Ulysses 31 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ulysses 31 |
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| Genre | Action-adventure Science fiction Fantasy Drama |
| Created by | Nina Wolmark Jean Chalopin inspired by Homer's Odyssey |
| Written by | Nina Wolmark Jean Chalopin |
| Voices of | Matt Birman Adrian Knight Anick Faris Kelly Ricard Howard Ryshpan Vlasta Vrána |
| Country of origin | France Japan |
| No. of episodes | 26 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Animator(s) | TMS Entertainment |
| Running time | 25 min NTSC 24 min PAL |
| Production company(s) | DIC Audiovisuel TMS Entertainment |
| Release | |
| Original network | FR3 (France) Nagoya Broadcasting Network (Japan) |
| Original release | 10 October 1981 – 3 April 1982 |
Ulysses 31 (宇宙伝説ユリシーズ31, Uchū Densetsu Yurishīzu Sātīwan, lit. Space Legend Ulysses 31) (French: Ulysse 31) is an exciting anime TV series from 1981. It mixes ancient Greek mythology with a futuristic space adventure. The show takes the classic story of Odysseus (also called "Ulysses") and sets it in the 31st century.
This series was made by companies from France and Japan, DIC Audiovisuel and TMS Entertainment. It has 26 episodes, each about half an hour long. Today, the rights to Ulysses 31 are owned by WildBrain.
Contents
The Story of Ulysses 31
The story of Ulysses 31 was created by the French writer Jean Chalopin. It follows the hero Ulysses and his crew as they battle powerful gods from Greek mythology. These gods rule the universe.
The Gods' Curse
The trouble begins when Ulysses, who commands a giant starship called the Odyssey, kills the huge Cyclops. He does this to save a group of children who were enslaved, including his own son. The Gods of Olympus are very angry about this.
Zeus, the king of the gods, punishes Ulysses. He curses Ulysses to travel through space with his crew frozen in a deep sleep. The curse will only end when Ulysses finds the Kingdom of Hades. Once he reaches Hades' realm, his crew will wake up, and he can finally return to Earth.
On their long journey, Ulysses and his son meet many other famous characters from Greek myths. But in this show, these characters have a cool, futuristic twist!
Where to Watch
In the United States, Ulysses 31 was shown as part of a TV series called Kideo TV in 1986. You can find the full series on DVD in the UK and Australia. In the US, only a few episodes were released on a DVD called Ulysses 31: The Mysteries of Time.
Main Characters
Let's meet the brave heroes and powerful gods in Ulysses 31:
- Ulysses (ユリシーズ (Yurishīzu))
- He is the main hero and captain of the Odyssey. Ulysses is a very brave and determined leader. He uses a special laser pistol that also has a blade, like a lightsaber from Star Wars. He also has an energy shield and a belt that lets him fly. He will do anything to break the gods' curse and get his friends home.
- Telemachus (テレマーク (Teremāku))
- Telemachus is Ulysses' son and helps him lead the crew. He is good friends with Yumi and protects her. He is a skilled pilot and uses a high-tech slingshot that shoots energy balls. At the start of the series, he is nine years old.
- Yumi (ユミ (Yumi))
- In the French version, her name is Thémis. Yumi is a blue-skinned alien girl from the planet Zotra. She has special powers like reading minds and moving things with her mind (telekinesis). She is saved by Ulysses from the Cyclops. Yumi is smart and brave, even though she is not very strong physically. Zotrians have white hair, pointed ears, and slanted eyes.
- Numinor (ユマイオス (Yumaiosu))
- In French, his name is Noumaïos. Numinor is Yumi's older brother. He is also saved by Ulysses from the Cyclops. Like most of the crew, he is in suspended animation for most of the journey. He wakes up a few times during the series before finally being freed from the curse in the last episode. He is kind, brave, and loyal.
- Nono (ノノ (Nono))
- Shirka (シルカ (Shiruka))
- Shirka is the main computer of the Odyssey spaceship. She has a deep female voice. Her Japanese name, Shiruka, sounds like Circe, a sorceress from Greek myths.
- Zeus (ゼウス (Zeusu))
- Zeus is the most powerful god and the one who punishes Ulysses.
- Poseidon (ポセイドン (Poseidon))
- Poseidon is the God of the Seas. He is furious because Ulysses killed his creature, the Cyclops. He carries a trident, which is a symbol of his power. His ships are even shaped like tridents!
- Hades (アデス (Adesu))
- Hades is the god who rules the Underworld. Ulysses must find his realm to find the way back home to Earth.
Episodes
You can find a full list of all the adventures in the series here: List of Ulysses 31 episodes.
The Pilot Episode
Before the main series, a pilot episode was made in 1980. It was also called "Ulysses 31". The story in the pilot was almost the same as the first episode of the finished series. However, many characters looked different in the pilot.
For example, Telemachus had the biggest change in how he looked. Nono the robot stayed almost the same. Yumi and Numinor looked similar, but their clothes changed colors, and their hair became a bit longer. The Odyssey spaceship also got a new design for the final show.
Famous Japanese artists Shingo Araki and Michi Himeno helped create the final look for the characters and the animation style. They combined Japanese anime art with the look of classical Greek sculptures.
Music and Sound
Most of the music for the international version of Ulysses 31 was created by Denny Crockett and Ike Egan. Some other themes were made by Shuki Levy and Haim Saban.
The Japanese version of the show has different music. The composer for the Japanese soundtrack was Wakakusa Kei. An official music album for the Japanese version was released in 1986.
Japanese Theme Songs
- Opening Song:
- Ginga Densetsu Odyssey (銀河伝説オデッセイ, Ginga Densetsu Odissei, Galactic Legend Odyssey) by Tomoaki Taka
- Ending Song:
- Ai. Toki no Kanata ni (愛･時の彼方に, Love, Over the Other Side of Time) by Tomoaki Taka
Who Made the Show
Many talented people worked together to create Ulysses 31.
Credits
- Original Idea: Nina Wolmark, Jean Chalopin
- Directors: Bernard Deyriès, Tadao Nagahama, Kyosuke Mikuriya, Kazuo Terada
- Main Animation Director: Shingo Araki
- Robot and Ship Designs: Studio Nue, Riyuki Motono
- Music: Kei Wakakusa (Japanese version); Denny Crockett, Ike Egan, Shuki Levy, Haim Saban (International version)
Voice Actors
Here are some of the actors who gave voices to the characters:
- Japan (Original voices)
- Ulysses: Osamu Kobayashi
- Telemachus: Yū Mizushima
- Yumi: Sumi Shimamoto
- Nono: Mayumi Tanaka
- Zeus: Shouzou Hirabayashi
- France (Original voices)
- Ulysses: Claude Giraud
- Yumi: Séverine Morisot
- Telemachus: Fabrice Josso / Jackie Berger
- Nono: Jacques Ebner
- English (Original voices)
- Ulysses: Matt Birman
- Yumi: Anick Faris
- Telemachus: Adrian Knight
- Nono: Howard Ryshpan
Images for kids
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A robot, like Nono from the show.
See also
In Spanish: Ulises 31 para niños
