Ask John: How Much Galaxy Angel Anime is There?

Question:
I’ve been looking around and noticed there is a Galaxy Angel, Galaxy Angel A, Galaxy Angel AA, and Galaxy Angel Z. I’ve noticed that they just seem to be named for certain seasons, but I have no idea what Galaxy Angel Z is. Are they specials?

Answer:
Perhaps in a bizarre attempt to make the home video release of Galaxy Angel as confusing and illogical as the show itself is, and possibly in parody of the Mobile Suit Gundam original TV series trilogy of Gundam, Gundam Z and Gundam ZZ, the Galaxy Angel DVD release in Japan is divided into four series while the anime itself had only 3 seasons.

The first Galaxy Angel TV series, titled “Galaxy Angel,” broadcast 26 twelve minute episodes on the Animax satellite TV network between April 8 and September 30, 2001. This series was then released on 7 DVDs in Japan under the title “Galaxy Angel.”

The second TV series, also titled “Galaxy Angel,” broadcast 18 twelve minute episodes, two back-to-back for 9 weeks from February 3 until March 31, 2001 on the TV Tokyo network. This second series is memorable for introducing Forte’s costume change. Since the second series was broadcast on a mainstream, family friendly TV network instead of a pay satellite channel, Forte’s revealing outfit had to be slightly redesigned to cover up her previously exposed cleavage. For its home video release on 5 DVDs, the second series was titled “Galaxy Angel Z.”

The third TV series, broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 6, 2002 until March 31, 2003, was yet again just titled “Galaxy Angel.” This third season aired for 26 weeks, and each week’s episode contained two 12 minute long mini-episodes. The first half of the third season was released on 6 Japanese DVDs under the title “Galaxy Angel A (Ace).” Episodes 27-52 (weekly episodes 14-26) were released on 6 DVDs under the name “Galaxy Angel AA.”

For quick reference:

Galaxy Angel (first season) was 26 episodes broadcast in 26 weeks

Galaxy Angel Z (second season) was 18 episodes broadcast in 9 weeks

Galaxy Angel A (third season first half) was episodes 1-26 broadcast in 13 weeks

Galaxy Angel AA (third season second half) was episodes 27-52 broadcast in 13 weeks