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Full Metal Panic! (フルメタル・パニック!, Furumetaru Panikku!?, often abbreviated to FMP!) is a series of light novels written by Shoji Gatoh and illustrated by Shikidouji. The series follows Sousuke Sagara, a member of the covert anti-terrorist mercenary group Mithril, tasked with protecting Kaname Chidori, a spirited Japanese high school girl.

Individual chapters are published on Monthly Dragon Magazine, followed by a paperback compilation released by Kadokawa Shoten's Fujimi Fantasia Bunko. The novels are split between stories focusing on Sousuke's mission as a soldier of Mithril and comedic side stories centered on his life at Jindai High School.

Full Metal Panic! has been adapted to other media a number of times, including an animated television series by GONZO in 2002.

[edit] Overview
Full Metal Panic! written by Shoji Gatoh and illustrated by Shikidouji, serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Dragon Magazine since 1998.

The main story develops its characters carefully, and is the shadow or "unusual" events of the protagonist's life. These stories feature the mercenary group Mithril, their mobile base amphibious submarine TDD-1 Tuatha de Danaan, giant humanoid powered suits called Arm Slaves, and the various missions to which Sousuke Sagara is assigned. A highlight of the series is a serious and semi-realistic view of humanoid robotic weapons on the battlefield. The Arm Slave has significant consideration in its portrayal, with explanations given for its power source, operations, maintenance and pilot user interface. The existence of such advanced weaponry and equipment is explained through Black Technology.

The comedic segments are the contrasting "normal life" portrayal of a high school student in Tokyo. These segments are in stark contrast to the more serious main story; explosions are symbolic and humorous, and no death results from these visual gags, while in the main story characters are heavily injured and/or perish when hit by a bullet.

This has led to two discrete series of books within the narrative: the collected short stories, and the full novels. As of April 2007, there have been nine novels and ten short story collections published. There is also a significant number of short stories that have not yet been published in a collection, making the stories difficult to find outside back issues of the magazine. The main storyline is still continuing, with the latest novel, "Come Make My Day" released on March 2007. Shoji Gatoh's blog states that the next (& possibly final) novel has been pushed back, and that there is no specific date and name for the moment. It will probably begin production next year.

The author's handling and balance between the serious character-driven plot of the full plot arcs, contrasted with the caricature portrayal of the same characters in the comedy arcs, is one of the most lauded aspects of the series

Manga
Full Metal Panic! was adapted into a manga on several discrete occasions. The first series was serialized in Newtype by Retsu Tateo, titled “Full Metal Panic”. This is collected in nine volumes, published by Kadokawa Comics. Much like the novel series, a parallel series was written by the same Retsu Tateo, titled “Full Metal Panic!: Comic Mission”. As of June 2006, there are five volumes published. A third and most recent manga adaptation is “Full Metal Panic! Σ (sigma)”, written by Hiroshi Ueda. As of May 2007, there are 5 volumes published in Japanese.

Anime
The anime series originally aired in 2002, produced by GONZO Digimation, after its real premiere date was canceled because of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York. The series was licensed for North American release in 2003 by ADV Films, and the manga released by ADV Manga. The first three of the novels form the basis for the Full Metal Panic! anime.

The animated series follows the events and relationships surrounding Sousuke Sagara, a professional soldier of a covert, international, anti-terrorist mercenary group named Mithril, and Kaname Chidori, a spirited Japanese high school student that, unbeknownst to her, is more than she seems.

Due to his Japanese heritage and young age, Sgt. Sousuke Sagara is selected to go undercover as a transfer student and secretly remain Kaname's undetected bodyguard. With orders only to protect her from abduction by an unknown hostile force, neither Sousuke nor his two fellow Mithril soldiers assigned to the mission - Sgt. Kurz Weber and Sgt. Major Melissa Mao - are told any further details except to remain undetected and avoid drawing attention to their charge.

Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
Main article: Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
Also known as FMP? Fumoffu, the side-story was broadcast in 2003. It focuses almost entirely on the high school life of Sagara and Chidori, highlighted in the short story collections. The series was a departure from the serious tone set in the first anime adaptation, with its slapstick humor and comedy focus.

Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid
Main article: Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid
A third anime series was produced by Kyoto Animation in July 2005. It is the proper sequel to the first adaptation, following the events of the two "Full Metal Panic! End of Day By Day" novels. A Second Raid OVA, focusing Teletha Tessa Testarossa, was released on June 2006.