The Candidate for Goddess

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The Candidate for Goddess
女神候補生
(Megami Kouhosei)
Genre Action, Adventure, Drama, Mecha, Military
Manga: Pilot Candidate
Author Yukiru Sugisaki
Publisher Flag of Japan Wani Books
Demographic Seinen
Serialized in Comic Gum
Original run 1997 – ongoing
Volumes 5
TV anime
Director Mitsuru Hongo
Studio Bandai, Production I.G
Network Flag of Japan NHK BS2, Animax
Original run January 10, 2000 – March 27, 2000
Episodes 12
OVA
Director Shinichi Yamaoka
Studio Bandai
Episodes 1
Released 2002

The Candidate for Goddess (女神候補生 Megami Kouhosei?) is a Japanese manga created by Yukiru Sugisaki. It was adapted into a 12-episode anime series in 2000 by Xebec, a subsidiary of Production I.G. A thirteenth episode was released in 2002 in the form on an OVA. This episode is currently unreleased in North America.

The anime series, entitled Pilot Candidate for its American release, was broadcast briefly on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block in 2002, though it was originally intended to be broadcast on Toonami and edited accordingly. Bilingual DVDs were released by Bandai Entertainment, and it is currently available in a complete series boxset.

Contents

[edit] Story

It is the year 4084. It has been over one thousand years since the Crisis of Systems (Lost Property), which resulted in the destruction of four planetary systems, leaving only a single inhabitable planet, Zion. Mankind is forced to live in space colonies, since that one planet is constantly being invaded by alien life forms that have come to be known as Victim. To stop the aliens and to allow people to land on Zion, mankind has developed the astronomical humanoid weapons, Ingrids, also known as Goddesses. At the G.O.A. (Goddess Operation Academy), young men are trained to pilot the Ingrids. Each of the pilots has a special power called EX; this can consist either of the ability to freeze time or to move at extreme speed. The time that a child can control a Goddess is limited and replacements have to be found after a moderate length of time.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Goddess Cadets

Zero Enna (ゼロ・エンナ (苑名 零) Enna Rei?)
  • Age: 15
  • Blood type: EO
  • Height: 156 cm
  • Weight: 48 kg
  • Voiced by: Yukimasa Obi
Zero (his real name "Rei" is the kanji representing number 0) lost his father when he was very young and was raised by his mother on a remote colony. Cheerful and optimistic to the extreme, Zero hides his fears and refuses to ever be depressed. His straightforward and optimistic personality sometimes grates on others. A bit thickheaded, he's not the smartest candidate, but he can move with the best of them. His piloting abilities are like carbon that hasn't yet been formed into a diamond. Zero hasn't yet mastered his EX. His number is 88 and his Repairer is Kizna Towryk.
Clay Cliff Fortran (クレイ・クリフ・フォートラン Kurei Krifu Fōtoran?)
  • Age: 15
  • Blood type: EO
  • Height: 159 cm
  • Weight: 53 kg
  • Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yoshino
The class brain, Clay came to the G.O.A. not to be a pilot, but to study and theorize. Interested in many different subjects. His catch phrase is "Very interesting." Clay's number is 89.
Hiead Gner (ヒイード・グナー Hiīdo Gunā?)
  • Age: 15
  • Blood type: EO
  • Height: 160 cm
  • Weight: 52 kg
  • Voiced by: Susumu Chiba
Orphaned in the war and forced to suffer many hardships, Hiead has a strong hatred for anyone raised in comfort. Cold and seemingly emotionless, he doesn't trust anyone or anything, especially Zero. These rivals share the same EX abilities. Hiead is number 87.
Erts Virny Cocteau (アーツ・ウィルニー・コクト Ātsu Wirunī Kokuto?)
  • Age: 14
  • Blood type: EO
  • Height: 156 cm
  • Weight: 47 kg
  • Voiced by: Kenji Nojima
Orphaned very young and forced to enter the G.O.A., Erts is gentle and doesn't like to fight. His grades are very good and Erts is Zero's friend. Erts has an older brother that is a pilot, Ernest Cuore. His number is 05.
Yamagi Kushida (ヤマギ・クシダ Yamagi Kushida?)
Number 86.
Roose Sawamura (ルズ・サワムラ Ruzu Sawamura?)
  • Voiced by: Yoshimichi Oumoto
Number 85.
? (フォース・ウォートリアム Fōsu Wōtoriamu?)
Number 01.
Aracd Narocke (アラクド・ナロック Arakudo Narokku?)
Number 04.

[edit] Repairer Cadets

Kizna Towryk (キズナ・トゥリーク Kizuna Turīku?)
  • Age: 15
  • Blood type: OX
  • Height: 154 cm
  • Weight: ? kg
  • Voiced by: Miki Nagasawa
The personal Repairer for the practice ingrid Zero pilots. Kizna wants to be Zero's equal, and not inferior to him. Sometimes, Kizna talks like a man, but because of her rational personality, the other mechanic girls in her class look up to her. She has dexterous fingers and makes an excellent mechanic. She really likes sweet things. Kizna has artificial cat ears because in her childhood, she had an accident that damaged her ears.
Ikhny Allecto (イクニ・アレクト Ikuni Arekuto?)
Timid and seemingly low in self-confidence, Ikhny is gifted in repair and seeks acceptance from the brutal Hiead, even to the point of once sabotaging Zero's Ingrid.
Tukasa Kuscha (ツカサ・クーシャ Tsukasa Kūsha?)
Wrecka Toesing (レッカ・トーシング Rekka Tōshingu?)
  • Voiced by: Rika Wakusawa
Saki Mimori (サキ・ミモリ Saki Mimori?)
Kyoko Farley (キョウコ・ファーリィ Kyouko Fārī?)
Yukine Simmons (ユキネ・シモンズ Yukine Shimonzu?)
Rome Lotte (ロミ・ロット Romi Rotto?)

[edit] Goddess Pilots

Teela Zain Elmes (ティーラ・ザイン・エルメス Tīra Zain Erumesu?)
  • Age: 15
  • Blood type: EO
  • Height: 156 cm
  • Weight: 42 kg
  • Voiced by: Yuri Amano
The best of the five Goddesses and the only female pilot. Faithful to her task, Teela's fighting ability is frighteningly high. Nearly flawless, there are times when no one quite knows what she's thinking. Seeking perfection, she won't let herself feel the emotions of daily life. Her outward appearance has hardly changed since she saved the ten-year-old Zero, but no one knows why. Always the top of the pilots, Teela has two EX. One is the same ability as Zero's. The other is the ability to control other Ingrids.
Gareas Elidd (ガルイース・エリッド Garuīsu Eriddo?)
  • Age: 18
  • Blood type: EO
  • Height: 176 cm
  • Weight: 65 kg
  • Voiced by: Wataru Takagi
Ingrid: Eeva Leena
Repairer: Leena Fujimura
Number 2 of the five Goddesses, he is in charge of attacking. When he's in the right mood, Gareas has matchless strength; when he's not, he can't hit the broad side of a barn. He doesn't like Teela (since she took his position as top pilot). Strong, quick-tempered, and violent, he has a nasty way of speaking and acting and is constantly ignoring orders. Gareas is a womanizer who's always competing with Rio. The oldest of the pilots, he has a relatively strong build. Despite their vast differences, Gareas is good friends with Ernest.
Rioroute Vilgyna (リオリート・ウィルジナ Riorīto Wirujina?)
  • Age: 18
  • Blood type: EO
  • Height: 168 cm
  • Weight: 57 kg
  • Voiced by: Kōichi Tōchika
Ingrid: Agui Keameia
Repairer: Philphleora Deed
Rio is what's called a cheerful idiot, even though he has a rather arrogant personality. But he's easily the most gentle pilot and most easily moved to tears. Quite the flirt, he is always competing with Gar. He seems like a player, but he secretly only likes his mechanic, Philphleora. Rio recognizes Teela as the leader. He tends to say, "--ssu." A contraction of "desu" which indicates he's not showing as much respect as he should. Rio's body is fit and toned. He's the fourth in a big family. His little brother, who is also blood type EO, is expected to soon enter G.O.A.
Yu Hikura (ユウ・ヒクラ (緋座 優) Yuu Hikura?)
  • Age: 16
  • Blood type: EO
  • Height: 160 cm
  • Weight: 48 kg
  • Voiced by: Akira Ishida
Ingrid: Tellia Kallisto
Repairer: Kazuhi Hikura
He's quiet and usually emotionless, but Yu is quite strong-willed. Like Gar, he is also in charge of attacking. Because of his calm judgment, the other pilots have great trust in him (his skills are also top notch). He has a rather young face and light complexion, and has a small build. There are rumors to the effect that, while enrolled in G.O.A., he nearly killed his instructor. When his home colony was attack by Giseisha, he and his sister Kazuhi were rescued by the previous five Goddesses. To him, the most precious thing is his only family, his little sister.
Ernest Cuore (アーネスト・クォーレ Ānesuto Kuōre?)
Ingrid: Luhma Klein
Repairer: Tune Youg
He is submissive and kind to everyone, but he has a complicated side that, while being lonely, likes his solitude. With his polite, careful way of speaking, Ernest is always the mediator if something bad happens between the Candidates. His EX is telepathy, which has caused a hard time for him when associating with others. But after meeting Gar at G.O.A., he started to look at things positively. Ernest dislikes his EX and often wonders why he has it. In battle, he uses his EX to support the Ingrids so they can fight with 120% of their power, as well as being in charge of operations.

[edit] Repairers

Leena Fujimura (リーナ・フジムラ Rīna Fujimura?)
Philphleora Deed (フィルフレイラ・ディード Firuforeira Dīdo?)
Tune Youg (チューン・ユーグ Chūn Yūgu?)
Kazuhi Hikura (カズヒ・ヒクラ(緋座 一妃) Kazuhi Hikura?)

[edit] G.O.A. Personnel

Azuma Hijikata (アズマ・ヒジカタ Azuma Hijikata?)
Dr. Rill Croford (リル・クロフォード Riru Kurofōdo?)
Dr. Kuro Rivolde (Dr.クロウ Dr. Kurou?)
Headmaster (校長 Kouchou?)

[edit] Others

Narrator

[edit] Episodes

Episodes are called "Curriculums".

# Episode Title Original Air Date
00 "Connection"
"Setsuzoku" (接続) 		 January 10, 2000
 
01 "Alignment"
"Douchou" (同調) 		 January 17, 2000
 
02 "EX"
"EX" (EX) 		 January 24, 2000
 
03 "Conciousness"
"Jikaku" (自覚) 		 January 31, 2000
 
04 "Partner"
"Pātonā" (パートナー) 		 February 7, 2000
 
05 "Combination"
"Konbinēshon" (コンビネーション) 		 February 14, 2000
 
06 "Pro Ing"
"PRO-ING" (PRO-ING) 		 February 21, 2000
 
07 "Ground Battle"
"Rikusen" (陸戦) 		 February 28, 2000
 
08 "Death"
"Shi" (死) 		 March 6, 2000
 
09 "Dreams"
"Yume" (夢) 		 March 13, 2000
 
10 "Jealousy"
"Natemi" (妬み) 		 March 20, 2000
 
11 "Drift"
"Dakuryuu" (濁流) 		 March 27, 2000
 
12 "Friends"
"Nakama" (仲間) 
This episode is actually an OVA. 

[edit] Music

Opening Theme:

  • "Aim for Zion, the Planet of Hope" (希望の星(ZION)をめざせ！ Zion wo Mezase!?)
    Composition and arrangement by: Tomoyuki Asakawa

Ending Theme:

  • "Chance" (チャンス Chansu?): Curriculum 01 - 11
    Lyrics by: Kyouko Tomita
    Composition by: Koizumi Kouhei
    Arrangement by: Zawa Ono
    Song by: Koizumi Kouhei
  • "Shimmering" (かがやき Kagayaki?): Curriculum 12
    Lyrics by: Akira Okeya
    Composition and arrangement by: Tomoyuki Asakawa
    Song by: Koizumi Kouhei

[edit] Trivia

The intro shows Zero and Kizna as the pilot and repairer for the lead Goddess, respectively. However, the last series' episode does not show Zero anywhere near piloting an Ingrid. Because of this, it is believed that the anime is not complete. Cancellation in its native Japan may also have been a factor.

[edit] External links