Maps (anime)
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese manga
series written and illustrated by Hasegawa Yuichi. It was serialized in the Gakken
magazine Monthly Comic Nora from 1985 to 1994. The series was adapted into two anime
original video animation
s (OVAs): the 1987 original, fully titled in Japan, and the 1994 remake, simply titled Maps.
s. Gen and Hoshimi leave Earth with Lipumira to find the treasure, a quest shared by evil space people whom they are often compelled to fight against. Notable aspects of the series are the spaceships (which look like giant silver angelic women, often described as "hood ornaments") and cyborg women that control them. Each ship and its pilot is a distinct character, from playful to evil.
magazine Monthly Comic Nora from 1985 to 1994. A total of 17 tankōbon
bound volumes were published in Japan between 1987 and 1995. Japan Media Factory re-released the manga in bunkoban format in 2003.
based on Maps have been created.
The first, Maps: Densetsu no Samayoeru Seijintachi, was produced by Studio Gallop, directed by Hayakawa Keiji, written by Kenji Terada
, and musically scored by Kohei Tanaka
. It was released exclusively in Japan on July 17, 1987. The second, simply titled Maps, was co-produced by TMS Entertainment and KSS
, directed by Nishizawa Susumu, written by Masaki Tsuji
, and musically scored by Masahiro Kawasaki
. It was released in Japan in four episodes split into two volumes on July 8, 1994 and February 24, 1995. An English version of this OVA was later licensed by ADV Films and distributed in North America.
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series written and illustrated by Hasegawa Yuichi. It was serialized in the Gakken
Gakken
is a Japanese publishing company founded in 1947 by Hideto Furuoka, which also produces educational toys. Their annual sales is reported at ¥ 821 billion ....
magazine Monthly Comic Nora from 1985 to 1994. The series was adapted into two anime
Anime
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....
original video animation
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
s (OVAs): the 1987 original, fully titled in Japan, and the 1994 remake, simply titled Maps.
Plot
Maps follows a normal Earth boy named Gen. He and his girlfriend Hoshimi meet Lipumira, a scantily-clad, blond woman from outer space, who tells Gen that he is the "mapman," meaning the map to a great treasure is coded in his geneGene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
s. Gen and Hoshimi leave Earth with Lipumira to find the treasure, a quest shared by evil space people whom they are often compelled to fight against. Notable aspects of the series are the spaceships (which look like giant silver angelic women, often described as "hood ornaments") and cyborg women that control them. Each ship and its pilot is a distinct character, from playful to evil.
Manga
Maps was written and illustrated by Hasegawa Yuichi. It was serialized in the GakkenGakken
is a Japanese publishing company founded in 1947 by Hideto Furuoka, which also produces educational toys. Their annual sales is reported at ¥ 821 billion ....
magazine Monthly Comic Nora from 1985 to 1994. A total of 17 tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
bound volumes were published in Japan between 1987 and 1995. Japan Media Factory re-released the manga in bunkoban format in 2003.
OVAs
Two OVAsOriginal video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
based on Maps have been created.
The first, Maps: Densetsu no Samayoeru Seijintachi, was produced by Studio Gallop, directed by Hayakawa Keiji, written by Kenji Terada
Kenji Terada
is a Japanese scenario writer, anime director, series organizer and novelist. He is probably best known for writing the first three games of the Final Fantasy series, his work on Batman: Dark Tomorrow, and as the series organizer and main script writer for the Kimagure Orange Road series...
, and musically scored by Kohei Tanaka
Kohei Tanaka (composer)
is a Japanese composer, arranger and singer. He is affiliated with the music production company Imagine. He has created numerous musical scores for famous anime TV series, OVAs, movies, computer games and tokusatsu series. Tanaka was born in Ebisubashi, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture on February 14,...
. It was released exclusively in Japan on July 17, 1987. The second, simply titled Maps, was co-produced by TMS Entertainment and KSS
KSS (company)
KSS Inc. is a Japanese company that provides anime studio services including production, music, subtitles and translation. At one time, they had also published video games.-Anime that KSS has been associated with:*Barbapapa*Battle Angel *Calimero...
, directed by Nishizawa Susumu, written by Masaki Tsuji
Masaki Tsuji
is a Japanese scenario writer of TV series and films as well as mystery fiction novels. Tsuji was most active in the business from the 1960s through the 1980s, and worked as a script writer on many popular anime TV series for Mushi Production, Toei Animation, and Tokyo Movie Shinsha.Among the...
, and musically scored by Masahiro Kawasaki
Masahiro Kawasaki
Masahiro Kawasaki, born Masafumi Kawasaki, was a Japanese musician and composer. He died of liver cancer.-External links:*...
. It was released in Japan in four episodes split into two volumes on July 8, 1994 and February 24, 1995. An English version of this OVA was later licensed by ADV Films and distributed in North America.