Bodacious Space Pirates
Miniskirt Space Pirates is a Japanese light novel series about space pirates written by Yūichi Sasamoto and illustrated by, published since October 2008. An anime television series adaptation produced by Satelight, under the title Bodacious Space Pirates, aired in Japan from January to June 2012. A film adaptation was released in Japanese theaters in February 2014. A web manga adaptation launched in June 2012. Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the manga series for a printed release in North America in August 2015.
Miniskirt Space Pirates was initially just a working title for the series, which Sasamoto had been asked to write for the debut lineup of label. However, he was unable to come up with another name to replace it. Sasamoto stated that he stuck with the title because it easily conveyed what the story was about. But when the series was selected for an anime adaptation, Sasamoto was advised that they couldn't use "miniskirt" so he provided "mōretsu" instead.
Plot
In the far future where space travel and colonization have become the norm, humanity has expanded its living space to the far reaches of the known galaxy. One hundred years before the beginning of the series, several colonies, eager to gain their independence, rebelled against their masters in the Stellar Alliance Colony Federation. The government of one of the newly colonized planets, Sea of the Morningstar in the Tau Ceti system, recruited Space Pirates to bolster its fighting forces, legalizing their actions by issuing them letters of marque.In the midst of this conflict, a Galactic Empire arose and absorbed both the Stellar Alliance and the border worlds, but allowed the colonies to run on an independent government. Despite peace having been achieved, the Space Pirates remain respected figures in Imperial society, even though their activities are now reduced to more legal jobs in which their knowledge of the system's wild space proves particularly useful. At the time the series begins, their cessation of illegal activities is gradually causing them to pass into local legend.
Marika Kato is a high school girl living a rather ordinary life as a member of the space yacht club with a part-time job at the high-class retro Lamp Café. One day, Marika learns of her recently deceased father, Gonzaemon, who is revealed to have been a Space Pirate. In order for her father's ship, the Bentenmaru, to continue legal operation, Marika, Gonzaemon's direct descendant, is chosen to become the ship's new captain, thus beginning her life as a Space Pirate.
Characters
Space Pirates
; IronbeardMedia
Light novels
The first novel of Miniskirt Space Pirates, written by Yūichi Sasamoto and illustrated by Noriyuki Matsumoto, was published by Asahi Shimbun on October 21, 2008, and the twelfth and last on August 20, 2014. The series was transferred to Kadokawa in 2018, who began reprinting it in the same year. A new series, Super Miniskirt Space Pirates, began publishing on July 25, 2019.Anime
The anime adaptation, under the title Bodacious Space Pirates is produced by Satelight and directed by Tatsuo Satō. The anime aired on Tokyo MX, MBS and TVK between January 8, 2012, and June 30, 2012, and was also simulcast by Crunchyroll. The anime has been licensed in North America by Sentai Filmworks and released to digital outlets in February. The series was released on Blu-ray Disc and DVD with an English dub on January 8, 2013 and March 5, 2013. MVM Films have licensed the series in the United Kingdom and will release the series in two DVD boxsets from February 4, 2012. The opening theme song is "Mōretsu Uchū Kōkyōkyoku Dai 7 Gakushō "Mugen no Ai" by idol group Momoiro Clover Z and ex-Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman. The ending theme song is "Lost Child" by Momoiro Clover Z.Film
A film adaptation was announced following the end of the series. The film, titled Bodacious Space Pirates: Abyss of Hyperspace, was released on February 22, 2014, with Satō returning as director and screenwriter.Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Hiro Tōge began serialization in Asahi Shimbun's Nico Nico Asahi Comic Fantasy web manga publication on Nico Nico Seiga from June 2, 2012. A manga adaptation of the film illustrated by Chibimaru began serialization in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive from February 2014. The manga was licensed in English by Seven Seas Entertainment, who released the first and second volumes in August and November 2015, respectively.Reception
The anime version won the 2013 Seiun Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.Reviewing the television anime adaptation for Otaku USA, Clarissa Graffeo recommended it, describing the series as "just plain fun... colorful and exciting, with a good balance between character drama, comedy, and tense privateer missions."
Erica Friedman of Yuricon praised Jenny and Lynn, two supporting characters in the anime, as not only strong female characters, but as a "perfect Yuri couple," and noting a moment between these characters in the second part of the anime.
Regarding the film adaptation, Nicole MacLean of THEM Anime Reviews pointed out: "It basically does what it sets out to do, that is, giving fans of the series a bit to drool over." Stig Høgset appreciated the "pirate shenanigans and space nerdery" present in the film but voiced displeasure in its failure to continue the story from the television series.