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[[File:sakurataisen.jpg|frame|"Maidens who pledged their lives to steel, [[They Fight Crime|cut through evil]] and [[For Great Justice|show the way to justice]]!"]]
{{quote|''Hashire kousouku no Teikokukagekidan!''
''Unare shougeki no Teikokukagekidan!''
(Run, Imperial Floral Assault Group, at the speed of light!
Roar, Imperial Floral Assault Group, full of power!)
|from ''Geki! Teikokukagekidan'', the [[Anime Theme Song|original theme song]]}}
Known as ''[[Sakura Wars]]'' in
Set in an alternate world, it is the 1920s. Instead of World War I, in 1918 an occult conflict called the Demon Wars pitted [[The Legions of Hell|hellish creatures from another plane of existence]] against a plucky [[Five
In Japan, these preparations take the form of the Teikokukagekidan, the Imperial Floral Defense Force. The Hanagumi ([[Theme Naming|"Flower Division"]]) is their elite squad of warriors, equipped with the steam-powered battle armor called ''kohbu'', and the weapons and skills needed to fight the demons when they return. Because of a quirk in the part-magical technology of the ''kohbu'', all the members of the Hanagumi (save for their commanding officer) are women.
Taking advantage of a pun in Japanese that actually translates into English as-is ("Teikokukagekidan" can mean "Imperial Floral Defense '''Troop'''" or "Imperial Theatrical '''Troupe'''", depending on the kanji used), the Hanagumi make their headquarters underneath the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo. When they are not fighting the forces of Hell, they maintain their cover identities as the cast and crew of the theatre, allowing for a lot of music in between the battle scenes, and no small amount of incidental comedy.
Despite the Hanagumi's purpose as as combat unit, ''Sakura Taisen'' spends surprisingly little time in battle. Instead it focuses on first the background and establishment of the Imperial Defense Forces, the recruitment of its members, and follows that with close studies of the various characters. The OVAs' weak point is that they are intended to supplement the video games on which they are based, rather than expand on them for the non-gamer. As a result, entire plotlines are left hanging because they are resolved in the games. This can make the first six-episode series ''very'' unfulfilling unless the viewer is more concerned about the characters than about their situation.
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The second series barely even mentions the demon conflict, instead focusing ''entirely'' on specific incidents within the lives of the Hanagumi and jumping among the time periods covered in the various video games. These stories are more self-contained and satisfying, and showcase the sense of "family" among the Hanagumi. In both series the animation is outstanding, and the English dubs (produced by [[ADV Films]]) are quite good, featuring a cast that manages to deliver the multinational/multicultural feel of the team quite well.
As of early 2005, there are also a third and fourth set of OVAs, focusing on the new Hanagumi team established in Paris, France. The third series has been [https://web.archive.org/web/20070509173927/http://www.sakurataisen.tv/ licensed] by [[
In addition to the OVAs, there is a movie, released in 2004. Like the episodes of the second series, the film is also a self-contained story in the same continuity (no [[Alternate Continuity]] here, thankfully) and leaves no hanging plot threads behind; the new character introduced here even goes on to appear in the later ''Sakura Taisen V'' game. The movie does assume you have familiarity with the characters and game timeline (providing no explanation as to why Ohgami isn't even present for almost the entire movie). The movie also substantially expands the world of ''Sakura Taisen'' beyond Japan, exploring in greater depth the dynamics of the prototype team fielded in wartime Europe. The movie takes place just after the end of the third game (Paris) and before the beginning of the fourth (which ended the "Tokyo arc"). A recent production, it makes extensive use of CGI effects, particularly for the ''kohbu''.
Note, however, that [[Geneon]] (then known as Pioneer) licensed and dubbed the movie instead of [[ADV Films]], and the voice actors they cast
There is also a TV series version which is an [[Alternate Continuity]] from the OVAs. Aired in Japan in 2000, it follows the plotline of the first game but with multiple (and ''major'') alterations, particularly in the personalities of the villains and some of the principals themselves. The TV series bears an [[Darker and Edgier|overall darker tone than even the original games]]. Despite being self-contained and largely separate from the OVAs and even somewhat from the franchise's personality, the TV series fails to solidly establish the Hanagumi's characters, almost unconsciously expecting the viewer to already know (to an extent) who's who. In the end it largely ends up an exercise in angering fans, but is a fair introduction for series neophytes. The animation betrays the lower quality typical of OVA-to-TV transitions but introduces a consistent, slightly altered, character design style and maintains the franchise's reputation for stellar voice acting and original music (in Japanese).
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Most recently is the manga, which was released in Japan from 2003 to 2008 and adapts the first game again, without the drastic alterations of the TV series. Most of it has been released in English by [[Tokyo Pop]].
An enjoyable, fun, and well-heeled franchise, ''Sakura Taisen'' is a legendary license and is one of the few franchises to make a truly successful expansion into nearly every form of media. The series' voice actors regularly performed (up to 2008) in sold-out Broadway-style "live shows" and radio dramas (all set in the ''Sakura Taisen'' universe), and a ''Sakura Taisen'' cafe/store stood in the SEGA amusement center in Tokyo until its closing in March 2008.
''Sakura Taisen'' remains a hallmark of anime culture, something of a paragon of what "old-school" shows were like, with upbeat, almost sickeningly positive characters and plots, ridiculous amounts of merchandise, and very little irony.
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Today the series appears to be in an indefinite hiatus as a result of weak sales of the fifth title and its tie-in merchandise and anime, but every now and then rumors will come out of Sega of a sixth entry in the series or a revival.
A [[Sakura Taisen
----
{{franchisetropes}}
== A-E ==
* [[Alternate Continuity]]: The TV series is in a different continuity than the games and [[OVA]]s.
* [[Alternate History]] It's uncertain exactly when the world of ''Sakura Taisen'' diverged from ours, though it may have been several centuries ago; at one point in the manga, Yoneda finds references in an old history text to a war fought between Japan's samurai and supernatural enemies resembling the demonic entities. Possibly a case of Parallel History, as many nations and events seem to be identical or similar to our world; for example, Yoneda is cited as being a great hero of the Russo-Japanese War, and Maria comes to the team as a veteran of the Russian Civil War.
* [[Americans Are Cowboys]]: The primary love interest (and thus the most promoted character) in ''So Long, My Love'' is Gemini Sunrise - Texan samurai cowgirl. Though she is far from the only American character in the game as it is based on the New York branch.
* [[Ancestral Weapon]]: Sakura's sword, Ayame/Kaede's sword, Yoneda's sword, Yamasaki's sword.
* [[Anime Accent Absence]]: Averted in the dubs of the various OVAs and TV series, but strikingly obvious by comparison in the [[Geneon|Pioneer/Geneon]] dub of the movie.
* [[The Anime of the Game]]
* [[Anime Theme Song]]:
* [[An Axe to Grind]]: Glycine's weapon, a poleaxe to be precise.
* [[Badass Creed]]: From the theme song.
{{quote|
* [[Battle Aura]]
* [[Battle Royale With Cheese]]:
* [[Bicep
** Kohran in the page image.
* [[Big Damn Heroes]]: Things are looking bleak for the PariGumi in Chapter 7, when out of nowhere comes {{spoiler|Sakura, Sumire and Iris in their kohbus}}, and starts to wipe the floor with the baddies, despite being underpowered (compared to the Kohbu F models)! Also doubles as a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]].
** The PariGumi gets to pull this one off after {{spoiler|Soletta and Leni}} are captured by the enemy; only {{spoiler|Kayama}} ends up being the one to actually save the both of them.
** Again with the PariGumi, only this time, they come to the Hanagumi's rescue in ''Sakura Taisen 4''. Of course, this was only after Ohgami's Paris heroine convinced him to order the PariGumi to launch and come to their aid.
* [[Blade on a Stick]]
* [[Bling Bling Bang]]: Rikkarita\Rosita's pistols in ''Sakura Taisen V''.
* [[Bokukko]]: Kanna.
* [[Boobs of Steel]]: Even at 198 cm tall and very muscular, Kanna still easily qualifies, as is made apparent any time she wears a tank top.
* [[Bridge Bunny]]: The Wind Division.
* [[The Brigadier]]:
* [[Broken Pedestal]]:
* [[Brown Note]]:
* [[But Not Too Foreign]]:
* [[Calling Your Attacks]]
* [[The Captain]]:
* [[Cherry Blossoms]]:
* [[Chilly Reception]]:
* [[Circling Birdies]]:
* [[City of Canals]]
* [[Color Character]]: "Red Lad", hero of one of the [[Story Within a Story|Stories Within the Story]] (and namesake of ''Sakura Taisen''{{'}}s production company).
* [[Color-Coded for Your Convenience]]: Very much so. Not only their uniforms, but also their outfits, and sometimes even their special attacks, to an extent.
* [[Combination Attack]]
* [[Conspicuous CG]]:
* [[Continuity Nod]]:
** In ''Sakura Taisen V'', Gemini mentions that she once saved America with the help of some friends back home some time before that game started. Assuming she's referring to the events of ''Episode V-0'', Western players are unlikely to get the reference.
** Sumire's first scene in ''Sakura Taisen 1'' has her asking Ohgami to get a replacement fork for the one she dropped.
** The angel who shows up during Erica's special skill in ''Sakura Taisen 3'' looks rather familiar.
** Ohgami asks why the Baragumi are still staying with the Hanagumi, and their response to his question is pretty much familiar if you've ever heard Geki!Tei in full.
** One of the training Blanches seen in the ''Sakura Taisen 3'' OVA has markings that Douglas-Stewart was the main manufacturer. Guess who gets involved as a major bad guy in the animated movie?
* [[Cool
* [[Cool Train]]: Apparently mandatory for the series.
* [[Cross-Popping Veins]]
* [[Darker and Edgier]]: TV series, especially in the first few episodes.
* [[Dating Sim]]
* [[Demonic Invaders]]
* [[Determinator]]: Everyone to an extent, but mostly Ohgami. In ''Sakura Taisen 4'', there is a part where the boss disables everyone's kohbus, so everyone else is down except for him, and he has a few seconds left before he himself gets taken out of the fight. So what does he do? Fly right into the enemy's face, stab at it with his kohbu's swords, then get out of the pilot's seat moments after his kohbu has been totally wrecked, only to stab his sword at the monster's face. Followed by an [[Unflinching Walk]] out of the explosion that occurs.
* [[Dialogue Tree]]:
* [[Dual
* [[Dub Name Change]]:
* [[Eagle Land]]: The fifth game; type-1 to a ludicrous degree.
* [[Evil Is Hammy]]: ''Every single villain'' in the fifth game.
* [[Explosive Overclocking]]:
* [[Extraordinarily Empowered Girl]]: All of them.
== F-J ==
* [[Face Heel Turn]]: {{spoiler|Ayame}}.
* [[Festival Episode]]
* [[Fighter Launching Sequence]]
* [[Filler]]: The [[
* [[Five
* [[Fluffy Fashion Feathers]]: Some of the stage outfits.
* [[Framed for Heroism]]
* [[Gatling Good]]: Erica's upgraded Kohbu F2 sports a gatling gun. Still comes with a cross.
* [[Gay Paree]]: The third game.
* [[Gender Flip]]: In 2010, Red Entertainment created a game called Scared Rider Xechs. It's a reverse
* [[Girls Love Stuffed Animals]]:
* [[Good
** And for the ladies Ohgami looks pretty damn good in his uniforms.
* [[Gratuitous English]]:
* [[Growing Up Sucks]]
* [[Hard Work Montage]]:
* [[Harem Hero]]: This series probably originated this trope with Ichiro Ohgami.
* [[Hermetic Magic]]
* [[Honest Axe]]: Rikkarita in ''Sakura Taisen V'' is fond of asking criminals, "[[Bling Bling Bang|The gold gun or the silver gun...]] which do you want to get shot with?"
* [[Hot-Blooded]]: Ohgami, Sakura, Glycine. Ohgami even gets this as a rank 3.
* [[Humans Are the Real Monsters]]: {{spoiler|[[Oda Nobunaga]]}} certainly thinks so in ''Sakura Taisen V''.
* [[Humongous Mecha]]
* [[Impossibly Cool Clothes]]
* [[Impossibly Low Neckline]]:
* [[
== K-O ==
* [[Katanas Are Just Better]]: Quite a few characters, most notably Sakura.
* [[Ki Attacks]]
* [[Late Arrival Spoiler]]:
* [[Left Hanging]]
* [[Leitmotif]]:
* [[Let's Play]]: Spirit Armor's LP of ''Sakura Wars I'' has been ongoing for ''four years''{{when}} and is nearing completion. The man has pledged to do ''Sakura Wars I-V'', so at this rate, he very well might have a ''Sakura Wars VI'' or even ''Sakura Wars VII'' to deal with by the time he finishes ''Sakura Wars V'' ([[Marth Debuted in Smash Bros|Although that last one might be unnecessary]]). The LP can be found [http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=2564759 here]. He literally went through and ''translated'' the ''entire game'' for your enjoyment, so you'd better be appreciative.
** [[The Abridged Series]]: ''Inverted'': in addition to the literal translation of actual game dialogue, Spirit Armor includes additional dialogue in most scenes that [[Abridged Series Tropes|carries on in the finest traditions of Abridged Series]].
* [[Magical Girl]]
* [[Magic From Technology]]
* [[Mask Power]]
* [[A Mech by Any Other Name]]: The Kohbu.
* [[Mentors]]
* [[Multinational Team]]
* [[The Musical]]:
** Also noteworthy is the special stage show (and [[OVA]]) to say good bye to Sumire and her voice actress [[Michie Tomizawa]], when Tomizawa decided to leave the franchise.
*** Technically speaking though that didn't happen so much musical
* [[My Kung Fu Is Stronger Than Yours]]
* [[Ninja]]
* [[Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot]]: [[The Musical|Musical theatre]] + [[Humongous Mecha]] + [[Turn
* [[
* [[Old Save Bonus]]: Use the Same Memory Card on your [[PlayStation 2]] that you saved ''Sakura Wars 1'' with to play ''Sakura Wars 3'' and Episode 5-0, and oh boy, you'll be in for a world of fun!!
* [[The One Guy]]: Ohgami for ''Sakura Taisen 1-4'' and Taiga for ''Sakura Taisen V''.
* [[Out of the Inferno]]:
* [[OVA]]
== P-T ==
* [[Peacock Girl]]: At least one set of the stage outfits.
* [[Pillar of Light]]
* [[Pimped
* [[Plucky Girl]]
* [[Powered Armor]]: Ohbu, Kohbu, Eisenkleid, Jinbu, STAR, etc.
* [[The Power of Acting]]: Sumire.
* [[Power Walk]]: After the PariGumi's last mission.
* [[Pre-Explosion Glow]]
* [[Pretty in Mink]]: Soletta, Lachette, Glycine.
* [[Psychic Powers]]: Most everyone, with Iris and Erica being the most overt. Diana also is supposed to have such strong powers that they're physically harmful to her, but she rarely has overt displays of them.
* [[Real Life Writes the Plot]]: The [[OVA]] ''Sakura Taisen: Sumire'' told the story of Sumire's retirement. This performance of Sumire was [[Michie Tomizawa]]'s last role before she retired.
* [[Redheaded Hero]]: A numbers of the girls are readheads. And depending on the endings, this turns into [[Heroes Want Redheads]].
* [[Refuge in Cool]]: Everything from punching acid out of the way from launching robots and airships from underneath city streets.
* [[Refuge in Audacity]]: Yes, there is a half-mile-long airship hangar underneath the centre of Tokyo, and all the houses are built on top of the hangar doors. Also, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris is {{spoiler|a giant revolver cannon that launches Kohbus}}. Then there's the New York branch, whose flagship is launched via a giant ''crossbow'' hidden underneath Times Square. And the Statue of Liberty is a missile launcher.
* [[Relationship Values]]
* [[The Roaring Twenties]]
* [[Rollerblade Good]]: Strangely enough, while kohbus have wheels built in their feet, only Glycine is shown using this feature in both combat and cutscenes.
* [[Rousseau Was Right]]:
* [[Running Gag]]: Erica is repeatedly arrested by the police for running around in town with her machinegun. Also Erica's tendency to smash her head against poles, doors, or whatever nearby.
* [[
* [[Samurai Cowboy]]: Gemini.
* [[Schizo-Tech]]: 1920s psychotronic steam-tech battlesuits.
** At one point in the manga, an announcement is made at the beginning of a play: "Also, please turn off your steam mobile phones..."
* [[Secret Test of Character]]:
** When Ohgami is first transferred to Tokyo, he's only told about the theatrical side of the Hanagumi, as a test to see whether he's compatible with the group outside of battle, and the kind of person they'd be willing to follow in battle.
** Also, near the end of ''Sakura Taisen V'', Mr. Sunnyside {{spoiler|informs Taiga that he will have to sacrifice one of the members of the Hoshigumi (Star Division) if he is to defeat Nobunaga. In the end, it turns out that the correct choice (and the one Taiga makes) is to ignore Sunnyside and vow to keep everyone alive}}.
* [[Shiny Midnight Black]]: Soletta.
* [[Show Within a Show]]:
* [[Sliding Scale of Idealism vs. Cynicism]]:
** That said, ''Sakura Taisen 3'' shifts matters a bit further towards cynicism in the introduction of previously mentioned [[Boxed Crook]] Lobelia, brought onto the team in exchange for a reduction of her ''thousand
{{quote|
* [[Split Personality]]:
* [[Steampunk]]
* [[Suspiciously Similar Substitute]]:
* [[Symbolic Blood]]:
* [[Takarazuka]]:
** They are also partly based on the Schochiku Kagekidan,
* [[Team Shot]]
* [[Theme Naming]]:
* [[The Thing That Goes Doink]]
* [[Time Compression Montage]]
* [[Title Drop]]: Yoneda's soliloquy at the end of ''Sakura Taisen 4''. Also doubles as a [[Tear Jerker]].
* [[Turn
== U-Z ==
* [[The Unwanted Harem]]: Ohgami's relationship with the girls—a leftover from the "dating sim" part of the original games.
* [[Virgin Power]]: ''Hinted'' at, though never explicitly stated. The main theme ''does'' state that the girls are maidens, and even a member of the PariGumi who gives off an "experienced" vibe — Lobelia — is, in her OAV focus story, explicitly stated to have not done the sorts of things that men and women normally do together when she took men up to her room, and is compared to the Virgin Mary.
* [[Vitriolic Best Buds]]: Sumire and Kanna could be the poster children for this trope.
* [[Weapon of Choice]]:
* [[Weddings in Japan]]:
* [[You Fail History Forever]]: There was no World War I, yet the Russian revolution of 1917 still somehow happened
** There's also alcohol being served openly in the US during Prohibition, although it could be argued that in this timeline Prohibition probably never happened.
** In the fifth game, it's stated that [[Jazz]] originated in Harlem. While it's true that Jazz was especially ''popular'' in Harlem, it was really invented in New Orleans.
{{reflist}}
[[Category:
[[Category:Anime]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Geneon]]
[[Category:Video Game]]
[[Category:Video Games of the 2000s]]
[[Category:Video Games of the 2010s]]
[[Category:Dating Sim]]
[[Category:Microsoft Windows]]
[[Category:Romance Game]]
[[Category:Sega]]
[[Category:Strategy RPG]]
[[Category:Trans Arts]]
[[Category:Multiple Works Need Separate Pages]]
[[Category:Steampunk Works]]
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