| Ja Kanji: | マーベルアニメ |
| Type: | tv series |
| Iron Man | |
| Director: | Yūzō Satō Kenichi Kawamura (assistant) |
| Producer: | Tarō Morijima Fuminori Hara Cort Lane |
| Music: | Tetsuya Takahashi |
| Studio: | Madhouse |
| Network: | Animax |
| Episodes: | 12 |
| Episode List: | List of Marvel Anime episodes#Iron Man |
| Type: | tv series |
| Wolverine | |
| Director: | Hiroshi Aoyama Hajime Ootani (assistant) |
| Producer: | Tarō Morijima Fuminori Hara Cort Lane |
| Music: | Tetsuya Takahashi |
| Studio: | Madhouse |
| Network: | Animax |
| Episodes: | 12 |
| Episode List: | List of Marvel Anime episodes#Wolverine |
| Type: | tv series |
| X-Men | |
| Director: | Fuminori Kizaki |
| Music: | Tetsuya Takahashi |
| Studio: | Madhouse |
| Network: | Animax |
| Episodes: | 12 |
| Episode List: | List of Marvel Anime episodes#X-Men |
| Type: | tv series |
| Blade | |
| Director: | Mitsuyuki Masuhara Chie Yamashiro (assistant) |
| Producer: | Tarō Morijima Fuminori Hara Cort Lane |
| Music: | Tetsuya Takahashi |
| Studio: | Madhouse |
| Network: | Animax |
| Episodes: | 12 |
| Episode List: | List of Marvel Anime episodes#Blade |
| Anime films | |
| Content: | |
| Other series | |
| Content: | |
is a 2010 Japanese superhero anime television series by Madhouse and is based on the Marvel Comics universe. It is an anthology collection consisting of four twelve-episode animated series and two direct-to-video films. The entire series notably depicts Iron Man, Wolverine, Blade, and the members of the X-Men going to Japan.
The project reimagined select top Marvel characters and adapts them for a Japanese audience via four 12-part series; Iron Man, Wolverine, X-Men, and Blade, which aired in Japan on Animax between October 2010 and September 2011, and then in the United States on G4 between July 2011 and April 2012.[1] Each of the series largely features Japan as the setting for the storyline. Wolverine appears in all four of the anime, being a guest star in Iron Man and Blade, with each appearance taking place either before or after his anime.
The entire series was produced in collaboration between Marvel Entertainment, anime studio Madhouse, and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan. The announcement was confirmed at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con. According to former Madhouse President and CEO Jungo Maruta, Marvel gave the anime studio free rein to re-imagine the Marvel superheroes for Japanese audiences.[2] [3] The series was guided by writer Warren Ellis.[4] "It will create an entire parallel universe for Marvel," said Simon Philips, president of Marvel International about Marvel Anime.[5]
(DVD title: Iron Man: Animated Series; spelled IRONMAN on-screen) is the first show of the series with 12[6] episodes. The series was directed by Yuzo Sato, with Warren Ellis writing the story and Jamie Simone serving as voice director, casting director, and reversion producer for the English version. A special preview ran on Animax on September 25, 2010, before the series began airing on October 1, 2010,[7] and ended on December 17, 2010. While Iron Man premiered in the US on G4 on July 29, 2011,[8] a "sneak peek" of the first episode aired on July 23, 2011, following G4's Comic-Con 2011 Live coverage.[9] The entire series was released on DVD in the United States on April 24, 2012. It was also released on Blu-ray in Japan on June 22, 2011.[10] A follow-up direct-to-video film called Iron Man: Rise of Technovore was released on April 16, 2013.[11] [12]
Tony Stark goes to Japan to produce a new arc reactor power station and showcase the Iron Man Dio, a new prototype armor, that will replace him when he retires. However, the Iron Man Dio goes berserk and it is up to Tony as Iron Man to stop it along with an organization called the Zodiac. Iron Man even gains an ally in JSDF operative Captain Nagato Sakurai piloting the Ramon Zero armor that his military group made for him. Iron Man soon discovers that his old friend Ho Yinsen (who Tony thought was dead upon his first time as Iron Man) is alive and is operating the Iron Man Dio armor for the Zodiac's goals.
| Role | Japanese voice actor | English voice actor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian Pasdar | |||
| Kyle Hebert | |||
| Laura Bailey | |||
| Rasetsu/Minister of Defense Kuroda | Neil Kaplan | ||
| Nanami Ōta | Eden Riegel | ||
| Cindy Robinson | |||
| Ramon Zero/Captain Nagato Sakurai | Travis Willingham | ||
| Ichiro Masuda | Tomoyuki Shimura | Benjamin Diskin | |
| Editor Nomura | Daran Norris | ||
| Righella (ep. 4) | Vic Mignogna[13] | ||
| Wolverine/Logan (ep. 4) | Milo Ventimiglia[14] |
(DVD title: Wolverine: Animated Series) is the second show of the series with 12 episodes. It aired on Animax between January 7, 2011 and March 25, 2011. While Wolverine premiered in the US on G4 on July 29, 2011,[8] a "sneak peek" of the first episode aired on July 23, 2011, following the Iron Man "sneak peek" and G4's Comic-Con 2011 Live coverage.[9] Jamie Simone served as voice director, casting director, and reversion producer for the English version. The entire series was released on DVD in the United States on July 31, 2012. It was also released on Blu-ray in Japan on June 22, 2011.[15]
Logan learns that his true love, beloved sweetheart and girlfriend Mariko Yashida, who disappeared one year ago, has been taken to Tokyo by her father Shingen Yashida, the head of the Japanese crime syndicate Kuzuryu and a supplier of A.I.M., in order to be wed to Hideki Kurohagi, a bloodthirsty yakuza boss. Wolverine goes on a quest to rescue Mariko and defeat Shingen and Hideki, encountering several opponents along the way.
| Role | Japanese voice actor | English voice actor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milo Ventimiglia | |||
| Gwendoline Yeo | |||
| Fred Tatasciore | |||
| Hideki Kurohagi | Vic Mignogna | ||
| Juo Kurohagi | Tony Oliver[16] | ||
| Kate Higgins | |||
| JB Blanc | |||
| Kikyo Mikage | Steve Blum | ||
| Vadhaka | Jamieson Price | ||
| Min | Danielle Judovits | ||
| Koh | JB Blanc | ||
| Tesshin Asano | Crispin Freeman[17] | ||
| Agent Tsukino | Stephanie Sheh[18] | ||
| Agent Takagi | Vic Mignogna | ||
| Agent Machida | Kousuke Takaguchi | Roger Craig Smith[19] | |
| Miyuki | Stephanie Sheh | ||
| Cyclops/Scott Summers (ep. 5 & ep. 6) | Scott Porter |
(DVD title: X-Men: Animated Series) is the third show of the series with 12 episodes. It aired on Animax from April 1, 2011, to June 24, 2011. A preview trailer was released on February 18, 2011, featuring mutants and some from the 20th Century Fox X-Men franchise such as Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Professor X and Beast.[20] It premiered in the United States on G4 on October 21, 2011.[21] Jamie Simone served as voice director, casting director, and reversion producer for the English version. The entire series was released on DVD in the United States on April 24, 2012. It was also released on Blu-ray in Japan on December 7, 2011.[22]
Following the death of Jean Grey (who was being controlled by the Dark Phoenix, due to the sinister influence of the Inner Circle), the X-Men are reassembled by Professor X to travel to Japan following the abduction of Armor and face the U-Men who are abducting young mutants in order to harvest their organs. During their fight with the U-Men, the X-Men discover that some of the mutants in Japan are suffering from the "Damon Hall Syndrome" which causes problems for mutants during their second mutation. The X-Men must also deal with the next plot of the Inner Circle.[23]
| Role | Japanese voice actor | English voice actor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Porter | |||
| Steve Blum | |||
| Steve Staley | |||
| Cam Clarke | |||
| Danielle Nicolet | |||
| Yurika Hino | Jennifer Hale | ||
| Riko Nirasaki | Mary Elizabeth McGlynn | ||
| Tomokazu Seki (Jun Sanada) Haruhiko Jō (Mastermind) | Travis Willingham | ||
| Kōichi Kaga | Troy Baker | ||
| Marsh | Mary Elizabeth McGlynn | ||
| Rat | Manabu Sakamaki | Michael Sinterniklaas | |
| Gwendoline Yeo | |||
| Fred Tatasciore | |||
| Stephanie Sheh | |||
| Ali Hillis | |||
| Troy Baker | |||
| Kick/Todd | Dave Wittenberg | ||
| Kyoko | Laura Bailey[24] | ||
| Neuron | Dave Wittenberg |
(DVD title: Blade: Animated Series) is the fourth and final show of the series. Comprising twelve episodes like the others, the story is written by Kenta Fukasaku, son of the late Kinji Fukasaku. Jamie Simone served as casting director, reversion producer, and voice director for the English version where he was assisted by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. It aired on Animax from July 1, 2011, to September 16, 2011. The entire series was released on DVD in the United States on July 31, 2012. It was also released on Blu-ray in Japan on February 22, 2012.[25]
Blade is a "daywalker" vampire hunter who was born with human and vampire blood in his veins after a vampire attacked his mother. Blade is visiting Japan on a mission where he not only confronts Deacon Frost (the vampire who killed his mother Tara Brooks), but also goes up against a mysterious organization of vampires known as "Existence."[26]
| Role | Japanese voice actor | English voice actor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akio Ohtsuka Junko Minagawa (Young) | Harold Perrineau[27] Noah Bentley (Young) | ||
| JB Blanc | |||
| Lucius Isaac | Christopher Corey Smith[28] | ||
| Makoto | Kim Mai Guest | ||
| Troy Baker | |||
| Captain McRay | Shinpachi Tsuji | Steve Blum[29] | |
| Nayo Wallace[30] | |||
| Tanaka | Michael Sinterniklaas[31] | ||
| Mattes | Nanaho Katsuragi | Kat Purgal | |
| High Council Chairman | Neil Kaplan[32] | ||
| Wolverine/Logan (ep. 7) | Rikiya Koyama | Milo Ventimiglia | |
| Kikyo Mikage (ep. 8–9, 12) | Steve Blum |
Following the 4 TV series, Madhouse animated different Marvel Anime films.
Other anime television series based on Marvel characters have also been produced.
See main article: Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers.
Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers is a 2014 anime series produced by Walt Disney Japan and Toei Animation. It follows five children that each gain the ability to summon a specific member of Avengers, who have been trapped in small devices called DISKs, as they travel the world to help the Avengers retrieve other superheroes' and supervillains' DISKs before they are used for evil. The series aired on TX Network and ran for 51 episodes.
See main article: Marvel Future Avengers.
Marvel Future Avengers is a 2017 anime series produced by Madhouse and Walt Disney Japan. It follows three children who are rescued from Hydra by the Avengers and trained to become superheroes. The series aired for 39 episodes on the Dlife satellite channel, and was released internationally via Disney+ in 2020.
The Marvel Anime series aired in Japan on Animax between October 2010 and September 2011. An English-language version later aired in North America on G4 between July 2011 and April 2012.[33] [34] Additionally, the Marvel Anime series aired in Australia on Sci Fi.[35]