Bodacious Space Pirates (Universe)

The Bodacious Space Pirates (モーレツパイレーツ, Mōretsu Pairētsu; literally meaning "Fierce Pirates") universe refers to the series' collection of stages and properties that hail from the world famous long-running manga and anime franchise owned by Yūichi Sasamoto. It was published in October 2008 as a part of Asahi Shimbun Shuppan under the name, Miniskirt Space Pirates (ミニスカパイレーツ, Minisuka Pairētsu; literally meaning "Miniskirt Pirates"), and ran publication until 2014. The series was made into an anime by Satelight that debuted in Japan between January 8, 2012 and June 30, 2012. A film adaptation was released in Japanese theaters on February 22, 2014.

In the far future where space travel and colonialization have become the norm, humanity has expanded its living space to the far reaches of the known galaxy. One hundred years before the beginning of the series, several colonies, eager to gain their independence, rebelled against their masters in the Stellar Alliance Colony Federation. The government of one of the newly colonized planets, "Sea of the Morningstar" (うみのあけほし) in the Tau Ceti system, recruited Space Pirates to bolster its fighting forces, legalizing their actions by issuing them letters of marque.

In the midst of this conflict, a Galactic Empire arose and absorbed both the Stellar Alliance and the border worlds, but allowed the colonies to run on an independent government. Despite peace having been achieved, the Space Pirates remain respected figures in Imperial society, even though their activities are now reduced to more legal jobs (like errand running and staging raids for the entertainment of space travelers) in which their knowledge of the system's wild space proves particularly useful. At the time the series begins, their cessation of illegal activities is gradually causing them to pass into local legend.

Marika Kato is a high school girl living a rather ordinary life as a member of the space yacht club and a part-time job at the high-class retro Lamp Café. One day, Marika learns of her recently deceased father, Gonzaemon, who is revealed to have been a Space Pirate. In order for her father's ship, the Bentenmaru (弁天丸), to continue legal operation, Marika, Gonzaemon's direct descendant, is chosen to become the ship's new captain, thus beginning her life as a Space Pirate.

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 * —About the Bodacious Space Pirates Universe.

Theme songs

 * Main articles: Music