With new material coming up this year and compilation films out there as well, expanding on the availability of the Full Metal Panic property with its original series is the smart thing to do. Tubi TV 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.
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.
