anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
television series animated by J.C.Staff which aired on
TV Tokyo
JOTX-DTV (channel 7), branded as is a Japanese television station that serves as the flagship of the TX Network.2nd Lieutenant Uchida Kazuhiro, a helicopter pilot in a
search and rescue
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
wing of the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF). The anime is a part of the ''Rescue Wings'' media franchise produced by
Bandai Visual
was a Japanese anime, film production, and distribution company, established by Bandai and a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings. They focused mainly in international distribution of anime properties in North America.
Most of the anime and ...
which also includes a live-action film released in 2008, where the main character is a female pilot played by Yuko Takayama, as well as two
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series with different stories focusing on ''search and rescue'' squads and personnel.
The real life JASDF Komatsu Air Base hosts a search and rescue wing in addition to two fighter wings with F-15J's and T-4's as portrayed in the anime. ''JDS Haruna'' (DDH-141), on which Hongou lands on to refuel in Episode 3, is a real ship of the JMSDF.
Synopsis
Uchida Kazuhiro joined the JASDF hoping to fly fighter jets, however midway through the pilot training program he was transferred to the rescue helicopter course and was eventually deployed to the Komatsu Rescue Squad as a SAR helicopter pilot. Initially depressed at his assignment, Uchida's experiences eventually cause him to change his mind.
Episodes
#「はじめての仕事」(The First Job)
#「困難な仕事」(A Difficult Job)
#「苦しい仕事」(A Painful Job)
#「大切な人」(Precious One)
#「必要なこと」(Necessity)
#「Bright Side of Life 前編」(Bright Side of Life, Part I)
#「Bright Side of Life 後編」(Bright Side of Life, Part II)
#「少年の旅路 前編」(A Boy's Journey, Part I)
#「少年の旅路 後編」(A Boy's Journey, Part II)
#「パーティー」(Party)
#「ビバーク」(Bivouac)
#「レスキュー」(Rescue)
#「最後の仕事」(A Last Job)(Final)(DVD Release)
Cast
*Hasegawa Megumi: Noto Mamiko
*Hirata Kazuhiko: Ii Atsushi
*Hongo Shujiro: Unshō Ishizuka
*Kosaka Takashi: Shimura Tomoyuki
*Motomura:
Shōzō Iizuka
was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from Fukushima Prefecture. He graduated from the fine arts department of Nihon University.
He is most known for the roles of Hakaider (''Android Kikaider''), Doctor Neo Cortex ( ''Crash Bandicoot ...
Masaya Onosaka
is a Japanese voice actor who works for Aoni Production. In 2010 he won the "Best Personality" Seiyu Award.
Onosaka was born in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka. He is known for his Kansai accent in some of his roles. He is the known dub actor of Zhao Yu ...
The Blu-Ray version was released in Japan on November 22, 2018. The release was timed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the JASDF's Air Rescue Wing. In 2017, scholar Takayoshi Yamamura noted that anime was produced in the collaboration with the JASDF.