The official website of the anime adaptation of Shoji Gatoh and Shiki Douji’s Full Metal Panic! light novel series has been updated with two new visuals for the upcoming Full Metal Panic! IV (Invisible Victory) anime. In addition, more members of the voice cast has been revealed for the Spring 2018 anime.
Here is the second new visual that features the main characters:
Additional members of the anime have been revealed (with many returning characters) and includes:
- Ikue Kimura (Ryoko Mitsurugi in Samurai Girl Real Bout High School) returning to voice Kyouko Tokiwa
- Toshiyuki Morikawa (Minato Namikaze in Naruto) as Atsunobu Hayashimizu
- Rio Natsuki (Nanami Jinnai from El Hazard) returns as Eri Kagurazaka
- Shinichiro Miki (Takumi Fujiwara from Initial D) is back to voice Kurz Weber
- Michiko Neya (Talho Yuuki from Eureka Seven) returning to voice Melissa Mao
- Akio Ohtsuka (Batou in Ghost in the Shell) back as Andrei Sergeivich Kalinin
- Tomomichi Nishimura (Yuuichi Tachibana from Initial D) voicing as Richard Henry Mardukas
- Daisuke Namikawa (Rokuro Okajima in Black Lagoon) voicing the role of Leonard Testarossa
- Kazuhiro Yamaji (Jouji Saiga from Psycho-Pass) voices Kurama
- Tomokazu Sugita (Gintoki Sakata from Gintama) voicing as Lee Fowler
- Masaki Terasoma (Souichirou Kuzuki in Fate/stay night) as Wilhelm Casper
- Marina Inoue (Armin Arlert from Attack on Titan) who will voice Sabina Rechnio
- Aya Uchida (Rikka Takanashi in Chuunibyou demo Koi Ga Shitai!) voices Sachi Shinohara
- Minori Chihara (Yuki Nagato in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) as Nami
- Kenjiro Tsuda (Mikoto Suoh in K) voicing the role of Michel Lemon
They will join the anime’s main cast, which consists of returning voice actors/actreses from the previous adaptations:
- Tomokazu Seki (Itaru Hashida from Steins;Gate) who voices Sousuke Sagara
- Satsuki Yukino (Shion and Mion Sonozaki from Higurashi no Naku Koro ni) returns to voice of Kaname Chidori
- Yukana (C.C. in Code Geass) as Teletha Testarossa
The anime was originally slated to air during the Fall/Autumn 2017 anime season, however it was announced at Anime Expo 2017 that the series would be delayed to Spring 2018. The Spring season of anime generally begins in April.
The production staff includes:
- Director: Katsuichi Nakayama (Nishi no Yoki Majo – Astraea Testament)
- Series Composer: Shoji Gatoh
- Anime Character Designer and Chief Animation Director: Osamu Horiuchi (Full Metal Panic!, Bakuretsu Tenshi)
- Sub-Character Designer: Aya Yamamoto (Oregairu Zoku and Locodol Animation Director)
- Set Designer: Takayuki Yanase (Mobile Suit Gundam 00 and Deadman Wonderland Mecha Designer)
- Mecha Director: Masanori Nishii (Mobile Suit Gundam 00: A Wakening of the Trailblazer, Star Blazers 2199)
- Animation Studio: Xebec (To LOVE-Ru, Pandora Hearts)
Here is the anime’s first promotional video that was shown at Anime Expo 2017:
And here is the second PV:
Sci-Fi light novel series written by Shoji Gatoh and illustrated by Shiki Douji. The novels began in 1998 being published by Fujimi Shobo’s Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint, ending in 2011 after 23 volumes – with 12 main volumes and 11 volumes of short stories. A spin-of light novel series was also produced, written by Naoto Ooguro and illustrated by Shiki Douji, that began in 2011 as Full Metal Panic! Another, with 7 volumes to date and is still ongoing. The series has received 3 TV anime adaptations since the series started. The first anime was produced by studio Gonzo (Welcome to the N.H.K., Rosario + Vampire), that ran in 2002 for 24 episodes. A second season of the anime was produced in 2005, but was animated by Kyoto Animation for 12 episodes. Kyoto Animation have also produced a third series titled Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, a spin-off anime set between both seasons. There has also been numerous manga adaptations of the series written and illustrated by various artists; Gatoh also wrote some of the adaptations.
Here is the synopsis of the series from MAL:
Equipped with cutting-edge weaponry and specialized troops, a private military organization named Mithril strives to extinguish the world’s terrorism and all threats to peace on earth. The organization is powered by the “Whispered,” individuals who possess intuitive knowledge and the remarkable ability to create powerful devices and machinery.
Seventeen-year-old Sousuke Sagara, a sergeant working for Mithril, has been assigned to protect Kaname Chidori, a Whispered candidate. He is ordered to join her high school class and be as close to her as possible to prevent her from falling into enemy hands—that is, if he can safely blend in with their fellow classmates without revealing his true identity.
Sousuke, who was raised on a battlefield and has very little knowledge of an average high school student’s lifestyle, must adapt to a normal school life to safeguard Kaname. However, enemy forces have already begun making their move, and Sousuke is about to find out that the adversary coming for the Whispered girl may be a lot more familiar than he expects.
The fourth season of the Full Metal Panic! TV anime, titled Full Metal Panic! IV (Invisible Victory), is in production and will air in Spring 2018 – which generally begins in April. Further information about the new adaptation will be revealed soon.
You can visit the anime’s website here: http://fullmeta-iv.com/
And follow the series on Twitter: @fullmeta_iv
“Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory”, “Full Metal Panic! IV”, “Full Metal Panic!”, images, video, and all associated brands and titles © 2017 Shoji Gatoh, Shiki Douji, Studio Gonzo, Kyoto Animation and Fujimi Shobo