Жапон әскери ғылыми фантастикасы: «Юкиказе» сериясы

Japanese novel series
the Japanese direct to video anime series

Yukikaze (戦闘妖精雪風) is a Japanese military science fiction novel series written by Chōhei Kambayashi. First published as a series of short stories, a collected bunkobon volume was released by Hayakawa Publishing in 1984. It was followed by two sequels, released in 1999 and 2009. A five episode original video animation (OVA) series, produced by Gonzo and Bandai Visual, was released in Japan from August 2002 to August 2005. The series is notable for its air combat scenes, which were created with the help of the Japan Air Self Defense Force. The JASDF worked with the Gonzo production team by recording actual sounds of the F 15J Eagle and running test flights at Komatsu Air Base, and having discussions on air combat tactics. In 1985, Yukikaze received the 16th Seiun Award for Best Japanese Long Work. The OVA series has twice won the Tokyo Anime Award for Original Video Animation in 2003 and 2006.

Yukikaze occurs in the early 21st century. Thirty three years before the events of the series, an alien force known as the JAM invade Earth through a dimensional portal that appeared over Antarctica. Without alarming the general public, the United Nations establishes a defense force to oppose the threat and after a series of bloody battles, manages to push the enemy back to the other side of the portal. The UN establishes five bases on the JAM homeworld, a planet named "Fairy", to continue the offensive against the JAM with the Fairy Air Force (FAF) leading the way. The main character, Lt Rei Fukai, pilots the FFR 31MR/D Super Sylph (later the FFR 41MR Mave) fighter B 503, nicknamed "Yukikaze", an advanced armed tactical reconnaissance plane equipped with a near sentient AI system, and belongs to the FAF's combat intelligence wing the Special Air Force (SAF)'s recon squadron, known as Boomerang Squadron. Over the course of the series, Fukai and the FAF struggles to defeat the JAM, who have perfected the art of human cloning and planted agents all over the FAF.

Yukikaze, written by Chōhei Kanbayashi, was published a series of short stories in S F Magazine from 1979 to 1983, and was later collected by Hayakawa Publishing in a bunkobon volume on February 1, 1984. It was followed by three sequels: Good Luck, Yukikaze (グッドラック 戦闘妖精・雪風), released on May 1, 1999; Unbroken Arrow, Yukikaze (アンブロークン アロー 戦闘妖精・雪風), released on July 25, 2009; and Aggressors, Yukikaze (アグレッサーズ 戦闘妖精・雪風), released on April 20, 2022. Viz Media licensed the first two novels for English release in North America. Yukikaze was released on January 19, 2010. Good Luck, Yukikaze was released on July 19, 2011.

Produced by Gonzo, Victor Entertainment and Bandai Visual to commemorate Bandai Visual's 20th anniversary. The five episode series was originally released directly to DVD as an original video animation. It was later aired in Japan on the anime television network Animax, which also aired the series on its English language networks across Southeast Asia and other networks worldwide. The series' ending theme is "RTB" by Monsieur Kamayatsu. Yukikaze was licensed for an English language release in North America by Bandai Entertainment, and in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment. In 2018, the series and its spinoff Fighting Fantasy Girl Rescue Me: Mave chan were streamed online by Tubi.