Astro Plan
China's first sci-fi animation features transformable fighters in space.
Astro Plan is a science fiction mecha animated series created by the Guangzhou-based toy firm Xing Yuan. It is often called China's first sci-fi animation and premiered on Hunan TV's Golden Eagle Channel on January 16, 2010, running 26 episodes.
Quick Facts
- Producer
- Xing Yuan
- Country
- China
- Network
- Golden Eagle Channel
- Language
- Mandarin
- Seasons
- 1
- Episodes
- 26
- First aired
- 16 January 2010
- Last aired
- 2010, 2
Facts from the source article.
Plot
In 2735, Earth's environment has collapsed due to global warming and asteroid bombardment, prompting humanity to launch a Space Migration Fleet. The fleet encounters the alien race from Iccus, resource raiders bent on galactic domination. Six young pilots are recruited into the Sky Arrow Flight Team, flying transformable Type Yi fighter planes to combat the threat.
Mecha
The Sky Arrow Flight Team operates three YF-10 and three YF-11 Type Yi transformable fighters. Each can shift into robot mode and a hybrid Falcon mode similar to the GERWALK mode of the VF-1 Valkyrie from Macross. All fighters carry Gun Pods and missiles, but each unit has a unique weapon and livery tied to its pilot's Ultimate Skill, akin to the Trans-Am System in Mobile Suit Gundam 00. YF-10 Unit 1, piloted by Tian Long, is white like the VF-25F Messiah and wields a beam sword; its Ultimate Skill releases an energy wave. YF-10 Unit 2, piloted by Hai Ying, is blue like the VF-25G Messiah and uses a sniper bazooka rifle. YF-10 Unit 3, piloted by Jin Gang, is gray like the VF-25S Messiah and carries an energy axe and shield; its Ultimate Skill ejects metal plates from the shield to form spinning energy blades. YF-11 Unit 4, piloted by Zi Jing, is purple; her Ultimate Skill sprouts energy wings that fire hundreds of feather-like projectiles. YF-11 Unit 5, piloted by Fei Yi, is orange like the GN-003 Gundam Kyrios and has retractable forearm blades; its Ultimate Skill involves a dashing attack with energy wings. YF-11 Unit 6, piloted by Zhou Zhi, is green like the RVF-25 Messiah; his Ultimate Skill releases six funnels that fire laser beams. The fleet also has other Type Yi squadrons flown by regular pilots, though they appear rarely.
Production
The series' official blog stated it was created to teach children ages 6–14 about justice and peace while promoting Chinese animation culture. The YF-10 and YF-11 fighters are closely patterned after the People's Liberation Army Air Force's Chengdu J-10 and Shenyang J-11 aircraft. Regarding plagiarism accusations, the blog noted that animation originated in Europe, was copied by the United States, then Japan and South Korea, and that China's industry is following its Asian neighbors.
Merchandising
The episodes serve as commercials for Xing Yuan's HyperWiz line of transformable toys. All six Type Yi fighters are sold in four sizes from 2-inch Micro to 12-inch King Size, with a Macross UN Spacy kite insignia on the back panels. HyperWiz also released transformable model kits. Knockoffs exist in Mainland China and parts of Asia, and bootlegs of a VF-1J Valkyrie toy and Transformers: Machine Wars jets are sold as Astro Plan toys. HyperWiz posted a notice to help consumers distinguish authentic toys from counterfeits.
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