Black Jack (Anime – 1993-00 OAV Series)
Also known as ブラック・ジャック (Burakku Jakku)
Broadcast Information
| Released: | 1993 to 2000 |
| Released by: | Tezuka Productions |
| No. of Episodes: | 10 |
| Format: | Full Colour |
| Genre: | Medical Thriller |
| Cast: | Black Jack – Akio Ohtsuka/Kirk Thronton Pinoko – Yuko Mizutani/Julie Kliewer |
Note: The Black Jack OVA series, which originally consisted of ten episodes, was produced and released from 1993 to 2000 and is still one of the most popular Black Jack animation series.
While Black Jack already had some cameo appearances before this OVA series in other Tezuka works, like his televised appearance in the Astro Boy (1980-81) TV series (episode 26/27 “The Time Machine”), as well as in other various TV specials or movies, like One Million Year Trip: Bandar Book (1978), Undersea Super Train: Marine Express (1979) or Phoenix 2772 (1980), this was his first animated stand-alone series. The series was produced by Tezuka Productions/ Black Jack Committee, directed by Osamu Dezaki with character designs for all ten episodes by Akio Sugino. The series is most famous for Osamu Dezaki’s usage of visual effects such as pastel still images as well as split screen animations, which show more than one character and their expressions or scenery in one shot at the same time.
Compared to the later Black Jack animations, such as the Black Jack (2004-06) TV series, the Black Jack OVA series is clearly targeted at a more mature, adult audience. This is evident from the dark and realistic setting, detailed characterization and environments, graphic nudity, supernatural themes, thrilling storytelling, as well as authentic surgical procedures.
While some of the episodes are based on the original Black Jack manga chapters, there are original stories inspired by the manga in this series as well.
On December 16, 2011 Tezuka Productions released the Black Jack Final: Special Edition in a two disc set in Japan. With the release of the Black Jack Final: Special Edition, the Black Jack Original Video Animation (OVA) series has now been officially completed by adding the two final chapters, Karte 11: Visited Memories and Karte 12: The Beautiful Avenger to the series.
| Episode | Opening Theme | Ending Theme | Artist |
| 01-03 | “Just Before Sunrise” | “I’ll Be Back Again ~ Moonlight” | Rhodes |
| 04-05 | “Kioku no Kimi e” (To You in My Memory) |
“Kono omoi tsutaerareru” (I Thought I Could Convey This Feeling…) |
Another Moon |
| 06 | “Moon Shadow” | “Black Jack” | The Orange Vox |
| 07-10 | “Rebirth” | “HOPE” | Kudo Eiko |
Episode Guide
| Episode: 01 | Title: Karte 1: Iceberg, Chimaera Man (KARTE I: 流氷、キマイラの男) | Production year: 1993 |
| Lured to a cursed island, Black Jack is curious to see what sort of disease is worth a three million dollar fee. When he gets there, however, he discovers a century-old virus that causes the victim to suffer painful spasms as all the water drains from his body – leaving the victim dead from dehydration. But when a frightened mob decides to take matters into their own hands, it’ll take all of Black Jack’s skill to keep his patient alive.
Note: Based on the original manga chapter 119 “Hurricane” (ハリケーン) |
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| Episode: 02 | Title: Karte 2: A Funeral, The Procession Game (KARTE II: 葬列遊戯) | Production year: 1993 |
| Fate brought Black Jack into the lives of four teenage girls when they most needed his help. Now, six months later, fate has reunited them. But this time, the prognosis is not good. Two of the girls have already died. One of the girls is alive, but mentally unstable. The last girl is lying on a hospital bed, but her chances are slim. Her only hope is immediate brain surgery. Black Jack must perform the complicated surgical procedure and discover what happened in his absence.
Note: Original Story, partially inspired by original manga chapter 124 “Your Mistake!” (きみのミスだ! ) |
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| Episode: 03 | Title: Karte 3: Decoration of Maria and Her Commrades (KARTE III: マリア達の勲章) | Production year: 1993 |
| Two victims thrash in agony, scarred by war. Once again, renegade doctor Black Jack is caught in the crossfire. With Death breathing down his neck, he braves bullets and deadly biohazards to save the afflicted. Will the detective doctor prevail once more? Or will he pay the ultimate price for his mercenary ways?
Note: Based on the original manga chapter 152 “The Promise” (約束) |
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| Episode: 04 | Title: Karte 4: Anorexia, The Two Dark Doctors (KARTE IV: 拒食、ふたりの黒い医者) | Production year: 1995 |
| An infamous actress is suddenly stricken gravely ill. While she’s visibly undernourished and weak, she doesn’t seem to be able to eat. He has run every conceivable test, yet nothing appears to be wrong with her. Unable to hold her food down, the young star has become desperate. Considering suicide to end her torment, she has found a special doctor to help her die. Black Jack must race against time to save her – his only lead: the girl’s past and a deadly secret from World War I. It is a perplexing question of faith when Black Jack is hired to keep her from dying.
Note: Based on the original manga chapters 056 “Two Dark Doctors” (ふたりの黒い医者) & 134 “Death of a Movie Star” (あるスターの死) |
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| Episode: 05 | Title: Karte 5: The Owl of San Merida (KARTE V: サンメリーダの鴞) | Production year: 1995 |
| While on vacation, Black Jack comes across a young man haunted by the vision of a woman who beckons him to return to a town he’s never visited. He also has visions of being shot in a battle in which he was too young to have possibly fought! Bullet wounds mysteriously appear on his body, bleed, and disappear. Is the young man insane? Could it have anything to do with an operation performed on the young man many years before? Or are there other forces at work? It’s up to Black Jack.
Note: Based on the original manga chapter 238 “A Passed Moment” (過ぎ去りし一瞬) |
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| Episode: 06 | Title: Karte 6: Night Time Tale in the Snow (KARTE VI: 雪の夜話、恋姫) | Production year: 1996 |
| In the middle of a strange blizzard, Black Jack finds himself trying to rescue a dying princess. Taking poison to avoid a loveless marriage, she would prefer death to a life where she was forever denied the arms of the man she truly loves. Now, Black Jack is forced to question what is real when he opens up the girl and finds a demon waiting inside.
Note: Original Story, partially inspired by original manga chapter 006 “On a Snowy Night” (雪の夜ばなし) |
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| Episode: 07 | Title: Karte 7: Black and White (KARTE VII: 白い正義) | Production year: 1998 |
| In a war zone devastated by minefields and strife, a dying child is missing. She fights a foe more deadly than any terrorist. Her heart is a time bomb that will kill her even as the explosions annihilate her home. Can renegade doctor Black Jack recover his patient before both their lives are claimed by war?
Note: Based on the original manga chapter 160 “Black and White” (白い正義) |
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| Episode: 08 | Title: Karte 8: Thoughts For Green (KARTE VIII: 緑の想い) | Production year: 1999 |
| A sinister tree lurks over a village, sheltering the inhabitants for a terrible price. Victims are plagued by voices, then driven to madness and death. When renegade surgeon Black Jack operates on the latest casualty, he discovers a horrifying parasitic plant. Does the tree’s spirit seek to possess a human host? Now the doctor who plays at being god must defy and ancient fury of nature!
Note: Based on the original manga chapters 019 “Leaf Buds” (木の芽) & 125 “The Old Man and the Tree” (老人と木) |
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| Episode: 09 | Title: Karte 9: The Carbuncle (KARTE IX: 人面瘡) | Production year: 2000 |
| A desperate man is plagued by a tumor shaped like a human face. When the tumor begins to talk and think, renegade surgeon Black Jack is the one man who can free the victim from its grotesque tyranny. Meanwhile, a serial murderer is on the prowl, a criminal beset by an identical deformity. Black Jack must decipher the connection before the hideous mutation devours its host, body and soul!
Note: Based on the original manga chapter 052 “The Face Sore” (人面瘡) |
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| Episode: 10 | Title: Karte 10: Sinking Woman (KARTE X: しずむ女) | Production year: 2000 |
| A young woman experiences a startling transformation after being exposed to toxic. Terrified by the changes her body is going through, the frightened young woman implores Black Jack to operate and attempt to reverse the transformation. When Black Jack discovers that the young woman is evolving fish-like properties, he begins to suspect that she may in fact be turning into a mermaid.
Note: Based on the original manga chapter 036 “Sinking Woman” (しずむ女) |
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