin-Roh
is a 1999 Japanese animated feature film directed by Hiroyuki Okiura. The film is the third adaptation of Mamoru Oshii's Kerberos saga manga, Ken-Roh Densetsu, after The Red Spectacles released in 1987 and StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops released in 1991 in Japanese theaters.The film takes place in...
(1999).
Overview
This film is the second episode of the Kerberos feature trilogy. It is preceded by The Red SpectaclesThe 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...
, released in 1987, and followed by Jin-Roh premiered in 1999.
However the trilogy's timeline is set backward; this film is the prequel to The Red Spectacles and the sequel of Jin-Roh.
Kerberos
Primarily, the term Cerberos 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 in 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 Riot Police, the Metropolitan Police, and the Customs assault units. Various types are used within the saga.Tachiguishi
As tachigui professionals, the legendary Fast Food Grifters have the privilege to eat in stand-and-eat street restaurants without paying.Prequel (1988)
StrayDog is the live action film adaptation and story extension of the 1988~2000, manga Kerberos Panzer Cop. This comic book was illustrated by Kamui FujiwaraKamui Fujiwara
is a Japanese character designer and manga artist. Fujiwara's father was a soldier in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. He excelled in mathematics and computer science when in grade school. He graduated from the Kuwasawa Design School, which is attached to Tokyo Zokei University...
and written by Mamoru Oshii. In the 1990s, the first volume was published in North America, Germany and United Kingdom as Hellhounds: Panzer Cops.
Chronicles
Kerberos saga historical background and significant dates in both the real and fictitious History.Prologue
The film begins with the last stand of the Kerberos unit. After disobeying an order to disarm and disband, they have held out for an unspecified time: talk between the fatigued Kerberos cops suggests that they might have been stuck there for three days, three months, to three years. A power amplifier system issues orders for a final stand and for Koichi Todome, Midori Washio, and Soichiro Toribe to come to the central building. A Kerberos named Inui wanders through the halls of the Kerberos headquarters and then witnesses officer Koichi Todome boarding a helicopter. Angry, Inui feels betrayed by his master and asks why he's running away and not fighting until the end like he has ordered to his men. As the helicopter takes off, the army breach the headquarters.Plot
Three years later, Inui is released from prison and leaves Japan on parole. His contact from the mysterious Fugitive Support Group reported that Koichi Todome was exiled in TaipeiTaipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. It is revealed later that Inui's release was engineered by the Public Security Force (公安部隊) and that his contact, Hayashi, is actually an agent of this intelligence service looking for Koichi who escaped once with the intention of creating a new Kerberos organization abroad and returning to Tokyo. Inui picks up on the trail of Koichi after finding Tang Mie, a teenage Taiwanese girl that Todome has been involved with. She tells Inui that Koichi also left her, and the two team up to search for the Panzer Cop officer. They find Koichi fishing pawns, and after a brawl, the trio settle down together.
However, the peace is soon broken. Hayashi contacts Inui to propose him a deal: either Koichi surrenders to be extradited and the Japanese government will be forgiving and allow the young man to remain in Taiwan with his beloved Tang Mie, or himself and Koichi will be hunted by the Public Security Force forever. In order to defeat the Public Security Force platoon, Inui needs Koichi's saved Protect-Gear and equipment. The two Kerberos fight together and Inui is the strongest. With his superior's suitcase in hand, Inui heads toward Hayashi's rendezvous point, an abandoned hotel. Inui confronts and captures the agent and orders him to help with the wearing of the Protect-Gear. Armed with Koichi's MG42
MG42
The MG 42 is a 7.9mm universal machine gun that was developed in Nazi Germany and entered service with the Wehrmacht in 1942...
machinegun, Inui stalks the hotel and kills the Public Security Force squad. However, when killing the squad's leader in an abandoned Kerberos fortress, he is fatally wounded and passes away, in the ground, slowly, alone, like a dog...
Epilogue
Soon after Inui has been murdered, Koichi is left alone in Taipan, he grabs his now empty suitcase and returns to Tokyo. What happens to him in the capital as he seeks for the friends he once left there is narrated in The Red SpectaclesThe 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...
.
Characters
- Inui
- Koichi Todome
- Tang Mie
- Hayashi
- Midori Washio (offscreen)
- Soichiro Toribe (offscreen)
The English version title, "StrayDog Kerberos Panzer Cops", was already used in the Japanese theatrical poster as well as in the domestic market VHS back cover, as an alternate title.
- The video editions cover art uses photography by Haruhiko Higami which was originally created for, and published as, the Kerberos Panzer CopKerberos Panzer CopKerberos Panzer Cop, also known as Kerberos Panzer Cops literally , is a 1988 to 2000 Kerberos saga manga written by Mamoru Oshii and illustrated by Kamui Fujiwara with mechanical design by Yutaka Izubuchi. This comic series tales events prior to those portrayed in Oshii's 1987 live-action feature...
1990 edition softcover.
Audio
The OST Stray Dog Original Soundtrack is included as a bonus disc (DVD case) in the North American edition. As a comparison the bonus CD available in the Japanese release, Night Show, features the trilogy soundtrack, with 5 tracks per movie, plus 2 unreleased numbers from Akai Megane.1991.03.21: StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops [CD] (Apollon, BCCE-1)
- 11 tracks 2003.02.25: Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy [4DVD+1CD+1BOOK] (Bandai Visual / Emotion, BCBJ-1519)
- 5 tracks 2003.03.26: Kenji Kawai Cinema Anthology [5CD] (King Record / Star Child, KICA-9601~4)
- 11 + 1 tracks 2003.11.04: Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy [3DVD+1CD] (Bandai Entertainment, 2430)
- 11 tracks 2003.11.04: Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy [3DVD+1CD] (Bandai Entertainment, 2430)
- 11 tracks
Video
The LD "upgrade edition" includes a bonus disc featuring one hour of extra material including the documentary Dog Days. The latter was made available in the Dog Days After bonus disc available in the Japanese Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy boxset. This boxset was released in North America without the extra, namely a 76 pages book and Dog Days After.1991.09.25: Keruberosu: Jigoku no Banken [VHS] (Bandai Visual, BES-567) 1991.12.19: StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops (upgrade edition) [2LD] (Bandai Visual / Emotion, BELL-475) 2003.02.25: Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy [4DVD+1CD+1BOOK] (Bandai Visual / Emotion, BCBJ-1519) 2003.11.04: Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy [3DVD+1CD] (Bandai Entertainment, 2430) 2003.11.04: Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy [3DVD+1CD] (Bandai Entertainment, 2430) English subtitled 2003.11.04: StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops [DVD] (Bandai Entertainment, 2432B) English subtitled
Awards
- Officially invited to the Japanese Yubari International Fantastic Film FestivalYubari International Fantastic Film FestivalThe , also sometimes called YIFFF, is held in a resort-like environment in the small town of Yūbari on the northernmost Japanese island of Hokkaidō. From 1990 to 1999, the festival was known as the Yubari International Fantastic Adventure Film Festival.-History:...
in February 1991.
Cast
- Yoshikatsu FujikiYoshikatsu Fujiki, is an actor and veteran seiyū, or voice actor.He is famous for his roles in the Kerberos saga, as Inui , Kazuki Fuse , Chuichi Koshiramaru and also for his unusual stature of 190 cm per 86 kg.Fujiki more recently featured in Mamoru Oshii's live-action movie Assault Girls .-External...
(藤木義勝): Inui (乾) - Shigeru ChibaShigeru Chibais an actor and voice actor. He has also worked as a sound effects director and music director. He is employed by the talent management firm 81 Produce....
: Kōichi Todome (都々目紅一) - Sue Eaching (スー・イーチン): Tang Mie
- Takashi MatsuyamaTakashi Matsuyama (actor)is a Japanese actor and voice actor.- Filmography :*The Grudge as Takeo Saeki *Arcade Gamer Fubuki as Referee*Battle Programmer SHIRASE as Principal Miura...
(松山鷹志): Hayashi aka "Man in White" (白服の男)