Blue Seed

This article is about the manga series. For the startup community, see Blueseed.
Blue Seed

Title screen
ブルーシード
(Burū Shīdo)
Genre Supernatural, Romance, Action
Manga
Written by Yuzo Takada
Published by Takeshobo
Demographic Shōnen
Imprint Bamboo Comics
Magazine Comic Ganma
Original run March 1992June 1996
Volumes 2
Anime television series
Directed by Jun Kamiya
Produced by Masaki Sawanobori
Naohiro Hayashi
Noriko Kobayashi
Yukinao Shimoji
Yutaka Sugiyama
Written by Naruhisa Arakawa
Masaharu Amiya
Naruhisa Arakawa
Music by Kenji Kawai
Michihiro Ito
Omnibus Promotion
Studio Production I.G.
Ashi Productions
NAS
Licensed by
ADV Films (1996–2009)
Network TV Tokyo
English network
Original run October 5, 1994 March 29, 1995
Episodes 26
Game
Blue Seed ~The Legend of Hiroku Kushinada~
Developer Sega
Publisher Sega
Platform Sega Saturn
Released June 23, 1995
Original video animation
Blue Seed 2
Directed by Jun Kamiya
Kiyoshi Murayama
Produced by Hidetoshi Shigematsu
Mitsuhisa Ishikawa
Yutaka Takahashi
Masaki Sawanobori
Toshimichi Ootsuki
Yukinao Shimozi
Written by Naruhisa Arakawa
Music by Kenji Kawai
Kazuhiro Wakabayashi
Starchild Records
Studio Production I.G.
Xebec
Movic
Starchild Records
Licensed by
ADV Films (2003–2009)
Released July 24, 1996 February 4, 1998
Runtime 30 minutes per episode
Episodes 3

Blue Seed (ブルーシード Burū Shīdo) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuzo Takada. The plot is based on the Izumo cycle of Japanese mythology and the tale of the god Susanoo and the eight-headed monster Yamata no Orochi. The main character, Momiji Fujimiya, is a descendant of the mythical Princess Kushinada (奇稲田姫 Kushinada-hime). When Japan is menaced by Aragami (荒神 Aragami, lit. "angry gods") spawned by Yamato-no-Orochi, Momiji is intended to be sacrificed to appease the Aragami. She instead, however, becomes a member of the Terrestrial Administration Center (TAC), a secret agency charged with fighting them.

Ashi Productions and Production I.G. created an anime adaptation for broadcast on Japan's TV Tokyo. The anime series ran for 26 episodes, originally airing from October 5, 1994, to March 29, 1995. An original video animation (OVA), Blue Seed 2, was released in three episode between 1996 and 1998. Both the anime and OVA (under the name Blue Seed Beyond) were licensed by ADV Films in the United States until 2009, when the company shut down.

Plot

Momiji Fujimiya thought she was just an ordinary high school student. One day, she is confronted on her way to school by a cat-eyed man with blue magatama beads embedded in his hands, who then attempts to kill her. Momiji is confused and terrified this strange man's sudden desire to kill her; he also refers to her as Kushinada, confusing her even further. Momiji is saved by the sudden appearance of two government officials, one of whom shoots the man in the arm and sends him fleeing.

Momiji is intrigued as to why she was referred to as "Kushinada". She discovers that "Kushinada" refers to an ancient princess whose blood holds the power to stop the ancient monsters known as Aragami by sending them to an eternal sleep. Momiji dismisses the idea that she could be such a person, despite the fact she lives with her mother and grandmother in a shrine in Izumo. However, she soon changes her mind after vines begin to appear from every crack and opening attempting to capture her as they whisper "Kushinada".

Momiji tries to escape, not knowing that the vines are being employed by a powerful Aragami known as Orochi. Fortunately, she is saved by the man with the magatamas embedded into his hands, who introduces himself as Mamoru Kusanagi. He confronts Orochi using Momiji as bait. The plan fails and the government officials appear again. They reveal themselves to be members of the Terrestrial Administration Center (TAC for short), and manage to subdue Orochi. However, with the last of its strength, it makes a final attempt on Kusanagi.

Momiji saves Kusanagi by taking Orochi's blow. Impaled by the Aragami, instead of dying, she is instead fused with the magatama, more specifically identified as a mitama, which gives Momiji the ability to sense the presence of other Aragami. The TAC agents explain that they are an organization dedicated to defeating the Aragami, who seek to destroy humanity. The current Kushinada, Momiji, must aid them because the other Kushinada, Momiji's twin sister, is now dead. Momiji, wishing to discover more about the twin sister she never knew and also to fulfill her destiny, agrees to join the TAC under the protection of Kusanagi, who wishes to destroy his former masters, the Aragami.

The story becomes increasingly complex with the appearance of Murakumo, a man with eight mitamas who kills any Aragami he comes across for his own personal reasons. Kusanagi repeatedly attempts to kill Murakumo. Kaede Kunikida reappears along with a strange energy field in Tokyo, and Murakumo and Kaede's plans soon become clear – they intend to resurrect the god Susanoo and purify the world of humanity's influences, with Kaede acting as the leader of the movement.

There is also a three episode OVA, Blue Seed Beyond, which takes place two years after the end of the TV series. It concerns what seems to be a resurgence of aragami (actually created via biotechnology), and introduces a new character, Valencia Tachibana. Like Kusanagi, she was implanted with a mitama without turning into a full aragami.

Characters

Media

Manga

The manga's complete title is Aokushimitama Blue Seed (碧奇魂ブルーシード). Originally serialized by Takeshobo in Comic Ganma between March 1992 and June 1996, it's 17 chapters were also collected into two Japanese Tankōbon volumes.

No.Japanese release dateJapanese ISBN
1 March 28, 1994[1]ISBN 4-88-475705-X
  • 001. "Invade" (人柱 Hitobashira)
  • 002. "Flying Mei" (飛び梅 Tobiru Mei)
  • 003. "Man of the Lost Soul" (荒魂スサノオ Ara Mitama Susanoo)
  • 004. "First Defeat" (初めこの敗北 Hajime Kono Haiboku)
  • 005. "Transformation" (変身 Henshin)
  • 006. "Momiji" (紅葉 Momiji)
  • 007. "Assassin from Feng" (楓からの刺客 Feng Kara no Shikaku)
  • 008. "Dirt" (気週れ(穢れ) Kishure (Kegare))
2 June 8, 1984[2]ISBN 4-81-245004-7
  • 009. "Yin & Yang" (陰と陽 Iin to You)
  • 010. "Dead End" (絶体絶命 Zettaizetsumei)
  • 011. "Encounters with the Destroyer - Part 1" (破壊神との接触 その1 Hakai-shin tono Sesshoku sono Ichi)
  • 012. "Encounters with the Destroyer - Part 2" (破壊神との接触 その2 Hakai-shin tono Sesshoku sono Ni)
  • 013. "I Only Want to Ask One Thing" (ひとつだけ間きたい Hitotsu Dake ma Kitai)
  • 014. "That Day" (あの日 Ano Hi)
  • 015. "Retaliation" (反撃 Hangeki)
  • 016. "Retreat" (撒収 Maosa)
  • 017. "Sacrifice Ceremony" (まつり Matsuri)

Anime episode list

Blue Seed

No. Title Original airdate English airdate
01 "Princess Kushinada"
"Ki ineda himesama" (奇稲田姫様) 
October 5, 1994November 6, 1999
02 "It's Cruel! It's Mysterious! It's My Destiny!!"
"Nazo desu! koku desu! watashi no unmei!!" (謎です! 酷です! 私の運命!!) 
October 12, 1994November 6, 1999
03 "It's Spring! It's the Capital! I'll Do My Best!!"
"Haru desu! shuto desu! ganbara nakucha!!" (春です! 首都です! 頑張らなくちゃ!!) 
October 19, 1994November 13, 1999
04 "More Bad Luck! Why Does This Always Happen to Me?!"
"Do shite? saiaku! watashi ha daikyō?!" (どーして? サイアク! 私は大凶?!) 
October 26, 1994November 13, 1999
05 "Surprise! She's the Mother of Science!!"
"Odoroki! matsu no ki! kagaku na mama desu!!" (オドロキ! 松の木! 科学なママです!!) 
November 2, 1994November 20, 1999
06 "Complicated and Hard to Understand! Being a Man Puts You Into Such a Difficult Position?!"
"Fukuzatsu! nankai! otoko hatsuraine?!" (フクザツ! 難解! 男はつらいね?!) 
November 9, 1994November 20, 1999
07 "I'm Fired Up! I'll Do It! Because I'm the Kushinada!!"
"Moe masu! yarimasu! ki ineda damon!!" (燃えます! やります! 奇稲田だもん!!) 
November 16, 1994November 27, 1999
08 "What? How Strange! A Rival Appears?!"
"Nani nano! henna no (hato)! raibaru tōjō?!" (何なの! 変なの(ハート)! ライバル登場?!) 
November 23, 1994November 27, 1999
09 "Are You Serious?! Is This a Dream?! An Exciting Date"
"Maji nano?! yume nano?! dokidokideto" (マジなの?! 夢なの?! ドキドキデート) 
November 30, 1994December 4, 1999
10 "Innocence! Love! My First Kiss?!"
"Jun desu! mede su! fasutokissu?!" (純です! 愛です! ファーストキッス?!) 
December 7, 1994December 4, 1999
11 "Irritating! Jealous?! Unbelievable!!"
"Yakimoki! yakimochi?! anbiribabo!!" (ヤキモキ! ヤキモチ?! アンビリーバボー!!) 
December 14, 1994December 11, 1999
12 "Can You Feel It?! I Can't Ignore It! An Ominous Premonition of Catastrophe!!"
"Kanji ru?! kini naru! hakyoku no yokan!!" (感じる?! 気になる! 破局の予感!!) 
December 21, 1994December 11, 1999
13 "I Love You! This is so Extreme! It's Time to Confess?!"
"Suki desu! kyūkyoku! kokuhaku taimu?!" (好きです! 究極! 告白タイム?!) 
December 28, 1994December 18, 1999
14 "A Chase Down Yamato Highway! Love Under Fire!!"
"Oi masu! yamato michi! koi no midare uchi!!" (追います!大和路! 恋の乱れ撃ち!!) 
January 4, 1995December 18, 1999
15 "Lost & Trembling on a Trip to Michinoku"
"Tomadoi yurameki michinoku kikō" (戸惑い ゆらめき みちのく紀行) 
January 11, 1995December 25, 1999
16 "Japan is a Paradise! Tears in Wakasa"
"Nippon (yamato) yo mahoroba! nageki no wakasa" (日本(やまと)よ まほろば 嘆きの若狭) 
January 18, 1995December 25, 1999
17 "Let it Bloom Japan! A Blizzard of One-sided Love!!"
"Saka sete! nippon (nippon)! hen koi fubuki!!" (咲かせて! 日本(にっぽん)! 片恋吹雪!!) 
January 25, 1995January 1, 2000
18 "Geez!! Oh, Man!! Sakura's Not Good Enough!?"
"Jizasu!! gaddemu!! sakura ha mijuku!?" (ジーザス!!ガッデム!! 桜は未熟!?) 
February 1, 1995January 1, 2000
19 "Heat Haze! Start on a Journey! Love, I Won't be Far From You!"
"Kagerō! tabidachi! ai, hanare nai!" (陽炎! 旅立ち! 愛、離れない!) 
February 8, 1995January 8, 2000
20 "I'm Home! Izumo! The Prologue of Hope!!"
"Tadaima! izumo (furusato)! kibō no joshō!!" (ただいま! 出雲(ふるさと)! 希望の序章!!) 
February 15, 1995January 8, 2000
21 "Goodbye? No Way! Separation with Tears?!"
"Sayonara? iyadesu! namida nowakare?!" (さよなら? いやです! 涙のわかれ?!) 
February 22, 1995January 15, 2000
22 "Sadness, Fate, Momiji Kushinada"
"Kanashimi, unmei, ki ineda (kushinada) kōyō" (悲しみ, 運命, 奇稲田(くしなだ)紅葉) 
March 1, 1995January 15, 2000
23 "Meeting Again, Starting the Journey, I Won't Give Up!"
"Saikai, shuppatsu (tabidachi), watashi make naitsu!" (再会, 出発(たびだち), 私負けないっ!) 
March 8, 1995January 22, 2000
24 "The Setting Sun, the Coming Day, a Private Time for Each One"
"Shizumu yō (hi), semaru nichi, sorezoreno toki" (沈む陽(ひ), 迫る日, それぞれの時) 
March 15, 1995January 22, 2000
25 "All or Nothing! Decision! My Fate!"
"Kake masu! kime masu! watashi no unmei!!" (賭けます! 決めます! 私の運命!!) 
March 22, 1995January 29, 2000
26 "New Soul"
"Shin tamashii (aratama)" (新魂(あらたま)) 
March 29, 1995January 29, 2000

Blue Seed Beyond

No. Title Original airdate
OVA"Mission: Eradicate Kushinada, Operation Mitama, Phase I"July 24, 1996 – February 4, 1998
"Mission: Eradicate Kushinada, Operation Mitama, Phase II"
"Six Babes Bathing in a Killer Hot Springs"

Theme songs

Opening
Ending

Video game

A role-playing video game entitled Blue Seed ~The Legend of Hiroku Kushinada~ (ブルーシード ~奇稲田秘録伝~ Burūshīdo ~Kushinada Hiroku Den~) was developed by Sega for the Sega Saturn on June 23, 1995. It follows an adventure format, and utilizes a card-based battle system. The game's story is not an adaption of either the manga or the TV series, but a set of original episodes set in the same continuity as the TV series. The main cast of the TV series reprised their roles for the battle sequences and introductory cutscene.

The game was one of 12 Sega Saturn games announced when the system was first unveiled at the 1994 Tokyo Toy Show.[4]

On release, Famicom Tsūshin scored the game a 28 out of 40.[5]

References

  1. 碧奇魂ブルーシード(1) (in Japanese). Takeshobo. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  2. 碧奇魂ブルーシード(2) (in Japanese). Takeshobo. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  3. JpopHelp.Com: Your Online Source for Jpop Media!
  4. "Sega's Saturn: 32-Bit Intensity". Electronic Gaming Monthly (61) (EGM Media, LLC). August 1994. pp. 50–51.
  5. NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ブルーシード ~奇稲田秘録伝~. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.341. Pg.31. June 30, 1995.

External links

Preceded by
Tottemo! Luckyman
(April 6, 1994 – September 28, 1994)
TV Tokyo Wednesday 18:00 Timeframe
Blue Seed

(October 5, 1994 – March 29, 1995)
Succeeded by
Legend of the Angel of Love: Wedding Peach
(April 5, 1995 – March 27, 1996)
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