TV-Series
Description
Purple is an antagonist who appears in the latter half of the anime The Brave Express Might Gaine. His public identity is the leader, guitarist, and vocalist of the internationally popular rock band Blanca, and he presents himself to the world as a philanthropist and a kind-hearted gentleman. This courteous image is entirely a facade. In reality, Purple is one of the most trusted operatives of the series' hidden mastermind, Black Noir, and he carries out his orders under the direct command of Exeve, the outwardly respectable head of Treasures Robotech.
His background is closely tied to the Asian criminal underworld. For a time, Purple appears to serve under Hoi Kow Lou, the boss of a powerful Asian mafia. This allegiance is only a cover. In a decisive act of treachery, he betrays Hoi, seizes control of the mafia for himself, and places the organization at the service of Black Noir. This takeover eliminates a rival faction, expands the reach of the larger conspiracy, and turns the mafia's resources, manpower, and connections into tools for the villains' schemes.
In terms of personality, Purple is a narcissistic hedonist who regards crime as a form of art and entertainment. He is guided by a personal creed built around the idea of the beautiful flower of evil, and he treats his criminal operations like concerts or tour performances, savoring his own elegance and cleverness as he carries them out. He enjoys scholarly pretension and frequently quotes respected literary figures such as Shakespeare and Natsume Soseki. His vanity also shows in his theatrical manner and his evident delight in his own schemes. Despite his villainous nature, he is a genuine enthusiast of robots and popular culture, which allows him to move comfortably in public life; he even appears alongside the protagonist Maito Senpuuji as a guest on a television program devoted to the Brave Express team, all while remaining unrecognized as an enemy.
His motivations are initially presented as a quest for pleasure and self-glorification through stylish, carefully staged crimes. As the story progresses, however, it becomes clear that he is not acting entirely of his own accord. Like Exeve, Purple has been brainwashed by Black Noir and turned into an agent of evil, meaning that his criminal career is ultimately the product of the mastermind's manipulation rather than purely independent choice.
His role in the story is that of a recurring major threat during the final stretch of the series. He orchestrates a series of elaborate plots against the heroes, and his methods are notable for their cunning rather than sheer force. He favors strategies that divide the enemy's forces, cause malfunctions in the super AI robots, and prevent the Brave Express team from combining, exposing their weaknesses before striking. Much of his dirty work is handled by Jamane, his manager and loyal subordinate, who carries out traps and attacks on Purple's behalf.
His key relationships define his position in the conflict. Black Noir is his ultimate master and the source of his mission. Exeve is his immediate superior, and the two share the same fate as brainwashed servants of the same cause. Hoi Kow Lou is his former ally turned victim, and the betrayal that destroys Hoi's power is one of Purple's defining actions. Jamane functions as his assistant and enforcer. Against Maito Senpuuji and the Brave Express team, he acts as one of their most persistent and calculating adversaries, setting repeated traps for the young hero.
His development follows a steady rise in prominence before a sudden end. After consolidating his control over the Asian mafia, he becomes a key figure in the villains' global ambitions. During the Christmas Operation, he commands the aerial battleship Blanca and leads a legion of baptism robots in a campaign to subjugate nations around the world. In this offensive he succeeds in defeating the heroes' Guard Diver and Battle Bomber, bringing the resistance to the brink of collapse. His triumph is short-lived, as the empowered Great Might Gaine retaliates with the Perfect Cannon, which is strengthened by the Innocent Wave. Left completely defenseless, Purple and his entire battleship and crew are destroyed, and he perishes alongside his forces.
His notable abilities lie in several areas. He is a gifted musician, serving as the voice and guitar of Blanca, and his artistic persona is so established that he performs the ballad SCANDAL within the story and is credited with the series' later ending theme, Black Diamond. He is a capable strategist who can plan complex crimes, seize control of a major criminal organization, and direct a worldwide military campaign. He is able to pilot and command the aerial battleship Blanca and deploy large forces of combat robots. Finally, he possesses considerable talent for deception and charisma, maintaining a flawless public identity as a gentleman and philanthropist while secretly running an extensive criminal network.
His background is closely tied to the Asian criminal underworld. For a time, Purple appears to serve under Hoi Kow Lou, the boss of a powerful Asian mafia. This allegiance is only a cover. In a decisive act of treachery, he betrays Hoi, seizes control of the mafia for himself, and places the organization at the service of Black Noir. This takeover eliminates a rival faction, expands the reach of the larger conspiracy, and turns the mafia's resources, manpower, and connections into tools for the villains' schemes.
In terms of personality, Purple is a narcissistic hedonist who regards crime as a form of art and entertainment. He is guided by a personal creed built around the idea of the beautiful flower of evil, and he treats his criminal operations like concerts or tour performances, savoring his own elegance and cleverness as he carries them out. He enjoys scholarly pretension and frequently quotes respected literary figures such as Shakespeare and Natsume Soseki. His vanity also shows in his theatrical manner and his evident delight in his own schemes. Despite his villainous nature, he is a genuine enthusiast of robots and popular culture, which allows him to move comfortably in public life; he even appears alongside the protagonist Maito Senpuuji as a guest on a television program devoted to the Brave Express team, all while remaining unrecognized as an enemy.
His motivations are initially presented as a quest for pleasure and self-glorification through stylish, carefully staged crimes. As the story progresses, however, it becomes clear that he is not acting entirely of his own accord. Like Exeve, Purple has been brainwashed by Black Noir and turned into an agent of evil, meaning that his criminal career is ultimately the product of the mastermind's manipulation rather than purely independent choice.
His role in the story is that of a recurring major threat during the final stretch of the series. He orchestrates a series of elaborate plots against the heroes, and his methods are notable for their cunning rather than sheer force. He favors strategies that divide the enemy's forces, cause malfunctions in the super AI robots, and prevent the Brave Express team from combining, exposing their weaknesses before striking. Much of his dirty work is handled by Jamane, his manager and loyal subordinate, who carries out traps and attacks on Purple's behalf.
His key relationships define his position in the conflict. Black Noir is his ultimate master and the source of his mission. Exeve is his immediate superior, and the two share the same fate as brainwashed servants of the same cause. Hoi Kow Lou is his former ally turned victim, and the betrayal that destroys Hoi's power is one of Purple's defining actions. Jamane functions as his assistant and enforcer. Against Maito Senpuuji and the Brave Express team, he acts as one of their most persistent and calculating adversaries, setting repeated traps for the young hero.
His development follows a steady rise in prominence before a sudden end. After consolidating his control over the Asian mafia, he becomes a key figure in the villains' global ambitions. During the Christmas Operation, he commands the aerial battleship Blanca and leads a legion of baptism robots in a campaign to subjugate nations around the world. In this offensive he succeeds in defeating the heroes' Guard Diver and Battle Bomber, bringing the resistance to the brink of collapse. His triumph is short-lived, as the empowered Great Might Gaine retaliates with the Perfect Cannon, which is strengthened by the Innocent Wave. Left completely defenseless, Purple and his entire battleship and crew are destroyed, and he perishes alongside his forces.
His notable abilities lie in several areas. He is a gifted musician, serving as the voice and guitar of Blanca, and his artistic persona is so established that he performs the ballad SCANDAL within the story and is credited with the series' later ending theme, Black Diamond. He is a capable strategist who can plan complex crimes, seize control of a major criminal organization, and direct a worldwide military campaign. He is able to pilot and command the aerial battleship Blanca and deploy large forces of combat robots. Finally, he possesses considerable talent for deception and charisma, maintaining a flawless public identity as a gentleman and philanthropist while secretly running an extensive criminal network.