With new material coming up next year and compilation films as well what better time than now to dig into Full Metal Panic with its original series. Crunchyroll now has the full twenty-four episode run streaming on their service thanks to their partnership with Funimation in its original Japanese language with English subtitle. With it being an older license and a license rescue it’s limited in availability to viewers in the United States, Canada, and South Africa.
Originally airing in 2002, the series was directed by Koichi Chigara based on the screenplay from Fumihiko Shimo. Osamu Horiuchi worked as the character designer and chief animation director with Gonzo producing the animation.
The Japanese cast includes Satsuki Yukino as Kaname Chidori, Tomokazu Seki as Sousuke Sagara, Akio Ohtsuka as Lt. Cmdr. Andrey Kalinin, Ikue Kimura as Kyoko Tokiwa, Mamiko Noto as Shinji Kazama, Masahiko Tanaka as Gauln, Michiko Neya as Melissa Mao, Shinichiro Miki as Kurz Weber, Tomomichi Nishimura as Cmdr. Richard Mardukas, and Yukana as Teletha “Tessa” Testarossa.
Plot Concept: Kaname’s a popular girl at her high school, but it’s her popularity off campus that’s the problem. Unbeknownst to Kaname, terrorists are plotting her abduction, believing she possesses the abilities of the “Whispered.” That’s where Sousuke enters the picture. He’s a soldier from Mithril, a secret counter-terrorist unit—and he’s going undercover at Kaname’s school to try and keep her safe.