"Long ago, in the land where legends are born, it is said that one strange and special night — a night shrouded in mystery — seven sacred stones received a magical burst of energy. The stones grew so powerful that nothing could contain them. When these seven stones are reunited, a new age of wonders and miracles will occur!"
A 1999 anime based on the Power Stone series of games. It starts off as aspiring aviator and prize fighter Edward Falcon receives a package from his father, who has been away exploring for several years. It turns out to be one of the seven Power Stones: legendary gems with the ability to transform those who hold them into a superpowered form, and when all united, are said to be able to perform miracles. He sets out to find his long-missing father, and with him the secret of the Power Stones.
Along the way, he meets, among other things: a samurai, a family of performing ninjas, a martial artist chef who turns into Goku, a band of evil pirates, a Native American warrior tribe, a belly-dancing Fortune Teller, and Jack.
Notably, the English dub was only shown in Canada on YTV, and unlike most anime of the era, many elements such as bloody violence, guns and Fanservice on all sides managed to slip past the censors. The entire series in English can be found here.
Power Stone provides examples of:
- Absent-Minded Professor: Edward's dad, Pride Falcon. As revealed at the end of the series — since Falcon has spent most of the series trying to find him to learn more about the Power Stones — he ends up being completely oblivious to the danger he's gotten himself and others into. Even while captured, he's still completely casual about it; especially as he tricks Octo and Pus into making him a huge dinner.
- Adaptational Name Change: Both Ayame and Jack receive additional surnames in the anime, giving them the full names of Ayame Yumatara and Jack Winslow.
- Adaptational Wimp: Unlike in the games, Rouge never fights outside of her Power Change form. Kraken also gets this treatment since, despite being the Disc-One Final Boss of the series, he gets bested fairly easily by Falcon in each of their fights.
- Adaptation Dye-Job: Rouge's top was re-colored from blue in the games to white in the anime. Likewise, Falcon's flight jacket has Scottish saltires instead of Union flags, and lacks the Michelle Hart art on the back. In particular, Ayame's outfit was almost completely changed. Although it's still similar to her original yukata, it's a far simpler and easier-to-animate take, with longer sleeves, the cloud patterns only on said sleeves, and the striped ropes she had on her back in the games removed except for certain scenes when she's performing. She also wears pinkish-red leg wraps and white tabi socks, while in the games she has blue leg wraps and no socks.
- Alas, Poor Villain: The death of Valgas in "Destiny Hill". After Light Whirlwind Falcon shatters the Dark Stone Final Valgas needed to stay alive, the two have a silent scene together where Valgas, now fully realising how far he's fallen in pursuit of the power he wanted as he's dying, slumps to his knees in silent, wide-eyed horror. Edward, briefly seeing Valgas once again as the strong-but-kind man he previously idolised so much, sadly embraces him. Valgas disappears, and in his place is himself as a child, before he made his wish on the Dark Stone. Child Valgas looks at him apologetically, Edward kindly smiles with understanding, and the two hug each other as Child Valgas slowly fades away in Falcon's arms: this time for good.
- All Love Is Unrequited: Let's see: Both Ayame and Kikunojo love Falcon, Falcon loves Rouge, Rouge loves Ryoma, and Ryoma loves Rouge but is unable to follow up on it due to being a samurai. Subverted with Gunrock, who does end up with Cassie in the end.
- Amusing Injuries: Much like the game it's based on, this series has plenty to go round. Zig-zagged however, as there are also some more serious ones depending on the mood: even with visible blood in some cases.
- Anachronism Stew: Much like the games, the anime appears to be set around the late 19th-to-early 20th century. Also like the games, more modern inventions — for example, cars, licence plates, electric lighting, boats with outboard motors, biplanes, indoor-plumbed bathtubs and showers, and even an amusement arcade with claw-grabber machines — appear regularly alongside what's expected for the era.
- Anime Hair: Along with all the existing characters from the games to have these kinds of hairstyles, Kikunojo is eventually revealed to have a huge L-shaped forelock — highly reminiscent of Noriaki Kakyoin — underneath the wig of his usual female disguise. It also doubles as Compressed Hair.
- Ascended Extra: Neros, the corrupt seer whom Rouge goes up against in "Red Moon", appears in the series intro despite only being a threat for one or two episodes at most.
- Babies Ever After: In the series' epilogue, it's revealed that Cassie eventually married Gunrock, and the two are shown to have had more children together.
- Battle Butler: Normally, Apollus is whiny and cowardly, but when the time comes to save both his master Pride and young master Edward from a demon creature in "Crisis in the House of Falcon", he Power Changes into a brave, Don Quixote-like knight.
- Berserk Button: Several characters are established to have them:
- Falcon's button for most of the series is anyone insulting or questioning the motives of his hero, Valgas. This is to the point where in "United We Stand!", he's in such angry, horrified denial about Valgas being behind everything that he outright quits the team and refuses to have anything to do with them until Galuda shows him undeniable proof.
- Ayame hates people hitting on or talking about her sexually. Regardless of who it is, doing so sends her straight into Pervert Revenge Mode:
Lord: I want you to find it, and find it very soon... (notices Ayame) ...oh, and who, pray tell, is this young beauty, Yumatara?Grandpa Yumatara: May I introduce Ayame to you? She's the new member of our troupe!Lord: Oh, I think she's a most welcome addition! (inches toward her) Oh yes, most welcome!Ayame: EEEEEWWW! (leaps up and stomps on the Lord's head) Get LOST, will ya?!Grandpa Yumatara: (dryly) As you can see, she's not really your type, sire.- Being ignored while speaking or having his challenges welched on is Ryoma's: especially early on when he issues a duel to Falcon (who accepts, but forgets), leading to him waiting all day and night on a rock in the sea. The next time we see him, he's caught a cold and is furious.
- Jack is already unpredictable as anything, but threatening or trying to harm his mother (or at least, who he thinks is her) completely sets him off.
- Big Damn Heroes: Jack in "Destiny Hill". When all the main characters are down and knocked out of their Power Change forms by Final Valgas, Jack leaps in and attacks for his Dark Stone. Although the attack itself is mostly fruitless, bringing Falcon's Power Stone back — after Edward had earlier given it to him to keep, as it was the one that had belonged to his deceased mother — reunites all seven Power Stones to form the Light Stone, letting the aviator turn into Light Whirlwind Falcon and save the day.
- Big Eater: Pride Falcon. Whilst he's being held hostage by Octo and Pus in "Destiny Hill", Pride slyly convinces them to make him lunch by complimenting their posing. He starts with (and polishes off with no trouble) spring rolls, dumplings, roast pork with bean sprouts, steamed vegetables, lemon chicken, spicy noodles, and a large bowl of rice. By the time Ayame and Apollus break him out of jail, he's onto his third additional bowl of noodles afterward, and he's still finishing them off once they get outside.
- Body Horror: Valgas Power Changing again from his Hell's Army Leader form into Final Valgas in "Destiny Hill", period. He falls to his knees and loudly screams in agony as giant, disgusting boils completely cover his body, before swelling up and melting as crystal-like rocks pierce up from his back, resulting in a giant, slug-like abomination half-formed of flesh and half of mineral.
- It's also heavily implied that Jack's head-to-toe bandages are as a result of disfiguring burns from the huge ship fire that killed his entire family and destroyed his sanity over a hundred years ago.
- Bumbling Henchmen Duo: Octo and Pus, who are Kraken's and later Valgas'.
- Butt-Monkey: Among the good guys, Apollus and Ayame are the ones who go through the most comedic mishaps and Amusing Injuries throughout the series. The former for his cowardice and determination to do right by his master all the same often landing him into trouble, and the latter for her impulsiveness and tendency to act before she thinks leading to much the same.
- Calling Your Attacks: As par for the genre, the Power Change transformations and attacks. Valgas is the only character who never does it, which helps highlight how serious a threat he is.
- Cannot Tell a Joke: Both Falcon and Apollus share this trait, as seen when the two attempt stand-up comedy in "Danger Cruise".
- Casanova Wannabe: Falcon starts out as one of these, often flirting with women he's attracted to (most notably Rouge), but never getting very far. Edward growing out of this behavior forms part of his maturation over the series, and by then, it's implied that he's aware of Ayame's growing feelings for him.
- Character Development: Falcon goes through a good deal of this, gradually evolving from a hot-tempered, selfish Casanova Wannabe to a competitive but compassionate Jerk with a Heart of Gold.
- Chekhov's Gun: The red Power Stone in "Destiny Hill", which Falcon gives to Jack in the previous episode to keep due to it being a relic that belonged to his beloved, long-deceased mother. Jack fruitlessly trying to attack Final Valgas in his Mad Clown form with it ends up bringing said Power Stone back, and in turn allowing Edward to turn into his Light Whirlwind form to defeat Final Valgas.
- Cool Big Bro: Kikunojo. While very flamboyant to say the least and rather fussy about how he looks, he eagerly helps his sister Ayame out on their ninja missions, works to help pay off the debt she accrues from a rigged game of dice in Gold Land, and one Freeze-Frame Bonus in "The Great Eagle's Egg" shows him carrying her asleep on his back to safety when the two end up lost in the woods.
- Cry Laughing: Jack does this while attacking the guards in his Power Change form in "Jack's Secret". It happens after they open fire on him against Falcon's orders when Rouge — under the guise of his long-deceased mother whom she resembles, and with the Power Stone that used to belong to her — is trying to reason with him. As far as Jack knows, they're trying to attack her.Jack: NOT MY MAAAMAAAAA!
- Demonic Possession: This is revealed to be how Valgas gets his minions. When they join his wrestling stable, a small fragment of the Dark Stone is placed in the back of their necks, which can transfigure them into giant demon-like forms. Only defeating them in combat causes them to drop out and return them to normal.
- Determinator: Nothing will stop Apollus from following Falcon on his journey; not even travelling to new lands, imminent danger, or the threat of an ominous island of no return. He might be cowardly, but the man's determination is certainly admirable.
- Did Not Get The Guy: This happens with Rouge in the ending. After she becomes the new Oracle of Fire Land, Ryoma proudly watches the ceremony, but has to leave her forever immediately after due to his duty as a samurai coming above all else. It also happens to Ayame, at least for the time being. She does not end up with Falcon as she'd hoped, but gets inspired to continue travelling the world with her troupe after meeting a stranger who looks like him whilst on the road in Oedo; planning to start in Sun Land so she can meet him again.
- 11th-Hour Superpower: In "Destiny Hill", Edward Falcon uses the power of the newly-reformed Light Stone to transform into Light Whirlwind Falcon: a stronger version of his Power Change mode with white armour, light-headed weaponry, and angelic wings instead of his usual rocket pack.
- Expy: Being hammy but mostly-ineffective troublemakers who scheme to steal important objects (the Power Stones) from the main heroes and have a knack for dramatic flair and big weapons, Octo & Pus are highly reminiscent of Team Rocket, with shades of the Ginyu Force.
- Fat and Skinny: Octo & Pus. Octo's the big brute, while Pus is the smaller schemer.
- Furo Scene: Ones for both the guys and girls, in "Ninja Rain" and "Crisis in the House of Falcon" respectively. Unfortunately for Falcon, Apollus, and Kikunojo, there is barely any water due to a drought, and the tub falls over with them all in it when Apollus tries to get out. Rouge, Ayame, and Falcon's other unrequited love interest Cassie get a proper bath later on at Falcon's Big Fancy House.
- The Glomp: When Falcon breaks her out of the corrupt sheriff of Soil Town's jail cell in "Run Toward Tomorrow", an overjoyed Ayame immediately gives one of these to him. He reacts a little awkwardly about it, but doesn't seem to mind: especially since they both now have the evidence to prove said sheriff's involvement with Kraken and his gang and attempting to start a war with the Soaring Eagle tribe.
- Goldfish Poop Gang: Octo & Pus — aka the Octopus Brothers — of the Octopus pirates. Alongside Kraken, they make up a Terrible Trio.
- How Do I Shot Web?: Falcon cannot actually control his Power Change at first, much to the chagrin of his rival Ryoma. It takes an entire training arc before he finally figures out how to change at will.Falcon: (after transforming unwillingly) Apollus, take cover! I can't control this, anything could happen!
- Intergenerational Friendship: Ayame establishes one with Apollus over the course of the series, as does Edward eventually. One very big indicator of Falcon maturing is in how at the beginning, he's annoyed by Apollus following him around; but by the end, he's very happy to see his butler join him on his next big adventure.
- In the Name of the Moon: All together, now... "POWEEEEEER CHAAAAAAAAAANGE!"
- Killed Off for Real: Valgas is the only character from the games to outright die, when Light Whirlwind Falcon destroys the Dark Stone his Final form needed to sustain itself.
- Laser-Guided Karma: This happens to Octo, Pus and Kraken by the time of the ending. After having their crew — consisting mostly of fishermen from Aqua Land — abandon them and their ship blown up by Ayame, the trio are reduced to trying to conquer the seas again... in a rowing boat. They try to go back to their former stomping grounds to do so, but their former crewmates' wives and daughters run them out of Aqua Land and for good.
- Late-Arrival Spoiler: Valgas being the main villain for anyone who's aware of the games. Still counts as a spoiler though, because many got introduced to the franchise through the anime.
- Little Miss Snarker: Despite being the group's resident Genki Girl, Ayame gets several moments where she's shown to have quite the dry wit beneath it all.Ayame: I'm sorry to say this, but it doesn't make sense!Lord: Yeah, you have a good point...Ayame: This drought is making everyone suffer so badly, that the kids are crying, and-Lord: Eureka! That's it! If they're suffering, then they should cry. And if they're crying, then they can get water straight from their eyes!Grandpa Yumatara: (applauds, evidently humouring him) That is so very brilliant of you, sire!Ayame: He's bananas.
- Lovable Coward: Apollus, Edward's Butler. He's very whiny ("YOOOOOUNG MAAAASTEEER!") and often tends to cower and panic whenever anything goes wrong. When his masters are in danger however, his loyalty and determination to protect them really come through.
- Macross Missile Massacre: The Power Explosion, one of Falcon's transformed-state attacks, fits this to a tee. He most often uses it as a Finishing Move.
- Ayame, Ryoma and Jack can perform variations on it as well, with the Petal Explosion, Rain of Knives and Misery Rain, respectively.
- Naked People Are Funny: The entire Furo Scene from "The Great Thirst". Falcon and Apollus try to take a dip in an old-style metal bathtub, but due to a drought, there is hardly any water. The two get in, and then Kikunojo jumps in and joins them. An annoyed Apollus tries to get out, but the bath tips over, rolling into and crashing through a nearby fence that Ayame is behind with them all in it. Her look of horror and resulting scream when she sees Falcon stand back up in the nude are priceless.Apollus: Great, now there's no water for anyone!
- Noble Savage: Galuda, and the Soaring Eagles of Soil Land. Although they seem antagonistic when first introduced, they actually turn out to be good-hearted people being set up for a war with the nearby Soil Town by the Octopus Gang, so the pirates can steal their tribe's Power Stone.
- Old Retainer: Apollus is this to the Falcon household, frequently accompanying Edward on his travels whether willingly or not; often to the latter's chagrin.
- Out of Focus: The main party consists of Falcon, Ayame, Ryoma, and Rouge, while Wang Tang, Gunrock, and Galuda end up being relegated to supporting roles and an episode or two dedicated to them. Jack gets the worst of it, as he has the least amount of screen time of all the characters and acts more an annoyance to Falcon for the most part aside from his Big Damn Heroes moment at the very end of the series. In fact, Jack only ever uses one of his Power Change attacks in battle; only showcasing the others on a rock in the penultimate episode as if out of obligation to show them at least once.
- Pragmatic Adaptation: A natural by-product of turning a fighting game series into an adventure anime. Notably, only one Power Stone is needed to transform, the stones themselves are a Dismantled MacGuffin akin to the Dragon Balls or Chaos Emeralds, several supporting characters are added, and several of the characters themselves have vastly different personalities from what was portrayed in their endings. Notably, Ryoma is far more Comically Serious compared to his game counterpart, Jack is more sympathetic, Wang-Tang is smarter and more humble than his typical Idiot Hero self, and Valgas is a wrestling hero or so it seems: but even after his villainous reveal, his motives are different.
- Pretty Boy: Ayame's older brother, Kikunojo, fits this to a tee. He's not only a handsome, very feminine-looking man, but enjoys dressing up in a woman's geisha outfit, complete with exaggerated falsetto.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Edward Falcon and Ryoma. Falcon is the Red, being a Hot-Blooded Jerk with a Heart of Gold who mostly uses projectiles in Power Change mode. Ryoma is the Blue, being a comically-serious man who tries his hardest to be stoic, and favours close-range swordplay.
- On the girls' side, we have Ayame and Rouge. The younger Ayame is the Red, being energetic and cheerful with a devious and snarky edge to her, whilst the slightly older Rouge is the Blue, being more stern and cool-headed but with a silly side beneath her seriousness. It's also evident in their respective Power Change abilities: Ayame's use water and her Stock Ninja Weaponry, whilst Rouge's are based around her fire magic.
- Scary Black Man: Subverted in the case of Gunrock. Although he has the voice and is dark-skinned (though to what extent is unknown), he's a full-on Gentle Giant and doting father of at least five sons.
- The Stoic: Galuda, who is by far the calmest of the main group. Ryoma tries his hardest to be this as well, but often has the facade fall through for whatever reason: especially around Rouge and spiders.
- Struggling Single Father: Gunrock, who's a single father of five sons and works as a miner and gambler in Gold Land after his wife passed away. By the end of the series though, he falls for and eventually marries Cassie — Falcon's former arranged fiancée — going on to have three more children with her.
- Spoiled Brat: Falcon starts off as a disinterested, quick-to-anger jerk who mostly thinks of himself. However, he becomes more humbled as he makes the journey for the Power Stones, ultimately becoming a better person through his experiences.
- Standard Snippet: Rouge hums Brahm's Lullaby a lot in "Jack's Secret". It becomes a plot point in how it was the same song Jack's mother used to sing to him when he was a young child; and with Rouge resembling her too, it makes the bandaged man believe that she is his mother despite her actually being long-dead.
- Taking the Bullet: Ayame does this in "Destiny Hill", jumping in front of Pride and Apollus in her Power Change form to protect them from a beam of Dark Stone energy launched at them by Valgas in his Power Change form. Downplayed in that she does survive, but ends being Brought Down to Normal and knocked unconscious.
- To Be a Master: Falcon wants to be the strongest fighter, to emulate his hero Valgas. It turns out that was also Valgas's motivation, except he took it even further to Social Darwinism levels, wanting to wish for a world that was a constant fight for survival that only the toughest fighters could handle.
- Tragic Villain: Jack becomes one of these. While in the games, he's an Ax-Crazy thief obsessed with shiny objects, in the anime, he is more reminiscent of Gollum, and he is obsessed with the Power Stone because it was an old family heirloom belonging to his long deceased mother.
- Valgas also becomes one of these, as his Social Darwinism stance resulted from him being bullied as a kid and the Dark Stone granting his wish to never be weak again. In this sense, he is a Shadow Archetype to Falcon, as the latter went through a very similar bullying experience and became a fighter for similar reasons, except he discovered The Power of Friendship along his journey and vows to save Valgas along with his friends and family. While Valgas doesn't survive, he does at least come to terms with his past actions and make peace with Falcon before he passes away in his arms.
- "Where Are They Now?" Epilogue: This occurs right at the end, detailing what happened to everyone after the events of the series.
- Wholesome Crossdresser: Ayame's brother Kikunojo, who frequently dresses like a Japanese Geisha.
- Whole-Plot Reference: With the gang having to escape a large luxury liner that's been overturned in a freak accident, or at least what seems to be, "Danger Cruise" is this to The Poseidon Adventure.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: In stark and ironic contrast to his usual stoicism as a samurai, Ryoma has an immense fear of spiders. Even a small one ending up on him is enough to send him throwing his clothes off and running around in an utter panic.
"According to legend, the bearer of a Power Stone cradles in their hands the power to destroy, or create. The power to conjure darkness, or bring great light. The power to make any dream come true!"
