The Big O (THE ビッグオー) is a Japanese animated television series created by director Kazuyoshi Katayama and designer Keiichi Sato for Sunrise Studios. The writing staff was assembled by the series' head writer, Chiaki J. Konaka.
The television series is designed as a tribute to Japanese and Western shows from the 1960s and 1970s. The series is done in the style of film noir and combines the feel of a detective show with the mecha genre of anime. The setpieces are reminiscent of Toho monster movies and the score is an eclectic mix of styles and musical homages.
The Big O premiered 13 October 1999 on WOWOW satellite television. It finished its run on 19 January 2000. The English language version premiered on Cartoon Network on 2 April 2001. Originally a 13-episode series, positive fan response internationally resulted in a second season co-produced by Cartoon Network, Sunrise, and Bandai Visual. Season two premiered on Japan's SUN-TV on January 2003, with the American premiere taking place seven months later.
English Voice Cast
Main Cast
- Roger Smith - Steven Blum
- Norman - Alan Oppenheimer (eps14-26), Richard Barnes (eps1-13)
- Dan Dastun - Peter Lurie
- R. Dorothy - Lia Sargent
Secondary Cast
- Alan Gabriel - Crispin Freeman
- Alex Rosewater - Michael Forest
- Angel - Wendee Lee
- Beck - Robert Buchholz
- Big Ear - Jamieson Price
- Gordon Rosewater - William Knight
- Schwarzwald - Michael McConnohie
- Vera Ronstadt - Carolyn Hennessey
Minor Cast
- Announcer - Ethan Murray
- Anthony Gauss (ep5) - Robert Axelrod
- Army Police (ep25) - Nicholas Guest
- Bonnie Fraser (ep5) - Steve Kramer
- Chief Engineer (ep22) - Dave Florek
- Commander - Jamieson Price
- Dove (ep18) - Tony Olive
- Eugene Grant (ep8) - Tom Charles
- Florist (ep22) - Alyss Henderson
- Gieseng (ep6) - Anthony Mozdy
- Jeff Meyers (ep10) - Jeremiah Freedman
- Jim McGowen (ep16) - Stephan Davies
- Kelly (ep15) - Carol Stanzione
- Laura (ep11) - Georgette Rose
- Louise Ferry (ep8) - Dorothy Melendrez
- Miguel Soldano - Simon Isaacson
- Old Man (ep19) - Stephan Gilborn
- Paul Readerman (ep7) - Gil Starberry
- Phil (ep19) - Ezra Weisz
- Police (ep22) - Michael Lindsay
- Police Officer (ep19) - Peter Doyle
- R. Frederick O'Reilly (ep19) - Kim Strauss
- R. Instro - Kirk Thornton
- Receptionist (ep19) - Karen Strassman
- Rick Fraser (ep5) - Peter Spellos
- Roscoe Fitzgerald (ep15) - Bob Papenbrook
- Sam (ep19) - Eddie Jones
- Senior Officer - Peter Doyle
- Storekeeper (ep19) - Gregory White
- T-Bone (ep18) - Tony Olive
- Tami (ep16) - Sherry Lynn
- Vice President (ep17) - John Rubenstein
- Vice President (ep17) - Mari Devon
- Vice President (ep17) - Michael McCarty
- Wise (ep9) - Gully Jimson
Additional Voices
- Cheryl Montelle - Citizens (ep16)
- Dean Michaels
- Debbie Papenbrook
- Devon Michaels
- Elliott Reynolds
- Ethan Thornton
- Frank Buck
- Fred Sanders - Citizens (ep16)
- Georgette Rose
- Dorothy Melendrez
- Gully Jimson
- Guy Pinkham
- Jad Mager - Police (ep16)
- Jane Alan
- Jessica Gee
- Jim Slade
- Jim Taggert - Police (ep13)
- Joe Romersa
- Jonathan C. Osbourne
- Ivan Buckley - Man (ep12)
- Karen Straussman - Citizens (ep16)
- Matthew Austin
- Matt "Masamune" Miller
- Meson LaPayote
- Michael McCarthy - Guard A (ep14)
- Michael McConnohie
- Mona Marshal
- Penny Sweet
- Phil Swell
- Raphael Antonio - Beck's Henchman (ep9)
- Ray Michaels
- Richard Barnes
- Richard Plantagenet
- Ron Rogge - Citizens (ep16)
- Sam Strong
- Steve Areno
- Susan Hull - Citizens (ep16)
- Tom Charles
- W.T. Hatch