Saber Marionette R (セイバーマリオネットR) is a sci-fi action drama anime written by Sotoru Akahori and Hiroshi Negishi. It started as a radio drama that aired in 1994 and later a three part OVA (Original Video Animation) was produced in 1995. Two volumes of light novels were also released where as volume one encompasses all the events that happened in the OVA, and volume two expands the SMR story of Villey Junior selecting a suitable bride.
SMR was supposed to be the original pilot work of Mr. Akahori for the Saber Marionette series. The original premise was that the story takes place in a planet where human females does not exist, and robots called ‘marionettes’ take their place. Mr. Satoru was horrified to find that the animation staff, lead by Mr. Negishi had included women in the animation. Mr. Satoru insisted that they should be marionettes since the story was about the revival of women, but Mr. Negishi argued that such an important event cannot be contained in a mere three episode animation, thus the story was later expanded and Saber Marionette J was created to correct the appearance of women in SMR. The general theme of the anime is much darker and mature compared to the more popular SMJ series. The Sequel series SMZ is more mature and dark in comparison.
Introduction
Set in the far future, 200 years according to official sources, but in my opinion it has to be an alternate/parallel universe. Darker and more mature than Saber Marionette J (Again and J to X included), it’s set in Romana, an European-like city country of Terra 2. SMR was a short three episode OVA,
Story
The story in R revolves Junior, the heir of the throne in Romania, and a plot assassination against his entire family by a renegade sociopath Star Face, and Lime.
The series starts with Star Face constructing Lime when and gets locked away, the next scene cuts to a tournament between Marionettes in the near future, which Lime wins on a heartbeat. But Star Face is soon broken free from the dungeon he’s been held at by the Sexa Dolls, the R version of the Saber Dolls, and soon Anarchy rules in the streets of Romana with the capture of King Virey.
Series Information
Saber Marionette R OVA (original video animation) was produced in 1995 predating the SMJ series.
Staff
- Original and supervised by Satoru Akahori and Hiroshi Negishi
- Director- Koji Masunari
- Character draft- Izuna Yoshitsune , Yuichiro Tanuma
- Character design-Yukihiro Iwata
- Mechanic Design- Takahiro Kishida
- Director / Storyboard-Koji Masunari (episodes 1 and 3), Kazuya Tsurumaki (episode 2)
- Animation director-Yukihiro Iwata (1st episode), Eiji Suganuma (2nd episode), Takuya Saito (3rd episode)
- Art Director-Minoru Nishida
- Cinematographer- Hisao Shirai
- Music- Toshiyuki Omori
- Sound Director- Hideyuki Tanaka
- Producers-Atsushi Sugita, Mitsuteru Shibata
- Animation Production- Animate Film , Zero G Room
- Production- Bandai Visual , Movic
Theme Song
There is no opening in this work.
Ending Theme
“Hug me Lovin’you” (episodes 1 and 2)
Lyrics- Narumi Yamamoto / Composition / Arrangement-Toshiyuki Omori / Song-Megumi Hayashibara, Yuri Shiratori, Akiko Hiramatsu
“I’m by my side ~ Gentle epilogue ~” (Episode 3)
Lyrics –Narumi Yamamoto / Composition / Arrangement –Toshiyuki Omori / Song –Megumi Hayashibara, Yuri Shiratori, Akiko Hiramatsu
Source: SM wiki
SM Saber Site 