Witchblade (anime)

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This article is about the anime series. For the Top Cow comic book series see Witchblade.

Witchblade

ウィッチブレイド (Witchblade)
Genre	Action, Drama, Supernatural, Science Fiction
TV anime
Directed by	Yoshimitsu Ohashi
Studio	GONZO
Network	TBS Cartoon Network (Adult Swim)
Original run	16 April 2006 – 20 September 2006
No. of episodes	24

Witchblade (ウィッチブレイド, Uicchibureido^?) is an anime series based on the famous American comic book by the same name. Instead of an adaptation of the original story, the producers decided to create an entire new setup, with all new characters. This co-production between Japanese studio GONZO and American publisher Top Cow who owns the rights for the Witchblade franchise, is already licensed to release in the United States.

The anime is being directed by Yoshimitsu Ohashi (director of Galaxy Angel & Galaxy Angel Z) and the character designs are done by Uno Makoto (character designer of the Gravion TV Series & Stellvia).

1 Story
2 Cast
3 Episodes
4 Differences in the DVD and TV versions
5 Theme Songs
6 Links

[edit] Story

In this new approach to the Witchblade universe, the lead character (and blade wielder) is Masane Amaha, a kind-hearted woman who, despite her good intentions, is fairly clumsy and not good around the house. She lost her memory during a catastrophical unknown event that ravaged Tokyo and curiously, Masane was found unscathed in the phenomenon's ground zero holding a baby in her arms. Six years later, she returns to Tokyo with the child, now called Rihoko, and for whom she cares for as a daughter, where she discovers that the mysterious jewel attached to her right wrist is actually the legendary artifact known as the Witchblade. Since then Masane got herself involved in the struggle for power between a huge corporation and a government agency, while trying to live her life peacefully with her daughter.

[edit] Cast

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Masane Amaha

Mamiko Noto as Masane Amaha (天羽雅音 Amaha Masane)

The main character of the series. Masane is the bearer of the Witchblade. She seems to have became the Witchblade bearer during an event that destroyed most of Tokyo 6 years before the current time of the series. Masane is also the caring mother of Rihoko Amaha. Although she is "Riko's" mother, Masane seems to be a little ditsy at times, making Rihoko seem like she is the resposible one. She has a very deep attachment to her daughter. However, the NSWF's Child Welfare Division wants to take Rihoko from Masane because Masane doesn't have any means of income for taking care of Rihoko and the possibilty that Masane may not be the actual mother.

Rihoko Amaha

Akemi Kanda as Rihoko Amaha (Riko) (天羽梨穂子 Amaha Rihoko)

Masane Amaha's daughter. Although she is Masane's daughter, she acts like the mother, responsibilty-wise. Rihoko does the shopping, cooking, cleaning, and so forth, although she does not mind doing these things at all. Riko cares for her mother deeply and wants to be with Masane. The NSWF's Child Welfare Division wants to take Rihoko because Masane has no way of taking care of her in the event of illness or emergencies.

Yuusuke Tozawa

Masaya Matsukaze as Yuusuke Tozawa (斗沢祐介 Tozawa Yūsuke)

Yuusuke Tozawa is a free-lance photographer. From past experiences, he prefers to use regular cameras rather than digital cameras. He first becomes interested in the number of serial murders taking place in the city and investigates the matter, which leads him to the Witchblade. Tozawa then continues his investigations, but this time, to find out who or what the "Witchblade" is.

Reina Soho

Mie Sonozaki as Reina Soho (Lady) (蘇峰玲奈 Soho Reina)

Reina Soho is a Forensics Medicine Specialist in the NSWF (National Scientific Welfare Foundation). She is a very intelligent, strong, and capable woman. Reina is also a Cloneblade, an attempted genetic "copy" of the Witchblade. Her nickname as a Cloneblade is "Lady." She is found to be a potential bearer for the "true" Witchblade. Because of this, Reina and her assistant, Shiori Tsuzuki, attempt to capture Masane to forcibly remove the Witchblade.

Reiji Takayama

Rikiya Koyama as Reiji Takayama (鷹山澪士 Takayama Reiji)

Reiji Takayama is the Bureau Chief of Douji Group Industries. He also is the one responsible for employing Masane to fight-off malfunctioning "Ex-cons". Takayama is a very stern man who shows little to no expressions at all. He is usually accompanied by his assistant, Hiroki Segawa. Takayama seems to have a past relationship with Reina Soho. They both had worked together before the ground-zero event in doing research on the Witchblade.

Shizuka Itou as Shiori Tsuzuki (都築栞 Tsuzuki Shirori)
Kenichi Suzumura as Hiroki Segawa (瀬川弘樹 Segawa Hiroki)
Shinzi Ogawa as Tatsuoki Furumizu (古水達興 Furumizu Tatsuoki)
Sakiko Tamagawa as Rie Nishida (西田りえNishida Rie)
Saori Yumiba as Nora (ノーラ)
Nana Mizuki as Maria (まりあ)
Ryoko Ono as Aoi (あおい)
Akeno Watanabe as Asagi (あさぎ)

[edit] Episodes

Title	Original air date	#

"Beginning" (始)	2006-04-05	01
Six years after losing her memory, Masane Amaha returns to Tokyo with her daughter Rihoko to start a new life. But after trying to stop the NSWF who wants to separate them, she ends up in jail.
"Confusion" (惑)	2006-04-12	02
After awakening the powers of the Witchblade, Masane was captured and used as a test subject. Meanwhile, Rihoko escapes from the NSWF and starts to search for her.
"Opposition" (抗)	2006-04-19	03
Masane receives an offer to work for Takayama, but she only cares about looking for her daughter.
"Movement" (動)	2006-04-26	04
Masane and Riko start to look for a place to live. Meanwhile the appearance of the Witchblade starts to draw the attention of the NSWF leader Furumizu.
"Search" (探)	2006-05-03	05
In search for the truth, Tozawa tries to interrogate Masane but she refuses to talk. Meanwhile, one of the Cloneblades Shiori decides to challenge the bearer of the real Witchblade for a fight.
"Change" (変)	2006-05-10	06
Masane was badly injured in her fight against Shiori and had to be rescued by Dohji's men. Tozawa, who witnessed the match, decided to investigate Masane's employers.
"Past" (過)	2006-05-17	07
Masane gets to know Takayama and Reina were in love in the past. Shiori goes berserk for overuse of the Cloneblade, and attacks Masane again.
"Mutuality" (互)	2006-05-24	08
An ex-con suddenly attacks Tozawa and Masane in their investigation, and Masane wields the Witchblade just in front of the journalist. Meanwhile, Reina tries to make contact with Rihoko.
"Sadness" (哀)	2006-05-31	09
Masane and Tozawa get to know an incredible fact about the ex-con series.
"Association" (交)	2006-06-07	10
Masane accompanies Takayama to a party and conflicts there with Wado, Takayama's rival at Dohji.
"Danger" (危)	2006-06-14	11
Maria, a new generation of neo genes, is introduced. During the time Rihoko is in hospital, an Cloneblade Nora attacks Masane to kidnap the real Witchblade bearer.
"Capture" (囚)	2006-06-21	12
Nishida, a researcher of the NSWF, finds from Masane's data that Reina actually is not a potential bearer of the Witchblade. Masane escapes from the NSWF with Takayama and Tozawa's help.
"Separation" (別)	2006-06-28	13
A government agent tells that Masane is not a true parent and she needs to get Rihoko back to her real mother. After hearing it, they run away and hide themselves. Nishida sends Nora there to capture the daughter, but Reina interrupts.
"House" (家)	2006-07-05	14
Rihoko begins to live at Reina's house. Takayama takes a disappointed Masane out to where she had lived before the earthquake disaster. In the NSWF, Maria is looking forward to meeting her "mom".
"Bond" (絆)	2006-07-12	15
Masane stays over with Takayama. Meanwhile, Maria rushes out to meet Reina, her "genetic" mother, but turns her hope into madness when she finds Reina does not love her at all.
"Relaxation" (憩)	2006-07-19	16
Masane, Rihoko and their neighbors go to the beach. Masane spends her momentary but peaceful hours.
"Mingling" (錯)	2006-07-26	17
Masane, shocked by words of Takayama's secretary Segawa, begins to show her excessive love for Rihoko. Tozawa gets information of the personal history of Furumizu.
"Rolling" (転)	2006-08-02	18
The connection between Dohji and the serial murder case becomes public, and Takayama loses his position. Meanwhile, Masane's too much passion to Rihoko embarrasses the daughter and the neighbors.
"Thought" (思)	2006-08-09	19
Takayama disappears. Masane, ignoring him and restarting to work under Wado at first, gradually accepts her true feelings and finally visits Takayama. But an Ultimateblade attacks them and Masane confronts. In the fight, the Witchblade transforms. Meanwhile, "grown up" Maria kills Furumizu.
"Wish" (願)	2006-08-16	20
Maria takes over the NSWF. Meanwhile, after Takayama's "dating" with Rihoko planned by Masane an assassin falls on them. This incident makes Masane wield the Witchblade in front of her daughter.
"Vow" (誓)	2006-08-30	21
The fact appears that the inside of Masane's body is desperately broken to die. Masane tries to remove the Witchblade to resist her fate.
"Telling" (告)	2006-09-06	22
Masane, prepared for her death, takes Rihoko to a picnic to say farewell to the daughter.
"Disturbance" (乱)	2006-09-13	23
The tremendous power of the Witchblade makes Dohji's 3800 autonomous weapons rampage and begin to aim at the bearer. After knowing it, doomed Masane proceeds to her last battleplace.
"Light" (光)	2006-09-20	24
Dohji's thousands of weapons and Maria attack Masane one after another, and the Bladewielder confronts them with her body increasingly collapsed. Rihoko, watching the mother's battle through TV live news, cannot help but rush out to where Masane is.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Differences in the DVD and TV versions

This compares the TV and DVD versions of the Witchblade anime. The character's skin was recolored for TV broadcast.

Due to the original version of the witchblade costume showed far too much skin, the TV series recolored most of the said areas into black. These blackened portions were returned to the original coloring for the DVD release of the series. (See picture for comparison.) The DVDs also contain many instances where the animation is cleaned up compared to the TV broadcast, and in some some cases whole frames are completely redrawn.

[edit] Theme Songs

Opening: "XTC" by Psychic Lover Episodes 1-13, 24
Opening 2: "Dear Bob" by KOOLOGI Episodes 14-23
Ending: "Ashita no Te" (あしたの手) by Mamiko Noto Episodes 1-12
Ending 2: "Kutsuhimo" (靴ひも) by Asami Yamamoto Episodes 13-23
Ending 3: "Kodou -get closer-" (鼓動 -get closer-) by Psychic Lover Episode 24