The Space Pirate Broadcasting Station, also known as the Underground Pirate Broadcasting System and the Space Pirates Channel, is a space pirate broadcasting station in the Space Channel 5 series, which is infamously known for raiding and interrupting broadcasts. The Space Pirates Broadcasting Station is one of the seven known Channels in the era of Space Channel 5 and it is also a Channel 1, Channel 5, Channel 42 and Channel 88 frequent concurrent in the race for the scoop.
About[]
General Information[]
It is an illegal (and also unlicensed by the Space Broadcasting Association) broadcasting station that doesn’t focus on earning money.[1] During the events of Space Channel 5, it was relatively unknown, with not many people having heard about it. Likewise, many details about it, such as how many persons work for it and how one goes about obtaining a job as a space pirate, are unknown. Much like their leader Jaguar, members of the Space Pirate Broadcasting Station are committed to reporting the truth. Their reports are said to be well documented and known for providing honest information.[1] They will not never tolerate scoundrels like Blank nor rely on hearsay.
It's seem to have grown in popularity since the Morolian Invasion and Blank Incident, though, to what degree is unsure as they don't release their ratings, that is if they keep track of them at all given their lack of financial interest.[2]
It is hard to tell what exactly the Space Pirates' logo is with the only comments given to it being "mysterious" and "super funky."[1] However, it seems to be a weird happy "face" with two antennas transmitting electricity to each other. In the first game, this "face" is smiling, in Space Channel 5 VR, this "face" now has angry eyes and an evil smile.
Members[]
- Jaguar: Leader and lead reporter for the Space Pirates. A former Channel 5 employee.
- The Jaguars (Kell, Bello and Soon-soon): An elite reporting team formed by three young women. Despite Jaguar's status as leader, he sees the Jaguars as equal to him.
- Jaguar Squad: Members who back-up higher ranked reporters, such as Jaguar, Kell, Bello and Soon-soon.
- "Lug" Messing: A large male Space Pirate and one of Jaguar's back-ups. He is responsible for singing for Jaguar when the latter introduces himself.
- Xavier Gaboot: A male Space Pirate and another one of Jaguar's back-ups who assists his leader on stopping other reporters from getting the scoop.
- Bianca Bardot: A female Space Pirate works as a cockpit engineer for the Space Pirates. She’ll rush into the front lines to support Jaguar if he's ever in a pinch.
- "Cold" Heat Malone: Another Jaguar back-up who plays saxophone.
Alternate Universe Employees[]
- Ulala-J: Ulala from another universe that works as a reporter for the Space Pirates.
- Jaga-moro: Morolians from another universe that back up Ulala-J.
Series and Shows[]
- Jaguar's unnamed report show: Just like Ulala, Jaguar also has a report show. However, its name is never revealed.
- Jaguar 64: Apparently, during “Urgent Special News Programs” a short film about Jaguar plays between certain broadcasts. It has no official title, but is unofficially titled after Jaguar and his year of birth.[1]
- The Jaguars' unnamed report show: Kell, Bello and Soon-soon, presumably have a show of their own, considering they were racing against Ulala to get the scoop in the third report of Space Channel 5 VR. However, its name is never revealed.
- Jaguar's Jaggin' Jaguar Show: Jaguar's In-Game Profile in Space Channel 5 VR reveals that he has a new show which is exploding in popularity called "Jaguar's Jaggin' Jaguar Show".
Vehicles[]
The Bad Tuning as seen in Space Channel 5 VR.
- Bad Tuning: The Space Pirates broadcast and go after scoops using a large black-colored ship known as the Bad Tuning, which is piloted by Jaguar and Bianca Bardot. It can shoot laser beams capable of destroying asteroids and is also able of camouflage as of its latest upgrade. Bad Tuning was used by the Space Pirates in the third reports of the first game and the VR game in a race against other reporters to get the scoop. Bad Tuning is called "Rogueship-A-Go-Go" in the English version of Space Channel 5.
Jaguar and the Jaguar Squad on their space boards.
- Jaguar's Space Board: Jaguar can be seen riding a unique space board in Space Channel 5.
- Jaguar Squad's Space Boards: In Space Channel 5 the Space Pirates can be seen riding hoverboards during Report 3.
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The Jaguars' space board.
- Jaguars' Space Boards: Besides piloting the Bad Tuning, Kell, Bello and Soon-soon also have a hoverboard each. They only appeared using their hoverboards in the third report from Space Channel 5 VR, when they attacked Ulala, Roo and Kie.
Microphones[]
Curiously, none of the Space Pirates seem to use microphones.
Antenna[]
The Space Pirates' Antenna in the Ballistic Groove Gun.
The Space Pirates' antenna is shown in Report 6 in Space Channel 5: Part 2, being one of the many antennas stolen by Purge to be used for the Ballistic Groove Gun. Given that Bad Tuning is their main source of broadcasting, the antenna was likely taken from the ship. The antenna itself is rather simplistic: a black and white antenna.
Headquarters[]
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The inside of the Bad Tuning.
Bad Tuning acts the Space Pirate's headquarters. It is their base of operations and many Space Pirates actually live on it.[1] So far, the only location inside Bad Tuning shown is a small control panel, which appears in Space Channel 5 VR during the game's cutscenes prior Reports 01, 03 and 04.
History[]
Space Channel 5[]
Report 2: Spaceship S.O.S.!
The Space Pirate Broadcasting Station steals Ulala's show when she was reporting at the Luxury Spacecraft G. Jaguar fights against Ulala in a dance battle then leaves the scene. Later, the Space Pirates make a small appearance prior to the Morolina's battle, where they are seen going after the Morolians Mothership.
Report 3: Catch the Scoop!
The Space Pirates Broadcasting Station competes against other reporters in the race to get the scoop. They team with Channel 5 to take down Morolian Monroe and reveal the truth.
Report 4: Evil in the Galaxy Revealed!
Jaguar appears throughout the report to support Ulala. Later, during the fight against Giant Evila and Blank, other members of the Space Pirate Broadcasting Station appear to give her support.
Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda Funky News Flash![]
Report 3: Space Pirates Showdown
The Space Pirate Broadcasting Station, lead by Kell, Bello and Soon-soon in the report, competes with Ulala and the other reporters to reach Glitter's Spaceship at the Meteorite Area.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Ken Okazaki was in charge of designing Jaguar, the Space Pirates, and their logo.[3][4][5]
- An early document for Project D.G., the project that would later become Space Channel 5, reveals several initial concepts for the Space Pirate Broadcasting Station.[6] Many of these concepts would later be changed or go completely unused.
- Much like their final iteration, they broadcast via guerilla tactics.
- The Space Pirate Broadcasting Station was initially called Space Pirate Channel 69 (宇宙海賊チャンネル69). Interestingly, several promotional materials also affiliates the station with Channel 69.[7][8][9]
- Jaguar works for the Space Pirates, but is not their leader. Their leader is instead a 58 year old woman named Domi, who took over after her husband's passing. She dresses in elegant clothes unfitting for a Space Pirate.[10]
- There are several other named character who work for the station.
- Reverseman (リバースマン), a 32 year old man and the former reporter for the station. Currently directs the backup. He was injured in the spaceship accident that occurred 10 years ago.
- Blast (ブラスト), a large 35 year old man and the sound operator. He uses an old radio-cassette player.
- Wave 1 (ウェーブ 1), a 19 year old boy and the camera operator. Wave 2's twin brother. Went to the same high school as Noize.
- Wave 2 (ウェーブ 2), a 19 year old boy and the multi-engineer. Wave 1's twin brother. Went to the same high school as Noize.
- Howling (ハウリング), a 24 year old woman who is in charge of steering. She is Domi's real daughter. Her concept was likely reused for Bianca Bardot.
- The the Space Channel 5 Gyun Gyun Book and the Space Channel 5 Part 2 Sugoku Sugoi Guide Book reveal that:
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Space Channel 5: Gyun Gyun Book p.32
- ↑ Space Channel 5 Gyun Gyun Book p. 28
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Space_Channel5/status/1405404531383435265
- ↑ https://retrocdn.net/images/1/1e/DCM_JP_20001103_2000-35.pdf
- ↑ https://retrocdn.net/images/e/e1/DCM_JP_20001117_2000-36ex.pdf
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Space_Channel5/status/1531257254858461184
- ↑ https://youtu.be/xB9P6AXM_Ac?t=166
- ↑ Dreamcast Magazine (Japan), vol. 39, Dec. 03 1999, p. 114-115
- ↑ Dreamcast Magazine (Japan), vol. 39ex, Dec. 10 1999, p. 122
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20010308061141/http://www.spacechannel5.com/takumi/page1.html
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Space Channel 5 Part 2 Sugoku Sugoi Guide Book p.11