Assemble Insert, the 1989 manga and anime series

Assemble Insert, the 1989 manga and anime series

Assemble Insert (original title: ア ッ セ ン ブ ル ・ イ ン サ ー ト Assenburu Insāto) is a 1985 manga series by Masami Yuki (famous for his manga and anime series Mobile Police Patlabor). The main character is a young aspiring idol singer and high school student, Maron Namikaze, who has superhuman strength. She fights a mecha organization, Demon Seed, which is terrorizing Tokyo. The manga was adapted into a 2-episode OVA anime in 1989. The series is a parody of Japanese pop culture.

Three CDs were released: a single on September 20, 1989, a picture soundtrack on October 25, 1989, and a concert CD on March 5, 1990.

History

In the Tokyo of the near future, a group called Demon Seed has opposed the city with its thefts and gigantic robotic suits. After several failed attempts against the Demon Seed, the Special Operations Anti-Demon Seed Team (five men in a downtown office) begins looking for an idol to fly a robotic suit against the Demon Seed. A talent show is held; and after a particularly boring formation of competitors, the very strong Maron Namikaze is discovered. She wears a metal costume and is sent to destroy the Demon Seed, while all the while she works as an idol singer.

Characters

Maron Namikaze: the 13-year-old protagonist. She is very shy and nervous, but she has been endowed with immense natural strength. Maron is trained to become a J-Pop idol and becomes popular enough to be entered for the Newcomer's Award in music awards. For the US DVD release, Maron was claimed to be a high school student, even in subtitles. Voiced by Hiroko Kasahara (Japanese); Jessica Calvello (English).

Chief Hattori: the leader of the special operations team, later manager and coach of Maron. He wrote and presented the plans of the Idol Project when he was drunk and later, with him displeasing him, it was approved. Hattori was lightly modeled on the Masami Yuki publisher of the time. Voiced by: Norio Wakamoto (Japanese); J. David Brimmer (English).

Dr Ryouhei Shimokobe: the dwarf-sized researcher who created the Maron costume. Before he knew the idol was a girl, he created a Patlabor-style robot, which he later gave to the Demon Seed. He is very arrogant and proud of his work, soon becoming disgusted when Maron is converted into a singer instead of a fighter. Voiced by: Ichiro Nagai (Japanese); Christopher William (English).

Professor Kyozaburo Demon: The leader of the Demon Seed. Very confident with his work, he believes the group can spend as much money as he wants, thinking they can get more at any time. However, after Maron's first interference, he runs out of money to repair the Power Suits and takes the Demon Seed into hiding for a few months. Voiced by Chikao Ohtsuka (Japanese); Christopher William (English).

Kagiri Sonoba: an idol singer known for her provocative costumes. She enters a one-sided rivalry with Maron after both girls are revealed to be competing for the Newcomer's Award. Voiced by: Maria Kawamura (Japanese); Mandy Bonhomme (English)

Music

The opening theme, "Assemble Insert " (ア ッ セ ン ブ ル ・ イ ン サ ー ト, Assenburu Insāto), had the lyrics and was composed by Kyōko Matsumiya, was arranged by Kohei Tanaka and had the voice of Hiroko Kasahara, Maron's voice actor. The first ending theme, “That Guy” (あ い つ, Aitsu), had lyrics and vocals from Kasahara, was composed by Matsumiya and was arranged by Tanaka. The second final theme, "Flax-colored Dream Jar" (あ ま 色 の 夢 の つ ぼ, Amairo no Yume no Tsubo), had the lyrics and was composed by Matsumiyam, was arranged by Tanaka and had the voice of Kasahara.

There were four songs in the insert:

"Sirocco Soaring Girl" (熱風 翔 女, Neppū Shōjo): lyrics and composition by Matsumiya, arrangement by Tanaka, voice by Kasahara
"The Love Gang" (恋 の ギ ャ ン グ た ち, Koi no Gyangu-tachi): lyrics by Yoshiko Oga, composition and arrangement by Tanaka, voice by Maria Kawamura
"Excellent Change! Ultimate Sentai Kogaman"(エ ク セ レ ン ト ・ チ ェ ン ジ! 究 極 戦 隊 コ ウ ガ マ ン, Ekuserento Chenji! Kyūkyaku Sentai Kōgaman): lyrics, composition and voice by Masayuki Yamamoto, arrangement by Tanaka
"Love & Power": lyrics and composition by Matsumiya, arrangement by Tanaka, voice by Kasahara
Album releases
Three albums have been released through Warner Bros. Japan:

A single from the theme song titled Assemble Insert (ア ッ セ ン ブ ル ・ イ ン サ ー ト, Assenburu Insāto) was released on 25 September 1989 on cassette and as a single CD.
The soundtrack of Assemble Insert Image (ア ッ セ ン ブ ル ・ イ ン サ ー ト イ メ ー ジ ・ サ ウ ン ド ト ラ ッ ク Assenburu Insāto Imēji Saundotorakku) was released on October 25, 1989.
The third album, Assembly Concert (ア ッ セ ン ブ ル ・ コ ン サ ー ト, Assenburu Konsāto), was released on March 25, 1990.

Technical data

Manga

Written by Masami Yuki
Published by Out Comics
Magazine Aniparo Comics
Published 1985
Volumes 2

Original video animation

Directed by You love Tomobuki
Product by Maki Tarō, Toyomi Akimoto
Written by Michiru Shimada
Music by Kohei Tanaka, Kyōko Matsumiya
Studio Studio Core, Tohokushinsha Film
Exit date from the 21 December 1989 to the 20 February 1990
Duration 60 minutes
Episodes 2

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assemble_Insert