Kerberos Panzer Jäger

Main article: Kerberos saga

Kerberos Panzer Jäger (ケルベロス 鋼鉄の猟犬, Keruberosu kōtetsu no ryōken) is a 2006 radio drama series based on a story written by Japanese filmmaker and novelist Mamoru Oshii.

Title

Kerberos Panzer Jäger, the official international title, can be translated to English as "Hellhound Tank Hunter", with "Jäger" being the German word for "hunter". "Panzer" in German can mean "armour", in this context however it is commonly used as abbreviation of "Panzerwagen" which means "armoured vehicle" = tank. In military use, the word "Panzer" always refers to tanks, so in World War II "Panzerjäger" were specially trained anti- tank units who were supposed to hunt enemy tanks down and destroy them.they were very powerful. Although the correct German spelling would be "Kerberos-Panzerjäger," ケルベロス 鋼鉄の猟犬 is Japanese for "Kerberos Steel Hunting Dog".

Kerberos saga

Kerberos

For more details on this topic, see Kerberos saga § Kerberos.

Primarily, the term kerberos is a reference to Hades' three-headed watchdog of hell in the Greek mythology. It is also used to designate the Panzer Cops.

Protect-Gear

The Protect-Gear is the full body armour used by both the Kerberos Panzer Cop and Kerberos Panzer Jäger assault units. Various types are used within the saga.

Jäger

For more details on this topic, see Kerberos saga characters.

Jäger is a German military term for light infantry. There is a "Panzerjäger"- team in every squad of German infantry units. They are specially equipped with anti-tank weapons. In Kerberos Panzer Cop, the Panzer Jäger unit is part of the Ground Self-Defense Force (陸上自衛隊).

Prequel (1999)

For more details on this topic, see Kerberos Panzer Cop.

The Kerberos Panzer Jäger characters made their first appearance in 1999, in Kerberos Panzer Cop: Conclusion's Act 5 "War Dogs".

Anime adaptation project (2009)

On late May 2006, Mamoru Oshi has officially unveiled his plan to direct an anime feature of the German Kerberos blitzkrieg narrated in Kerberos Panzer Jäger.[1]

Since recreating such a battle is extremely ambitious, the Japanese director doesn't plan to produce his project until 2009. In order to help the dramatization of the epic battle, the movie will heavily use 3DCG.

Short bootleg (2005)

For more details on this topic, see Images of the Last Battalion.

A 2005 young freelance director's short film, also based on 3DCG and similar to the Kerberos Panzer Jäger story, was showcased at the Kerberos saga radio drama series launch party as a trailer.[1]

Story

Chronicles

For more details on this topic, see Kerberos saga chronicles.

Kerberos saga historical background and significant dates in both the real and fictitious History.

Prologue

English map of Cpt. Maki's route from Warsaw to Stalingrad (courtesy of Hobby Japan)

The plot of Kerberos Panzer Jäger is based on the popular Kerberos saga which started in 1987 as the black and white live-action feature film The Red Spectacles.

This 2006 extension explores the European, military, origins of the Kerberos Panzer Cops, the German troopers known as Kerberos Panzer Jäger. The story is mainly set on the "Eastern Front", in East Europe, during the 1940s, with the Germans fighting the Soviets and eventually defeating them at the 1942 Battle of Stalingrad, creating a paradox and a major change in the course of History leading to the parallel world portrayed in the Kerberos saga.

Plot

In September 1942, German Captain Maki Stauffenberg, in command of the 808th Propagandakompanie (Ärmelstreifen des Heeres), leaves the Warsaw station to start his long journey into the Soviet mainland.

His duty in the Propagandakompanie sends him from one front to another, conveying up-to-date information to both military-men and civilians. But his real mission is to secretly store and transport Protect-Gears parts for the 101st Panzer Company fighting in the fierce battle of Stalingrad.

Captain Maki must journey from Warsaw to Stalingrad in an armoured train which does not even have windows, in order to maintain maximum security. If successful, his secret mission, and long travel into the Far East, might change both the tide of the battle and the course of History.

Characters

For more details on this topic, see Kerberos saga characters.

Historical similarities

Character design inspiration for the Panzer Jäger (manga version): German infantry in Poland, 1939
Kerberos Panzer Jäger Images of the Last Battalion History
101st Panzer Company SS Panzer Battalion (Normandy) 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion
Army Group North/Center/South - Barbarossa Army Group North/Center/South
Cpt. Maki Stauffenberg - Col. Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg

Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg was the German colonel who failed to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944 delivering him a bomb.

Chapters

Interview program

(ラジオドラマの魅力を探る)
(ケルベロス鋼鉄の猟犬)を語る
(川井憲次×押井守)

Drama program

Act I: Armoured Train

(装甲列車編, Sōkō ressha hen)

(宣伝中隊, Senden chūtai)
(クルスク, Kurusuku)
(軍馬, Gunba)

Act II: Panzer Jäger

(装甲猟兵, Sōkō ryoū hei)

(ポツダムの巨人兵, Potsudamu no kyojin hei)
(第三の軍隊, Daisan no gunntai)

Act III: Blitzkrieg

(電撃戦, Dengeki sen)

(花の戦争, Hana no sennsou)
(西方研究, Seihō kenkyu)

Act IV: Barbarossa

(バルバロッサ, barubarossa)

(粛清, Syukusei)

Licensed products

Books

Japanese text, Mamoru Oshii, Barque, 32p.

Production

Cast

Production staff

Recording staff

Musical theme

Composer:　Paolo Bozzola
Arrangement:　Kenji Kawai
Vocal:　Akane Kawabe

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 source: WatchImpress

The surnames of the German soldiers seem to be taken from professional soccer players Bernd Hollerbach, Benjamin Lauth, Sebastian Deisler, Miroslav Klose, Stefan Beinlich and Oliver Kahn.

Sources

External links

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