Ask John: How Much Full Metal Panic is There?

Question:
How much Full Metal Panic is there?

Answer:
Full Metal Panic originated as a series of novels written by Syouji Gatoh. The first novel, “Full Metal Panic! Soldier Boy Meets Girl,” was published on September 25, 1998. As of July 2003 there are 13 novels. If I’m not mistaken, 6 of these novels are single, serious and dramatic stories while the other 7 books are collections of comical short stories reprinted from Dragon Magazine, the monthly fantasy magazine that serializes the Full Metal Panic! manga.

There are presently three different FMP! manga series. Full Metal Panic, written by Syouji Gatoh with art by Retsu Tateo, has 6 volumes as of July 2003. This relatively serious saga, published in Dragon Magazine, is based on the original novels and is the basis for the first anime TV series. This manga is also the series that’s serialized in NewType USA magazine.

The second manga series, Ikenari! Full Metal Panic! (Suddenly! Full Metal Panic!), written by Syouji Gatoh with art by Nagai Tomohiro, was originally published in Comic Dragon Jr. Magazine, the lighter and less “hard fantasy” version of Dragon Magazine. The Ikenari! FMP manga series was slapstick comedy oriented and seems to be the basis for the second anime TV series. Ikenari! Full Metal Panic! had 5 collected volumes of manga published between February 2001 and April 2003.

Syouji Gatoh & Nagai Tomohiro have now begun a new, third manga series titled Full Metal Panic! Surplus. The first manga volume was just published in July 2003.

The first anime TV series, developed and animated by Gonzo Studios, made its debut on January 8, 2002, three months after its originally announced premier date. The anime TV series, originally scheduled to debut on Japanese television in October 2001, was delayed in respect for the September 11, 2001 tragedy suffered by the United States. The Japanese release of an anime TV series about teenagers fighting international terrorists was considered tactless so soon after America’s attack by international terrorists. The first Full Metal Panic TV series ended on June 18, 2002 after its popular 24 episode broadcast.

Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, the second anime TV series produced by Kyoto Animation instead of Gonzo, made its debut on August 25, 2003. And just like the first TV series, not without its own delays. According to unconfirmed rumor, the second series was intended to premiere on August 4th and air for 12 weeks. But since the first episode dealt with a child kidnapping that coincidentally mirrored a real life child abduction in Japan that occurred around the same time, the Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu series was delayed by three weeks and cut back to 11 episodes instead of 12. For those who are interested, the comical Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu TV series is reportedly scheduled to consists of 15 “chapters.” The first weekly episode, labeled as “Episode 1” on Fuji Television’s official site consisted of two parts making up a single story. The second weekly episode, labeled on the official site as “Episode 2” was a single episode with no eye-catch or mid-episode commercial break. So the second Full Metal Panic TV series will have 11 weekly 25 minute long episodes, but the Japanese DVD release may include an unbroadcast 12th episode.