Kiznaiver
| Kiznaiver | |
 Key visual | |
| キズナイーバー (Kizunaībā) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action, Thriller, science fiction, Drama[1] |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Roji Karegishi |
| Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
| English publisher | Crunchyroll (digital) |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Magazine | Dengeki Maoh |
| Original run | March 25, 2016 – present |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Hiroshi Kobayashi |
| Written by | Mari Okada |
| Music by | Yuki Hayashi |
| Studio | Trigger |
| Network | Tokyo MX, GTV, GYT, BS11, ABC, TVA, AT-X |
| Original run | April 9, 2016 – present |
| Episodes | 12 |
Kiznaiver (キズナイーバー Kizunaībā) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Trigger and Aniplex and written by Mari Okada. The series features character designs by Shirow Miwa and Mai Yoneyama.[2] It also features the directorial debut of Hiroshi Kobayashi, assistant director of the anime Rage of Bahamut and episode director of Kill la Kill. Kiznaiver follows a group of high school students who are chosen to be a part of an experimental program which creates bonds between people by forcing them to share each other's pain. It is thematically similar to Trigger's previous films, which deal with problems attributed to character interaction.[3] The series' title and premise are based upon the Japanese words for "wound/scar" (きず kizu), and "bond/connection" (きずな kizuna).
Plot
The anime takes place in the futuristic, fictional, Japanese town of Sugomori City; a city built on a reclaimed landfill. This once booming metropolis is now facing a slow and steadily decrease in population.
A few days before the start of summer vacation, a mysterious and seemingly emotionless girl, Noriko Sonozaki, tells her classmate Katsuhira Agata that he has been selected to become a Kiznaiver because he lacks some pain reception. Together, the two experience what is called a kizuna (or connection) bond through pain.[4] This Kizuna system allows Katsuhira to share his pain and connects him to his classmates, whose lives and personalities each differ from his own. It is revealed that his classmates, along with Noriko, are all fellow "Kiznaivers" but are each a part of different rival groups.
The ideal goal of the currently incomplete Kizuna System is to create world peace by connecting people's memories and experiences through wounds. If a single Kiznaiver is wounded, the system distributes the physical pain experienced and the wound itself among other Kiznaivers. This leads to serious implications as Katsuhira's classmates attempt to shoulder each other's pain and Noriko assigns them on various missions.[5]
Characters
- Katsuhira Agata (阿形 勝平 Agata Katsuhira)
- Voiced by: Yūki Kaji
- The story's apathetic and "semi-emotionless" protagonist. He is initially removed from his own perception of pain.
- Noriko Sonozaki (園崎 法子 Sonozaki Noriko)
- Voiced by: Hibiku Yamamura
- A beautiful girl who lacks human kindness and displays no emotion whatsoever. She acts as the arbitrator for the Kizuna Program.
- Chidori Takashiro (高城 千鳥 Takashiro Chidori)
- Voiced by: Yuka Terasaki
- Katsuhira's childhood friend who is humanistic and seemingly nosy at times. She used to have affection for him and is hinted to still do.
- Hajime Tenga (天河 一 Tenga Hajime)
- Voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno
- A delinquent who is impulsive and rowdy to the point of being obnoxious, but does have good leadership qualities. Despite receiving the nickname "Mad Dog", he suffers from an intense case of cynophobia.
- Niko Niyama (新山 仁子 Niiyama Niko)
- Voiced by: Misaki Kuno
- A flowery girl with an attention-seeking attitude who behaves in an eccentric manner by claiming she "sees fairies". This is revealed to be a lie in order to create a quirky character.
- Tsuguhito Yuta (由多 次人 Yuta Tsuguhito)
- Voiced by: Nobunaga Shimazaki
- A sly and self-centered honors student. He is popular with the girls in his class, but attempts to dissociate himself from other guys. He used to be severely overweight, a fact that he seeks to keep secret.
- Honoka Maki (牧 穂乃香 Maki Honoka)
- Voiced by: Rina Satō
- An aloof and intelligent girl who holds a cold and condescending attitude towards others. She has apparently killed someone in her past, although the circumstances are unknown.
- Yoshiharu Hisomu (日染 芳春 Hisomu Yoshiharu)
- Voiced by: Kōtarō Nishiyama
- A handsome and distinct man shrouded in mystery. He lives alone and is revealed to be a huge masochist.
- Kazunao Yamada (山田 一直 Yamada Kazunao)
- Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe
- Katsuhira's laid-back and perverted homeroom teacher.
- Mutsumi Urushibara (漆原 睦 Urushibara Mutsumi)
- Voiced by: Mie Sonozaki
- The counselor of Katsuhira's school.
Episode list
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Sometimes, a Bond Can Bloom from the First Day Eye Contact Is Made" "Hitome Atta Sono Hi kara, Kizuna no Hanasaku Koto mo Aru" (一目あったその日から, 絆の花咲くこともある) | April 9, 2016 |
| 2 | "If You Can Swallow a Bizarre Situation Like This So Easily, Two Buckets of Barium Shouldn't Be a Problem" "Konna Ijou Jitai Kantan ni Nomi Komen Nara Barium Nanza Bucket Nihai wa Karuku Yoyuu Dattsuno" (こんな異常事態カンタンに飲みこめんならバリウムなんざバケツ二杯は軽く余裕だっつーの) | April 16, 2016 |
| 3 | "Depending on How You Look At It, I Think We Could Get Through Anything... Right?" "Donna ni Sanzan na Joukyou Datte Torae Kata Shidai de Nantoka Yatteikeru kamo...... ne?" (どんなにさんざんな状況だって捉えかた次第でなんとかやっていけるかも...... ねっ？) | April 23, 2016 |
| 4 | "Now That We're All Connected, Let's All Get to Know Each Other Better, 'Kay?" "Sekkaku Tsunagari Attanda Shisa Motto Otagai Wakari Aou Yon" (せっかく繋がりあったんだしさもっとお互いわかりあおうよん) | April 30, 2016 |
Theme songs
Opening theme - LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME by Boom Boom Satellites[6]
Ending theme - Hajimaru no Sukudo (はじまりの速度) by Sangatsu no Phantasia[7]
Manga
A tie-in manga by Roji Karegishi is published simultaneously by Crunchyroll digitally and by Kadokawa Shoten in their Dengeki Maoh magazine. It premiered on March 25, 2016.[8]
Crunchyroll also added a gag manga titled Mini! KIZNAIVER Theater.[9]
References
- ↑ "Studio TRIGGER’s New Original TV Anime Project "Kiznaiver" Revealed". Crunchyroll. October 10, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
- ↑ "Studio Trigger Reveals New Kiznaiver Original TV Anime". Anime News Network. October 8, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
- ↑ "TRIGGER ANIMATION EXPO スペシャルイベント決定！ | TRIGGER Inc.". www.st-trigger.co.jp. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
- ↑ "TVアニメ「キズナイーバー」公式サイト". TVアニメ「キズナイーバー」公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2016-03-14.
- ↑ "TVアニメ「キズナイーバー」公式サイト". TVアニメ「キズナイーバー」公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2016-03-14.
- ↑ "キズナイーバーpixiv公式アカウントページ". www.pixiv.net. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
- ↑ "キズナイーバーpixiv公式アカウントページ". www.pixiv.net. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
- ↑ "Crunchyroll to Publish Kiznaiver Manga Online". Anime News Network. March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- ↑ Luster, Joseph (April 27, 2016). "Crunchyroll Adds "Mini! KIZNAIVER Theater" Gag Manga". Crunchyroll. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
External links
- Official website (Japanese)
- Kiznaiver (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
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