Alternative Titles
Synonyms: FMP, Fullmetal Panic!
Japanese: γγ«γ‘γΏγ«γ»γγγγ―οΌ
English: Full Metal Panic!
Information
Episodes:
24
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Jan 8, 2002 to Jun 18, 2002
Broadcast:
Tuesdays at 18:30 (JST)
Duration:
24 min. per ep.
Rating:
R - 17+ (violence & profanity)
Statistics
Score:
7.591 (scored by 251337251,337 users)
Ranked:
#1788 2
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#474
Members:
529,410
Favorites:
4,485
Available AtResources
Streaming Platforms
May be unavailable in your region. |
Ranked #1788Popularity #474Members 529,410 Mithril, a covert military institution using state-of-the-art technology to combat terrorist operations, assigns a specialized team to a sensitive mission. Under the command of superior officer Melissa Mao, sergeants Sousuke Sagara and Kurz Weber must secretly protect Kaname Chidoriβa teenage girl who unconsciously holds breakthrough scientific knowledge and is considered a "Whispered"βfrom intelligence agencies and other organizations pursuing her abilities.
While Kurz and Melissa are to assist him remotely, Sousuke enrolls at Kaname's high school as one of her classmates to closely monitor her. However, his militaristic upbringing and poor social skills lead to a difficult adjustment to civilian life. Not only does he attract unnecessary attention, but his actions frequently make Kaname suspicious of him.
Despite the earnest attempts to fulfill his duty, a terrorist ambush further complicates Sousuke's task. Recognizing the vicious mastermind behind the assault, Sousuke abandons his orders to ensure Kaname's safety.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Full Metal Panic! adapts the first three volumes of Shoji Gatoh's light novel series of the same title, as well as content from the first three volumes of the spin-off series Full Metal Panic! Tanpenshuu. Among the differences between the light novels and the anime series, the most notable are episodes 14 to 17, which are anime original stories.
The series was initially scheduled to air on WOWOW before 2002, but it was postponed on account of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks. ADV Films, the licensor for North America, released the anime on the Anime Network on demand between 2003 and 2004. Full Metal Panic! is Gonzo's first anime to receive a dubbed version in Tagalog language.
In Japan, the series was made available on 12 DVDs between February 25, 2002 and January 25, 2003. In North America, seven DVDs were released from June 10, 2003 to February 17, 2004. Additionally, two DVD box sets including the complete collection were also published: one on April 19, 2004 and the other on June 3, 2008.
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MALxJapan -More than just anime-
| Characters & Voice Actors
| "Tomorrow" by Mikuni Shimokawa
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| "Karenai Hana" by Mikuni Shimokawa
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Reviews
Sep 5, 2025
Itβs hard to believe this series originally debuted over 20 years ago, especially as a light novel, given how well-structured and mature the content feels compared to many titles released in todayβs market. While it doesnβt fully commit to a seinen tone, it sits somewhere between shonen and seinen, balancing serious themes with lighthearted anime moments. Despite being a mecha story, it avoids glorifying war or objectifying women, and instead presents a surprisingly civilian-friendly, socially aware message, something even morally complex franchises like Gundam or Evangelion often shy away from.
Thatβs why it was so surprising to learn about the authorβs controversial remarks regarding Greta Thunberg.
...
Itβs difficult to reconcile those comments with a work that, by Japanese standards, comes across as fairly progressive and thoughtful. That said, the presence of an editor and illustrator likely played a key role in shaping the story into something more refined and focused, avoiding the typical pitfalls of solo-written light novels, where authors often write with unchecked impulses. This collaboration helped ground the narrative and elevate its quality.
The storyβs tone remains rooted in anime, especially with its occasional high school antics and over-the-top humor. Still, these moments feel earned within the series' internal logic. Only in this setting could you pull off plot points like smuggling military weapons into a school or humanizing a panty thief, and somehow make them work. The concept of an anti-terrorist force functioning like a UN peacekeeping group gives the world a grounded but imaginative fantasy structure, and the show even parodies military obsession and pro-war attitudes, showing a surprising level of self-awareness.
The main antagonist in season one is probably the weakest part of the story, as he is not particularly engaging for me. However, the individual arcs are well-paced, diverse, and never overstay their welcome. Unlike other shows ( take Strike the Blood, for example), the arc lengths feel just right. The main shipβs crew adds to the international flavor of the story. While they still fall into certain character tropes, theyβre portrayed with enough personality and professionalism to be likable and believable as military personnel. The show manages to maintain that balance of tropes and nuance.
Visually, the animation, especially from Studio Gonzo, is serviceable but not impressive. There are obvious budget-saving techniques, like reused animation or the "bounce the image three times" trick at the end of the first OP. The PS1-era CGI may cause a few laughs, but the series never looks outright bad, just clearly a product of its time and limited resources.
Watching a 24-episode anime thatβs βjust goodβ can be a tough sell these days, especially with how competitive and high-polished modern shows can be. But for those who give it a chance, itβs a solid, rewarding experience with strong characters, clever ideas, and a lot of heart.
Reviewerβs Rating: 6
What did you think of this review?
Mar 3, 2025
I was a big fan of this back in the day, and enjoyed it immensely. I just finished a re-watch after god knows how many years. Sadly I can't say this has withstood the test of time well. Not unworthly, but seems shopworn today.
Art work was good for its time, but looks only so-so today. Characters and mechas were already trope-ridden, and today they are simply cliche. The animation work is something of a mixed bag; some good and some not so good. Overall it was about average for its day. But it's hardly anything impressive anymore.
The narrative is hardly inspired. I got the solid
...
impression this viewing that a lot of this is a direct ripoff of Martian Successor Nadesico, without Gekigangar or the cooking, in a sub rather than a spaceship. Tessa seemed a direct cut and paste of Ruri. Bakas. I kept waiting for the Jovian Lizards to pop out. Some of the middle episodes are sloggy. Things perk up towards the end. While not unsatisfying, it all wrapped up in a seemingly preordained manner.
The VA work is choppy. I thought the actress doing Chidori was pretty good, and her performance still holds up. But the rest of the cast are just cliche or meh at best. Direction in this rewatch struck me as kind of choppy. While some episodes move along at a spritely pace, others seem to drag out forever, Soundtrack usage seemed unskillled. Distracting in way too many instances. Splashes of fanservice are sophomoric at best.
But no need to get into a panic. This isn't bad by any means. Just not as good as the rosy lens of nostalgia would make it out to be. If I were to grade it today, it would get a C- at 72/100. But back in the day, it would have easily been high end B material. If you loved it back then, definitely worth a stroll down Memory Lane. If you haven't seen it, keep your expectations in check, and it will be a good 'turn off your brain and veg" series.
Reviewerβs Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Mar 17, 2024
From episode 1 I could tell this was nothing special. The comedy was bland and unoriginal usually resulting in Chidori getting mad at Souske and then hitting him. Are your laughing yet? NO.... well get used to it because that's at least half of the series. The other half is a military mech fighting show that barely scratches the surface of what it could be because it decided it wanted to focus on highschool comedy too. The writers did a terrible job with these two concepts because they don't mesh together at all. It doesn't help that the music is limited at well it has
...
like 4 soundtracks and they're generic.
I put this as background noise after episode 4 and I'm glad I did because my instincts were right. This anime is boring at straight up 5/10. Sousuke and Chidori are terrible main characters. Chidori is annoying and useless. Sousuke is as bland as flour. It took him 20 episodes to show genuine emotion where he wasn't taking like an unsalted cracker. The show also had a weird fascination with showing panty scenes in the first 7-8 episodes, ruining any serious moments.
The only reason people ever liked this show was because they're was literally limited options on what they could choose to enjoy. Times have changed we have like 50 new anime to choose from each coming season. Not to mention the internet gives people quick access to better older anime whether its from a legal or illegal site. There's a reason people don't talk about this show its just forgettable.
Reviewerβs Rating: 5
What did you think of this review?
49 Entries Β· 12 Restacks
28 Entries Β· 163 Restacks
Poll: Full Metal Panic! Episode 8 Discussion ( 1 2 )
notestinet - Apr 23, 2008 |
60 replies | by Reruzaa »»
Mar 15, 5:43 PM |
Poll: Full Metal Panic! Episode 6 Discussion ( 1 2 )
notestinet - Apr 23, 2008 |
52 replies | by Blazesword »»
Feb 28, 3:10 AM |
Poll: Full Metal Panic! Episode 2 Discussion ( 1 2 )
Fentastic - Sep 26, 2008 |
57 replies | by Blazesword »»
Feb 24, 2:45 AM |
Poll: Full Metal Panic! Episode 17 Discussion ( 1 2 )
notestinet - Apr 24, 2008 |
75 replies | by ichighost2234 »»
Feb 19, 4:41 AM |
Poll: Full Metal Panic! Episode 15 Discussion ( 1 2 )
notestinet - Apr 24, 2008 |
50 replies | by MoesianThracian »»
Sep 26, 2025 11:39 PM |
Top 15 Best Mecha/Robot Anime of All Time
Mecha anime shows will never go out of style. Giant robots piloted by feisty teenagers or grizzled heroes is just such a cool concept. Let's take a look at ten of what I think are the best!
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