Avenger (TV series)
A gladiator's quest on a barren, moon-ravaged Mars.
Avenger (stylized as AVENGER) is an anime series produced by Bandai Visual and Bee Train, directed by Koichi Mashimo. Set on a post-apocalyptic colonized Mars, the 13-episode series aired on TV Tokyo from 1 October 2003 to 24 December 2003. It was later licensed for North American distribution by Bandai Entertainment.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Science fiction
Facts from the source article.
Plot
The story takes place on a colonized Mars after Earth's destruction. The human population lives in small domed city-states, while those outside are called Barbaroi. Resources are allocated based on gladiatorial battles between city representatives. No children have been born on Mars for a decade, and child-sized robots called dolls serve as substitutes. Earth's moon, now red, hangs over Mars, causing lunar storms. She is joined by Nei, a doll with whom she shares a deep bond, and Speedy, a doll breeder.
Characters
Layla Ashley is a silent, brooding young woman. As a child, she was the sole survivor of a colony ship destroyed under Volk's orders to prevent straining Mars's resources; her parents died in the attack, and she sustained a large scar on her back from the crash landing of her escape pod. She was trained in gladiator combat by Cross, her former mentor and legal guardian, and now seeks to avenge her parents by defeating Volk. Volk is one of the Original Dozen, the first colonists on Mars, and his life has been greatly extended by science. He rules Volk City and acts as its representative gladiator, making him the closest thing to an overall ruler of Mars. He ordered the destruction of Layla's refugee ship, believing it necessary for the greater good of Mars. Westa, another of the Original Dozen, wields authority alongside Volk but prefers peaceful solutions. She does not age due to the same life-lengthening technology and is revered by many as 'Goddess Westa.' There are implications throughout the series that she and Volk are lovers.
Soundtrack
The music for Avenger was composed and performed by the Japanese duo Ali Project, who have also contributed to other anime series. The opening theme is 'Lunar Eclipse Grand Guignol' and the ending theme is 'Mirai no Eve.' The score is considered by some fans and reviewers to be among the show's most memorable elements. An Original Soundtrack album was released in Japan in 2003.
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