Maze (novel)

Maze
Cover of the first manga volume
MAZE☆爆熱時空
(Meizu Bakunetsu Jikū)
GenreAction, comedy, fantasy, isekai
Light novel
Written bySatoru Akahori
Illustrated byEiji Suganuma
Published byKadokawa Shoten
ImprintKadokawa Sneaker Bunko
DemographicMale
Original runJuly 27, 1993March 26, 1998
Volumes13
Manga
Chouse Kitan Maze Bakunetsu Jikuu
Written bySatoru Akahori
Illustrated byRei Omishi
Published byFujimi Shobo
MagazineComic Dragon
DemographicShōnen
Original runOctober 1995December 1999
Volumes6
Original video animation
Directed byIku Suzuki
StudioJ.C.Staff
Licensed by
Released July 24, 1996 September 21, 1996
Runtime30 minutes each
Episodes2
Anime television series
Directed byIku Suzuki
Written byKatsumi Hasegawa
StudioJ.C.Staff
Licensed by
Original networkTV Tokyo, BBC, TVN, WTV, SBS, AT-X
English network
Original run April 2, 1997 September 24, 1997
Episodes25
Anime film
Maze Bakunetsu Jikū: Tenpen Kyōi no Giant
Directed byIku Suzuki
Written bySatoru Akahori
Music byNorimasa Yamanaka
StudioJ.C.Staff
ReleasedApril 25, 1998
Runtime42 minutes

Maze: The Mega-Burst Space (Japanese: MAZE☆爆熱時空, Hepburn: Meizu Bakunetsu Jikū) is a Japanese light novel series written by Satoru Akahori and illustrated by Eiji Suganuma. The series was published by Kadokawa Shoten from July 27, 1993 to March 26, 1998.[1][2] Based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,[3] the series originally began as Ijikū GyōKitan OZ (異時空行奇談OZ, Ijikū Gyō Kidan OZ, trans. OZ: Extra-Dimensional Tales of Time and Space), a manga serialized in Comic JAM and published by Tairiku Shobo in 1986–1988. It was illustrated by Kia Asamiya, whose debut manga series Shinseiki Vagrants was being serialized in Kadokawa's Monthly Comic Comp at the same time.[4] The series was published in the magazine's first three issues and left unfinished due to Tairiku Shobo going bankrupt in August 1992,[5][6] with all chapters being published in Movic's side-A in 1996. It was then serialized in Hobby Japan's RPG Magazine under the title Jikū Kitan OZ (時空奇譚OZ, Jikū Kitan OZ, trans. OZ: Tales of Time and Space) from issues 1-6 in 1990. The series went on hiatus from issue 7 onward, and although there were notices of a hiatus until issue 13, it was ultimately discontinued. The illustrations were also done by Asamiya, and though some of the characters' proper nouns are different, the world view and story development are almost the same as the later Maze series.[7]

The novel series was adapted into a manga serialized in Comic Dragon from October 31, 1996 to January 31, 2000,[8][9] and an OVA series in 1996 by J.C.Staff,[10] followed by an anime television series, a sequel movie, and a radio drama. A spin-off manga, Maze Bakunetsu Jikū: Hijiri Kinoe-ki Densetsu (MAZE☆爆熱時空: 聖甲機伝説, Meizu Bakunetsu Jikū: Hijiri Kinoe-ki Densetsu, trans. Maze: The Mega-Burst Space: The Legend of the Holy Armored Machine), was serialized in Newtype 100% Comics, beginning on December 11, 1996, but remains unfinished due to the discontinuation of the magazine. It was written by Akahori and illustrated by Suganuma.[11] A tabletalk role-playing game, Maze Bakunetsu Jikū RPG (MAZE☆爆熱時空RPG, Meizu Bakunetsu Jikū RPG, trans. Maze: The Mega-Burst Space RPG), was released on May 23, 1997, written by Akira Tano.[12][13]

The OVA and anime television series were licensed in North America by Central Park Media and released on DVD under their Software Sculptors label.[14][15][16] The TV series has aired on Comcast's Anime Selects On Demand channel multiple times.[17]

  1. ^ "MAZE☆爆熱時空 完全無欠の最強カップル". KADOKAWA. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  2. ^ "MAZE☆爆熱時空9 純愛不滅の大団円". KADOKAWA. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  3. ^ Oguro, Yūichirō (November 2, 2006). この人に話を聞きたい 1998-2001: アニメプロフェッショナルの仕事. Asukashinsha. p. 207. ISBN 978-4870317581. 第12回 あかほりさとる
  4. ^ "Kia Asamiya". Lambiek Comiclopedia. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  5. ^ "732夜『失われたムー大陸』ジェームズ・チャーチワード". 松岡正剛の千夜千冊. 13 March 2003. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  6. ^ Editorial Staff, Nihon Keizai Shimbun (August 5, 1992). "大陸書房、自己破産を申請". The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: Nikkei, Inc.
  7. ^ "【サイレントメビウス】麻宮騎亜を語る Part3【コンパイラ】". RCOMIC. Retrieved September 21, 2024. 「時空奇譚OZ」(あかほりさとる氏著)『RPGマガジン』(ホビージャパン)に第6話まで掲載されました(未完)。単行本にまとまった際は、表紙・挿絵は別の方でした。
  8. ^ "超世奇譚MAZE☆爆熱時空 1". KADOKAWA. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  9. ^ "超世奇譚MAZE☆爆熱時空 6". KADOKAWA. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  10. ^ "MAZE★爆熱時空". J.C.STAFF オフィシャルホームページ. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  11. ^ "MAZE☆爆熱時空1 聖甲機伝説". KADOKAWA. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  12. ^ "MAZE☆爆熱時空RPG MAGIUSシリーズ". KADOKAWA. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  13. ^ "MAZE・爆熱時空RPG". TRPG Session. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  14. ^ "New from Japan: Anime Film Reviews". Animation World Magazine. April 1, 2001. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  15. ^ "Animation World Magazine Vol. 6 No. 1" (PDF). Animation World Magazine. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  16. ^ "Central Park Media's Licenses Offered by Liquidator". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  17. ^ "Comcast's Anime Selects on Demand – Part 1". Prede's Anime Reviews. 13 March 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2024.