Burst Angel

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Burst Angel


caption =
ja_name = 爆裂天使
ja_name_trans = Bakuretsu Tenshi
genre = Mecha, Science fiction, YuriInfobox animanga/Anime
title =
director = Koichi Ohata
writer = Fumihiko Shimo
studio = Gonzo
licensor = flagicon|USA flagicon|Canada FUNimation Entertainment
flagicon|UK MVM Films
flagicon|Australia flagicon|New Zealand Madman Entertainment
network = TV Asahi
network_other = flagicon|Philippines QTV 11, Hero TV flagicon|Venezuela Animax
first = 6 April 2004
last = 14 September 2004
episodes = 24
episode_list = List of Burst Angel episodesInfobox animanga/Manga
title = Angel's Adolescence
author =
illustrator = Minoru Murao
publisher = Media Works
publisher_en =
publisher_other =
magazine = Dengeki Comic Gao!
demographic = Shōnen
first =
last =
volumes = 3
chapter_list = Infobox animanga/OVA
title = Burst Angel: Infinity
director = Koichi Ohata
studio = Gonzo
licensor = flagicon|USA flagicon|Canada FUNimation Entertainment
flagicon|UK MVM Films
flagicon|Australia flagicon|New Zealand Madman Entertainment
episodes = 1
released = March 23 2007

nihongo|"Burst Angel"|爆裂天使|Bakuretsu Tenshi is a Japanese animated television series directed by Koichi Ohata, from a screenplay by Fumihiko Shimo, and produced by the Gonzo animation studio.

"Burst Angel" takes place in the near future, after a rise in criminal activity forced the Japanese government to allow citizens to possess firearms and establish the Recently Armed Police Taskforce (RAPT). The series follows Kyohei Tachibana, a culinary school student who dreams of becoming a pastry chef, and the band of mercenaries he works for.

The series aired on TV Asahi from April 6, 2004 to September 14, 2004, totaling 24 episodes. An original video animation, "Burst Angel Infinity", was released on March 23, 2007. The music for both the series and OVA was composed by Masara Nishida. [ [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=7143 Masara NISHIDA - Anime News Network] ]

Plot

In the near future, due to an unusual rise in criminal activity, it has become legal to possess firearms in Japan so lawful citizens can protect themselves. At the same time, the government established the Recently Armed Police Taskforce, whose methods are exterminating criminals rather than arresting them.

The story opens with Kyohei Tachibana, a student at a culinary arts school with dreams of someday becoming a patissier, motorcycling down an inner city street and becoming caught up in a shoot-out between a mysterious white-haired woman and a couple of gangsters. Kyohei escapes unharmed and ends up working as a cook for Jo, Meg, Amy, and Sei in an effort to gather up enough money to travel to France. The girls, ranging in ages of eleven to nineteen, turn out to be pseudo-mercenary agents for a larger international group known as Bai Lan.

"Burst Angel" focuses on the group as they investigate a series of mutated human monsters with odd glowing brains that cause various amount of mayhem in Tokyo.

Characters

;JoJo's physical appearance is of that of a young teenager of about 18 years old. Consisting of Silver hair, red eyes, small breasts and a glowing tattoo located on her left arm and shoulder blade that extends up her cheek, that resemble wings and are occasionally call "The Wings of the Devil", that only appears when Jo is under a significant amount of stress while fighting. She also carries a pair of Desert Eagles with markings similar to the tattoo design on her left arm.

Jo is often seen wearing a red leather jacket, lined with gold fur and a yellow or red scarf. Aside from her jacket, she also wears a dark blue top and panties, with her gun holster over the top.

Jo also puts Meg over anything else, which she stated when telling Meg that she fights only for her. When she is not fighting, she enjoys watching horror or gore related movies and eating spicy food.

Jo would eventually rediscover her past as a genetically engineered war machine in human form. After being forced to surrender with Meg and others held hostage, Jo returns to the secret labs for reprogramming and conditioning at RAPT R&D.Jo's counterpart, Maria, frees her and Meg to only prove who was the strongest, by restaging the fight they were unable to finish.After the fight between Maria and Jo, which pushes both of them to their limits, Maria loses her will to fight and is restored to her true humanity.Reunited with the group, Jo decides that she has to destroy RAPT. Against Meg's will, who is highly opposed to the idea after seeing her go through a lifetime of combat and feels it's not their problem, Jo knocks Meg out, bids her farewell and leaves her jacket behind for her to remember her by.

The remainder of the group, including Takane and Leo, charge Tokyo, now under martial law, heading for RAPT's Central HQ, where Jo piloting Jango destroys the building's Glowing Brain causing the building to self-destruct. Her scarf was later seen tied around part of the rubble by Meg.

;MegumiMeg has red hair (although in her first appearance chronologically, in episode 14: "Wild Kids," she is portrayed as having Black or Dark Brown hair), carries a small revolver, at times a large anti-tank rifle, and dresses like a cowgirl.

Meg is highly prone to be captured, only to be rescued by Jo. She is the very best of friends with Jo and is 100% loyal only to her. It's suggestive throughout the series and manga that her feelings for Jo might be romantic, possibly bisexual since she's into men.

Meg first met Jo in New York City, a year before the beginning of the series. Since then, Meg and Jo teamed up and became bounty hunters until Sei hired them.

Meg enjoys eating and loves buffets. So much so, that Amy often teases her about it.She was once an orphan in New York City with several other children, until she encountered Jo. While the other children all appear to have been adopted by a police officer after their very first encounter with a Glowing Brain.

At first, Meg was reluctant to keep Jo around because of her destructive capabilities, but after some time they learn to appreciate and trust each other. After they took Sei's offer as employees of Bai-lan, She has been performing supportive roles for Jo's missions. After she finds out Jo's origin, she feels Jo no longer should fight, Jo knocked her out however, and left her Jacket to her.

At the end of the series, Meg makes her way to the ruined RAPT HQ, and sees Jo's scarf hanging on a piece of debris. Meg then says her final goodbye to Jo, and the final scene is Meg in Jo's outfit, in a scene very much paralleling the beginning of the opening title, only with a red Jango behind her.

It is implied that Meg has essentially become a new Jo, so to speak.

;SeiSei is the kind and busty leader of the group and was the one who hired Jo and Meg to become members of Bai-lan.

She wears a long blue jacket, and has her black hair in a bun, but appears older than her stated age.

Her grandfather runs Bai Lan (White Lotus) and comes from a very powerful Chinese family. Born and raised as a traditional Chinese girl and trained in various ways of her clan/syndicate.

After her grandfather stepped down as leader of the clan, their current clan members made a partnership with RAPT to preserve their clan. However such actions not only disgusted Sei, but she was forced to do many things for RAPT in Bai-Lan's name.

She eventually rebelled against her own organization under the advice of her own grandfather.During the assault on RAPT Headquarters, Sei is shot and wounded. However, None of the hits appear to be lethal ones.

;AmyAmy is a Computer/Techno whiz. She was saved and recruited by Sei after Amy's hacking drew attention to the authorities in her own country.

She often argues with Meg and also loves scarfing down Kyohei's various treats. She has a cult following in the cyberworld. She is often seen carrying what appears to be a pink stuffed animal that actually contains a laptop.

;Kyohei TachibanaA student attending a certified culinary school who is proficient in Chinese cooking, Italian cooking, and Japanese cooking.Kyohei (Kyo) is often seen wearing his Chef uniform and riding a small motor scooter, which is destroyed by Jo on more than one occasion.

He was hired by Sei as a cook for the girls since all they eat is junkfood and candy. He continues working for the team to save up to go to France and become a patissier (Pastry Chef).

;Takane KatsuA loud-mouthed, bike-riding Police Officer from Osaka.Takane is often seen riding a Chopper (Large Motorcycle) and wears a uniform resembling that of a school girl and carries a large wooden sword, which she swings around often.Takane is quick to lose her temper and hates being in debt to anyone. She is also the daughter of the Police Chief of Osaka.

;LeoAppearance wise, Leo is your typical middle-aged mechanic.

He is Jango's mechanic and hates it when Jo plays rough with it.

Leo seems to like Sei and has trouble controlling his urges to act like a child, as seen when the team goes to Fortune Island Artificial Beach resort. Where he smashes a Go-cart out of the raceway and down the street.

Media

Manga

"Angel's Adolescence", illustrated by Minoru Murao, is a manga prequel to the "Burst Angel" TV series.

OVA

"Burst Angel Infinity" was released in Japan on March 23, 2007. Like "Angel's Adolescence", the OVA deals with Jo and Meg's life before joining Sei's band of mercenaries in Tokyo.

The OVA was released by FUNimation on November 13, 2007.

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.burstangel.com/ FUNimation's Official "Burst Angel" Website] anime-links
title = "Burst Angel"
ann = 3560
imdb = 0409536
tvcom = 29131