Brain Powerd

{{See also|List of Brain Powerd characters}}

Brain Powerd is set in a future time in which Earth has been afflicted by earthquakes and floods. The source of this is a traced to a gargantuan, alien spacecraft dubbed "Orphan", which sits deep beneath the Pacific Ocean. Scientists Kensaku Isami and Midori Isami work within Orphan in order to uncover its vast knowledge, reach the Earth's surface with the craft, and travel the galaxy, resulting in the annihilation of all lifeforms on Earth.{{cite magazine | author=Ouellette, Martin |magazine=Protoculture Addicts | publisher=Protoculture Inc. | title=Spotlight: Brain Powerd| issue=55 | date=April–May 1999 |pages=39–45}} Their agents, the "Reclaimers", pilot living organic mechas (or "Antibodies") in the army Grand Cher, and seek to retrieve Orphan's vital disc plates which are scattered across the planet. The series begins with the teenage lead Hime Utsumiya venturing upon such a disc plate, which revives into a unique Antibody, called "Brain Powerd", with which she forms a deep connection. Within a year, Hime joins a group wishing to counter the ideals of the Orphan researchers, stationed aboard the battleship Novis Noah. She is soon joined by Yu Isami, an ex-Reclaimer who leaves Orphan after learning of the catastrophe his parents seek to unleash. Hime and Yu soon enter upon an adventure which may decide the future of humanity.

Brain Powerd was produced by Sunrise and directed and written by Yoshiyuki Tomino, the creator of the long-running Gundam franchise. Brain Powerd is often compared to the Gainax's popular Neon Genesis Evangelion, a 1995 anime series with similar themes to Brain Powerd.{{cite news | author=Mays, Jonathan | date=February 14, 2003 | title=Brain Powered DVD 2 Review | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/brain-powered/dvd-2 | work=Anime News Network | access-date=2011-06-11}} He was enthusiastic about his first attempt at the "organic" mecha subgenre in place of the purely metallic robots he had worked with for so many years in his career.{{cite journal |date=February 1998|title=Animexpress|journal=Animerica |volume=6 | issue=2 | page=15 | publisher=Viz Media}} He wanted to write an interesting story for Brain Powerd in order to allow those who watched it to do so without "having a nervous breakdown" and to show fans "that there were often other things out there better than anime".{{cite journal | journal=Animerica | publisher=Viz Media |date=March 2000 | volume=8 | issue=2 | title=Interview with Yoshiyuki Tomino}} Tomino has wished that more animators would see themselves as entertainers, though he admitted that he felt that Brain Powerd was not very entertaining and thus a failure in this regard.

Tomino was joined by a team of writers at Sunrise under the pseudonym Hajime Yatate.{{Cite web | url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2003/06/05/ask-john-who-is-hajime-yadate/ | title=Ask John: Who is Hajime Yadate? | author=Oppliger, John | access-date=2011-05-30 | date=June 5, 2003 | publisher=AnimeNation | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320051720/http://www.animenation.net/blog/2003/06/05/ask-john-who-is-hajime-yadate/ | archive-date=March 20, 2012 }} Other staff included The Weathering Continent and Windaria character designer Mutsumi Inomata; The Five Star Stories and Heavy Metal L-Gaim mecha designer Mamoru Nagano; and Macross Plus and The Vision of Escaflowne music composer Yoko Kanno.{{cite web | author=Loo, Egan | title=Voices: An Exclusive Interview with Yoko Kanno | url=http://www.ex.org/4.5/18-interview_kanno3.html | publisher=EX.org | access-date=2011-06-11 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606114407/http://www.ex.org/4.5/18-interview_kanno3.html | archive-date=2011-06-06 }} Nagano had also previously worked with Tomino Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Kanno described Tomino as "not detailed at all" when compared to other directors with which she worked. She found that he was concerned with human "age" in regards to each piece of music so that viewers of all ages would understand. The opening theme "In My Dream" was written and performed by Eri Shingyōji.{{cite web | title=In My Dream | url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00005GYRS/| language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}} The ending theme {{nihongo|"Ai no Fīrudo"|愛の輪郭(フィールド)||lit. "Field of Love"}} was composed and arranged by Kanno, with lyrics written by Rin Iogi (a pseudonym for Tomino), and the song performed by Kokia.{{cite web | script-title=ja:愛の輪郭|trans-title=Field of Love |url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00005GYSJ/| language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}}

{{main|List of Brain Powerd episodes}}

The 26-episode Brain Powerd anime initially aired weekly on Japan's satellite channel WOWOW from April 8 to November 11, 1998.{{cite web|script-title=ja:ブレンパワード |trans-title=Brain Powerd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210144947/http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/datacard/card0143.htm |url=http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/datacard/card0143.htm |archive-date=December 10, 2007 |publisher=Sunrise |language=ja |access-date=2011-06-11 |url-status=dead }} The series was also broadcast on the Japanese Animax and the Bandai Channel.{{cite web | script-title=ja:ブレンパワード |trans-title=Brain Powerd | url=http://www.animax.co.jp/feature/index.php?code=90338 | publisher=Animax | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723133136/http://www.animax.co.jp/feature/index.php?code=90338 | archive-date=2012-07-23 }}{{cite web | script-title=ja:ブレンパワード |trans-title=Brain Powerd | url=http://www.b-ch.com/ttl/index.php?ttl_c=143 | publisher=Bandai | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}} Bandai first released the series on DVD in two halves on June 25, 1999, and September 25, 1999, as the Brain Powerd Perfect Box.{{cite web | title=ブレンパワード パーフェクトボックス Part 1 |date=June 25, 1999 |trans-title=Brain Powered Perfect Box Part 1 | url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00005EDJI/| language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}}{{cite web | title=ブレンパワード パーフェクトボックス Part 2 |date=September 25, 1999 |trans-title=Brain Powered Perfect Box Part 2 | url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00005EDJJ/| language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}} Seven individual DVDs containing fewer episodes of the series each were released from July 25 to September 25, 2002.{{cite web | title=ブレンパワード Vol. 1 |date=July 25, 2002 |trans-title=Brain Powered Vol. 1 | url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B000068OYE/| language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}}{{cite web | title=ブレンパワード Vol. 7 |date=September 25, 2002 |trans-title=Brain Powered Vol. 7 | url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00006G8QV/| language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}} A "remastered" box set was released on August 24, 2007.{{cite web | title=ブレンパワード リマスターBOX |date=August 24, 2007 |trans-title=Brain Powerd Remaster BOX | url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B000Q366ZY/ | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}} Finally, Bandai released the entire series on DVD as Emotion the Best: Brain Powerd on April 7, 2011.{{cite web | title=EMOTION the Best ブレンパワードDVD-BOX |date=April 7, 2011 |trans-title=Emotion the Best Brain Powerd DVD-BOX | url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0048WR8O2 | access-date=2011-06-11}}{{cite news | date=March 23, 2011 | title=Anime/Manga Releases Delayed After Quake: Part IV | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-23/anime/manga-releases-delayed-after-quake/part-iv | work=Anime News Network | access-date=2011-06-11}}

The English-dubbed version of Brain Powerd premiered on Animax in South Asia and Southeast Asia.{{cite web|url=http://www.animax-asia.com/program/synopsis.php?i=139|title=Brain Powerd|publisher=Animax Asia|access-date=2007-08-20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927034631/http://www.animax-asia.com/program/synopsis.php?i=139 |archive-date = 2007-09-27}} In late 2000, Bandai Entertainment acquired the rights to distribute a dub in North America with the spelling Brain Powered.{{cite web | author=Legion | date=May 17, 2001 | title=E3 2001 Bandai Entertainment Interview | url=http://www.animedream.com/ad/interviews/view/1801 | publisher=Anime Dream | access-date=2011-05-29}} As with the licensed Silent Möbius, only the first few episodes were released on VHS in the region as test marketing for the show.{{cite web | author=Beveridge, Chris | date=November 10, 2000 | title=Chat with Charles McCarter of Bandai | url=http://www.mania.com/chat-charles-mccarter-bandai_article_83951.html | publisher=Mania.com | access-date=2011-06-11 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018120002/http://www.mania.com/chat-charles-mccarter-bandai_article_83951.html | archive-date=October 18, 2012 }}{{cite web | author=Oppliger, John | date=May 15, 2000 | title=Anime Central Announcements | url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2000/05/15/anime-central-announcements/ | publisher=AnimeNation | access-date=2011-06-11 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320052234/http://www.animenation.net/blog/2000/05/15/anime-central-announcements/ | archive-date=March 20, 2012 }} The original opening sequence, which largely depicts nude women, was completely redone for the release.{{cite web | date=May 2, 2002 | title=Brain Powered tidbit | url=http://www.mania.com/brain-powered-tidbit_article_59388.html | publisher=Mania.com | access-date=2011-10-12 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215022844/http://www.mania.com/brain-powered-tidbit_article_59388.html | archive-date=December 15, 2013 }} Three separate bilingual DVD sets totaling all 26 episodes were made available in North American retailers May 21 to September 24, 2002.{{cite web | title=Brain Powered (V.1) - DVD Collection 1 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051122174527/http://www.bandai-ent.com/products/product_details.cfm?id=145| url=http://www.bandai-ent.com/products/product_details.cfm?id=145 | archive-date=November 22, 2005 | publisher=Bandai Entertainment| access-date=2011-05-29}}{{cite web | title=Brain Powered (V.2) - Family Feuds| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051122171856/http://www.bandai-ent.com/products/product_details.cfm?id=160| url=http://www.bandai-ent.com/products/product_details.cfm?id=160 | archive-date=November 22, 2005 | publisher=Bandai Entertainment | access-date=2011-05-29}}{{cite web | title=Brain Powered (V.3) - Resolutions| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051122171953/http://www.bandai-ent.com/products/product_details.cfm?id=177| url=http://www.bandai-ent.com/products/product_details.cfm?id=177 | archive-date=November 22, 2005 | publisher=Bandai Entertainment | access-date=2011-05-29}} The unedited opening sequences was restored for the DVD version. On April 26, 2006, the company compiled and released the entire series as Anime Legends: Brain Powered Complete Collection.{{cite web | title=Brain Powered Complete Collection | url=https://www.amazon.com/ASIN/B000E3L7AA/| publisher=Amazon.com | access-date=2011-06-11}} Following the 2012 closure of Bandai Entertainment, Sunrise announced at Otakon 2013, that Sentai Filmworks has rescued Brain Powerd, along with a handful of other former BEI titles.{{cite news|title=Sentai Filmworks Adds Sacred Seven, The Big O, Kurokami, More|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-08-10/sentai-filmworks-adds-sacred-seven-big-o-kurokami-more|work=Anime News Network|access-date=11 August 2013}}

A manga prelude to the Brain Powerd television series, featuring the original story penned by Tomino and illustrations by Yukiru Sugisaki, was serialized monthly in the Japanese Kadokawa Shoten magazine Shōnen Ace beginning in the January 1998 issue.{{cite book|first=Jason|last=Thompson|author-link=Jason Thompson (writer)|title=Manga: The Complete Guide|publisher=Ballantine Books & Del Rey Books|location=New York|year=2007|isbn=978-0-345-48590-8 | page=37}} A total of four tankōbon chapter collections were released from May 27, 1998, to January 29, 2001.{{cite web | script-title=ja:ブレンパワード 第1巻 |trans-title=Brain Powerd Volume 1 | url=http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/comic/bk_detail.php?pcd=199999713222 | publisher=Kadokawa Shoten | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}}{{cite web | script-title=ja:ブレンパワード (4)|trans-title=Brain Powerd (4) | url=http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/comic/bk_detail.php?pcd=200000000845 | publisher=Kadokawa Shoten | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}} The original manga was licensed for English translation and publication by Tokyopop in early 2003, also with the spelling Brain Powered.{{cite news | date=January 26, 2003 | title=More Manga from Tokyopop | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-01-26/more-manga-from-tokyopop | work=Anime News Network | access-date=2011-06-11}} All four volumes were published between June 17, 2003, and January 6, 2004.{{cite web | title=Brain Powered Volume1 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051212043519/http://tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?page=product&productid=1687 | url=http://tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?page=product&productid=1687| archive-date=December 12, 2005 | publisher=Tokyopop | access-date=2011-05-28}}{{cite web | title=Brain Powered Volume4 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060430024933/http://tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?page=product&productid=1765| url=http://tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?page=product&productid=1765| archive-date=April 30, 2006| publisher=Tokyopop | access-date=2011-05-28}} Tokyopop replaced the Japanese version's color pages with highly saturated monochrome for their English release.{{cite web | author=Oppliger, John | date=January 5, 2005 | title=Ask John: What is America's Best Manga Translation Company? | url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2005/01/05/ask-john-what-is-americas-best-manga-translation-company/ | publisher=AnimeNation | access-date=2011-06-11 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320052203/http://www.animenation.net/blog/2005/01/05/ask-john-what-is-americas-best-manga-translation-company/ | archive-date=March 20, 2012 }} As of May 2, 2005, the manga is out-of-print in North America.{{cite web | title=Tokyopop Inc. Out of Print Title | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512143947/http://tokyopop.com/corporate/biz_dev/447 | url=http://tokyopop.com/corporate/biz_dev/447 | archive-date=2009-05-12 | publisher=Tokyopop | access-date=2011-06-27}}

A series of three light novels written by Tomino and Akemi Mende were also published in Japan by Kadokawa Haruki Corporation:

{{Book table |background=#A2BBAC |book_number= |title= |author= |publisher= |publish_date= |isbn= |books=

{{Book list

| book_number = 1

| title = {{nihongo|Brain Powerd: Deep Origination|ブレンパワード 深海より発して|Brain Powerd Shinkai Yori Hasshi Te}}

| author = Akemi Mende

| publisher = Kadokawa Haruki Corporation

| publish_date = December 15, 1998{{cite web | script-title=ja:ブレンパワード（1） 深海より発して |trans-title=Brain Powerd (1) Deep Origination | url=http://www.kadokawaharuki.co.jp/book/detail/detail.php?no=1928 | publisher=Kadokawa Haruki Corporation | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}}

| isbn = 978-4-89456-478-7

| line_color = novel

| short_summary =

}}

{{Book list

| book_number = 2

| title = {{nihongo|Brain Powerd: Behind the Curtain|ブレンパワード カーテンの向こうで|Brain Powerd Kāten No Mukou De}}

| author = Akemi Mende

| publisher = Kadokawa Haruki Corporation

| publish_date = January 14, 1999{{cite web | script-title=ja:ブレンパワード（2） カーテンの向こうで |trans-title=Brain Powerd (2) Behind the Curtain | url=http://www.kadokawaharuki.co.jp/book/detail/detail.php?no=1920 | publisher=Kadokawa Haruki Corporation | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}}

| isbn = 978-4-89456-486-2

| line_color = novel

| short_summary =

}}

{{Book list

| book_number = 3

| title = {{nihongo|Brain Powerd: Journey to Remember|ブレンパワード 記憶への旅立ち|Brain Powerd Kioku Heno Tabidachi}}

| author = Yoshiyuki Tomino (as Minoru Yokitani)

| publisher = Kadokawa Haruki Corporation

| publish_date = February 13, 1999{{cite web | script-title=ja:ブレンパワード（3） 記憶への旅立ち |trans-title=Brain Powerd (3) Journey to Remember | url=http://www.kadokawaharuki.co.jp/book/detail/detail.php?no=1699 | publisher=Kadokawa Haruki Corporation | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}}

| isbn = 978-4-89456-496-1

| line_color = novel

| short_summary =

}}

}}

A two-volume soundtrack featuring a total of 38 background and vocal tracks from the Brain Powerd anime series was published by Victor Entertainment in Japan on August 5, 1998, and November 21, 1998.{{cite web | script-title=ja:ブレンパワード ― オリジナル・サウンドトラック 1 |trans-title=Brain Powerd Original Soundtrack 1 | url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B000058A9V/ | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}}{{cite web | script-title=ja:ブレンパワード ― オリジナル・サウンドトラック 2 |trans-title=Brain Powerd Original Soundtrack 2 | url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B000026WMJ/| language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}} CD singles featuring the opening theme by Eri Shingyōji and the closing theme by Kokia have also been released.

A non-scale model kit of Hime's Brain Powerd mecha was released by Bandai shortly after the show's debut. A Brain Powerd line of colored plastic non-scale model kits was released starting in November 2022 under Good Smile Company's Moderoid line. The line includes You (Yu) Brain, Hime Brain, Quincy's Grand Cher, Jonathan's Grand Cher, and a generic Grand Cher.{{Cite web |title=MODEROID You Brain |url=https://www.goodsmile.info/en/product/12691/MODEROID+You+Brain.html |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=www.goodsmile.info |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=MODEROID Hime Brain |url=https://www.goodsmile.info/en/product/12692/MODEROID+Hime+Brain.html |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=www.goodsmile.info |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=MODEROID Grand Cher (Quincy's Machine) |url=https://www.goodsmile.info/en/product/12894/MODEROID+Grand+Cher+Quincy+s+Machine.html |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=www.goodsmile.info |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=MODEROID Grand Cher (Jonathan's Machine) |url=https://www.goodsmile.info/en/product/12895/MODEROID+Grand+Cher+Jonathan+s+Machine.html |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=www.goodsmile.info |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=MODEROID Grand Cher |url=https://www.goodsmile.info/en/product/12893/MODEROID+Grand+Cher.html |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=www.goodsmile.info |language=en}}

A single artbook titled Brain Powerd Spiral Book was published by Gakken in Japan on June 28, 1999.{{cite web | script-title=ja:ブレンパワード スパイラルブック |trans-title=Brain Powerd Spiral Book | url=http://hon.gakken.jp/book/1860214200 | publisher=Gakken | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}} Characters and mecha from Brain Powerd have been featured alongside other Sunrise properties in video games published by Banpresto including Another Century's Episode for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable, 2nd Super Robot Wars Alpha for the PlayStation 2, and Super Robot Wars J for the Game Boy Advance.{{cite web | author=Smith, David | date=September 1, 2004 | title=Mecha Action From Banpresto, From Software | url=http://www.1up.com/news/mecha-action-banpresto-software | website=1UP.com | access-date=2011-06-11 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019143105/http://www.1up.com/news/mecha-action-banpresto-software | archive-date=October 19, 2012 }}{{cite web | date=October 29, 2010 | script-title=ja:『アナザーセンチュリーズエピソード ポータブル』 |trans-title=Another Century's Episode Portable | url=http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/314/314397/ | publisher=Dengeki | language=ja | access-date=2011-06-11}}{{cite web | author=IGN Staff | date=December 18, 2002 | title=Second Super Robot Wars Alpha | url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/380/380680p1.html | website=IGN | access-date=2011-06-11 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525050827/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/380/380680p1.html | archive-date=May 25, 2011 | url-status=dead }}{{cite news | date=August 9, 2005 | title=Super Robot Wars J | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-08-09/super-robot-wars-j | work=Anime News Network | access-date=2011-06-14}}

Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy of The Anime Encyclopedia summarized Brain Powerd "as if Tomino and his crew were thrown in at the deep end and told to wing it", though they found it "curiously watchable, thanks largely to Yoko Kanno's wonderful music".{{cite book|title=The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917|last1=Clements|first1=Jonathan|author1-link=Jonathan Clements|last2=McCarthy|first2=Helen|author2-link=Helen McCarthy|year=2006|isbn=1-933330-10-4|page=74|publisher=Stone Bridge Press |edition=Revised and Expanded}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.brainpowered.jp/ Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}
• [http://www.b-ch.com/ttl/index.php?ttl_c=143 Brain Powerd] at the Bandai Channel {{in lang|ja}}
• {{Anime News Network|anime|122}}

{{Yoshiyuki Tomino}}

{{Sunrise}}

{{Monthly Shōnen Ace}}

Category:1998 anime television series debuts

Category:1998 Japanese novels

Category:1998 manga

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Category:Light novels

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Category:Television series created by Yoshiyuki Tomino

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Category:Real robot anime and manga