C (anime)

[C] - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control
Cover of the first Blu-ray disc featuring Kimimaro Yoga and his Asset, Msyu.
Genre	Science fiction
Anime television series
Directed by	Kenji Nakamura
Written by	Noboru Takagi
Music by	Taku Iwasaki
Studio	Tatsunoko Production
Licensed by	^AUS Siren Visual ^NA Funimation Entertainment ^UK MVM Films
Network	Fuji TV (Noitamina)
English network	^US Funimation Channel, Pivot
Original run	April 14, 2011 – June 23, 2011
Episodes	11

[C] - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control (also known as [C] – Control or C for Control internationally, or simply [C] or C) is a 2011 Japanese anime television series produced by Tatsunoko Production under the direction of Kenji Nakamura with Noboru Takagi as script supervisor.

C aired on Fuji TV's Noitamina programing block between April 14, 2011 and June 23, 2011.^[1] Funimation Entertainment simulcasted the anime every Thursday, beginning with April 21, 2011.^[2] Funimation has acquired additional home video rights to the series and has been released in 2012.^[3]

The anime aired in the USA on the Funimation Channel on January 14, 2013,^[4] and aired on Pivot from October 5, 2013, as the channel's 1st anime program. The series has been acquired for distribution on DVD in the UK by MVM Entertainment on October 14, 2013.

Plot

The Japanese government was rescued from the brink of financial collapse by the Sovereign Wealth Fund. For its citizens, however, life has not improved and unemployment, crime, suicide, and despair are rampant. Kimimaro, raised by his maternal aunt after the disappearance of his father and the death of his mother, is a scholarship student whose only dream is to live a stable, ordinary life. One day he meets a man who offers him a large sum of money if he will allow his "future" to be held as collateral. From then on his fate is radically altered as he's drawn into a mysterious realm known as the Financial District, where he must compete in weekly tournaments called "deals" in order to keep his money and avoid losing his future.

Characters

Kimimaro Yoga (余賀 公磨 Yoga Kimimaro)

Voiced by: Kōki Uchiyama (Japanese); Todd Haberkorn (English)^[5]

A 19-year-old second year university student who studies economics. He seeks to just have enough money to have a normal life with a home, wife, and children, until he is roped into the Financial District and becomes one of its Entrés (short for Entrepreneurs). He is then scouted by Souichirou to join the Mukudori Guild, as his disinterest in money interests him, and that Souichirou sees his younger self in Kimimaro. He is trying to make sense of the circumstances behind his father's bankruptcy in the Financial District and subsequent suicide, and also trying to win but not hurt others as much as possible. It is unknown as to why Souichirou wants to groom him. Several people have noted that Mashu being a very powerful Asset is a blessing for Kimimaro as she is the reason that he is able to survive in the game even though he is inexperienced. In episode 10, Yoga gains Jennifer's asset, George, and a black card that is able to either begin or stop the process of printing excess Midas money. The other black card belongs to Mikuni, setting up the final duel of the series on an even playing field in which neither character is truly right or wrong.

Mashu (真朱 Mashyu, Mshyu in English dub)^[5]

Voiced by: Haruka Tomatsu (Japanese); Brina Palencia (English)^[5]

Kimimaro's Asset, who takes the appearance of a girl with horns and has the ability to conjure up fire based attacks. She is a strange Asset in the sense that she does things that are unusual for an Asset, such as behaving like a normal human does, and even asking Kimimaro to give her some of his instant ramen out of curiosity. Kimimaro views her as a partner rather than a mere Asset/object, and as such, tried to shield her with his own body when he first fought. She is curious about Q, as seen from her reaction when they met for the first time. Kimimaro named her after the unique 4-letter code that appears on the bottom right corner of every Midas Card. Her Flation abilities are "Scorched Earth", a highly destructive Mezzoflation, and her Macroflation, "Overheated Economy". Kimimaro says that she may be modeled after his future daughter, but he is uncertain. He is seen naming a newborn daughter Mashu in a dream/flash forward.

Souichirou Mikuni (三國 壮一郎 Mikuni Sōichirō)

Voiced by: Daisuke Hosomi (Japanese); J. Michael Tatum (English)^[5]

A powerful Entré whose goal is to own Tokyo's Financial District, Souichirou controls three Assets and has great influence over both the Japanese Government and the whole of Japan's finance market. He has taken an interest in Kimimaro's potential. It is said he used to be very similar to Kimimaro, having tried to save Q in his first Deal as well. As the founder of the Mukudori Guild, he aims to control his Deals to win by small margins so that his victories do not greatly affect reality. Born into a wealthy family, Souichiro was a rebel looking to establish himself in the music business on his own; his band broke up just before landing a major record deal, and Souichiro became a personal assistant to his father while caring for his terminally ill sister, Takako. Soon afterwards, the elder Mikuni's corporation started to crumble as a result of the financial crisis. His father chose to pump all his money into the company so as to save it, denying Takako the funds she needed to undergo a rare medical procedure unavailable in Japan. Swearing vengeance on his father after Takako fell into a coma, Souichirou bought out his father's company with the money he earned from his first victory in the Financial District so as to take away the thing that the elder Mikuni held most dear.

Q (キュー Kyū)

Voiced by: Saori Gotō (Japanese); Monica Rial (English)^[5]

Mikuni's main Asset and partner. She, like Mashu, appears to act more human than other Assets, though not to the same extent. She is considered to be the strongest Asset in the Financial District. She has a fondness for money and eats Midas banknotes as snacks. She always appears to be sleepy, and has a guardian called Aurore, which is another of Mikuni's Assets. Her Flation ability, Cannibalism, allows her to eat other Assets and even Entrés, and she is capable of acting on her own without Mikuni's instruction. Her Macroflation ability is Economic Blockade which is able to stop an opponent from moving, immobilizing them so that Mikuni can strike the final blow. Her presence seems to have an effect on Mikuni's other Assets in Deals. She is modeled after Mikuni's sister, Takako, as seen at the end of the anime.

Masakaki (真坂木)

Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai (Japanese); Scott Freeman (English)^[5]

A mysterious figure from the Financial District, with a perpetual leer and a top hat who invites people to become Entrés. Masakaki also conducts administrative functions in the Financial District, expelling bankrupt Entrés and dispensing advice. Each Financial District has its own Masakaki, each dressed in different colors. It is revealed in Episode 11 that he, like all the other administrators of the other Financial Districts across the globe, is a mirror image of the creator of the Financial District, who is similar in every aspect save clothing.

Hanabi Ikuta (生田 羽奈日 Ikuta Hanabi)

Voiced by: Yui Makino (Japanese); Cherami Leigh (English)

Kimimaro's best friend and classmate at university. Kimimaro has feelings for her despite the fact that she already has a boyfriend. Her future degenerates because of the effects of C and she becomes an invalid. She is last seen reaching for the light coming in her window as Kimimaro restores the future of everyone in Japan. In the epilogue, Kimimaro sees a smiling preschool teacher who bears a striking resemblance to Hanabi.

Jennifer Satoh (ジェニファー・サトウ Jenifā Satō)

Voiced by: Mayumi Asano (Japanese); Martha Harms (English)

An operative working for the International Monetary Fund who is investigating the Financial District and was somehow invited to become an Entré. She is curious about Mikuni's sudden interest in Kimimaro, and comments that Kimimaro could be an ally or an enemy depending on the choices he makes. She has a voracious appetite for both fast food and sweets, and is often seen with a lollipop in her mouth. Unlike other Entrés, she has no interest in Midas Money and makes use of her Asset's incredible strength to control her wins and losses in order to keep her account from fluctuating. She tries to stop Mikuni from using up all his remaining future to print more Midas money and ends up bankrupted, but not before passing her Asset, George, to Kimimaro. After Kimimaro defeats Mikuni she is seen in the street, laughing.

Terminology

Financial District (金融街 Kin'yūgai)

An alternate reality where Entres make transactions using Midas Money. Once a week, each Entre is summoned to take part into a Deal, but other sources of income include gambling on the outcome of another person's Deal, or information exchange. It is said that there is a Financial District at each of the world's main economic centers, and when a district goes bankrupt, its respective center disappears, with negative impacts in reality at other countries whose economies had connections with said center. It can be shown that the collateral used for a person's future makes up the structures of the Financial District and can be the reason why it mirrors reality.

Entre (アントレ Antore)

Short for Entrepreneur. These are people chosen to join the Midas Bank and participate in Deals in the Financial District. They are given large sums of money with their "future" as collateral. Entres who lose all of their money and become Bankrupt are banished from the Financial District. Since the "future" taken as collateral varies from person to person, so does the outcome of an Entre's bankruptcy, with tragic consequences to them or their loved ones in reality.

Asset (アセット Asetto)

A creature that fights alongside an Entre in Deals. They are said to represent the "future" that the Entre puts at stake when entering the Financial District. By wagering money, these Assets can attack their opponents. Their attacks are called "Flations", and are categorized in three levels of power, "Micro", "Mezzo" and "Macro". Q alone possesses a special attack called "Cannibalization". The combined value of all assets is represented in a huge display set atop the Financial District and can vary depending on the situation of the economy at the region it represents. Hence, if the total assets of a town reach zero, then all assets are destroyed, and the country the economy collocates with, vanishes.

Deal (ディール Dīru)

A battle between Entres and their Assets. Each Deal lasts 666 seconds (11 minutes, 6 seconds), with hits and damage affecting how much money is gained or lost. Dealers use their money to summon their Assets' attacks, or perform "Direct" attacks by creating an energy blade to confront their enemies by themselves. Each Entre is obliged to take part on a Deal once per week but can avoid taking part on one by paying half of his/her fortune.

Midas Money (ミダスマネー Midasu Manē)

A type of money used in the Financial District that has entered the flow of money in reality. Only people chosen as Entres have the ability to differentiate Midas Money, shown to them as black notes, from ordinary cash. It is unknown what effect it has on the real world and there is also much concern about what could happen with the world's economy if Midas Money's flow into it continues or even if one day it suddenly stops. Special Entres with a darkness card can relinquish a part or even all of their "future" to generate more Midas Money.

Theme music

The opening theme is "Matryoshka" (マトリョーシカ Matoryōshika) by Nico Touches the Walls and the ending theme is "RPG" by School Food Punishment.

Episode list

No.	Title	Original airdate
01	"Complication" "Fukuzatsu" (複雑)	April 14, 2011[6]
A man with no money uses a certain credit card which grants him access to the surreal Financial District, where he engages in a battle against a man named Souichirou Mikuni, fighting with mysterious creatures known as Assets, and is defeated and ends up committing suicide the next day. Meanwhile, a boy named Kimimaro Yoga is working two part time jobs to raise money for his future. One evening as he is trying to study for a pop quiz, he is approached by a mysterious man named Masakaki, who announces that Kimimaro has been chosen to become an Entrepreneur, or Entre, at Midas Bank. The next day, Kimimaro is surprised to find 500,000 yen deposited into his account. While wondering what he should do about it, Kimimaro considers using a small amount so he can attend a Konpa with his friend, Hanabi Ikuta. However, as he withdraws the money, he is once again approached by Masakaki, who places him in a taxi bound for the Financial District.
02	"Coincidence" "Angō" (暗合)	April 21, 2011[6]
Kimimaro is brought to the Financial District in which he must participate in Deals, battles in which money is wagered, using an Asset named Mashu. Kimimaro and Mashu are instantly thrown into a Deal against a powerful Asset named 'Gig'. With Kimimaro not able to understand the situation, Mashu takes a lot of damage defending him. However, Mashu manages to teach Kimimaro how to use her ability, which manages to defeat the opponent, though he passes out soon afterward. Kimimaro returns to the real world, where Masakaki informs him the next Deal will take place in a week's time, and soon finds he has even more money in his account. Later on, Kimimaro starts noticing that some money bills appear black for him, which Mashu explains is money from the Financial District. Kimimaro then ends up encountering Mikuni, who explains about the black bills, known as Midas Money, and hints that he knows of Kimimaro's parents.
03	"Conspiracy" "Inbō" (陰謀)	April 28, 2011[6]
Jennifer Sato is an Entre from an organization trying to discover the purpose of the Financial Districts. Meanwhile, Kimimaro goes to visit his aunt to ask about his parents, who mysteriously disappeared one day. While looking for his dad's belongings, he finds a journal pertaining to the Midas Bank and decides to go to the Financial District for answers. Mikuni takes him to meet a strange photographer who tells him that his father was a strong Entre who went 'bankrupt' in a deal and ended up hanging himself. Although Kimimaro is initially annoyed that all his father thought about was money, Mikuni hints that it may have been for the sake of providing for his family, suggesting he should think of something or someone to use his money for. Kimimaro soon enters his second deal, where he encounters a familiar face.
04	"Conversion" "Tenkan" (転換)	May 5, 2011[6]
Kimimaro finds himself up against one of his professors, Mr. Ebara, and defeats him, making him bankrupt. The next day, Ebara brings Kimimaro over for a talk, revealing that he entered Deals to support his family, and his punishment for bankruptcy made it so his children never existed in the first place. He also mentions the Starling Guild which Mikuni is a part of, supposedly trying to prevent the Financial District's effects on the real world. Mikuni brings Kimimaro to observe one of his duels against another high level Entre, purposely holding back his strength to win by a 1% margin so that he doesn't affect the real world. After witnessing the duel, Kimimaro becomes determined not to lose so he doesn't have to make anyone else suffer.
05	"Cultivation (Training)" "Shūren" (修練)	May 12, 2011[7]
Mikuni explains the purpose of Starling Guild, to win by small margins in order to avoid affecting reality, to Kimimaro, though his attempt to put it into practice fails due to Mashu rushing in. Hearing from the taxi driver that even those with small losses may have their future affected, Kimimaro grows concerned about whether his loss has affected any of his friends or family, though it appears to only affect his test results. Meanwhile, Kimimaro grows concerned about the Basho Pharmaceutical corporation, which could affect thousands of people if it rendered bankrupt through Deals. Kimimaro later learns Basho Pharmaceuticals was bought by a company secretly controlled by Mikuni, in order to reduce its effects on reality. Mikuni later explains to Kimimaro that he is trying to maintain a balance between reality and the Financial District, since ridding one of the other would cause chaos. Kimimaro decides to join the Guild and start controlling his Deals.
06	"Conflict" "Kattō" (葛藤)	May 19, 2011[7]
Jennifer is scheduled to have a Deal against Kimimaro, who is currently making strides with his new strategies. He is approached by his next opponent, a celebrity named Kō Sennoza, who offers him a way to pass on his deal. Later, Kimimaro is approached by Jennifer, who mentions Mikuni is using a lot of his own future to help minimise the effects of other's deals. Kimimaro talks with Kō the next day, who says every time the Guild acts, more Midas Money appears in the world, also mentioning some of the effects his own loss to Mikuni had on other people's futures. After a bleak conversation with Mikuni, Kimimaro goes through with his Deal with Kō, whose powerful Asset causes serious damage to Mashu as she defends Kimimaro. As Kimimaro resolves to protect the things close to him and save Mashu, he lashes out with two Mezzoflations in rapid succession, emerging victorious in the Deal and defunding Kō's charity foundation in real life. Kō keeps his positive attitude, saying that Kimimaro has the potential to fight his way out of the Financial District.
07	"Composition" "Sosei" (組成)	May 26, 2011[7]
Mikuni's past is detailed, in which he quit his passion for music to become an executive secretary for his father. When his terminally ill sister Takako's condition started to worsen, his father places more importance on his corporation and his public image rather than sending his daughter overseas to receive a medical procedure which may save her life. After denial of treatment to Takako puts her into a permanent coma, Mikuni focuses on business and is soon approached by the Midas Bank and begins dealing in the Financial District. Back in the present, Mashu reflects on her relationship with Kimimaro, who becomes curious about the nature of futures which take the form of Assets. When Kimimaro notices an Entre harassing his Asset, he initially holds in his irritation, but after talking with Mashu, he decides to go back and punch the offending Entre. Mashu takes an increased interest in human behavior and asks a flustered Kimimaro what kisses are and attempts to place one on him. As Kimimaro goes home one night, he starts to notice a few buildings disappearing.
08	"Confidence" "Shin'yō" (信用)	June 2, 2011[7]
As some of the Financial Districts banks start becoming bankrupt, the country starts rapidly shifting into poverty around the Entres, with people becoming lethargic or disappearing altogether. After stopping Ebara from committing suicide, Yoga tries to convince Masakaki to let him pay a fee in order to return Ebara's future, but is told that it is beyond his power. As Yoga later learns Ebara had died in a car accident, he decides to burn a large amount of his Midas Money. As Mikuni and the Starling Guild plan to put a plan called "C" into action, the Southeast Asian Financial District goes bankrupt and starts disappearing, along with Singapore.
09	"Collapse" "Hatan" (破綻)	June 9, 2011[7]
As Singapore disappears parts of Hong Kong and Shanghai are affected. Mikuni uses his ability ("Darkness") to protect Japan from the effects of Southeast Asian Financial District's collapse. In exchange for 20 years of Mikuni's future Masakaki allows the printing of a large quantity of Midas Money which is deposited into his account. Mikuni and his colleagues use the Midas Money to invest in failing institutions all over Japan. Artificially propping up failing banks and enterprises spares the Japanese economy but with that comes unintended consequences. Though the present is saved, the future of Japan is uncertain. People begin disappearing, poverty increases, birthrates decline, and morale is seen dropping all around.
10	"Collision" "Shōtotsu" (衝突)	June 16, 2011[8]
The North American Financial District starts increasing the value of its assets when their Entrés begin flooding the world economy with dollars. Mikuni decides to use the black card and the Midas Money press once more to prevent the Japanese economy from financial collapse. Jennifer, Kimimaro and Takedasaki put a plan of their own in motion to stop Mikuni before the transaction is complete in an attempt to save the future, but the plan backfires when Mikuni defeats Jennifer in a deal. In her final action she passes Georges to Kimimaro. Kimimaro confronts Mikuni about using the Midas Money press but he hears none of it and opts to print once more in exchange for rest of his future. With the help of Masakaki, Kimimaro realises he is in possession of a black card of his own, giving him the means to revert the press. This quickly escalates in a struggle for control over the press with Mikuni and Kimimaro engaging in a deal.
11	"Control (Future)" "Mirai" (未来)	June 23, 2011[8]
Kimimaro and Mikuni begin their duel, going all out on each other. Mikuni puts Kimimaro in a tough spot, but his powers start to weaken thanks to the decreasing value of the Yen, with people soon starting to see Midas Money for what it truly is. As Kimimaro continues to fight with Mikuni, Mashu pleas with Q, who is based on Takako and starts taking her form. The battle is concluded when Midas Money disappears from the world along with Mikuni's powers, allowing Kimimaro to deal the winning punch and C to pass through Japan without influence. Declared the winner, Kimimaro orders the reversing of the presses, with the futures returning to their original place. With the Assets disappearing as a result, Mashu gives Kimimaro a kiss before she disappears. Kimimaro returns to reality to find that US dollar has become Japan's official currency, and everyone's futures have been returned to them. And a dark fact about the Financial District is revealed. Kimiraro takes out a picture from his pocket of his life in the Financial District thinking about it.

References

1. "C by Mononoke/Kūchū Buranko Helmer Nakamura Revealed". Anime News Network. December 17, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
2. "C to air on FUNimation's new Beta site". Anime News Network. April 14, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
3. "Funimation Adds Deadman Wonderland, Steins;Gate and More". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
4. "Funimation Week 3 of 2013". Funimation Entertainment. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
5. Rojas, Justin (July 26, 2012). "C-Control English Cast Announcement". Funimation.
6. "[C]" (in Japanese). Web Newtype. Archived from the original on May 3, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
7. "[C]" (in Japanese). Web Newtype. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
8. "[C]" (in Japanese). Web Newtype. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2011.

External links

• Funimation's C Site
• Official website
• C (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia