Angel (found Ziv International English dub of "Lunlun the Flower Child" anime series; 1980)

The title card from the ZIV International dub.

Status: Found

Date found: 03 Aug 2018

Found by: TVFromThePast, nappingbob

Angel is an English adaptation of the 1979 magical girl anime Lunlun the Flower Child (花の子ルンルン, Hana no Ko Runrun), produced by ZIV International in 1980 whom later also produced and licensed Harmony Gold's version in 1985 as a compressed film for a couple of episodes. It was broadcast on HBO and covered the first four episodes of the original 50-episode series. The original Japanese score was omitted and it was replaced with a funky disco score by Mark Mercury under the name The Bullets. In 1980, it was released on a vinyl record by ZIV International, featuring the first two episodes, "The Flower Child" and "Angel & the Magic Key".^[1]

In 1982, it was released on VHS by Family Home Entertainment under the name The Flower Angel and featured the third and fourth episodes according to YouTuber kenny lauderdale from the comment section though this has to be opened via a Google+ account.^[2] In the same year, it was released on VHS and Betamax by Media Home Entertainment. Five years later in 1987, it was released on VHS by Master Vision in the UK under the name Angel Cloud and once again featured the first two episodes. Twenty-two years later in 2009, the two episodes were featured in a DVD compilation called Fairy Tale Adventures. Along with the new score, the characters were renamed to Angel (Lunlun), Cathy (Cateau), Wendal (Nuveau), Melicia (Togenishia) and Ivan (Yabouki). However, according to the back of the 1982 Media Home Entertainment VHS and Betamax box, Cateau and Nuveau were named Kati and Poocho respectively. This change originates from the ZIV record album (though the cat is named Katie instead of Kati).

Availability

As of 2018, it is unknown if ZIV International finished the other 46 episodes into English when it aired on HBO and since VCR's weren't common back then, the English dubbed episodes are mostly considered lost. However, the Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Italian dubs were based on the English dub and the Marc Mercury score was left intact in these countries. Also, all the countries mentioned covered all 50 episodes.

When it comes to it on the internet, the first episodes were uploaded on YouTube on January 5th, 2009,^[3] but the channel was terminated and the videos were gone as a result. As of early 2018, the episodes have not been uploaded to YouTube, Dailymotion or Archive. However, some of these releases can be found on eBay and Amazon.com.

Most of the information of the dub can be found through a review by Anime Bargain Bin Reviews.^[4]

On June 7th, 2018, Facebook user TVFromThePast recently received the Angel Cloud VHS from eBay and was in the process of converting the VHS to a DVD. On June 10th, 2018, TVFromThePast announced that he would upload the two ZIV dubbed episodes onto YouTube or on his Facebook page^[5] in the coming weeks in July. On August 3rd, 2018, he posted the full Angel Cloud VHS onto his Facebook account. It was later uploaded to YouTube and Archive.org.

Sadly in early 2019, the TVFromThePast's YouTube and Facebook accounts were terminated by multiple copyright claims and the full VHS tape of Angel was deleted. However, Archive user southpark456 saved the video and uploaded on the same day as the YouTube upload by TVFromThePast.^[6]

On December 18th, 2019, YouTuber Kenny Lauderdale uploaded a compilation of "bee" bits from what is apparently the third episode of the ZIV International English dub of The Flower Angel.^[7] At the time, he also confirmed that it all came from an obscure VHS that also has an English dub of the fourth episode. It is unknown if he'll upload it in full on YouTube, Archive or on another platform. On June 2nd, 2020, Kenny Lauderdale uploaded more footage from the third episode of the ZIV International English dub of The Flower Angel as a sequel to the original video he uploaded in late December 2019. On June 6th, 2020, Archive user nappingbob uploaded the full 1982 Family Home Entertainment VHS which contains the third and fourth episodes. ^[8]

On June 5, 2022, YouTube user yaoiboi92 B-sides uploaded a digital rip of the ZIV International record, which was lent by Soundcloud user Happy Cola 赤ちゃん. ^[9] The record was separated into two videos. The voice cast is different compared to the initial dub on VHS, but the music consists of the same BGM from the Bullets.

Gallery

The front of the 1980 LP vinyl record by ZIV International.
The back of the 1980 LP vinyl record by ZIV International.
The 1982 Family Home Entertainment poster featuring The Flower Angel release.
The front of the 1982 US VHS release by Family Home Entertainment.
The back of the 1982 US VHS release by Family Home Entertainment.
The box top of the 1982 US VHS release by Family Home Entertainment.
The 1982 US VHS tape by Family Home Entertainment.
The front of the 1982 US VHS release by Media Home Entertainment.
The back of the 1982 US VHS release by Media Home Entertainment.
The 1982 US VHS tape by Media Home Entertainment.
The 1982 US Betamax release by Media Home Entertainment.
The front of the 1987 UK VHS release by Master Vision.
The back of the 1987 UK VHS release by Master Vision.
The side of the 1987 UK VHS release by Master Vision.
The front of the 2009 Fairy Tale Adventures DVD.
The back of the 2009 Fairy Tale Adventures DVD which contains the two Angel episodes.