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Some fans have compared the show to Outlaw Star in its style and execution (and certain story content and plot devices) with a setting similar to Trigun

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Originally posted by citizen:
My point was both FireFly and Outlaw star are 'Westerns in Space', so can be compared...

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Some fans have compared the show to Outlaw Star in its style and execution (and certain story content and plot devices) with a setting similar to Trigun and Cowboy Bebop.[1]

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Originally posted by msckaren:
Yes, if you want to be picky EVERY movie/play/storyline is a rip-off of Shakespeare and he totally ripped off the Greeks and Romans.

There are only so many dramatic premises and ways to play them out. The main differences are setting, props and dialogue. Joss is a master of the differences.

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"Appears they've cancelled the show and we're still here. What does that make us?"
"Big damn junkies, Sir!"
"Ain't we just."

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Originally posted by Daz:
Some bright spark has decided that Joss has ripped off key elements of an anime series called "Outlaw Star" (which I've never even heard of) for Firefly and posted it on Wikipedia for all to see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_(television_series)#Connections_t
o_other_media

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Originally posted by StarPilotGrainger:


I suspect the entry was changed since the original poster posted it, since, as you say, what's mentioned there isn't anything outrageous, and he describes someone writing that Firefly ripped off key elements, rather than 'has been compared to'. Kinda curious to see what the original one was, even if it was a pack of lies.

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Quoted from Staxringold in the Wikipedia History tab:


12. Connections to other media
12.1 Outlaw Star
12.1.1 River Tam and Melfina
* Both awaken from a box taken on by a person who hired the transport and bodyguard services of the series in the middle of a gun battle of the series' first episode, an act which marks the end of the first episode and the start of the second. Melfina's box is taken by "Hot Ice" Hilda, who hired Jim Hawking and Gene Starwind to transport her. She awakes in the middle of a battle with the Kei Pirates, at the end of "Outlaw World" (the first episode, To Be Continued). River's box is taken by Simon Tam, who hired the transport services of Malcolm Reynolds. She awakes in the middle of a Mexican standoff at the end of "Serenity Part 1" (the first episode, To Be Continued)
* Melfina is a bio-android, built by the "Space Forces" (the military government body in Outlaw Star). River is a genius child, who's brain was altered and experimented upon by the "Alliance" (the military government body in Firefly). Sidenote: Both were stolen from these organizations by the people who woke them up.
* Reavers are broken into various clans who live 'on the edge of space', outside of the law, and commit horrific acts of violence. Space Pirates are broken into various clans who live in 'Pirate Territory' (where the "Space Forces" have no power, so the 'on the edge of space' as the Alliance of Firefly would see it), outside of the law, and commit horrific acts of violence.
* The Alliance is the military governing body of the Firefly universe who stands opposed to both the outlaws (like Malcolm Reynolds) and the Reavers. The Space Forces are the military governing body of the Outlaw Star universe which stand opposed to both Outlaws and the Space Pirates.
* The crew of Serenity repeatedly refer to themselves as outlaws, performing illegal salvage and smuggling along with the occasional honest transport job to get by. The crew of Outlaw Star belong to the 'Outlaw' clan, and perform illegal salvage and smuggling jobs along with the occasion honest job (through Starwind and Hawking Enterprises) to get by. Sidenote: (this theme is shared by other sources such as Han Solo of the Millenium Falcon or the crew of the Cowboy Bebop)

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Update from Staxringold on Wikipedia:

* Both fugitives have unusual abilities that are programmed in by the military government in their universe. River is a genius child whose brain was experimentally altered by the Alliance, Firefly's military/commercial government. Melfina is a bio-android built by the "Space Forces", Outlaw Star's military government.
* Both are aided for the majority of the series by someone other than the person who originally stole them because that person has made a promise to help unlock the mysteries of what the government did to them. Gene promises Melfina he will figure out why she was made, and Simon promises to unlock what the Alliance did to River's brain.
* Both ship's are regarded as an additional character to the series, with it's own reactions and personality. The Outlaw Star has Gilium, the in-ship AI. Serenity is constantly referred to by the cast and crew as "Serenity: The 10th Character," even warranting it's own special feature on the DVD release of Firefly.
* Both ship's have a thick-headed, muscle bound warrior on board who seeks monetary reward through Melfina/River. Jayne Cobb wants to turn in River (and Simon) for a reward; while Aisha Clan-Clan (crewmember of the Outlaw Star) desperately wants the valuable treasure she believes the Galactic Leyline to be, which can only be reached with Melfina's navigational abilities.
Both ship's have mysterious, spiritual warriors on board who come and go with unknown backgrounds. Shepard Book is a monk who somehow has incredible fighting abilities and violent knowledge no normal monk would have without any explanation. "Sunset" Suzuka is a mysterious assassin (who often quotes Buddhist/Confucianist-esque wisdom) with an unknown past because she kills nearly anyone who knows her.
* Both ship's have childlike engineers who have an oft-adversarial relationship with the captain, but always make up with him by the end of the day. Jim Hawking is an actual child who has detailed mechanical knowledge and often fights with Gene over their finances or his wild plans. Kaylee Frye is incredibly childlike engineer on Serenity who's upbeat attitude and innocence often clashes with the captain's realism and dangerous plans.
* The final equivalence references the movie, Serenity. In the movie River Tam is pursued by a vicious mercenary (known as The Operative) who stops at nothing to recover her. In Outlaw Star Melfina is pursed by a pair of vicious mercenaries known as the MacDougall Brothers who stops at nothing to recover her.
* Thus, we can see the following connections:
River Tam = Melfina
Malcolm Reynolds = Gene Starwind
Kaylee Frye = Jim Hawking
Jayne Cobb = Aisha Clan-Clan
Shepard Meria Book = "Sunset" Suzuka
Serenity = Gilium (AI of the Outlaw Star)
The Operative = MacDougall Brothers
The Alliance = The Space Forces
Reavers = Space Pirates (particularly the Kei Pirates)
Illegal salvage and smuggling operations = The Outlaws
Full understanding of what the Alliance did to River = The Galactic Leyline (each solves the mysteries of River/Melfina)

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Originally posted by Descent:
I don't think anyone should be surprised at this comparision. They are similar in some aspects especially with Melfina and River. Though River isn't an android, they both have their own mental problems and are trying to find themselves.

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Originally posted by JaynezTown:
Japan anime/manga freaks

Fact: the majority of Japan cartoons are rubbish apart from about 4 or 5 that the movie critics will admit are ok to watch.

there's something seriously wrong with these folks, they are obsessed with Japanese film cartoons and think everything from Japan is totally original and oscar winning material

ignore these idiots

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Originally posted by JaynezTown:
Fact: the majority of Japan cartoons are rubbish apart from about 4 or 5 that the movie critics will admit are ok to watch.

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Originally posted by JaynezTown:
Japan anime/manga freaks

Fact: the majority of Japan cartoons are rubbish apart from about 4 or 5 that the movie critics will admit are ok to watch.

there's something seriously wrong with these folks, they are obsessed with Japanese film cartoons and think everything from Japan is totally original and oscar winning material

ignore these idiots

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Originally posted by dreamtrove:
I don't know about Outlaw Star, but it will go on to my next-to-watch list, because Cowboy Bebop was awesome. Firefly is also awesome. This is another nifty idea that merits being done more that once.

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Originally posted by philyburkhill:
I don't think FireFly is a rip off, I just think it's more like great minds thinking alike.

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Originally posted by Daz:
For the minority who are so inclined, this will cement their conviction that Firefly is not a homage to or even influenced by Outlaw Star. It is pure plagarism.

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Originally posted by Angelcrusherd:
Holy friggin crap! Similarities between unrelated media! Will the sky not crack and fall? Will sow take flight and fire rain upon us?

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Come on people, do you honestly think seeing traces of a possible influence in a series means that much?

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I know naught a person who saw Spaceballs and said "What the hell? They totally ripped off Star Wars..."

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I wrote a song a couple days ago and was surprised to find an entire sentence verbatim in a song that I listen to nearly everyday. I didn't steal the sentence, I was influenced subconsciously towards it.

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If Joss wrote for River to be in a box, he isn't going to change it just because it's been done before. Even if he did intend for the connection to Outlaw star, it wasn't maliciously. Whoever thinks he 'stole' the material shouldn't even be commenting on it, they obviously haven't seen both sides of the matter.

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Intentional or not, the only bad guys here are the people who can't get over themselves and weigh things proportionally here.

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It sounds like Wikipedia needs a few more Browncoats to me.

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Originally posted by VolanGeneral:
I belive in Outlaw star I can swear remembering a "special" bullet that makes a black hole or something like that. To my knowlege I have never seen that on Firefly.

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Originally posted by LouGojira:
I just figured I'd beat some Japanophile to that ridiculous conclusion.

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Originally posted by VolanGeneral:
I belive in Outlaw star I can swear remembering a "special" bullet that makes a black hole or something like that. To my knowlege I have never seen that on Firefly. (this a small diffrence but I still think Outlaw Star was a little more serious and unbeliveble, personaly i never broke out laughing while whatching it)

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http://www.foxhome.com/firefly/assets/videos/joss/2_4.mov

"It's a science fiction western drama action comedy hybrid, much like all the shows I do. It's something I haven't seen on TV for a while. I'm not sure if I've ever seen all of the elements in place. It's got a great deal of action, and a great deal, obviously, of cool spaceships and all the things I love in science fiction, but it's actually just really Stagecoach. It's using a nice compelling setting, a journey in this case, hopefully a very looooong journey, to learn about people, and see their interactions, and see what makes them tick, and learn about society and life and what it all means... but with action... and a whore!"

http://www.foxhome.com/firefly/assets/videos/joss/2_6.mov

"I don't know if there's anything that I'll ever do that anybody's never seen before... but this show is new in the sense of the way it treats the future..."

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Originally posted by cljohnston108:

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Originally posted by LouGojira:
I just figured I'd beat some Japanophile to that ridiculous conclusion.

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Ummmm, no.
You get to keep that one all to yourself.

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