Montana Jones
Promotional artwork for the TV series Montana Jones
モンタナ・ジョーンズ
(Montana Jōnzu)
GenreAdventure, Comedy
Anime television series
Directed byTetsuo Imazawa
Music byGianni Bobbio
Mario Pagano
StudioStudio Junio
River Cinematografica[1]
Original networkNHK
Original run April 2, 1994 April 8, 1995
Episodes52

Montana Jones (モンタナ・ジョーンズ, Montana Jōnzu) is an Italian-Japanese comedy adventure anime television series produced by Studio Junio and River Cinematografica and which was broadcast in Japan on NHK from April 2, 1994 through April 8, 1995 and in Italy on Italia 1 from June 1997.[1] Montana Jones has a similar atmosphere to Sherlock Hound, a joint production of RAI and TMS Entertainment ten years earlier. The anthropomorphic characters in Montana Jones were big cats instead of the dogs used in Sherlock Hound. It was subsequently broadcast in over 30 other countries.

The series takes place in the 1930s and is about the adventures of Montana Jones, who goes treasure hunting with his cousin Alfred Jones and the beautiful reporter Melissa Thorn. They visit real locations and cities like the Pyramids of Giza, the Taj Mahal, Istanbul or Easter Island. Frequently they cross paths with Lord Zero - a rich, eccentric art lover and master thief. All characters in the series are anthropomorphized big cats. The anime was inspired by the Indiana Jones movies.

Synopsis

Boston, 1930: Montana Jones and his cousin professor Alfred Jones travel around the world to search lost treasures in order to bring them to museums. Alfred's mentor Professor Gerrit helps them by sending gramophone records with information. On one trip they meet Melissa, a wealthy reporter, who speaks nearly all languages. She accompanies the two on their trips. Their opponent is Lord Zero, a rich, bizarre art lover and master thief. Lord Zero has two henchmen: Slim and Slam. There is also the inventor Dr. Nitro, who also works for Lord Zero and invents strange engines, which to help finding treasures.

Main characters

Montana Jones

Montana (モンタナ・ジョーンズ, Montana Jōnzu) is always seeking the unknown and isn't afraid to do dangerous things. Together with his cousin Alfred he travels around the world finding treasures for Gerrit, Alfred's professor. The group's plans are often foiled by Lord Zero. Montana works in his aunt's restaurant to finance his airplane Ketty, a Supermarine GS waterplane constantly in need of repair. He lives somewhere on the coast in Boston. It is believed that Montana is infatuated with Melissa Thorn.

He was voiced by Akio Ohtsuka.

Alfred Jones

Alfred (アルフレッド・ジョーンズ, Arufureddo Jōnzu) likes to study old cultures, strange languages, and treasures. On the other hand, he hates danger, travelling, and can't swim, making him an opposite of his cousin Montana. Together, the two make a good team. Alfred loves his mother and eating spaghetti bolognese, which he often prepares for Melissa and Montana.

He was voiced by Ryusei Nakao.

Melissa Thorn

Melissa Thorn (メリッサ・ソーン, Merissa Sōn) often helps Montana and Alfred and is the daughter of a diplomat. Melissa is a journalist and enjoys shopping and adventures with the two. In the last episode her father is revealed to be Professor Gerrit, explaining why Melissa was always at the right time and place to help Montana and Alfred.

She was voiced by Junko Iwao.

Agatha Jones

Agatha (アガサ・ジョーンズ, Agasa Jōnzu)(episodes 1-8, 10, 12-13, 15-18, 23, 24-28, 33-34, 38-39, 45, 51-52) is Alfred's mother, and Montana's aunt.

She was voiced by Rihoko Yoshida.

Lord Zero

Lord Zero (ゼロ卿, Zero-kyō) is the main antagonist of the story, constantly trying to get all the treasure for himself only to be thwarted by Montana and Alfred. Usually his plans are foiled because of a mistake from his minions Slim, Slam or Dr. Nitro. Lord Zero is notable for his walking staffs, which all have strange and diverse functionalities. Zero is constantly in a bad mood, and personally hates the excuse "I'm sorry, it wouldn't have happened if you gave me more time and money."

He was voiced by Ryuzaburo Otomo.

Slim and Slam

Slim and Slam (スリム&スラム, Surimu to Suramu) are the bumbling minions of Lord Zero. The two know searching for the treasures themselves would be more successful but their loyalty is greater than their daring. They often do the difficult work for Lord Zero, and when things go wrong they usually take the blame. Ironically, Slim is the larger of the two. Slam is the shorter and larger of the two.

Slim was voiced by Toshiharu Sakurai and Slam was voiced by Chō.

Dr. Nitro

Doctor Nitro (ニトロ博士, Nitoro-hakase) is a minion of Lord Zero and a genius. He is a creator of machines for Lord Zero that never seem to work the right way, and often gives the excuse "it wouldn't have happened if you gave me more time and money" to defend them. Unfortunately, Lord Zero hates that excuse.

He was voiced by Junpei Takiguchi.

Episodes and locations

Montana Jones is located in Earth
The Secret of the Gold Medal
The Giant Squid
Treasure Hunting in Istanbul
The Discovery of the Jewel Bible
The Silk Carpet of the Taj Mahal
The Horrible Snowman
The Tomb from the Pharaoh
King Arthur's Knife
The Secret Code of the Inkas
Criminals in Chinatown
Adventuring with the Vikings
The Treasure in the Desert/The Treasure of the Caliph
The Secrets of the Dried Fountain
A Secret Entrance in the Castle
The Subterranean Waterfalls
Kidnapped to Castle Mauleon
Kidnapped to Castle Mauleon
A Muddy Fight for the Future
The Golden Dragon from Hong Kong
The Hidden Flymachine
The Clock from Ivan the Terrible/The Crown of the Tzar
Chased in the Gold Mine
The Rescuing Boomerang
Attack of the Sharks
The Flood's Coming!
Emergency! Landing on Treasure Island
Emergency! Landing on Easter Island
The Sunken Gold Bell
The Attack of the Bandits in Mongolia
The Haunted House in Scotland
Searching Through the Labyrinth of King Minos
The Colombian Jungle
Saved by the Crocodiles
The Secret Pirate Ship
Adventure in China
Straight through Austria
Marie Antoinette's Collier
Marie Antoinette's Collier
Lemuria: The Hidden Land
The Secret of the Mont St. Michèl
The Stone Dragon
The Artemis Temple
Keanu, Daughter of the Chief
Travel Through Transylvania
Locked in Toscana
Marco Polo's Heir
Desperately Lost in the Desert
The Baker and the Knight Room
Get to the Chaco-Canyon
The Monk and the Samurai
Lost in Africa
Locations of Montana Jones.

There are 52 episodes.

# Title of episode Location
1. The Secret of the Gold Medal Mexico (Yucatán)
2. The Giant Squid Cuba
3. Treasure Hunting in Istanbul Turkey (Istanbul)
4. The Discovery of the Jewel Bible Czech Republic
5. The Silk Carpet of the Taj Mahal India (Agra, Uttar Pradesh)
6. The Horrible Snowman China (Tibet)
7. The Tomb from the Pharaoh Egypt
8. King Arthur's Knife United Kingdom (England)
9. The Secret Code of the Inkas Peru
10. Criminals in Chinatown United States (San Francisco, California)
11. Adventuring with the Vikings Sweden (Gotland)
12. The Treasure in the Desert Iraq
13. The Secrets of the Dried Fountain Spain (Alhambra, Granada, Andalusia)
14. A Secret Entrance in the Castle Germany (Neuschwanstein Castle, Schwangau, Bavaria)
15. The Subterranean Waterfalls Cambodia (Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Siem Reap Province)
16. Kidnapped to Castle Mauleon Israel/France
17. A Muddy Fight for the Future Greece (Delphi, Phocis, Central Greece)
18. The Golden Dragon from Hong Kong Hong Kong
19. The Hidden Flymachine Italy (Milan, Lombardy)
20. The Clock from Ivan the Terrible Russia (Moscow)
21. Chased in the Gold Mine Zimbabwe
22. The Rescuing Boomerang Australia (Uluru, Northern Territory)
23. Attack of the Sharks Monaco
24. The Flood's Coming! Jordan
25. Emergency! Landing on Easter Island Chile (Easter Island, Valparaíso Region)
26. The Sunken Gold Bell Myanmar (Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Yangon Region)
27. The Attack of the Bandits in Mongolia Mongolia
28. The Haunted House in Scotland United Kingdom (Scotland)
29. Searching Through the Labyrinth of King Minos Greece (Crete)
30. The Colombian Jungle Colombia
31. Saved by the Crocodiles Egypt (Karnak, Luxor Governorate)
32. The Treasure of the Caliph Iraq
33. The Secret Pirate Ship Portugal (Belém Tower, Lisbon, Lisbon District)
34. Emergency! Landing on Treasure Island Egypt
35. Adventure in China China (Xi'an, Shaanxi)
36. Straight Through Austria Austria
37. The Crown of the Tzar Russia
38. Marie Antoinette's Collier Netherlands/Belgium
39. Lemuria: The Hidden Land Indonesia
40. The Secret of the Mont St. Michèl France (Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy)
41. The Stone Dragon Germany
42. The Artemis Temple Turkey (Ephesus, Selçuk, İzmir Province)
43. Get to the Chaco-Canyon United States (Texas)
44. Travel Through Transylvania Romania (Transylvania)
45. Locked in Toscana Italy (Cerveteri, Lazio)
46. Ormeca Mexico
47. Marco Polo's Heir Italy (Venice, Veneto)
48. Desperately Lost in the Desert Algeria
49. The Baker and the Knight Room Switzerland
50. Keanu, Daughter of the Chief United States (Ohio)
51. The Monk and the Samurai Japan
52. Lost in Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo

Video game

A eponymously titled video game developed by Future Pirates based on the anime was released in 1995 for the 3DO.[2][3]

References

  1. 1 2 Antonio Genoa. "Caccia al tesoro con Montana". Il mondo dei doppiatori (in Italian).
  2. "3DO World". 3DO Magazine. No. 3. Paragon Publishing. April 1995. p. 11. ISSN 1355-9621.
  3. "Montana Jones モンタナ・ジョーンズ". 3DO Magazine (in Japanese). Tokuma Shoten Intermedia. March 1995. pp. 56, 57.
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