Cannon Busters

Cannon Busters is an American fantasy comic book series by LeSean Thomas, launched in March 2005. An original net animation anime series by Satelight and Yumeta Company was released on Netflix on August 15, 2019.

Cannon Busters
Cover of Cannon Busters #0 (2004). Illustration by Rey.
Publication information
PublisherDevil's Due
UDON
FormatOngoing series
Genre
Publication dateMarch 2005
No. of issues3
Creative team
Written byJ. Torres
LeSean Thomas
Artist(s)Corey Lewis (issue #0)
Penciller(s)LeSean Thomas
Colorist(s)James Lewis
Cannon Busters
GenreAction,[1] Fantasy
Original net animation
Directed byLeSean Thomas (chief)
Takahiro Natori
Produced byFumio Kaneko
Written byMatt Wayne
Music byBradley Dennistron
Kevin Begg
StudioSatelight
Yumeta Company
Licensed byNetflix
ReleasedAugust 15, 2019
Runtime24 minutes
Episodes12

Publication history

The first issue of the series was due to be published by Com.x in 2003,[2] but moved to Devil's Due in 2004[3] and was published in 2005. It was well received by critics and fans, but due to a very busy schedule, Thomas had decided to reprint and continue the series as an original graphic novel. The graphic novel was due to come out in 2009 and it was speculated that it would have feature a number of guest artists.[4] However, the graphic novel has long since been put on hold, presumably cancelled in favor of reviving the project as an animated production.

Main characters
  • Philly the Kid (Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Japanese); Kenny Blank (English)) - An outlaw and the youngest wanted criminal in the western regions of Gearbolt. He accompanies Samberry on her journey. Philly is also an immortal being.
  • Samberry (Voiced by: Hinaki Yano (Japanese); Kamali Minter (English)) - A young girl drone who is separated from her owner, Prince Toji. In the anime, her name is Sam.
  • Prince Toji (Voiced by: Junji Majima (Japanese); Zeno Robinson (English)) - The prince of Botica. In the anime, his name is Prince Kelby.
  • Lock (Voiced by: Nobuyuki Hiyama (Japanese); Billy Bob Thompson (English)) - A very dark, mysterious man who is in search of the Last Heart which will unlock the secret of Gearbolt, and the power of Mora.
  • 9ine (Voiced by: Yōsuke Akimoto (Japanese); Greg Chun (English)) - An alcoholic ronin who assists Samberry on her journey to find Prince Toji.
  • Casey Turnbuckle (Voiced by: Shiori Izawa (Japanese); Stephanie Sheh (English)) - An abandoned assistant and junk mechanic with an admiration for flying.

Supporting characters
  • 12Welve (Voiced by: Rina Kitagawa (Japanese); Sumalee Montano (English)) - A member of the Red Ronin, and a former comrade of 9ine's. It is inferred the two shared some feeling for the other, but their honor and duty keep them going as Ronin.
  • Unit6273/Victoria (Voiced by: Ikumi Hayama (Japanese); Marianne Miller (English)) - The assistant droid of 12welve, she becomes fast friends of Casey in episode "21 the Hard Way".

Issues
  • Cannon Busters #0 (2004, Udon Comics/Devil's Due)
  • Cannon Busters #1 (2005, Udon Comics/Devil's Due)
  • Cannon Busters #2 (2005, Udon Comics/Devil's Due)

Animation

In 2014, LeSean Thomas started a crowdfunding drive through Kickstarter for an animated adaptation of Cannon Busters.[5] Helping with the project are Tim Yoon who worked as a producer for shows and films such as The Legend of Korra and Batman: Under the Red Hood, comic book artist Joe Madureira who assisted with character designs.

A pilot episode was released to backers on July 8, 2016. The last Kickstarter update was posted on June 7, 2018. As of January 1, 2021, the Kickstarter has not been updated and most rewards remain unfulfilled. Requests for response have not been answered by any of the parties involved.

On August 2, 2017, it was announced that Cannon Busters would be released on Netflix.[6] It is a 12-episode series. On July 6, 2018, Netflix announced a March 1, 2019 premiere date.[7] However, the series was delayed as it was not included in the Netflix slate for March 2019.[8] On May 30, 2019, British anime distributor Manga Entertainment appointed Reemsborko Ltd as the worldwide agent for Cannon Busters and that the series would be released on Netflix in late 2019.[9] The series was released on Netflix on August 15, 2019.[10] The 12-episode series was directed and written by LeSean Thomas, with Matt Wayne, Natasha Allegri, Anne Toole, Sib Ventress, Martin Pasko, and Nilah Magruder writing scripts alongside Thomas.[11]

Takahiro Natori debuted as a director with the series with LeSean Thomas himself acting as chief director; character designs were handled by Tetsuya Kumagi, and the series featured music composed by Bradley Denniston and Kevin Begg. Satelight and Yumeta Company produced and co-animated the series.

In mid-December 2020, Sony Music released the series' soundtrack.[12]

No. Title
1"High Risk, Low Reward!"
Gynoid Sam and her robot companion Casey Turnbuckle arrive in Balloon Town, hoping to find notorious outlaw, "Philly the Kid" in hopes that he will escort them to Gara's Keep- the location of Prince Kelby. There, the robot duo come across The Black Claw bounty hunters pursuing Philly, revealed as an immortal with number tattoos for the count of his deaths. As Philly needs an escape, he accompanies the robots with his ride turning into a battle mech, The Raging Bull. But they are then pursued by Royal Hunter Droids, and a chase leads into the canyon where all droids are destroyed, but the trio are trapped in a ravine.
2"Grifters Gonna Grift"
When Philly's car, "Bessie," breaks down on the road, the crew manage to drag the vehicle to an abandoned mining town where a woman, 'Mama Hitch,' offers to help repair the car with her family. However, Hitch's daughter Serena kills Philly and her boys stun Sam and Casey. Hitch plans to use Philly like she has the last few people who wandered into town: food & clothing. While Sam is unconscious, she dreams of the last night she saw Prince Kelby: on his birthday, the Kingdom of Botica fell to a mysterious enemy force, and she was separated from him, knowing only his destination.
3"Watch Out for the Wet Spot"
Mama Hitch has Serena help her brothers as she works on Philly, who revives and kills Hitch. Serena's brother's ineptitude leads to the two bots managing to escape. When Casey fixes Bessie, she activates Raging Bull Mode to help Philly. As Sam sees Serena hold Philly at gun point, her 'Cannon Buster: Sniper' defense mode activates, killing Serena and destroying the town; Sam shows to retain no memory of her battle mode. Meanwhile, the evil magician reveals his true identity to the captured King of Botica: his forgotten first born son. Learning that Sam is seeking Kelby, the evil magician sends his personal assassin after them. Elsewhere, Captain Odin escorts Prince Kelby through the icy mountains to Valdor on route to Gara's Keep.
4"9INE"
As Philly and the gang stop in Happy Lucky Market Town to buy some supplies, Philly sneaks off to a bar where he hears rumors of a famous unstoppable samurai named 9ine; one of the few survivors of a Samurai group. Even though Philly only sees a very drunk man with a sword, he is cut down in under a second, prompting him to get revenge. After 9ine and Philly's group come under fire at once by bounty hunters, they claim the wreckage for parts and 9ine joins them on their journey out of want of free beer. Arriving in Valdor, the city shows signs of withstanding a siege, and despite Kelby's want for rest, Captain Odin forbids him from nearing the city and teaches him how to survive. Elsewhere, The Black Claw are offered to work with Red Horizon, the dark magician's assassins.
5"21 the Hard Way"
Distracted by berating 9ine, Philly has Bessie break down in a forest and then storms off in anger after everyone eats all his food. After Philly gets lost and trapped in a man-eating plant, 9ine follows Sam and Casey to a nearby town to enjoy the nightlife, giving all the free drinks at a game cantina to 9ine. Their fun ends as 12Welve, one of 9ine's former fellow Rōnin, challenges him. Gaining the upper hand, 9ine defeats her, but chooses to let her leave as he still loves her and has changed his character. 12Welve remembers his ruthless past, and seeing 9ine's change, chooses to end her pursuit vowing to meet again. The trio free Philly from the plant, and 9ine takes his leave to settle his original matter; Sam apologizes for eating his food and offers a salad she made.
6"Unfettered"
Philly heads to Madura City, hoping to sell off Sam and Casey to settle a debt he has with a local gangster. However, the town seems completely abandoned. As Philly encounters a supernatural threat, he recalls the reason he gained his immortality in the first place.
7"Lady & The Kid"
Kelby and Odin eke out a slight victory and capture an enemy soldier, though they lose their remaining Botica robot soldiers in the battle. Meanwhile, Philly regales Sam and Casey with a story of how he fought off several bounty hunters sent by Lady Day. In the present, Lady Day sends a droid to find a bounty hunter named Jojo to hunt down Philly.
8"Turnbuckle Ex-Machina"
Philly tries to teach Sam some lessons about acting more friendly and human-like as the crew stops in Zenith, a largely poor town that serves as a de facto dump for the rich, high-tech island floating above them. As Philly tries to get some supplies, Sam wanders off with a strange man, and Casey meets a robot of similar make to himself with a nihilistic outlook on life.
9"Lullaby of the Stars"
While running from a giant crab, the gang falls down into a seemingly bottomless pit, landing on near-invisible threads. In the pit, they encounter strange beings who see them as saviors, but they demand to be addressed in song.
10"Squeaking Springs Afternoon"
When Bessie breaks down just outside of the town of Squeaking Springs, the gang leave the car in a shop with a pleasant mechanic. While Casey stays behind to fix the car, Sam wanders off around the town, and Philly finds himself arrested for murder while the bounty hunter Jojo tries to kill him.
11"Innocence Lost Pt.1"
Kelby's group finally reaches Gara's Keep, but the fortress seems too quiet. Odin decides to scout ahead, and stumbles into an ambush. Meanwhile, Philly's group enters the Keep from the opposite side, hoping to find Kelby themselves.
12"Innocence Lost Pt.2"
The Fraternity has succeeded in capturing Kelby and has taken him aboard their airship. As Odin and 9ine fight against their respective attackers, Philly hitches a ride on the airship as it takes off, hoping to finish off Kelby himself. Meanwhile, Sam's Cannon Buster programming begins to take over as Casey, riding inside Bessie, tries to calm her down and save their friends at the same time.

See also

References
  1. Haasch, Palmer (2019-08-15). "The trailer for Cannon Busters, now on Netflix, gives a glimpse into its genre-bending action". Polygon. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
  2. "LeSean Thomas' Cannon Busters Lands at Com.x". Newsarama. November 14, 2003
  3. "Prepping Cannon Busters For Launch: LeSean Thomas". Newsarama. July 12, 2004
  4. Ong Pang Kean, Benjamin (September 18, 2008). "LeSean Thomas: All This and CannonBusters Too". Newsarama.
  5. "Cannon Busters: The Animated Series Pilot". Kickstarter. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  6. Netflix to Stream LeSean Thomas' Cannon Busters Animated Series
  7. Pedersen, Erik (July 5, 2018). "Netflix Orders Two Anime Series, Renews 'Aggretsuko' & Sets Four Premiere Dates". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  8. "Everything new on Netflix in March 2019". BGR. February 20, 2019.
  9. "Reemsborko to Handle Netflix Original Cannon Busters". Licensing Magazine. May 30, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  10. "Netflix's 'Cannon Busters' Adaptation Finally Sets Release Date". Deadline. July 7, 2019.
  11. "Netflix Streams Ultramarine Magmell Anime, Reveals Cannon Busters' Show's August 15 Debut". Anime News Network. July 7, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  12. "Netflix Anime Cannon Busters Soundtrack Now Available". AniTrendz. December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
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