The Anime Flip Side - Science Fiction Anime

Description

Most people will recognize the immensely popular Saber Marionette J series and the ones that followed at first sight. Surprisingly, though, this is not the original. The first Saber Marionette is actually the much lesser known "R" OAV series (3 episodes), which featured the same premise, but a different art and presentation style. Several of the characters names are different as well, although they are voiced by the same people. In Saber Marionette R, the marionettes and their master were drawn to look like children, though the story was far more serious than Saber Marionette J. The show was very dark and violent, and there was a lot of focus on the cruelty and insanity of the main villain. The ending was not a happy one, either. While still interesting to watch, the depressing theme is likely why it never caught on. The show was revamped, and the TV series Saber Marionette J was produced. While the basic plot was still serious, there was a strong comedic undertone to it. The show is about a group of people in a colony spaceship that crashes onto a planet and only six people survive - all male. They manage to survive through cloning, but were unable to recreate females, which led to the development of Marionettes - androids designed to look and act like females. They named the planet Terra 2 and each of the six survivors created their own nation based on the country they originally came from on Earth which still survive today, hundreds of years later. The story focuses on Otaru from the Japoness nation (Junior, from Romana, in the "R" series) who ends up discovering a Marionette with a special and rare "maiden" chip (only 3 exist per nation) that allows her to have emotions. He later finds the other 2 marionettes from his nation with the maiden chip in the process of unwittingly getting tangled up in a plot by a rival nation's leader to take over the other 5 nations. The marionettes adore Otaru, though he's not always sure what to do with them. Good, light-hearted comedy combined with an interesting, more serious plot make this show enjoyable for almost anyone.

Main Characters
Otaru Mamiya (SMJ) / Junior (SMR)

Original voice: Yuka Imai

Otaru / Junior becomes the "master" of the 3 marionettes Lime, Cherry, and Bloodberry whom all have maiden chips. He was just an average guy living a normal life until the day he met Lime, then later Cherry and Bloodberry. While at first he thought it was wonderful to have these marionettes with emotions living with him, it soon became difficult trying to deal with their eccentric and often clashing personalities. He also became involved in a plot to take over all the nations when the marionette started to get in the way of Faust / Starface's plans. Despite this Otaru / Junior grows very close to the three marionettes and soon cannot imagine ever living without them.

Click on an image to view the full size picture:

Saber Marionette R

Saber Marionette J

Lime

Original voice: Megumi Hayashibara

Lime is the first marionette to show up is also the "youngest" and least mature, acting much like a little kid. She has a great affection for animals and is very fun-loving, energetic, and persistent about things. While her feelings for Otaru / Junior are not romantic like Cherry or Bloodberry, she is the most open and honest about them - though she also doesn't quite understand her feelings either and still has much to learn about the world. Lime is very emotional and passionate and carries a strong desire to protect her friends.

Click on an image to view the full size picture:

Saber Marionette R

Saber Marionette J

Page 2 of images of Lime.

Cherry

Original voice: Yuri Shiratori

The second marrionette to appear, Cherry is the most intelligent, but also the weakest. She has a sophisticated built-in scanner with an unlimited range as well. Cherry supposedly represents the "perfect housewife" and is an expert at cooking, cleaning, and taking care of things. She frequently has fantasies about Otaru / Junior and is always secretly plotting ways to get him and her together as a couple, and to get him to kiss her.

Click on an image to view the full size picture:

Saber Marionette R

Saber Marionette J

Page 2 of images of Cherry.

Bloodberry

Original voice: Akiko Hiramatsu

Bloodberry is the last of the three marionettes to appear and is the strongest and most mature of them. In addition to her exceptional fighting skills, she is very outgoing and forward. She is often trying to get Otaru (she doesn't act like this in SMR) in bed with her, much to Cherry's annoyance. In Saber Marionette R she acts more like a loyal bodyguard and isn't quite as forward or sexual.

Click on an image to view the full size picture:

Saber Marionette R

Saber Marionette J

Page 2 of images of Bloodberry.

Faust Gelhardt (SMJ) / Starface (SMR)

Original voice: Hikaru Midorikawa

Faust, the leader of the Gartlant nation, is a man of mixed personality. While seeming to simply be a militaristic dictator, it is more a just reflection of his methodology of doing things. His desire is to unite Terra 2 and to find a "certain something". In Saber Marionette R, his counterpart, Starface (who is the son of the leader of Romana) really is nothing more than a violent madman. He has few, if any, redeeming qualities and is both sadistic and ruthless in his treatment of others, including his own marionettes, the Sexadolls.

Click on an image to view the full size picture:

Saber Marionette R

Saber Marionette J

Tiger (SMJ) / Edge (SMR)

Original voice: Urara Takano

Tiger / Edge is one of Faust's / Starface's Sexadolls. She is the most loyal of the three, willing to do, and endure, almost anything for her master. Despite cruel treatment, she loves her master deeply. While she is the most rational of the three Sexadolls, her fierce loyalty can also blind her from reality. Tiger / Edge is Lime's counterpart, relating to her in their connections to their respective masters and having similar combat abilities.

Click on an image to view the full size picture:

Saber Marionette R

Saber Marionette J

Luchs (SMJ) / Kyanny (SMR)

Original voice: Yuko Mizotani

Luchs / Kyanny is the second of Faust's / Starface's Sexadolls. She tends to take her own initiative more often than her other two partners, giving her leadership qualities, but also incurring the wrath of her master if something goes wrong, but endures it out of love for him. Luchs / Kyanny is extremely intelligent and posesses advanced scanning abilities. She is Cherry's counterpart, having a similar design and function as well as the tendency to fantasize about her master.

Click on an image to view the full size picture:

Saber Marionette R

Saber Marionette J

Panther (SMJ) / Brid (SMR)

Original voice: Kikuko Inaue

Panther / Brid is the third of Faust's / Starface's Sexadolls. She is very strong and brash, and prefers to solve problems by fighting. This reckless attitude and lack of patience can get her into trouble, especially with her master, and like Luchs / Kyanny she often gets punished for it. Panther / Brid is Bloodberry's counterpart and has a rivalry with her as she's the only one who's ever been able to match strength.

Click on an image to view the full size picture:

Saber Marionette R

Saber Marionette J

Marine

Original voice: Maya Okamoto

Marine shows up in the "J Again" OAV series and is a marionette from the New Texas nation. She was awakened from a pod found in the water where she had been abandoned for a long time. Marine has emotions, but there seems to be something 'different' about her maiden chip which results in powerful abilites she can't control. She is adopted into Otaru's so-called family with the other marionettes but she has problems integrating. Marine is unaware of how the world works - and she's deathly afraid of men! Lime and the others teach her about the world and she quickly adjusts, but she still can't escape the mysteries of her special creation.

Click on an image to view the full size picture:

Secondary Characters

Click on an image below to view the full size picture:

Mitsurugi Hanagata
Original voice: Takechito Koyasu

Lorelei
Original voice: Yuri Amano

Click here for page 2 of images.

Music

Mp3:

1. Dakeshimete Lovin' You (4.50Mb) Ending theme for Saber Marionette R

2.
Successful Mission (3.86Mb)
Opening theme for Saber Marionette J

3.
Enrai (3.16Mb)
Song from Saber Marionette J

4.
I'll Be There (4.65Mb)
Ending theme for Saber Marionette J

5.
Izayoi (4.70Mb)
Ending theme for Saber Marionette J final episode

6.
Hesitation (4.52Mb)
Opening theme for Saber Marionette J Again

7.
Mamotte Ageru (4.36Mb)
Ending theme for Saber Marionette J Again #2

8.
Kaze no Utao Kikinagara (5.30Mb)
Ending theme for Saber Marionette J Again #5

Video

Mpg:

1. J TV opening (23.68Mb) Opening animation for Saber Marionette J

2.
J to X TV opening - v1 (30.71Mb)
Opening animation for Saber Marionette J to X (version 1)

3.
J to X TV opening - v2 (29.57Mb)
Opening animation for Saber Marionette J to X (version 2)

4.
J to X TV ending - v1 (29.63Mb)
Ending animation for Saber Marionette J to X (version 1)

5.
J to X TV ending - v2 (36.11Mb)
Ending animation for Saber Marionette J to X (version 2)

to Science Fiction Anime page.
to Main page.

1.	Dakeshimete Lovin' You (4.50Mb)	Ending theme for Saber Marionette R
2.	Successful Mission (3.86Mb)	Opening theme for Saber Marionette J
3.	Enrai (3.16Mb)	Song from Saber Marionette J
4.	I'll Be There (4.65Mb)	Ending theme for Saber Marionette J
5.	Izayoi (4.70Mb)	Ending theme for Saber Marionette J final episode
6.	Hesitation (4.52Mb)	Opening theme for Saber Marionette J Again
7.	Mamotte Ageru (4.36Mb)	Ending theme for Saber Marionette J Again #2
8.	Kaze no Utao Kikinagara (5.30Mb)	Ending theme for Saber Marionette J Again #5

1.	J TV opening (23.68Mb)	Opening animation for Saber Marionette J
2.	J to X TV opening - v1 (30.71Mb)	Opening animation for Saber Marionette J to X (version 1)
3.	J to X TV opening - v2 (29.57Mb)	Opening animation for Saber Marionette J to X (version 2)
4.	J to X TV ending - v1 (29.63Mb)	Ending animation for Saber Marionette J to X (version 1)
5.	J to X TV ending - v2 (36.11Mb)	Ending animation for Saber Marionette J to X (version 2)