Magic Knight Rayearth (lost Summit Media Group English dub of anime; existence unconfirmed; 1995): Difference between revisions

From The Lost Media Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
mNo edit summary
No edit summary
Line 6: Line 6:
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
}}
}}
'''''Magic Knight Rayearth''''' is a Japanese manga series by CLAMP, serialized in the magazine ''Nakayoshi'' from November 1993 to February 1995, followed by a sequel (''Magic Knight Rayearth 2'') from March 1995 to April 1996. Both manga storylines received an anime adaptation by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, which aired from October 17th, 1994 to November 27th, 1995.
'''''Magic Knight Rayearth''''' is a Japanese manga series by CLAMP, serialized in the magazine ''Nakayoshi'' from November 1993 to February 1995, followed by a sequel (''Magic Knight Rayearth 2'') from March 1995 to April 1996. Both manga storylines received an anime adaptation by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, which aired from October 17th, 1994 to November 27th, 1995.


Shortly after the anime was first released, Tokyo Movie Shinsha attempted to market the series worldwide and had mandated specific localized names to be used in the adaptations (these can still be seen in TMS International's catalog entry for the series<ref>[http://www.tms-e.co.jp/english/search/introduction.php?pdt_no=220 Magic Knight Rayearth, TMS International catalog]. Retrieved 25 Nov '13</ref>):
Shortly after the anime was first released, Tokyo Movie Shinsha attempted to market the series globally. In the English-speaking world, this included the production of a localized pilot ahead of a planned 13-episode dub prepared for American television. Ultimately, those plans fell through and the series would be released direct-to-video by Media Blasters several years after. That adaptation retained the original Japanese names for the characters.
 
==Pilot==
Tokyo Movie Shinsha first enlisted Ocean Studios for the production of a pilot, which was made at some point in early 1995. Sarah-Anne Dafoe directed, wrote and served as the casting director.<ref>[https://www.filmandtvpro.com/ca/file-download/738374/go Sarah-Anne Dafoe.] Retrieved 07 Sept '17</ref> The pilot used a different set of character names, as well as a new opening theme. Little is known about the voice cast of this pilot, other than Venus Terzo, who had allegedly voiced Hikaru ("Luce"), as reported in an Animerica article during the production of the pilot.
 
The name changes had been mandated by TMS and were also seen in several dubs of the series in other languages:
*Hikaru Shidou became''' Luce''' (relating to light)
*Hikaru Shidou became''' Luce''' (relating to light)
*Umi Ryuuzaki became '''Marine''' (relating to the ocean)
*Umi Ryuuzaki became '''Marine''' (relating to the ocean)
*Fuu Hououji became '''Anemone''' (relating to the flower, Greek for "daughter of the wind")
*Fuu Hououji became '''Anemone''' (relating to the flower, Greek for "daughter of the wind")


Tokyo Movie Shinsha first enlisted Ocean Studios for the production of a pilot, which was made at some point in early 1995. The pilot used the above name changes, as well as a new opening theme. This pilot was heavily criticized by fans who had the chance of seeing it screened at conventions, as well as by those who had worked on the English adaptation of the Rayearth video game. Little is known about the voice cast of this pilot, other than Venus Terzo, who had apparently voiced Hikaru ("Luce"), which was given in an article in America during the production of the pilot. Sarah-Anne Dafoe directed, wrote and was the casting director on the pilot.<ref>[https://www.filmandtvpro.com/ca/file-download/738374/go Sarah-Anne Dafoe.] Retrieved 07 Sept '17</ref>
The pilot was reportedly screened at FanimeCon 1996.<ref>[https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.arts.anime.misc/2uQiUsKYcTg/FVSeIzBIYnEJ The post referencing the pilot, Usenet/Googlegroups.] Retrieved 25 Nov '13</ref> It may have also circulated at other conventions around the same time. Due to the name changes and replaced intro, the pilot wasn't well-received by many who had seen it.
 
For years, footage from the production remained scarce, with only the intro making it online courtesy of TMS' licensing sites. In 2017, the pilot was included in Discotek's home video release of the series.<ref>[https://twitter.com/discotekmedia/status/680249943500713984 Discotek Media on Twitter: "To recap: we'll be including the original English dubbed pilot episode of MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH with our forthcoming release!"] Retrieved 11 Nov '21.</ref>


An entire first season<ref>[https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.video.sega/aiE1Gsw7its/Ji50UEU8m9YJ Usenet posting, Google groups archive.] Retrieved 25 Nov '13</ref> (of at least 13 episodes<ref>[https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.arts.anime/YNxPCghvyKc/HdfqwTOqaWsJ Google groups archive.] Retrieved 25 Nov '13</ref>) was reportedly dubbed as well, through the Summit Media Group,<ref>[https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.arts.anime/v4OH-8RjgYY/XpHD5N03yVUJ Press release announcing the Summit Media group's acquisition of Rayearth, Usenet/Google groups archive.] Retrieved 25 Nov '13</ref> a New York-based company who would later be involved in the production with ''Pokemon''. This dub was pitched to networks such as Fox Kids, and there were hopes to air it in syndication by September 1995. However, due to the lack of interest or buyers, this adaptation fell through and was shelved. It is suspected that the rating flop of ''Sailor Moon'' may have played a part in networks not wanting to pick up the series. This dub also used a changed opening theme and the TMS International names for the Knights.
==Series==
In January 1995, it was reported that Summit Media Group had acquired the first 13 episodes of the series for a planned launch on U.S. television that fall.<ref>[https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.anime/c/YNxPCghvyKc/m/HdfqwTOqaWsJ Rayearth comes to US television fall 95] Retrieved 11 Nov '21.</ref> This dub was pitched to networks such as Fox Kids, and there were hopes to air it in syndication by September. However, due to the lack of interest from buyers, this adaptation fell through and was shelved. It is suspected that the initial viewership flop of ''Sailor Moon'' may have played a part in networks not wanting to pick up the series. The art style was also reportedly an issue of concern for some broadcasters.<ref>[https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.anime/c/v4OH-8RjgYY/m/XpHD5N03yVUJ Re: Magical Knight Rayearth - US TV] Retrieved 11 Nov '21.</ref>


After the U.S. rights to ''Rayearth'' lapsed a few years later, Media Blasters acquired the rights and produced a new English dub in 1999. This adaptation kept the original Japanese names for the characters. No clips or footage have surfaced of the Ocean pilot, or of the episodes dubbed through Summit Media.
As this incarnation of the dub never made it to market, it's not known how much, if any, production work was completed. Nor is it known if it had any ties to the earlier pilot. Victor Ireland, whose company, Working Designs, localized the ''Rayearth'' Sega Saturn video game, alleged that the entire first season was dubbed - though, he later admitted that the anime's release wasn't something he was too familiar with.<ref>[https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.video.sega/aiE1Gsw7its/Ji50UEU8m9YJ Usenet posting, Google groups archive.] Retrieved 25 Nov '13</ref>


However, the Ocean pilot was allegedly screened at FanimeCon 1996.<ref>[https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.arts.anime.misc/2uQiUsKYcTg/FVSeIzBIYnEJ The post referencing the pilot, Usenet/Googlegroups.] Retrieved 25 Nov '13</ref> The pilot may have also circulated at other conventions around the same time. It is unknown what may have happened to the tapes of the shelved first season as well, although it was common practice to give master tapes back to the original licensor after the rights expired, so they may still lie with TMS or may have been wiped/destroyed.
When asked if Discotek had knowledge of Summit's production, the show's producer said, "I don't think it actually exists."<ref>[https://twitter.com/BradyHartel/status/906016718127980544 Brady Hartel on Twitter: "I've never heard of the Summit Media version- We found the ocean pilot but that's it. I can ask but I don't think it actually exists?"] Retrieved 11 Nov '21.</ref>


==Videos==
==Videos==

Revision as of 18:46, 11 November 2021

Lmwtan cleanup.png


This article has been tagged as Needing work due to its lack of organization.



Magic knights rayearth tms.png

Title card.

Status: Partially Found


Magic Knight Rayearth is a Japanese manga series by CLAMP, serialized in the magazine Nakayoshi from November 1993 to February 1995, followed by a sequel (Magic Knight Rayearth 2) from March 1995 to April 1996. Both manga storylines received an anime adaptation by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, which aired from October 17th, 1994 to November 27th, 1995.

Shortly after the anime was first released, Tokyo Movie Shinsha attempted to market the series globally. In the English-speaking world, this included the production of a localized pilot ahead of a planned 13-episode dub prepared for American television. Ultimately, those plans fell through and the series would be released direct-to-video by Media Blasters several years after. That adaptation retained the original Japanese names for the characters.

Pilot

Tokyo Movie Shinsha first enlisted Ocean Studios for the production of a pilot, which was made at some point in early 1995. Sarah-Anne Dafoe directed, wrote and served as the casting director.[1] The pilot used a different set of character names, as well as a new opening theme. Little is known about the voice cast of this pilot, other than Venus Terzo, who had allegedly voiced Hikaru ("Luce"), as reported in an Animerica article during the production of the pilot.

The name changes had been mandated by TMS and were also seen in several dubs of the series in other languages:

  • Hikaru Shidou became Luce (relating to light)
  • Umi Ryuuzaki became Marine (relating to the ocean)
  • Fuu Hououji became Anemone (relating to the flower, Greek for "daughter of the wind")

The pilot was reportedly screened at FanimeCon 1996.[2] It may have also circulated at other conventions around the same time. Due to the name changes and replaced intro, the pilot wasn't well-received by many who had seen it.

For years, footage from the production remained scarce, with only the intro making it online courtesy of TMS' licensing sites. In 2017, the pilot was included in Discotek's home video release of the series.[3]

Series

In January 1995, it was reported that Summit Media Group had acquired the first 13 episodes of the series for a planned launch on U.S. television that fall.[4] This dub was pitched to networks such as Fox Kids, and there were hopes to air it in syndication by September. However, due to the lack of interest from buyers, this adaptation fell through and was shelved. It is suspected that the initial viewership flop of Sailor Moon may have played a part in networks not wanting to pick up the series. The art style was also reportedly an issue of concern for some broadcasters.[5]

As this incarnation of the dub never made it to market, it's not known how much, if any, production work was completed. Nor is it known if it had any ties to the earlier pilot. Victor Ireland, whose company, Working Designs, localized the Rayearth Sega Saturn video game, alleged that the entire first season was dubbed - though, he later admitted that the anime's release wasn't something he was too familiar with.[6]

When asked if Discotek had knowledge of Summit's production, the show's producer said, "I don't think it actually exists."[7]

Videos

TMS' version of the opening sequence.

TMS's Magic Knight Rayearth preview.

References