.-------------------------------------------------------------------. | BGC Reference File - Compiled by Geir Friestad - Updated 21.01.93 | `-------------------------------------------------------------------' Back in October '92 I posted an article about the similarities between "Bubblegum Crisis" and the two films "Bladerunner" and "The Terminator". The response was not actually overwhelming, but I got a few letters, explaining that the similarities were intentional, since the creator was a cyberpunk-fan. Some time passed. Then a thought hit me - why not try to compile all the references and similari- ties? No sooner thought than written, so here it is! :) I've only seen BGC 1-4 so far, since the others are yet not on PAL, and I'm pretty sure there are more references in episodes 5 through 8 which I have yet to see. If you know of any references not listed here, send them to me and I'll include them. The address is: geirj@hsr.no Those who contributed to this list (and whose contributions are deeply appreciated), are: - Ralf Acktories, Matt Houlahan, Michael Studte, Lance Visser -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPOILER WARNING! IF YOU WANT TO SPOT ALL REFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES YOURSELF, PLEASE HIT THE NEXT-BUTTON NOW! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now to the list... In Bubblegum Crisis:___________________Reference/similarity to:_________________ Priss Asagiri......................... The replicant Pris from "Bladerunner". Priss and the Replicants ............. The replicants, and Pris from "Blade- runner". Leon McNichol ........................ The replicant Leon from "Bladerunner". Genom ................................ Strongly resembles the Tyrell Corp. from "Bladerunner" in that their building is towering over all other in the city, and they're building illegal artifical life. Linna's car .......................... Has similar wheel capsules as one of the police cars in "Bladerunner" (they look like the top of screws, so they're easy to recognize). Boomer/Buma .......................... Similarites both to the terminators from "The Terminator" and the replicants from "Bladerunner". They're illegal like the replicants, and have a striking resem- blance to the terminators (model 101). AD Police ............................ The bladerunners from "Bladerunner". Although they are not very similar in appearance, their job is more or less the same (blow away boomers/replicants). Female boomers from BGC 2 ............ Seems to be inspired by the 'razorgirls' from William Gibson's "Neuromancer". Female boomer's car in BGC 2 ......... Looks like a future BMW - the symbol on the front looks like an expanded version of today's BMW symbol. Priss' concert in BGC 1 .............. Check out the concert in the beginning of "Streets of fire" and you'll see *every- thing* is there - right down to the type of gloves Priss is wearing and mic she's using. Commercial signs in BGC .............. When Leon meets Priss outside the 'Funy Day' hamburger bar in BGC 1 you can see a 'MZ 23' neon sign in the background. A reference to "Megazone 23"? Also, the 'AIC' symbol is more or less everywhere, most noticeably on Priss' motorcycle helmet. Self-repairing boomers ............... Check out the scene in BGC 1 where the boomer's bullet wounds slide together in a fashion similar to that of T-1000. The interesting thing here is that BGC came first... The music ............................ Some of the instrumental music sounds almost like it's lifted directly from "Bladerunner". Most noticeable is the opening music from BGC 1 and 3 which sounds like the opening from, yes, "Bladerunner". Also, the music in BGC 3 when Priss' walks home after Sho's birth- day party sounds like one of the tracks from "Bladerunner". Brian J. Mason ....................... Brion James played the replicant Leon in "Bladerunner". Brion J and Brian J (Mason) - accidental similarity? -- Also, the chief of police in "Blade- runner" was called captain Bryant. Again there is a similarity in names. Brian and Bryant... AD Police Headquarters ............... Striking similarities to the police HQ in "Bladerunner". Computer map in the beginning of BGC 3 ................... Look closely at this, and you'll see a lot of names and actors connected to the film "Top Gun". The names I managed to decipher (some of them were difficult to read) are: Maverick, Goose, Iceman, Meg Ryan, Hollywood, Val Kilmer, Wolf Man, Kelly McGillis, Charlie, Viper and Tom Cruise. There are two more, and I would be grateful if someone could me what they are. Commercial signs in BGC 3 ............ I'm a bit uncertain whether this one should be included or not, but in the beginning when the K-11's are deployed, they parachute past a NASA neonsign... J.B. Gibson .......................... The 'bad' guy in BGC 4. Is his name a reference to well-known cyberpunk author William Gibson...?