From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the anime Cyber Team in
Akihabara. For the similarly named manga, see Cyber Girls
Akihabara.
Cyber Team in Akihabara (アキハバラ電脳組, Akihabara
Dennō Gumi
?) is an anime series created by Tsukasa
Kotobuki and Satoru Akahori. Its genre can be best
described as being a fusion of the magical girl, mecha and moe anime genres. The television series
aired from April 4, 1998 to September 26, 1998 on TBS and ran for 26 episodes.
It was released in the United States by ADV Films. A 1-hour
featured animation film of the series was subsequently released in
Japan entitled Cyber Team in Akihabara: Summer Days of 2011; unlike
the series the film was produced by Production I.G. The show has an array of characters, many of whom
are named after birds, gods, and real-myth villains, literally.
Story
The anime starts with the adventures of twelve-year-old junior
high school student Hibari Hanakoganei, who, like any girl, lives
in Tokyo in the year 2010 and aspires to have a mobile pet of her
own, called a "Pata-Pi." During this time, PataPies are trendy and
there is a nationwide craze in owning one. Simply buy one, upgrade
it with pre-set or custom parts, and show it off to friends and
relatives! However, Hibari has no money to buy one and can only
admire her best friend, Suzume, as she flamboyantly praises her
PataPi ,Francesca.
Then one evening, as she is walking home, she sees a hill upon
which a person is standing beside a tree at the peak and recognises
it as the prince (Crane) who has been appearing in her dreams. She
runs towards him but he disappears. Then a glowing sphere descends
from the sky and lands on her palms. It materialises into a PataPi
and she hugs it with all her heart. Thus the adventure of Hibari
and Densuke the PataPi begins.
However, she is under the watchful eye of a certain shadowy
character and is ambushed when she walks home from school. Attacked
by strange creatures called Homunculus and confronted by a masked woman
(Jun), Hibari finds out that they are after Densuke and strives to
protect him. When all fails, Jun calls out a more powerful creature
called Cerberus to harm
Hibari. Out of extreme sympathy for Densuke, Hibari cries out and
suddenly a light descends on Densuke. In moments, he transforms
into a woman in an armour suit (Aphrodite), who defeats Cerberus and chases
Jun away. Unknown to Hibari, a masked man in black (Takashi aka
Shooting Star) stands at the top of a building, observing every
moment of what happened.
The next few episodes focus on unlocking the Diva within the
other PataPies, notably Suzume’s Francesca and Tsugumi’s Tetsurou,
with some subtle intervention by Takashi. It also shows how the
three girls get along (with disagreements sometimes) and form the
Cyber Team in Akihabara, aimed at stopping masked women and their
Homunculus from terrorising the city of Akihabara.
As the series carry on, a bit of the plot is revealed (with the
principal Washuu commenting on hazy stuff at the end of every
episode) and the introduction of Kamome and Tsubame (who becomes
the unknown enemy to the four girls until much later when she
finally helps them). It is also revealed that Washuu is the founder
of a celtic organisation called Rosenkreuz (Rose Cross in German)
and he himself is Christian Rosenkreuz, hiding under
the name of Washuu Ryuugasaki to carry out his agenda. He once
worked for the famous alchemist Paracelsus and collaborated with a French
man, Cigogne Raspailles, and a young American man, Crane Bahnsteik
(Hibari’s White Prince) to invent a device that can grant
immortality (Divas). However, due to their secrecy, none
of their inventions is revealed to the world. After Crane discovers
that inventions made by the world lead to World Wars and the
implications of Divas falling into the hands of warmongers, he
finally ran off to space in his invented space rocket, together
with all the plans on the immortality project.
Later on, it is revealed that the transformation of PataPies
into Divas is not one-sided: the owner of the PataPi can fuse with
the Diva to form a complete Diva. This is only possible for those
who are the chosen Anima Mundi (Soul of the World) and possess a
pure and undefiled heart. Throughout the series, only Hibari and
Tsubame managed to fuse with their Divas, although in the movie,
all five girls eventually managed to do so. The fact that Takashi
is a clone of Crane, and used by Washuu like a puppet to awaken the
sleeping Divas in space (kept in Crane’s space fortress the Primum Mobile),
causes Takashi to rebel and find his identity in the world, with
the three women Jun, Miyama and Hatoko joining him.
Towards the end of the series, Kamome’s grandfather, Shimabukuro
Sengakuji (the perverted old man) reveals everything he knows about
Rosenkreuz (he once worked for Rosenkreuz), the concept of Divas,
which are artificial forms powered by neutrinos, and the principal
Washuu who is the mastermind behind the events. Soon after, Washuu
discards his pseudo-identity, reverting back to the original
Christian Rosenkreuz, and changes the school into a large altar to
welcome the descent of the Primum Mobile. He finds out that Crane
was the one controlling the events that happened and dies soon
after of old age. Then Crane issues an ultimatum to Japan that he
seeks the Anima Mundi and will threaten to destroy the country and
the world if it is not met. Finally, at the end, the girls rebel
and the Divas sacrifice themselves in place of the girls.
Members of the Cyber
Team
Each of the girls are named after a bird and a JR train station
(in Japan)
- Hibari Hanakoganei (花小金井 ひばり Hanakoganei
Hibari) - main character of the anime, she is a typical girl
who is not good in academics, but has a pure and trusting heart.
Her Pata-Pi is Densuke (デンスケ), a simplistic winged
one whose only word is "Pee!"; it transforms into the Diva Aphrodite. Hibari's name
means skylark and
her surname is probably derived from the name of the Hanakoganei
station in Tokyo. Her younger brother died during childbirth and
his name was supposed to be Densuke, hence her great affection for
her PataPi.
- Suzume Sakurajosui (桜女水 すずめ Sakurajosui
Suzume) - Hibari's classmate who is her best friend. She is
intelligent, mature, and even comes from a wealthy family. Her
Pata-Pi is Francesca (フランチェスカ
Furanchesuka), one which is an equally intelligent multitasker whom Suzume improves to
be "the best"; it transforms into the Diva Hestia. She has three elder sisters Suzumi,
Suzuna and Suzuri. Suzume's name literally means sparrow.
- Tsugumi Higashijuujou (東十条 つぐみ Higashijūjō
Tsugumi) - a girl who always fights and teases Suzume a lot.
She has an aggressive attitude, as she has a mixed martial
arts and professional wrestling
background. But she aspires to be a singing star, just like her idol, Hatoko Daikan'yama.
Her Pata-Pi is Tetsuro (テツロー Tetsurō) or
Tetsu for short, an equally aggressive one who has
built-in microphones,
whenever she has the urge to sing, and a camera; it transforms into
the Diva Athena. Tsugumi's
name literally means thrush.
- Kamome Sengakuji (泉岳寺 かもめ Sengakuji
Kamome) - a girl from Osaka who aspires for money and would do
anything for it. Her Pata-Pi is Billiken (ビリケン
Biriken), one which is basically a futuristic version of a
piggy bank and
counting machine; it transforms into the Diva Amphitrite. She lives with her mother and
stepfather in Osaka after her biological father died. Kamome's name
literally means sea gull.
- Tsubame Otorii (大鳥居 つばめ Ōtorii
Tsubame) - a mostly stoic girl with a very twisted view on
friendship and no concept of family. Brought up by Cigogne as a
special catalyst for the return of the Primum Mobile, she is
isolated from society all this while. Hibari befriends her and will
later either straighten or change those views. Also she's adopted
by Hibari's parents. Her Pata-Pi is Petit-Ange
(プティアンジュ Petianju), one which is basically dumb; it transforms into the Diva Erinnus. Tsubame's name
literally means swallow.
Other significant
characters
- Shimabukurou Sengakuji (泉岳寺シマ福郎) - Kamome's
grandfather. Kamome generally learns anything about Pata-Pis from
him as he was once a part of Rosenkreuz's secret scientists'
society. He is a pervert who peeps at girls' underwear now and then
while watching out for the girls from afar.
- Uzura Kitaurawa (北浦和うずら) - a girl who admires
fellow girls for various reasons. She likes Hibari for her "slender
body." and Kamome for her "bust size". She has a Pata-Pi named
Enoken (エノケン), a dog-like one which can only grow
its ears. Uzura's name literally means quail. She appears as a main character in
the movie.
- Jun Goutokuji (豪徳寺じゅん), Miyama
Soshigaya (祖師谷みやま), and Hatoko
Daikan'yama (代官山はとこ) - an office lady, a bookish geeky student, and a singing idol, respectively.
They passionately longed for the so-called "Black Prince Shooting
Star" and together as one go out to steal the specially designed
Pata-Pis to please him. They do these evil activities under the
guises of Blood Falcon, Death
Crow, and Dark Pigeon, respectively and
will later be known collectively as the "Sibyl Team," after the
disappearance of their Black Prince.
- Crane Bahnsteik (クレイン・バーンシュタイク), also known as
The White Prince - the mysterious youth who gives
Densuke to Hibari. In reality, he is a scientist who thinks ahead
of his own time and even defies age (he was born in 1884). He
conceptualized and invented the airplane and the rocket
ship as a means of space travel even before they were invented
in our reality. He once allied himself with Rosenkreuz's secret
society and even created a computer with him called Metatron to contact the Anima
Mundi. But he broke away when he found out that Rosenkreuz
wanted to use Metatron for his own purposes. He currently resides
with Metatron inside Primum Mobile, a satellite that has
been orbiting Earth even before Sputnik I, living in suspended
animation and sending "messages" to people through their
dreams.
- Washuu Ryuugasaki (竜ヶ崎鷲羽) - the shady and
mysterious principal who seems to watch over the girls and their
Pata-Pis and knows everything about them. Later on, he reveals
himself as Christian Rosenkreuz. Wasshu's
name literally means eagle
Takashi Ryuugasaki - Lord Shooting Star
- Takashi Ryuugasaki (竜ヶ崎鷹士), also known as
The Black Prince and Shooting
Star - Washuu's "son" who turns out to be a clone of the
White Prince. He has a resemblance to him and is admired by Jun,
Miyama, and Hatoko to the point that he manipulates their emotions.
Jun has a crush on him. Takashi's name literally means hawk
- Cigogne Raspailles (シゴーニュ・ラスパイユ) - an old
acquaintance of Washuu/Rosenkreuz who also knows anything about the
Anima Mundi. He acts as Tsubame's "father" who brings her to Tokyo.
He was known as Count Saint Germain back in the 17th century when
he was serving in the French Royal Palace.
- Hisho (秘書) - the secretary to Washuu
Ryuugasaki. She is fanatically loyal to him and would die for him.
She gets the chance to fight the girls by donning a Diva suit made
by Washuu and commands the Diva army.
Mecha
Divas
A Diva is a suit of armour invented by the Rosenkreuz
cult group for the sole purpose of immortality. Once the wearer
puts on the Diva suit, all the essentials things like nutrients and
energy are provided to the wearer and he will have an ageless body,
thus becoming immortal.
When Crane left Earth and stayed in space, he managed to
complete five Divas that would be given to five chosen girls, the
Anima Mundi, who are pure in heart and will
join him in paradise forever. These are the five specific
Divas:
- Aphrodite: Named after the Greek goddess of
love and beauty, Aphrodite was awakened after Hibari
demonstrated her incomparable love for Densuke when they were
cornered by Jun. Aphrodite is a pink Diva with feathery wings. She
can fly higher and longer than a normal Diva.
- Hestia: Named after the Greek goddess of the
Hearth, Hestia was awakened
after Suzume became jealous of Hibari's Densuke transforming into a
Diva. That jealousy drove Suzume to force Francesca to transform. Hestia is a purple
Diva equipped with a shaft behind her back and an energy shield on
her left arm. The energy shield can repel projectiles and melee
attacks, and can also entrap opponents, immobilising them.
- Athena: Named after the Greek goddess of
wisdom and war, Athena was
awakened after Tsugumi faced intense fear while being confronted by
Jun’s Cerberus. Athena is
an orange Diva with metallic wings and extra armour. She is
extremely good in melee combat.
- Amphitrite: Named after the Greek sea goddess
and consort of Poseidon,
Amphitrite was
awakened after Kamome’s extreme faith in her Billiken as the chosen one was demonstrated.
Amphitrite is a green Diva equipped with a laser cannon that shoots
out laser beams rapidly.
- Erinyes: Named after the female
personification of vengeance in Greek mythology, Erinyes is awakened by Tsubame whenever she
wants to ‘play’ around with weak people, as what she calls them.
Eriynes is a black Diva with black feathery wings and equipped with
sharp arm blades.
The other Divas that appear in the series are the mass-produced
Divas that Washuu has dreamed of for a long time. They come in a
standard form of a white body colour and an emotionless droid face
(such faces also occur in the five Divas when they are not
synchronised with the girls). They possess the ability to fly and
gather electrons from the surroundings to form electric balls that
have devastating effects. They can also fire small and rapid laser
vulcans
from their hands.
Homunculus
The pawns of the Rosenkreuz, these are artificial life-forms
created by nanomachines, which are pins that contain neutrinos. Once the pins are thrown onto
the ground, the neutrinos will combine with the earth to form
mud-like creatures. They do not have a mind of their own and are
basically stupid, listening to commands from their masters only.
The plural noun is Homonculi.
Avatars
The more advanced from of Homunculus, these are creatures that are
stored in an alternative dimension, waiting to be summoned. Once a
staff-like nanomachine is thrown onto the ground, the
coordinates of the nanomachine are detected and a portal will
appear to summon the avatar. There are four Avatars featured in the
series:
- Cerberus: Named after the Greek three-headed
hellhound, Cerberus is Jun
(Blood Falcon) ’s personal Avatar. It is a huge robot with a face
equipped with three rotating ‘eyes’. These eyes can shoot out laser
beams and tentacles which prove a nuisance.
- Skeleton: As its name implies, Skeleton is Miyama (Death
Crow) ’s personal Avatar that has a skeletal-like body. It is a
versatile robot that can break up into components (in the form of
neutrinos) and form back. It can extend its
arms and legs to a considerable distance which can catch opponents
unaware.
- Cockatrice: Named after a legendary creature
that is part rooster part lizard, but the size of a dragon, Cockatrice is Hatoko
(Dark Pigeon) ’s personal Avatar. It has huge wings that give it
flight, and is able to shoot out devastating energy beams from
them.
- Cyclops: Named after the Greek one-eyed
giants, Cyclops is Takashi
(Shooting Star) ’s personal Avatar. The most powerful of the
Avatars, it is heavily armoured and its single eye can shoot out
fire that spreads very rapidly to form a fire field, engulfing its
opponents. It also has long spiky fingers that can pin people down
easily.
Apostolus
Power suits that are similar to Divas but are less powerful than
a complete Diva, the Apostolus were given to Jun, Miyama and Hatoko
by Takashi to aid in awakening the true Divas. There are four
Apostolus featured in the series:
- Astaroth: Named after a Grand Duke of Hell in
the Bible, Astaroth is a
red and yellow power suit worn by Jun. It is equipped with two
laser cannons at the chest. These laser cannons shoot out fast
straight beams that can penetrate even the toughest materials.
- Asmodeus: Named after a semi-demon in the
Bible. Asmodeus is a purple and white power suit
worn by Miyama. It has fingernails that can extend rapidly to
become laser blades. Very few things can match the speed of these
blades.
- Beelzebub: Named after a Philistine deity
(also known as the Lord of the flies) in the Bible, Beelzebub is a brown and
white power suit worn by Hatoko. It has three agile robotic pigeons
to aid in attacking its opponents. These pigeons shoot out rapid
laser beams and are very tricky to handle.
- Lucifer: Named after the fallen angel in the
Bible, Lucifer is a gold and
black power suit worn by Takashi. It is the most powerful
Apostolus, equipped with laser cannons at the chest just like
Astaroth and a flame sword. The drawback of Lucifer is that it is
equipped with a self-destruct system that is activated
when it is overheated.
There is one more power suit that is quite different from the
Apostolus. It appeared in episode 24 when Washuu threw a card at
Cigogne, transforming him into a gargantuan grotesque robot. The head of the robot is in
the shape of a glass dome, containing liquid, probably neutrinos,
and the deformed face of Cigogne can be seen inside the dome. The
robot is heavily armoured and has green grapples that can
immobilise its opponents, squeezing the life out of them.
Primum
Mobile
The huge space fortress that Crane built using his supercomputer
while hibernating. This fortress has stealth technology that
prevents detection by radar and the human eye. It is also the
storing chamber for the five Divas that assist the girls in times
of need. The AI of the supercomputer was responsible for the
development and summoning of the Divas.
Akihabara Junior High
School
The school in which the five girls study. The principal is
Washuu and Takashi is also a student of the school. In fact, Akihabara Junior High
School is a gigantic altar that
is designed to receive the Primum Mobile when it descends. When it
transforms into the altar, the classroom blocks are hidden and the
central building (the general office and also the principal’s
office) becomes a podium.
PataPi
Cute cybernetic toys that are a hit in Japan among schoolgirls,
PataPies are miniature robots that can be upgraded by purchasing
better components and equipping it with special devices, like the
Kame Hame Maki that can tell fortunes from horoscopes. Developed
and propagated by Washuu, the sole purpose of PataPies is to
stimulate brain waves in girls so that they can synchronise with
the Divas in the Primum Mobile, but the creator of the PataPi is
Crane himself. Six PataPies are featured in the series:
- Densuke: A PataPi that is given to Hibari by
Crane himself, Densuke (nicknamed Denny) is a very
ordinary PataPi whose sole purpose is to learn new things and
entertain his companion. Actually, Densuke is more sensitive than
the other PataPies, being able to detect Erinyes’ descent and other
things, making it a special PataPi. Densuke can also fly, but not
for long.
- Francesca: Full name being Francesca
Leopard Classic Renoir Sanhasha the Third Junior (though
nicknamed Franny), Francesca is Suzume’s favourite PataPi that
is equipped with all the latest components available in the market.
The remarkable components include a missile turret on the back that
can shoot out a flurry of mini-missiles that actually explode on
impact! Francesca also has a parachute and a built-in
calculator.
- Tetsurou: Tetsurou (nicknamed
Tetsu) is Tsugumi’s martial arts PataPi. He is a powerful
PataPi with considerable strength and agility. Well-versed in
punches and kicks (probably picked up during Tsugumi’s martial arts
lessons in her dojo), Tetsurou is
the bodyguard of the PataPi Five. It also has built-in dual
microphones and Tsugumi uses them when she starts singing songs of
her idol Hatoko.
- Billiken: Named after the goddess of fortune
in Osaka, Billiken is an electronic piggy bank and
calculator, mainly for finance. Kamome raised Billiken up such that
she inherited her stingy and calculative personality. Billiken is a
good salesperson, being able to sell takoyaki proficiently in the
movie.
- Petit-Ange: Meaning Little Angel, Petit-Ange
is an exotic PataPi that is purple in colour and has two wings. As
Tsubame’s playmate and companion, Petit-Ange is fanatically loyal
to her and would protect her in times of danger. Petit-Ange can be
a very cute PataPi when she starts sucking heads (like Densuke’s
head or the head of a lion statue), or a very violent PataPi, like
in episode 13 when she performed an uppercut on the PataPi Kero (Froggy) with her
wing.
- Enoken: Enoken is Uzura’s PataPi, who looks like a
dog with two long flabby ears that can extend to form even longer
ears like a rabbit. The scary thing about Enoken is that he appears
in weird and unlikely situations and whenever there’s Enoken, Uzura
may be hiding somewhere nearby. Enoken massages people with his
ears. Enoken is named after the famous Japanese comedian Kenichi
Enomoto; Enoken was actually his stage name.
Symbolism and quick
facts
Cyber Team in Akihabara may look like a simple magical girl anime at
the start, but there is more to it than just simply transforming
into a powerful hero and defeating bad guys. Like Neon
Genesis Evangelion, there is quite a number of mythological and
religious elements that is featured, and the plot is quite deep,
requiring some understanding before judging. The concepts of the
anime are quite similar to that of Saber Marionette J (considering that
Tsukasa
Kotobuki was involved in SMJ greatly) so people who watched SMJ
will roughly know how the story of CTiA will flow.
A quick look at what Washuu Ryuugasaki and Takashi Ryuugasaki mentions in certain
episodes:
- In episode 2, Takashi mentions that the ‘source of Diva's power
is Ate’. Ate is a goddess in Greek Mythology,
the eldest daughter of Zeus. At
the end of the episode, Washuu talks about which girl would be the
next to ‘hold the Holy
Grail’. The Holy
Grail in this context refers to the Anima Mundi and he is
expecting the next girl (Tsugumi) to appear soon.
- Washuu also mentions that the Sword of Damocles
is hanging above their heads. In Greek Mythology, Damocles had the chance to be
king for one day and after eating a meal, noticed a sword hanging
above him by a single piece of horsehair. It implies imminent
danger.
- In episode 6, Washuu and Takashi discuss the implications of
science and technology being taken away from Man who is extremely dependent on them. This gives
hints on what would happen much later in the series (episode 24 and
26). They also discuss what man lost in exchange for the knowledge
he gained. "Because of heliocentric
theory, earth is no longer the center of the universe. Because
of evolution theory, man is no longer the son
of God. And because of the finding of the subconscious, man can no longer look into
his own heart."
- In episode 11, Hibari is taken captive by Takashi when she
wears the red shoes he offers. Takashi mentions that the red shoes
are the Red Shoes of Karen, from the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. The
person who wears the shoes will be unable to stop dancing. In the
context, it is a form of hypnotism that Takashi used on Hibari.
- In episode 12, Cigogne describes Akihabara as a town with lots of traffic and
lights. Then Washuu compares it to the cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah. Sodom and Gomorrah were cities
destroyed by God for their sins in the Bible. Later on in the
series, Akihabara would
face a similar fate as the abovementioned cities when the Primum Mobile
descends.
- Takashi also relates the Apostolus as the Forbidden Power. The
Apostolus (or Apostles) here refer to that under the Devil given their demonic names
while the Forbidden Power could be an analogy of the Devil himself.
Takashi himself owns an Apostolus called Lucifer, the Devil himself.
- In episode 18, Washuu mentions that only the Anima
Mundi that have been baptised by God could ultimately lead them
to Metatron and since
Takashi has touched the Forbidden Power, he is like a consequence
of Lilith. Metatron refers to Crane and describes him as
a being that is similar to God, hence he is given the ‘authority’
to locate the Anima Mundi. Takashi, being a clone and disobeying the rules of
Rosenkreuz by touching the Apostolus, is likened to the offspring
of Lilith, a Succubus, despised and spit
upon, who will never be able to partake in the glory of immortality
once Crane comes to Earth. It is further emphasised by Washuu's
remark that 'a hawk can never become an eagle', since the 'taka' in
Takashi's name means hawk, and it is regarded that the eagle is
more grandiose than the hawk (e.g. the symbols used in the United
States of America include the eagle).
Japanese
cast
English-language cast
Hilary Haag - Tsubame Otorii
Songs
Lyrics by Masami
Okui (奥井 雅美)
Music by Masami
Okui and Toshirō Yabuki (矢吹 俊郎)
Arrangement by Toshirō Yabuki
Vocals by Masami
Okui
- Taiyou no Hana (太陽の花) (Ending theme)
Lyrics and music by Masami Okui
Arrangement by Toshirō Yabuki
Vocals by Masami
Okui
- Aka (朱) (Insert song ep.12, 21)
Lyrics and music by Masami Okui
Arrangement by Toshirō Yabuki
Vocals by Masami
Okui
- Koishimasho, nebarimasho (恋しましょ、 ねばりましょ)
(Insert song throughout series)
Lyrics by Masami
Okui
Music and arrangement by Toshirō Yabuki
Vocals by Yumi
Kakazu (かかず ゆみ) (Hatoko Daikanyama)
- Cynthia - Aisuruhito (シンシア - 愛する人) (Insert
song ep.11, ending theme for ep.20)
Lyrics and music by Ritsuko Okazaki (岡崎 律子)
Arrangement by Shinkichi Mitsumune (光宗 信吉)
Vocals by Ritsuko Okazaki
- Baby Maybe Love (Insert song ep.16)
Lyrics, music and arrangement by Yuki Matsuura
Vocals by Ryōka
Shima (島 涼香) (Hibari Hanakoganei), Kozue Yoshizumi (吉住 梢) (Suzume
Sakurajousui) and Yū
Asakawa (浅川 悠) (Tsugumi Higashijuujou)
- We Salute You (Insert song ep.18)
Lyrics by Mamie D.Lee
Music and arrangement by Shinkichi Mitsumune
Vocals by Yurie Kokubo
External
links
Cyber Team in
Akihabara (anime) at Anime News Network's
Encyclopedia
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