HEAT GUY J

is a 26 episode science fiction anime series created by Escaflowne director Kazuki Akane and Satelight.
Heat Guy J was licensed and distributed in the U.S. in 2003 by Pioneer (now Geneon). The show also was broadcast on the cable channel MTV2. A one volume manga was created based on the series, and was licensed and distributed by TOKYOPOP. The show was picked up for a UK DVD release by Manga Entertainment starting in March 2006. It was packaged in double DVD sets to make up for the long delayed release of the series.
Heat Guy J chronicles the adventures of a young Special Services officer named Daisuke Aurora and his android partner known simply as "J". The pair live and work in the fictional, futuristic Metropolis of "Judoh" (Jewde), where the understaffed and underfunded Special Services Division of the Bureau of Urban Safety has its headquarters. Androids are illegal in Judoh, but a special exception is made for J, much to the dismay of wary city officials.
Judoh is also home to the crime syndicate "Company Vita" which is controlled by Clair Leonelli. Clair, an unbalanced young man, inherited the position, as well as the title "Vampire", after his father died. He causes much trouble for Daisuke and J, though he is by no means the pair's only problem. The city is also filled with terrorists, illegal immigrants, and the occasional android.

Contents

Characters

The Manga

Theme songs

Episode list

External links

Characters

- Department of Security, Central Headquarters Special Services Employee, age 21

★
:Cool, and laid back, Daisuke is one half of the Special Services Bureau's investigative team. He prefers action to paperwork, but when he's not out on the street fighting crime, he's often seen in various states of in-action.
Although he never really shows it, Daisuke is quite compassionate and has a strong sense of justice. However, he has deep and painful memories of the vanishing of his mother and his father (a politician) being murdered by an android. The only memoir of his father is a bullet pendant he wears around his neck.

(also known as "Heat Guy J") - Special Services Android, 3, Appearance of a 40 year old Man

★
: An android with incredible power, J was created in cooperation between a government facility and a civilian enterprise. Despite his hulking size, J can run at enormous speeds and packs a powerful punch. However, after prolonged bouts of action, J must cool himself down by realasing a great deal of steam from pipes mounted on his sholders.
J is maintained by the Civilian Enterprises Sect technician Antonia Bellucci. It is said that J is modeled after Antonia's father. This is probably why J seems to be so human sometimes, with a noble character and strong beliefs on things like how a man should act.
- Department of Security, Central Headquarters Special Services Auditor/Accountant, age 21

★
: A young auditor and accountant for Special Services, Kyoko strait-laced and always plays by the rules. This causes her stress when dealing with Daisuke, whom she often scolds. However, she eventually develops feelings towards Daisuke, after letting go of her crush his brother Shun.
- Government Investigative Office of Department of Security, Central Headquarters General Manager, age 27

★
: Daisuke's older brother and the General Manager of Special Services, Shun prides himself on his rational and logical thinking. Shun's logical nature is usually in conflict with Daisuke's more impulsive personality. This causes a gap between the two brothers, despite the fact that Shun raised Daisuke after their parents death. Shun is also responsible for the partnership of his brother with J.

- Current leader, or "Vampire" of the Company Vita Crime Syndicate, age 19

★
: Clair inherited his title after his father died, but he lives in his father's shadow. He's also unpredictable and emotionally unstable. He struggles to retain the loyalty of the other crime leaders in the city, who fear his insane and dangerous personality.
- Photographer, age 10

★
: To earn money for herself and for her unemployed mother, Monica works as a photographer who operates by wagon in the city of Judoh. She wants to preserve the long dead age of photography (which explains why she has so much trouble making a sale.) However, she has accumulated a great deal of information on Judoh and its business trends. She is a friend of Daisuke and gives him important advice and information whenever he needs it. She is like a little sister to Daisuke.

- Sect Employee, age 24

★
: An employee of the civilian enterprise "Sect," (the company responsible for creating J) she is responsible for J's maintenance. She still mourns the death of her father at an early age and was responsible for creating J in his image and personality. She worries and cares a lot for J. Daisuke also harbors a secret crush on Antonia.
- Galea Police Investigation Inspector, age 33

★
: A Crime scene investigator who is constantly annoyed with the Special Service Agency, he usually scolds and antagonizes Daisuke when he arrives on the scene.
- Mysterious Beast-human warrior

★
: A mysterious and silent refugee who is searching for his missing sister "Bunny." For punishment of a crime committed in his past, he was transformed into a "beast-human" hybrid and does some occasional jobs for Clair Leonelli. Boma disguises his wolf-like features with a holographic device. He is a skilled swordsman and makes a deadly enemy (and later, a powerful ally) for Daisuke and J.
'Phia Oliveira' - Central Headquarters, General Manager's Secretary, age 24

★ ''Voiced by'': Michiko Neya (Japanese), Julie Ann Taylor and Mia Bradly (English)
: Phia is Shun's head secretary over at the Special Services office. She is very reliable, although she seems to take enjoyment in seeing Shun and Daisuke argue.
'Cynthia', 'Janis', and 'Vivian' age 20, age 21, and age 19

★ ''Cynthia voiced by'': Ryoko Nagata (Japanese), Dorothy Elias-Fahn (English)

★ ''Janis voiced by'': Akeno Watanabe (Japanese), Wendee Lee (English)

★ ''Vivian voiced by'': Ai Tokunaga (Japanese), Michelle Ruff (English)
: Three girls who hang out and work on Kabuki Road. The three girls are a source for the latest Judoh news and gossip for Daisuke. They also often try to hit on him, but never succeed.
'Shogun' - Dry Goods store owner, age 72

★
: The former boss of a crime syndicate, Shogun has grown old and now lives a simple life as a Dry Goods store owner. However, he still keeps tabs on the Underground, and often passes on his knowledge to Daisuke.
'Mauro' - Advisor to the Leonelli family, age 63

★ ''Voiced by:'' Nobuaki Sekine (Japanese), Tony Pope and Steve Kramer (English)
: An important adviser who has worked for the Leonelli family for generations. His loyalty towards the family is unwavering and he constantly worries about Clair.

The Manga

Coinciding with the anime series in 2002, a manga version of ''Heat Guy J'' was released. It was eventually distributed in the U.S. by TOKYOPOP in 2005. It was written and drawn by Chiaki Ogishima. While the main characters and general setup were similar to the anime, the manga has it's own unique storyline and supporting characters. There is only one volume in the series, and it includes several pages of bonus material related to the show.

Theme songs

★ Opening
# "FACE" by Tryforce

★ Ending
# "心の隙間 [Kokoro no Sukima - Gap in the Heart]" by WYSE
# "Hikari [Light]" - by Saeko Chiba

Episode list

# Guy (City)
# War (Blaze)
# Bomb (Rumor)
# Chaos (Beast)
# Doll (Child)
# Money (Desire)
# Circulation (Revenge)
# Brother (Sound)
# Trust (Ties)
# Guns (Bullet)
# Mirage (Illusion)
# Visitor (Light)
# Encounter (Shooter)
# Arrow (Soul)
# Angel (Hostage) (''unaired in Japan'')
# Target (Bloom)
# Survival (Land)
# Independence (Fissure)
# Truth (Heart)
# Fake (Thought)
# Tears (Friend)
# Fortress (Island)
# Play (Father)
# Alteration (Mania)
# Revolution (Snow)
# Guys (Real Man)

External links

★ Official English Heat Guy J Website (Pioneer)

★ Manga Entertainments Heat Guy J minisite

★ Bandai Channel Heat Guy J Website (Japanese)

★ TBS Heat Guy J Website (Japanese)

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