On the 8th of January, 1998, Outlaw Star soared onto television screens
across Japan courtesy of TV Tokyo. Produced by Sunrise Studios and
adapted from author Takehiko Ito’s manga of the same name, the series’
popularity skyrocketed after Bandai Entertainment’s English
localization was broadcasted on U.S. airwaves as part of the Toonami
programming block in 2001. In 2002, Outlaw Star also made its way to
the UK on CNX, and has been distributed worldwide since its initial
release. Today, Outlaw Star retains a cult following across the globe,
occupying its own self-carved niche of sci-fi and self-discovery.
Following
the escapades of loveable layabout Gene Starwind, Outlaw Star takes
intrepid viewers of any nationality or era on an exciting quest through
space to find the enigmatic Galactic Leyline. Along with a precocious
computer whiz named Jim Hawking, Gene has to overcome many obstacles,
both internal and external, as he searches for this source of untold
riches—like dealing with dangerous pirates, avoiding the authorities,
and making enough money to pay the bills! But in addition to zany
misadventures and his own moments of introspection, Gene had best
beware: the legend of the Galactic Leyline is known far and wide across
the galaxy, and some of the biggest players in organized crime have
their own ideas as to how it may fit into their machinations for
power...
Despite being overlooked over the years, Outlaw Star
has created an indelible impact on pop culture at large. It helped to
solidify the space western genre within both anime and broader circles
of science fiction. Its grownup themes of desire, hope, and even
painful uncertainty helped introduce youth in the Western world to the
Seinen demographic of Japanese manga. And its homage-laden world,
inspired by both the West and the Far East, helps spectators delineate
the differences between hard science fiction and science fantasy while
giving jaded film critics a classic adventure story wrapped up in a
fresh packaging of fun.
So
what are you waiting for? An invitation from Hot Ice Hilda? Whether
it’s your first viewing or your fifty-first, it’s time to join Gene and
the rest of the crew aboard the XGP15A-II for a journey across the
stars like no other!
