Saber Marionette J

Saber Marionette J
Cover art of the first North American DVD release of Saber Marionette J
セイバーマリオネットJ (Seibā Marionetto Jei)
Genre	Adventure, Romantic comedy, Science fiction, Harem
Anime television series
Directed by	Masami Shimoda
Written by	Mayori Sekishima
Music by	Parome
Studio	Hal Film Maker
Licensed by	Bandai Entertainment
Original network	TV Tokyo
Original run	October 1, 1996 – March 25, 1997
Episodes	25
Manga
Written by	Satoru Akahori
Illustrated by	Yumisuke Kotoyoshi
Published by	Kadokawa Shoten
English publisher	Tokyopop Madman Entertainment
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Monthly Dragon Age
Original run	October 1996 – November 1999
Volumes	5
Light novel
Written by	Satoru Akahori
Illustrated by	Tsukasa Kotobuki
Published by	Fujimi Shobo
Original run	April 1995 – July 1, 1999
Volumes	14
Audio drama
Saber Marionette Radio
Studio	King Records
Station	TBS
Original run	April 17 – July 3, 1997
Episodes	32
Game
Saber Marionette J: Battle Sabers
Developer	Tom Create, Co.
Publisher	Bandai Visual
Genre	Fighting
Platform	PlayStation
Released	March 28, 1997

Saber Marionette J (セイバーマリオネットJ, Seibā Marionetto Jei^?) is a Japanese anime produced by Hal Film Maker, aired on TV Tokyo from October 1, 1996 to March 25, 1997. It is the second installation of the Saber Marionette line of series, preceding Saber Marionette J Again and succeeding Saber Marionette R. The show was localized in North America by Ocean Productions and into six other languages by various companies.

In between production, Saber Marionette J made transitions in other media. A manga serialized in the Kadokawa Shoten magazine Dragon Age was circulated from October 1996 to November 1999, collected into five volumes by the company. A concurrent radio drama was broadcast and the show's original soundtrack was published by Kings Records. The show was also the basis for a PlayStation fighting game called Saber Marionette J: Battle Sabers, developed and published by Tom Create.

Otaru Mamiya is an adolescent working-class laborer, single, independent who's about 18 years old, and living on his own in the fictional city state of Japoness. Employed as a fish peddler and running a morning's catch, he is hit by a car driven by Mitsurugi Hanagata, an acquaintance, spoiling his merchandise and sparking a fight the two agree to take elsewhere.

Traveling to a gully outside of the town, the boys continue their quarrel on a bridge where a skilled Otaru makes quick work of his opponent. In an unfortunate turn of events however, Otaru, balancing himself on a fencepost which breaks off, is dumped into the river below where he is helplessly washed away.

Moments later, having drifted ashore in a small pond, Otaru finds himself at a rural athenaeum, the Japoness Pioneer Museum. He curiously explores the decrepit building, falling through a trapdoor and into a secret underground basement where he finds and awakens an encapsulated marionette. She introduces herself as Lime, embracing the dumbfounded boy with a laugh and revealing an unprecedented ability to express emotion.