Zillion: Sega’s Video Game and Anime Media Mix
733In 1987, Sega and Tatsunoko joined up to create the first true Video Game and Anime Mashup (Chapter markers and more below!)
Want to read the American Zillion comic? Here are two issues for free! https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JdvylvOkvKhDPy6e7fF8CjDEeAiMjEA1?usp=sharing
Watch the 5 English episodes here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31BIrq_vdlY&list=PL2Ifmhgk2GbWdhMBHzS7n53xghFYe_ub1&index=28
Watch the entire 31 episode saga with English subs here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBjpdkD6_rA&list=PL_ybo2WKvx5m6srjxtniSSYoC2aouU9PC
Watch the Burning Night OVA English dub here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2IfUTqQNls
0:00 Opa Opa Cares!
0:06 GTV ID: One in a Zillion
0:15 Act: 1 Zillion: The Anime
7:26 CM 1: Zillion for Mark III (Japan, 1987) Zillion Laser Relay (Japan, 1987)
8:00 Act 2: Zillion the Video Game
16:06 CM 2: Sega New Game News (Japan, 1987) Zillion Bazooka (Japan, 1988)
16:39 Act 3: The World of Zillion
22:31 CM 3: Tri-Charger Action Figure (Japan, 1987) Fantasy Zone II for Mark III (Japan, 1987)
23:01 Act 4: A Zillion References
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Episode information
GTV 122 “One in a Zillion" Season 6 Episode 17
Original Airdate: December 17, 2021
Produced January-April, October-December, 2021
Recorded at Butsudan Studios and edited on my all new 14” MacBook M1 Pro! Edited and produced with Photoshop and Final Cut Pro, which my job paid for!
Other great SEGA videos by GTV!
For The Record: Altered Beast https://youtu.be/cIIw-ypy8Tc
Phantasy Star 30th Anniversary https://youtu.be/FZcij7XPdzI
Sega SG-1000 Story https://youtu.be/qBDx83UZ1nw
Sega Mega Drive Perfect Guides https://youtu.be/w37sJi4PU_Q
Meet Mr. Sega! https://youtu.be/bkOsNYAx90I
Phantasy Star II 30th Anniversary https://youtu.be/4F3LnKYEv-8
Mega Drive Mini Unboxing https://youtu.be/SJ9ec844sh0
Segata Sanshiro https://youtu.be/NBPNcI9OMbk
Phantasy Star III 30th Anniversary https://youtu.be/T-9uSzMkXKs
Sega Solar System https://youtu.be/nwRy3i1VgMk
The American MegaDrive (aka The Origin of Genesis) https://youtu.be/syeSrV9poJo
Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary https://youtu.be/I2MYvgNf9lU
Sonic the 8-Bit https://youtu.be/ct1YjTtd8bE
Partial Transcript
In the late 1980s, Japan became the center of the universe for two distinct art forms: Video Games and Animation. Both were popular in Japan long before then, but by this point in time, have made their way around the world. Oftentimes, the two would cross paths. For example a popular Video Game might be turned into an Anime series, or vice versa. There might also be a Manga or a feature film! Don’t forget action figures! The soundtrack gets released on CD and then those songs go on to be used in commercials for other products and services. All of which are served to promote each other.
It happens all the time! This convergence is so common, that in Japan, the concept has its own term: Media Mix! In English, the closest word is franchise or crossover, but they don’t convey the exact same feeling.
In that long gone Golden Age of Japan, Sega had a hand in letting various Anime and Manga series come to life in video game form, by licensing these works for their 8-bit TV Game machine, the Mark III, also known as the Master System.
With Sega operating many different product lines beyond Video Games, it was possible for the company to create a Media Mix of its own by collaborating with media production companies eager for their works to enter the massive Video Game market.
In 1986, Sega teamed up with Anime production company, Tatsunoko. It would be the first time the producers of both an Anime and a Video Game would work hand in hand to create a new product, rather than one simply licensing the rights to the other.
Sega would partially fund the Anime production, receiving a degree of creative control in exchange. Tatsunoko would create the characters, write the scripts and direct the animation as they normally would otherwise. Sega was allowed to insert their own characters and product placements, while retaining the rights to use the series in other ventures such as toys and games.
Alongside the Anime, Sega would develop a Video Game, featuring these characters and settings. The game would expand upon the original premise of the show, delivering the excitement of each episode in a different format. Most importantly, the game would not feel like a quick conversion, as it would be created by people who understood the source material.
The full title for each was Akai Kodan Zillion. In English, Red Photon Zillion.
Some images courtesy of segaretro.org a truly awesome site!
Other scans courtesy of the Zillion Archive Room
CMs by: Ryu Nihon no, Chirikun, Ginga Uchuu Taro
Gameplay by: Longplays for days, 60 minutes to lose.
English dub by: VHS no Anime
Other source material by: Kitsukishi
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