Line #122 Anime/SakuraWarsTheMovie


1	! Spoilers for this film and ''all'' preceding ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'' works will be left unmarked. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned!
2
3	[[quoteright:333:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/51ga8fdmpyl.jpg]]
4	[-[[caption-width-right:333:''"It's our duty to protect this great city!"'']]-]
5
6	->''"Let's raise the curtains now."''
7	-->--'''Patrick Hamilton'''
8
9
10	''Sakura Wars: The Movie'' is a 2001 anime film in the ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'' video game series directed by Mitsuru Hongo, produced by Creator/ProductionIG and released in Japan by Creator/ToeiCompany on December 22nd, 2001. Writing credits are shared by Hongo, Hiroyuki Nishimura, Nobuhisa Terado and series creator Oji Hiroi. Longtime franchise composer Kohei Tanaka wrote the film's score.
11
12	Picking up one month after the events of ''VideoGame/SakuraWars3IsParisBurning'', Ichirō Ōgami (Akio Suyama) has just left Paris and New York City actress Ratchet Altair (Akiko Kuno) is dispatched join to the Imperial Combat Revue's Flower Division in Tokyo, so that she would go on to found the New York Combat Revue, which would later be seen in ''VideoGame/SakuraWarsSoLongMyLove''. But darkness comes as the American company, Douglas-Stewart, under the leadership of Brent Furlong (Creator/KoichiYamadera), unveils a plan to make the division obsolete by using Japhkiels, which are supposed to be unmanned mechs. Soon, the Flower Division and Ratchet are drawn into the heart of Douglas-Stewart's plans.
13
14	The film also stars Creator/ChisaYokoyama as Sakura Shinguji, Creator/MichieTomizawa as Sumire Kanzaki, Creator/UraraTakano as Maria Tachibana, Kumiko Nishihara as Iris Chateaubriand, Yuriko Fuchizaki as Kohran Li, Creator/MayumiTanaka as Kanna Kirishima, Maya Okamoto as Orihime Soletta, Creator/KazueIkura as Leni Milchstrasse, Creator/AiOrikasa as Kaede Fujieda, Creator/KeijiFujiwara as Haruyoshi Tanuma, and Creator/KeiichiNanba as Patrick Hamilton.
15
16	Like the episodes of the TV series, the film is also a self-contained story in the same continuity (no Alternate Continuity here, thankfully) and leaves no hanging plot threads behind; such as Ratchet being introduced here, and eventually goes on to appear in ''VideoGame/SakuraWarsSoLongMyLove''. The movie does assume you have familiarity with the characters and game timeline (providing no explanation as to why Ogami isn't even present for almost the entire movie, expect being mentioned about being in Paris, where ''Is Paris Burning?'' takes place). The movie also substantially expands the world of ''Sakura Wars'' beyond Japan, exploring in greater depth the dynamics of the prototype team (which consisted of Ratchet, Orihime, and Leni) fielded in wartime Europe. A recent production, it makes extensive use of CGI effects, particularly for the Kobu-Kais.
17
18	''Sakura Wars: The Movie'' is also the final entry in the series to feature Kōichi Kitamura as the voice of Yoritsune Hanakōji before he died in 2007.
19
20	The film has received a novelization, written by Hiroyuki Kawasaki and illustrated by character designer Takuya Saito.
21
22	Originally licensed by Creator/PioneerEntertainment in North America, the film is now licensed by Creator/{{Funimation}}, and was released on Blu-Ray on October 22, 2013.
23
24	The film is chronologically followed by ''Le Nouveau Paris'', ''Sakura Wars Story: Mysterious Paris'' and ''VideoGame/SakuraWars4FallInLoveMaidens''.
25
26	----
27	!!''Sakura Wars: The Movie'' provides examples of:
28
29	* TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects: Most of the animation is in 2D while the mecha, Goraigo and theater are all animated in 3D.
30	* EleventhHourRanger: After being absent throughout most of the film, Ichiro Ogami returns to help the Flower Division foil Douglas-Stewart's plans.
31	* AllThereInTheManual: Hiroyuki Kawasaki's novelization explains additional plot points in the film--for example, Ratchet teams up with Brent in a misguided attempt to protect Tokyo.
32	* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: Douglas-Stewart has the IJA take over the Imperial Theater after Yoneda is captured. Fortunately, it doesn't last long thanks to Yokihiko Ota's help.
33	* AmusingInjuries: When Sakura trips over herself and falls on her face at the beginning of the film, she has a red mark on her nose.
34	* AnAssKickingChristmas: The film takes place during the 1926-1927 holiday season, in which the Flower Division celebrates Leni's 17th birthday, Ratchet Altair arrives from New York City, and Brent Furlong sets up a gambit with the Imperial Japanese Army to replace the Flower Division with the Japhkiels.
35	* BackForTheDead: The Eisen-Kleids previously used by Orihime and Leni appear during the second half of the film, only to get destroyed shortly before the FinalBattle with Brent.
36	* BigBad: Brent Furlong is motivated by a quest for power and he sets up a gambit for the Flower Division's demise and replaces them with Douglas-Stewart's Japhkiels.
37	* BigDamnHeroes:
38	** In the film's second half, Yokihiko Ota helps the Flower division return to the Imperial Theater and take it back by force.
39	** Towards the end, Kikunojo Oka helps the IJN destroy the Japhkiel facilities and Kayama rescues Hanakoji and Yoneda.
40	** Then, Ōgami arrives in his F2 Kobu to help the Flower Division kill Brent for good.
41	* BigNo:
42	** One of the Douglas-Stewart guards yells "No!" when Ratchet has him at her mercy with her throwing knives.
43	** Leni lets one out just before she stops Ratchet from killing Orihime.
44	* BookEnds: In her first appearance in the series, Sakura walks in Ueno Park while the cherry blossoms are blooming. In the final scene of the film, Sakura takes a stroll in the park while the cherry blossoms bloom once more.
45	* BondOneLiner: Maria gives one to Patrick after killing him:
46	-->'''Maria:''' Goodnight. Sweet dreams, Patrick.
47	* CallBack:
48	** Just like in the first two games, Sakura trips over her clothes and falls on her face before wishing Leni a happy birthday.
49	** Yuichi Kayama mentions Ichiro Ogami's stay in Paris while talking with the Flower Division post-stage performance, which was depicted in ''VideoGame/SakuraWars3IsParisBurning''.
50	** As in ''VideoGame/SakuraWars2ThouShaltNotDie'', the Imperial Japanese Army temporarily takes over the Grand Imperial Theater and captures Hanakoji.
51	** The final shot is of Sakura walking through the cherry blossoms at Ueno Park. This recalls the famous scene where Sakura does the same thing in the first ''VideoGame/{{Sakura Wars\|1996}}'' game.
52	* TheCameo:
53	** Creator/YujiMitsuya makes his return as Musei Edogawa, the director of the Flower Division's stage play.
54	** Seiji Sasaki appears as an IJA officer whom Kanna and Sumire encounter in the Imperial Theater.
55	** At the end of the film, Creator/KazukiYao, Creator/TaikiMatsuno and Creator/DaisukeGori reprise their respective roles as Kotone Seiryuin, Kikunojo Oka and Yokihiko Ota.
56	* ChekhovsGun:
57	** Kohran mentions to the other Flower Division members that she developed a spirit bullet meant for Maria. Sure enough, this bullet is used when Maria finally kills Patrick.
58	** The soundwaves used by the Japhkiels in the first half of the film, then exploited by Kohran so that the Flower Division can kill Brent in his Japhkiel form for good.
59	* ContinuityNod:
60	** The songs "Miracle Bell" and "Everything Is Into the Sea" once again make appearances in the opening and ending stage shows, respectively.
61	** In her introductory scene, Ratchet asks Tsubaki and Sakura where Yoneda is in English. Maria Tachibana did the same thing when Ayame recruited her in the first OVA.
62	** Ratchet pilots an Eisen-Kleid similar to the ones that were first used by Orihime and Leni when they joined the Flower Division.
63	** Ogami arrives in his F2 Kobu from ''Is Paris Burning?'' shortly before helping the Flower Division kill Brent.
64	* CurbStompBattle:
65	** Once the Flower Division takes back the Imperial Theater just as the demons are invading Ginza, the tide is turned and the Flower and Dream Divisions obliterate the demons.
66	** With Leni and Orihime taken out of the FinalBattle, Brent uses his OneWingedAngel mecha to overpower the rest of the Flower Division and is just about to kill Sakura before Ōgami intervenes. Seconds later, the revue quickly makes short work of Brent, with Sakura delivering the final blow.
67	* DarkestHour: Occurs twice in the movie:
68	** In the second half of the film, Commander Yoneda is captured, Orihime has been ambushed and brainwashed by Patrick Hamilton, Maria is missing after attempting to investigate Douglas-Stewart, Kaede Fujieda and the Wind Division are placed under house arrest at the Grand Imperial Theater, and the Flower Division is issued the stand-down order. It's even lampshaded by Sumire:
69	-->'''Sumire''': What can we do, I ask you? Shogei-Maru has been sealed, Wind Division and the deputy commander [Kaede] are being held at the Imperial Theater. What can we do in such a predicament?
70	** In the FinalBattle, Brent Furlong's monstrous Japhkiel form curb-stomps the Flower Division, and Ratchet's Eisen-Kleid is incapacitated and out of commission and the Division's spirit power has gone down. However, [[BigDamnHeroes Ōgami]] and the Flower Division deliver one of these right back at Brent.
71	* DefiantToTheEnd:
72	** When Kanna is ordered to stand down by the IJA officer before Kaede knocks him out.
73	-->'''Kanna''': Of course! We'll obey ''any'' order as long as it's designed to safeguard Tokyo. You tell me how cozying up to Douglas-Stewart is going to help. You think that's gonna make this city any safer?! ''(Cue karate chop from Kaede)''
74	** When Brent confronts Sakura in the FinalBattle, she denounces Brent's actions and says that the Imperial Combat Revue will not be defeated. Cue a BigDamnHeroes moment from Ogami.
75	* DubNameChange: In the English dub:
76	** Ratchet is called "Lachette". The English-language release of ''So Long, My Love'' would keep the Ratchet spelling.
77	** The Imperial Combat Revue and Imperial Revue are respectively named the "Imperial Fighting Troupe" and the "Imperial Operetta Troupe".
78	** The Grand Imperial Theater is translated as the "Great Imperial Theater".
79	* EstablishingCharacterMusic: True to ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'' tradition, Ratchet's leitmotif from ''VideoGame/SakuraWarsSoLongMyLove'' is heard the moment she meets Sakura and Tsubaki.
80	* EvilPlan: Brent Furlong and Haruyoshi Tanuma plan to make the Flower Division obsolete by using the Japhkiels to overpower the Flower Division, capturing Ikki Yoneda, working with the IJA to take control of the theater and brainwash Orihime.
81	* EurekaMoment: At the end of the film, Kohran discovers that the sound waves used on the Japhkiels are the same ones used when Brent goes into his monstrous form.
82	* FacePlant: When Sakura attempts to join the Flower Division to celebrate Leni's 17th birthday backstage, she trips over her clothes as usual and falls face first.
83	* FauxAffablyEvil: At first Brent Furlong seems to be an honest executive who is willing to help Japan. However, it turns out that he has mafia ties and is willing to cooperate with Tanuma and the IJA to make the Flower Division obsolete through the use of Japhkiels.
84	* ForegoneConclusion: Since the film takes place after ''Is Paris Burning?'', we already know that Ōgami will return from Paris to help his friends in Tokyo on Grand-Mère's orders.
85	* {{Foreshadowing}}:
86	** Patrick deactivates a malfunctioning Japhkiel with sound waves. Guess what Kohran tells her allies after humming the same sound waves?
87	** Ratchet Altair arrives from New York to help learn about the Imperial Assault Force for the New York Combat Revue, and would later serve as its captain in ''VideoGame/SakuraWarsSoLongMyLove''.
88	* GratuitousEnglish: In the original Japanese version, some of the dialogue is peppered with English (especially when it comes from Ratchet, Patrick and Brent). Averted in the English dub.
89	* HalfTheManHeUsedToBe: During the battle at the Imperial Theater, Sakura uses her Kobu-Kai's sword to bisect some of the demons. Seconds later, Sumire does the same thing with her naginata. Then, Leni uses her Eisen-Kleid's spinning spear to also bisect one of the demons.
90	* HeelRealization: Orihime realizes how badly she screwed up after she's snapped out of Patrick's trance and Leni wakes her up.
91	* HeroicBSOD:
92	** Leni falls into one when she sees Ratchet again after several years.
93	** The Flower Division has a collective one when they realize that they are placed on indefinite standby.
94	** Ratchet goes through a brief one after Leni stops her from killing Orihime.
95	* HistoryRepeats: Once again, the Imperial Japanese Army stages a coup d'etat and takes over the Imperial Theater, only to have their plans thwarted.
96	* HoistByHisOwnPetard:
97	** After Leni's Eisen-Kleid is destroyed, Orihime tries to fire energy blasts at the Flower Division, but it destroys ''her'' Eisen-Kleid, breaking free of Patrick's control.
98	** Brent uses the Japhkiel's sound waves to merge with them so he can fight the Flower Division personally. This gets exploited by Kohran, who fires her missiles at the shields so that Ogami and Sakura can kill Brent for good.
99	* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: The fate of Brent Furlong at the hands of Sakura Shinguji.
100	* ImmuneToBullets: Patrick Hamilton, as Maria Tachibana found out the hard way. But he's not immune to bullets with spirit power as ''he'' learned the hard way!
101	* {{Interquel}}: The film takes place at the end of ''Is Paris Burning?'', placing it two months before ''Fall in Love, Maidens'' by the time Ogami returns in January.
102	* JetPack: In the second half of the film, Kohran upgrades the Kobu-Kais with rocket packs that increase their maneuverability by 120%.
103	* JustInTime: Leni manages to use her Eisen-Kleid to step in front of Orihime just as Ratchet is about to kill the latter.
104	* LetsSplitUpGang: After the Flower Division uses the Katsuryu-maru to infiltrate the theater, the group decides to split up. Sakura, Ratchet, Iris, and Kohran return to the Kobus with Sakura and Ratchet taking down a few guards. Meanwhile, Sumire, Kanna, and Leni rescue Kaede and the Wind Division.
105	* MassOhCrap: The Flower Division has a collective moment of terror when they see Brent merging with the Japhkiels.
106	* MusicalNod:
107	** When the Imperial Combat Revue is introduced, a new rendition of "Miracle Bell" from ''Thou Shalt Not Die'' plays.
108	** "Blooming Maidens", the ending theme to the first ''Sakura Wars'' game, returns during Sakura's monologue at the beginning of the film.
109	** The conference room theme from ''Thou Shalt Not Die'' appears as Tanuma discusses his plans to safeguard Tokyo with Brent and the Elder's Institute.
110	** When the Imperial Combat Revue prepares for their battle briefing, the "Dust Chute" theme from ''Thou Shalt Not Die'' is heard.
111	** During the ''Goraigo'''s deployment sequence, both the ''Skywhale'' and the ''Goraigo'' launch themes can be heard.
112	** The 1996 game's battle theme makes an appearance at the start of the Flower Division's first battle with the demons.
113	** An updated rendition of the boss battle music from ''Thou Shalt Not Die'' makes an appearance when the Flower Division launch their assault on the demons invading Ginza.
114	** After Brent curb-stomps the Flower Division in his OneWingedAngel form, the somber music from the first game that plays whenever a mission fails appears.
115	** Once Ogami arrives in his F2 Kobu to stop Brent once and for all, an extended rendition of the final battle music from ''Thou Shalt Not Die'' plays.
116	** "Everything Is Into the Sea" from the stage show based on ''The Sea God's Villa'' is played as a duet between Ratchet and Sakura. This song makes a brief TriumphantReprise after the rest of the Flower Division forgives Ratchet for what she's done.
117	* MythologyGag: In the first half, Ratchet Altair arrives from America to become the Flower Division's newest recruit, albeit in a temporary capacity. In the early scenario drafts of the original game, Maria Tachibana originally came from America and became the division's new recruit by the time of chapter 7.
118	* NonDubbedGrunts: The Dream Division's chant for the Imperial Capital Barricade Formation and Brent's incantation to transform the Japhkiels in the finale are kept in its original language in the various foreign dubs.
119	* NonProtagonistResolver: Douglas-Stewart's demon incubation facilities aren't destroyed by the Flower Division; that honor belongs to Yuichi Kayama, Kikunojo Oka and the Moon Division.
120	* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent: Unlike the [=OVAs=] and TV series, the film's English dub doesn't give the characters any regional accents.
121	* {{Novelization}}: Written by OVA and TV scriptwriter Hiroyuki Kawasaki and illustrated by character designer/animation director Takuya Saito, the novelization is an AdaptationExpansion of the film.
122	* OhCrap:
123	** Sakura and Orihime when the former once again trips after changing her clothes and falls on her face during Leni's birthday reception.
124	** Tanuma when a Japhkiel goes berserk in the Douglas-Stewart Factory.
125	** Maria when Patrick attacks her while she is investigating the Douglas-Stewart Factory.
126	** The Douglas-Stewart guard in the theater when he realizes that Ratchet is about to kill him.
127	** The demons have a brief one seconds before the Flower Division uses the Imperial Capital Barricade Formation on them.
128	** Ratchet when she realizes that she destroyed Leni's Eisen-Kleid when she attempted to off Orihime.
129	** The horrified look on Leni's face the moment Orihime is about to attack the Flower Division again says it all.
130	** The Flower Division when they see Brent Furlong transform into his OneWingedAngel form.
131	** Tanuma has a shocked look when Yoneda punches him in the face and arrests him in the finale.
132	* OncePerEpisode: Sakura, being the CuteClumsyGirl she is, trips over her clothes ''again''. This time around, it's after the Christmas Eve performance.
133	* OneHitKO:
134	** When Ratchet is fighting Orihime, Leni jumping in the way causes her Eisen-Kleid to shut down.
135	** Brent knocks out Ratchet's Eisen-Kleid with a single punch, rendering it inoperable.
136	* OpeningScroll: The film opens with one, explaining how the steam industry has improved Tokyo during the Taisho era.
137	* PostClimaxConfrontation: The final confrontation with Maria and Patrick takes place on the rooftops shortly after Yoneda arrests Tanuma and the Flower Division kills Brent. When it seems that Maria has used up all of her bullets, she quickly uses Kohran's spirit bullet to kill Patrick.
138	* PreAsskickingOneLiner: When the heroes once again deploy in their mecha to fight the demons atop the Imperial Theater.
139	-->'''Sakura:''' It's our duty to protect this great city!
140	* SayMyName: Leni yells Orihime's name when her Eisen-Kleid gets destroyed by her own blasts.
141	* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: In the second half of the film, after Maria is missing while investigating Douglas-Stewart, Sakura and whoever's left in the Flower Division decide "let's go back to the theater, take it back and get back our Kobu-Kais and defend Tokyo", even though they were placed on indefinite standby.
142	--> '''Sakura:''' Hey, I know why not?\
143	'''Everybody Else:''' Huh?\
144	'''Sakura:''' Do what we can while we can. I don't want to live with regrets in my heart. Come on! Let's do this together.\
145	'''Iris:''' Let's do it!\
146	'''Leni:''' Let's do it!\
147	'''Kanna:''' Let's go for it!\
148	'''Kohran:''' I'm with you!\
149	'''Sumire:''' I suppose that we must.\
150	'''[[BigDamnHeroes Yokihiko]]:''' I agree!
151	* ShowWithinAShow: Like the rest of the series, an adaptation of a popular theater work is performed by the Imperial Combat Revue. This time, it's an adaptation of Kyoka Izumi's ''The Sea God's Villa''.
152	* ShutUpHannibal: When Brent taunts the Flower Division that Tokyo is nothing more than a speck of dust, Sakura immediately shouts him down.
153	* SpannerInTheWorks: The Rose Division's involvement in helping the Flower Division take back their theater and destroying the Japhkiel incubation facilities, as well as Ogami's return from Paris, ultimately put a dent in Douglas-Stewart's plans for making the Flower Division obsolete.
154	* ThemeMusicPowerUp: A reprise of the game's opening theme, also from ''Thou Shalt Not Die'' and the first OVA, appears when Ōgami and the Flower Division finally kill Brent.
155	* ThrowItIn: An InUniverse example occurs in the stage adaptation of ''The Sea God's Villa'' at the end of the film, where Ratchet and Sakura improvise their dialogue during their characters' final confrontation.
156	* ThwartedCoupDeGrace:
157	** When Ratchet tries to kill the panicking Douglas-Stewart guard at the Imperial Theater, Sakura stops her just in time.
158	** At the end of the film, Brent attempts to kill Sakura, only for Ogami in his F2 Kobu to fire his cannon at him.
159	* TimeSkip: The film takes place one month after the end of ''Is Paris Burning?''.
160	* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: The announcement trailer reveals that the Imperial Combat Revue along with Ratchet are fighting atop the Imperial Theater.
161	* TriumphantReprise:
162	** The series' main theme returns as Ogami and the Imperial Combat Revue launches their final assault on Brent.
163	** "Everything is Into the Sea" has a brief reprise when Sakura and everyone else in the Imperial Combat Revue forgive Ratchet after the latter admits how she feels about her past.
164	* UnwittingPawn: The Imperial Japanese Army becomes one to Douglas-Stewart when Brent and Tanuma trick them into issuing the stand-down order to the Flower Division.
165	* VillainousBreakdown: After the Flower Division takes back their theater and the Rose Division destroys the Japhkiel incubation facilities, Brent eventually loses his FauxAffablyEvil demeanor he'd shown throughout the film. Even his final gambit on merging with the Japhkiels is a desperate, insane measure to take down the Flower Division once and for all.
166	* WhamShot: In the FinalBattle, Brent is about to kill Sakura when a cannon blast hits him squarely in the face. Cue Ichiro Ogami arriving in his F2 Kobu as he disposes of the cannon he just shot Brent with.
167	* WhatTheHellHero: Sakura calls out Ratchet for her more violent approach in taking down the guards after the former stops her from killing one of them. However, Ratchet assures Sakura she prefers using the most efficient options.
168	* WhyWontYouDie: Patrick is frustrated when he meets Maria again after having thought to have killed her in the Douglas-Stewart warehouse.
169	* TheWorfEffect: Towards the end of the film, Brent does this to virtually the entire Flower Division, rendering Ratchet's Eisen-Kleid out of commission in a single blow, overpowering the division's attacks and sending Kanna's Kobu-Kai flying to the ground.
170

Context Anime / SakuraWarsTheMovie