Fireball (TV series) facts for kids

Fireball
Cover of the first DVD volume
Quick facts for kids ファイアボール (Faiabōru)
Genre	Science fiction
Anime television series
Directed by	Wataru Arakawa
Written by	Wataru Arakawa
Music by	Yoshiyuki Usui
Studio	Jinni's Animation Studios Walt Disney Television International Japan
Original run	April 7, 2008 – June 30, 2008
Episodes	13 (List of episodes)
Anime television series
Fireball Charming
Directed by	Wataru Arakawa
Written by	Wataru Arakawa
Music by	Yoshiyuki Usui
Studio	Jinni's Animation Studios Walt Disney Animation (Japan), Inc.
Network	Disney Channel, Tokyo MX
Original run	April 4, 2011 – June 27, 2011
Episodes	13 (List of episodes)
Anime television series
Fireball Humorous
Written by	Wataru Arakawa
Music by	Yoshiyuki Usui
Studio	TMS Jinni's Inc.
Network	Dlife
Original run	October 6, 2017 – December 8, 2017
Episodes	3 (List of episodes)
Anime television series
Fireball Gebäude Bäude
Written by	Wataru Arakawa
Music by	Yoshiyuki Usui
Studio	TMS Jinni's Inc.
Network	Disney Channel
Original run	November 8, 2020 – December 10, 2020
Episodes	10

Fireball (ファイアボール, Faiabōru) is a series of short anime films made with CGI. It was created by Jinni's Animation Studios and Walt Disney Television International Japan. The show is known for its unique 3D animation style, which doesn't use the typical "cel-shading" look often seen in anime.

The story of Fireball takes place far in the future, around the year 47,000. It's all about what happens inside a huge mansion where two robots live. These robots are Drossel von Flügel, a female-looking robot (voiced by Miyuki Kawashō), and her giant, one-eyed spider-like helper, Gedächtnis (voiced by Toru Okawa). The episodes are usually quite silly and often show the two robots just chatting while a war with humans is happening outside. A third robot, who looks like a monkey and is named "Schadenfreude", joins them later in the series.

What is Fireball About?

The main characters, Gedächtnis and Drossel von Flügel, live in a giant mansion. This mansion is in a city that robots probably live in. Beyond the city is a desert where human armies are slowly moving closer. The story takes place over 144 years, called the "Merkur Era" (from 48,650 to 48,794).

Gedächtnis is Drossel's loyal helper and protector. He promised her late father he would keep her safe. Drossel often acts like a spoiled princess towards him. A funny thing that happens often in the series is that Gedächtnis waits for Drossel to arrive, and she calls him a different, random name each time. He then gently tries to remind her of his real name, but she always tells him not to interrupt. Another funny part is when Drossel says she practices karate, but her moves clearly look like capoeira.

Drossel was made to have the mind of a 14-year-old girl, while Gedächtnis has the mind of a 50-year-old man. Even though they have these "ages," both robots are very old, at least 2,800 years old! Gedächtnis said he started working for Drossel's family 2,800 years ago and has been by her side ever since. Both Drossel and Gedächtnis move and talk in very unusual ways. For example, they reply to each other super fast, or they freeze in one pose until they move to a new one. They sometimes say that human speech seems strange to them. Even though they often seem to lack emotions, they do show feelings sometimes.

Sometimes, the characters seem to know they are in a show. Drossel might mention something that happened "in the last episode." Another time, Gedächtnis even stops the show's laughter sound effect and the episode itself by punching the screen, making it look like glass breaking.

The series can sometimes make serious points even when it's mostly silly. The city where their tower is built looks like a dark, futuristic place. In one episode, Gedächtnis talks about rules and what it means to be "real" in a thoughtful way. The last episode even has some exciting "last stand" moments, where Drossel says her full name and title before going to face the human forces as the series ends.

How Fireball Was Made

The Fireball anime series was created by Jinni's Animation Studios. Walt Disney Animation (Japan), Inc. also helped with the animation. The show was made in partnership with Disney Channel Japan. The first Fireball series came out in 2008. Later, Walt Disney Animation Japan released the second season, Fireball Charming, in 2011.

Series Overview

Episode Lists

Fireball

Fireball Special

Fireball Charming

Fireball Humorous

More Fireball Stories

On August 10, 2010, it was announced that a second Fireball series was going to be made. The original director and writer, Wataru Arakawa, was back to work on it.

This next series, called Fireball Charming, came out in 2011. It actually takes place before the first Fireball series. The original Fireball is set between the years 48650-48734, but Charming starts earlier, in 48234. In most of the Fireball seasons, there is a gap of either 8 or 16 years between episodes.

Another series, Fireball Humorous, was released in 2017.

The latest and final part of the story, Fireball Gebäude Bäude, came out in 2020. This one is set even earlier, between the years 39298 and 39362, according to the "Cinnabar Calendar."