Xenosaga: The Animation

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Xenosaga: The Animation

ゼノサーガ THE ANIMATION (Xenosaga: The Animation)
Genre	Mecha, Science Fiction, Shounen
TV anime
Directed by	Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Studio	Namco
Network	TV Asahi
Original run	January 5, 2005 – March 23, 2005
No. of episodes	12

Xenosaga: The Animation (ゼノサーガ THE ANIMATION, Zenosāga: Za Animēshon^?) is a 12-episode anime television series by Toei Animation, which premiered on TV Asahi in Japan on January 5, 2005. The series is based on the PlayStation 2 game Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht, with several changes to the storyline, including omissions (Jr., Ziggy, and MOMO's first appearance in Episode I, the removal of Cherenkov and the Cathedral Ship) and additions (before the destruction of the Woglinde, Shion becomes good friends with one of Albedo's "personal assistant" Realians, the Kirschwassers, Virgil surviving until episode 9). Some scenes were entirely re-written for the show's purposes, with the Encephalon dive and the final confrontation with Albedo on the Proto Merkabah being major examples.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The pacing has the viewer running through the first ten to fifteen hours of gameplay of Episode I in the first five episodes. Jin Uzuki, Shion's brother and a major character in Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse, can be seen in episode eight of The Animation. Given the nature of the anime, it works best as a supplement to Episode I; some points that the game explained poorly or didn't explain at all are brought to light in the anime. For example, in the game, Albedo comes across as a mentally insane individual initially with uncertain motives. In the series, it becomes apparent that Albedo has abandonment issues (amongst other things) that enhance his character development. These issues make a return and are explored more fully in Episode II. One character who did not receive any additional development to his character was Lt. Virgil, who was kept alive for nine episodes in the place of Commander Cherenkov. Despite being alive and traveling with the main characters no new information about Virgil came out in the anime. He was portrayed as an edgy, saracastic and trigger-happy man, just like he was in the game.

Another major difference is the role of the Kirschwassers. While in Episode I they serve in a minor role working for Albedo, the anime focuses on only one. This Kirschwasser was impersonating a 100-series while on the Woglinde in order to escape Albedo, but was recaptured and set to work against Shion, who had befriended her earlier. The ending of the anime has the Kirschwasser in the control room of Proto Merkabah, setting it to self-destruct mode, where she dies. In the game, however, KOS-MOS does this and escapes unharmed.

The ending theme is "in this serenity," performed by Mayumi Gojo.