Should Cartoon Network have put this on Toonami with young audiences watching everyday? I doubt it, but they did
a good job editing all the good stuff like blood and cursing out. Outlaw Star raised a few eyebrows after that
second episode, let me tell you! But one has to admit that it's a great series for 26 episodes.
The series debuted in it's home country of Japan in 1996 until I think 1997. Cartoon Network got a hold of it in
2001, when OS debuted on January 15, 2001. That first episode was really nothing, just a bunch of shooting
(Gundam Wing had a ton of that, too). But the second episode came on and I though, "Whoa, I know the girl ain't
wearing that stuff in the uncut!" Editors had put a bra and panties on the android girl, Melfina, and Cartoon Network
was putting this in front of kids who hadn't even had sex-ed. yet! Brilliant, guys, just brilliant. Teach my kid
brother about sex for his health teacher, why don't ya?
Anyway, the storyline follows 21-year-old bounty hunter Gene Starwind and his 11-year-old sidekick Jim Hawking on a crazy
journey through space to the Galactic Leyline. But before their journey starts, they meet Hilda, an outlaw who is being
chase by space pirates. Because the guys help this woman who lives on both sides of the law, the pirates go after them
as well.
Hiding out at an abandoned building, Hilda begins working on a briefcase she's been holding. In it is the android
girl Melfina, who has yet to be activated. Gene is left to protect Melfina, who can't be moved during resusitation.
When the bio- andriod wakes up, she's stark naked and very emotional. She doesn't seem to care that there is a man in
front of her, looking at her nude form. Jim and Hilda return after finding Hilda's spaceship, Horace. Jim has
Gene remove his cloak and cover Melfina with it until they get on the ship, where Melfina is outfitted with a spacesuit.
After stopping at Blue Heaven, an outlaw hangout, the quartet set out to find a living grappler ship, the XGP.
In an inevitable battle, Hilda dies and Horace is blown up, but Gene (who happens to be very phobic in space), Jim
and Melfina get the XGP. Melfina turns out to be the XGP's navigation system and the gang go back to Blue Heaven to
paint and register the ship. Gene names the ship the Outlaw Star, much to the approval of Jim, Melfina and
the on-board computer, Gilliam.
Trouble follows them everywhere. The McDougall brothers Ron and Harry, who killed Gene's father six years
before we met our heroes in front of 15-year-old Gene follow them to try to destroy the Outlaw Star and kidnap Melfina.
Harry, the youngest McDougall, is quite taken with Melfina and tries to win her over while also trying to carry out his mission.
Then there's Azanko, a Tao priest and one of the pirates. He'll do anything to get the XGP and Melfina so he can get
to the Leyline.
While trying to make ends meet, stay alive and get to the Leyline themselves, Gene, Jim and Melfina befriend Aisha Clan-Clan,
a Katarl-Katarl and Suzuka, a beautiful assassin. This gang of misfits makes it to the Leyline, getting themselves into
hard places along the way. At the end of the series, Gene and Melfina defeat Azanko together and become a couple.
What more could you want after surviving a deadly battle, huh?
