Area 88
Area 88 is a popular manga series by Kaoru Shinatani that has twice been adapted into an anime series, and used as the theme for a video game.
From the original TV series movie: 'Area 88' takes place in the late 1970s/early 1980s and is largely set in a middle eastern, war-embroiled country called the Kingdom of Asran. The war uses mercenary fighters, with its headquarters at a secret desert military airbase called 'Area 88'. Up-and-coming ace airline pilot Shin Kazama gets tricked into signing up by 'friend' Satori Kanzaki as part of his jealousy-fueled plot to steal Shin's girlfriend Ryouko. Facing execution for deserting from 'Area 88', Shin reluctantly turns into a fighter pilot and attempts to serve his three year contract out. With each enemy plane brought down, Shin faces his shifting acceptance of the violence and killing that fills every day, as well as suppressing his feelings of wrong-doing. Eventually earning his release, he returns to normal life only to discover he has changed and can no longer fit in to the life he once knew.
A movie was put together from editing together the original TV series and released in 1985 on video tape and laser disc. The tapes/discs were called Area 88, Act I: Blue Skies of Betrayal, Area 88, Act II: The Requirements of Wolves, and Area 88, Act III: Burning Mirage. These were later combined and released on an import DVD simply called Area 88, but the English subtitles on the DVD suffered from poor translation. A slick updated TV series with CG graphics was created in 2004, and was later released on DVD.
A shooter video game by Capcom was created in the 80's, but for some reason it was released in the U.S. as UN Squadron. Versions released included the Super Nintendo, Commodore 64, and Amiga, as well as a stand-up arcade game.
External Links
- Animax (Japanese)
- TV Asahi (Japanese)
- AniRec Database (with screenshots)
- IMDB Area 88 Listing
- Coin-OP Museum: "UN Squadron" Game