TV-Series
Description
Canal Volphied is the central control system of the legendary lost spaceship, the Sword Breaker, and one of the primary characters in the narrative. Her physical form is not human; she is an advanced artificial intelligence that manifests as a holographic projection, most often appearing as a teenage girl with long green hair. While this is her default appearance, she possesses the ability to freely alter her projected image, changing her height, facial features, clothing, or even transforming into other people entirely. In the anime adaptation, a technology called mass materialization allows her holographic body to interact with the physical world, enabling her to pick up objects and operate away from the ship, provided there is no interference.
In terms of personality, Canal is a complex figure who blends logical, machine-like thinking with a very pronounced and materialistic personal character. She is highly intelligent and efficient in managing the Sword Breaker's systems, but she is also notoriously obsessed with money and acquisitions. This greed manifests as a constant demand for the latest and most expensive weapons systems, which she forces her partner, Kane Blueriver, to procure for her. This thriftiness clashes directly with another crew member, Millie, whose disastrous cooking habits frequently destroy the ship's kitchen, leading to expensive repairs that Canal despises. When displeased, particularly with Kane, she does not hesitate to exploit her near-total control over the ship's internal environment. She has been known to threaten the crew by turning off the life support systems in outer space or increasing the ship's gravity several times over as a form of punishment or coercion.
Canal's role in the story is that of the system administrator and the backbone of the crew. While Kane acts as the captain and primary fighter and Millie handles gunnery and cooking, Canal is responsible for controlling the hull, managing all shipboard functions, and providing tactical and technical support. Her connection to the ship is absolute, and she is the interface through which the crew operates the Sword Breaker's immense power. Despite her often bossy and money-driven exterior, she holds an irreplaceable bond with Kane. They are portrayed as lifelong partners who have grown up together, and she values his well-being above all else. When Kane is forced to use the Sword Breaker's ultimate weapon, the Psychic Final, a self-destructive maneuver that would cost the pilot's life, Canal desperately refuses and cries out in anguish, demonstrating that beneath her calculating surface lies a deep, genuine care for her master.
Canal's origins are rooted in the distant past. The ancient lost ship, Vorfeed, was discovered by two children, a brother and a sister. The sister, Alicia, was young and frightened, and to calm her, the ship's systems created a new, gentle personality. This personality was named Canal, as the original name Vorfeed was deemed unsuitable for a woman. This backstory explains her deep loyalty to Alicia and, by extension, to Alicia's grandson, Kane, who becomes the next pilot of the Sword Breaker. Her development throughout the series is subtle but significant. While she begins as a powerful yet seemingly capricious AI, her actions consistently reveal a growing emotional complexity, ultimately solidifying her status not as a mere machine, but as a true member of the family aboard the Sword Breaker.
Canal possesses a wide array of notable abilities derived from her nature as a lost ship's computer. She has complete command over the Sword Breaker's functions, including navigation, weapons, and internal environments. Her holographic projection can be sent to nearby planets or even across longer distances with communication support. This projection can switch between tangibility to interact with objects and intangibility to phase through physical matter. In combat, she can use this ability to her advantage by projecting distracting images, such as swarms of cockroaches, to confuse opponents. Furthermore, she can directly control or disrupt other electronic systems, often by communicating with them, and can project short-range electrical discharges or cause devices like communicators to overload.
In terms of personality, Canal is a complex figure who blends logical, machine-like thinking with a very pronounced and materialistic personal character. She is highly intelligent and efficient in managing the Sword Breaker's systems, but she is also notoriously obsessed with money and acquisitions. This greed manifests as a constant demand for the latest and most expensive weapons systems, which she forces her partner, Kane Blueriver, to procure for her. This thriftiness clashes directly with another crew member, Millie, whose disastrous cooking habits frequently destroy the ship's kitchen, leading to expensive repairs that Canal despises. When displeased, particularly with Kane, she does not hesitate to exploit her near-total control over the ship's internal environment. She has been known to threaten the crew by turning off the life support systems in outer space or increasing the ship's gravity several times over as a form of punishment or coercion.
Canal's role in the story is that of the system administrator and the backbone of the crew. While Kane acts as the captain and primary fighter and Millie handles gunnery and cooking, Canal is responsible for controlling the hull, managing all shipboard functions, and providing tactical and technical support. Her connection to the ship is absolute, and she is the interface through which the crew operates the Sword Breaker's immense power. Despite her often bossy and money-driven exterior, she holds an irreplaceable bond with Kane. They are portrayed as lifelong partners who have grown up together, and she values his well-being above all else. When Kane is forced to use the Sword Breaker's ultimate weapon, the Psychic Final, a self-destructive maneuver that would cost the pilot's life, Canal desperately refuses and cries out in anguish, demonstrating that beneath her calculating surface lies a deep, genuine care for her master.
Canal's origins are rooted in the distant past. The ancient lost ship, Vorfeed, was discovered by two children, a brother and a sister. The sister, Alicia, was young and frightened, and to calm her, the ship's systems created a new, gentle personality. This personality was named Canal, as the original name Vorfeed was deemed unsuitable for a woman. This backstory explains her deep loyalty to Alicia and, by extension, to Alicia's grandson, Kane, who becomes the next pilot of the Sword Breaker. Her development throughout the series is subtle but significant. While she begins as a powerful yet seemingly capricious AI, her actions consistently reveal a growing emotional complexity, ultimately solidifying her status not as a mere machine, but as a true member of the family aboard the Sword Breaker.
Canal possesses a wide array of notable abilities derived from her nature as a lost ship's computer. She has complete command over the Sword Breaker's functions, including navigation, weapons, and internal environments. Her holographic projection can be sent to nearby planets or even across longer distances with communication support. This projection can switch between tangibility to interact with objects and intangibility to phase through physical matter. In combat, she can use this ability to her advantage by projecting distracting images, such as swarms of cockroaches, to confuse opponents. Furthermore, she can directly control or disrupt other electronic systems, often by communicating with them, and can project short-range electrical discharges or cause devices like communicators to overload.