Blassreiter
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| Blassreiter | |
|---|---|
 Blassreiter title |
|
| ブラスレイター (Burasureitā) |
|
| Genre | Supernatural, Action |
| TV anime | |
| Director | Ichiro Itano |
| Studio | GONZO, Nitro+ |
| Network |  AT-X, Chiba TV, Sun TV, TV Kanagawa, TV Saitama |
| Original run | April 5, 2008 – ongoing |
| Episodes | 24 |
| Manga: Blassreiter -genetic- | |
| Author | Gonzo & Nitroplus (original work) Noboru Kimura (script) Shū Hirose (art) |
| Publisher | Akita Shoten |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Magazine | Champion Red |
| Original run | November 19, 2007 – ongoing |
Blassreiter (ブラスレイター Burasureitā?) is a 2008 Japanese anime from the animation studio GONZO and the multimedia studio Nitro+. The title literally means "Pale Rider"[1]. A manga titled Blassreiter -genetic- is serialized in Champion Red magazine.
Along with The Tower of DRUAGA -The Aegis of URUK, this series is officially broadcast with English subs on video sites namely YouTube, Crunchyroll and BOST TV.
Contents |
[edit] Story
The story is set in Germany and centers around the outbreak of biomechanical creatures named "Demoniacs", who rise from corpses and attack people mindlessly[2]. The Demoniacs have the ability to merge with most technology including cars and motorcycles. Against them is a group of people known as XAT, who police these Demoniacs in an attempt to keep the peace and discover the reasons for the "Demoniac" change. However, all the while, one will rise above all other Demoniacs to become the "Blassreiter".
[edit] Characters
[edit] Main Characters
Joseph Jobson
- Voiced by: Masaya Matsukaze
A demoniac who appeared at the race circuit. He's a hunter of Demoniacs. When he's in his demoniac form, he can create a sword out of energy. After Gerd lost control during his race with Herman, Joseph killed him. He is often seen whittling a statue of Saint Mary. He hunts and kills Demoniacs quite often. He seems to have some history with Xargin. He also has a sister, Sasha, though it is implied that she is dead. The XAT codename for his Demoniac form is Blue.
Amanda Werner
- Voiced by: Shizuka Itou
A female officer of XAT. She is Hermann's partner, and Malek's adoptive sister. She is hesitant in her orders to kill Blue/Joseph, and after Malek is turned into a Demoniac, attempts to stop XAT from finding him.
Gerd Frentzen
- Voiced by: Unshou Ishizuka
A famed motorcycle racer with white hair. Due to a Demoniac attack, he was rendered paralyzed from the waist down. After taking a drug from Beatrice he regains the use of his legs and acquires the ability to turn into a demoniac. In this form he is armed with two flail weapons. However, he is plagued by visions where everything he sees looks like a demoniac, resulting in Gerd eventually spiraling into madness. He meets with Joseph and tells him to stop him if he loses control again and that he just wants to race with his best friend again. After meeting Malek, he races with Hermann, but loses control again and is killed by Joseph. He dies in the arms of Hermann.
Hermann Salza
- Voiced by: Kenta Miyake
Gerd's friend and a officer of XAT. He often defends Gerd and is angered by those who distrust him. Because he saw Blue/Joseph kill Gerd, he has a deep grudge against him. He often defies orders to do what he thinks is right.
Elea
- Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa
Possibly an A.I. who informs Joseph of possible demoniac outbreaks. She is capable of controlling Joseph's bike (the Garm), and often calls Demoniac forms beautiful.
[edit] Secondary
Wolf Göring
- Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki
The team leader and field commander of XAT. He later finds out that he has become an Amalgam after being wounded by a Demoniac and becomes a Blassreiter, despite not having direct contact with its blood.
Beatrice Grese
- Voiced by: Sayaka Ohara
A mysterious doctor that works at Clermont Medical Hospital who gave Gerd Frentzen a pill that would cure his paralaysis under the condition that he would keep it confidential. Beatrice gives Malek a pill as well. Her intentions seem to revolve around the Amalgams which she claims are "evolved" humans. It is later revealed that she is a Blassreiter.
Bradley Guildford
- Voiced by: Yuuichi Nakamura
XAT's sniper, who use anti-armor rifles to kill Amalgams.
Alvin Lutz
- Voiced by: Nobuyuki Hiyama
Victor Stachus
- Voiced by: Atsushi Ono
Meifong Liu
- Voiced by: Aya Endo
XAT's communications and tactical specialist. Stays with Wolf in the Fennek armored vehicle during XAT-led operations in the field.
Sasha
- Voiced by: Hitomi Nabatame
Revealed to be Joseph's sister, it is strongly implied that she is dead.
Zargin/Xargin
- Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe
A mysterious person who has a Blassreiter symbol on his hand, though it seems he can access his powers without reverting to Demoniac form. He shares a past with Joseph, and it is implied that he was the one who turned Joseph into a Blassreiter. His goal is to reform the world, and severely wounds Joseph and Malek in episode 9.
Malek Yildrim Werner
- Voiced by: Junko Minagawa
Amanda Werner's adopted brother. A fan of Gerd Frentzen. He is constantly bullied and skips school because of it, but doesn't tell his sister. He meets Joseph, who saves him from bullies. He later takes care of him after he's wounded during a fight with XAT. He receives a pill from Beatrice and becomes a Blassreiter bent on revenge against those who prey on the innocent. XAT code-names him Yellow. He later regrets killing the bullies and, after Joseph is wounded, tries to defend him from Xargin, resulting in serious injuries.
[edit] Minor
Matthew Grant
- Voiced by: Hiroyuki Kinoshita
Former racing team manager of Gerd Frentzen, who turned into a demoniac after 60 hours of coming in contact with Gerd's blood. Was killed in his Demoniac form by Joseph.
Igor
- Voiced by: Wataru Hatano
A racer who was apart of Gerd's former team.
Jil Hoffmann
- Voiced by: Kumi Sakuma
Gerd Frentzen's former lover, who ended her relationship with him due to his paralysis. She eventually becomes a Demoniac and is later killed by Gerd.
[edit] Terminology
- Demoniacs: or Amalgams are humans that are re-animated from the dead into monstrous forms that are both agile and strong, an ability that is unique to them is that they can fuse with any type of machinery or metal to their bodies according to their will. However humans that are alive can also become demoniacs but in their cases some use the power for what they believe as justice, some lose sight of what's important and abuse their power, some use their power to realize their ambitions and other use it for the sole purpose of revenge. In order for a human to become a demoniac, they have to come in contact with demoniac blood or via contact with any part of the Amalgam's body; due to the changing cells and is explained through Beatrice's evolution theory.
- XAT: A Special Police Division formed to combat Demoniacs. Most of their members ride motorcycles. Their headquarters is in a church.
[edit] Production
The following are the main staff members for Blassreiter.[3]
| Director | Ichiro Itano |
|---|---|
| Series Structure | Ichiro Itano and Gen Urobochi |
| Chief Writer | Yasuko Kobayashi |
| Original Character & Mechanical Designs | Niθ |
| Character Design & Chief Animation Director | Naoyuki Onda |
| Mechanical Design | Makoto Ishiwata |
| Set Designs | Tomoyuki Aoki |
| Prop and Texture Design | Keiichiro Ito |
| Setting Support | Chihiro Maruyama |
| Color Setting | Kimiko Kitazawa |
| Art Director | Hidenori Sano |
| CGI Director | Naoki Ao |
| In-between Animation Checker | Ritsuko Watanabe |
| Filming Director | Kojiro Hayashi |
| Sound Effects Director | Jin Aketagawa |
The show was first announced on November 1, 2007 when GONZO and Nitroplus at the Nitro Super Sonic event with Ichiro Itano as the director with Naoyuki Onda doing the character and mechanical designs of Blassreiter.[4] In addition, a manga adaption of Blassreiter was created with the supervision of Gen Urobuchi and Yasuko Kobayashi as it was written by Noboru Kimura and drawn by Shū Hirose.[4]
Nitroplus had announced the creation of a Blassreiter promotional video posted at their official website.[5]
Norihiko Hibino had said in an interview that he was recruited to do Blassreiter's music.[6]
[edit] Music
Opening Theme
- "Detarame na Zanzō (デタラメな残像)" by GRANRODEO[7]
Ending Theme
- "sad rain" by Aki Misato[8]
[edit] References
- ^ Anime.Mikomi's Blassreiter Page. Retrieved on April 15, 2008.
- ^ BOST TV's Blassreiter Story Page. Retrieved on April 15, 2008.
- ^ Official GONZO Information Site. Retrieved on April 15, 2008.
- ^ a b Gonzo, Nitroplus, Gantz Director Working on New Anime. Retrieved on April 15, 2008.
- ^ New Blassreiter Promo Video from Gonzo, Nitro+ Posted. Retrieved on April 15, 2008.
- ^ Interview with Jazz artist and Metal Gear Solid composer Norihiko Hibino. Retrieved on April 15, 2008.
- ^ Information, GRANRODEO Official Page. Retrieved on April 15, 2008 (Japanese)
- ^ Information, Aki Misato Official Page. Retrieved on April 15, 2008. (Japanese)
[edit] External links
Japanese
English
- Official GONZO Site
- Blassreiter (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
