Chrono Crusade

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CHRONO CRUSADE
クロノ クルセイド
(Kurono Kuruseido)
Genre Action, Adventure, Drama, Steampunk, Supernatural Thriller, Romance
Manga
Author Daisuke Moriyama
Publisher Flag of Japan Kadokawa Shoten
Demographic Shōnen
Serialized in Comic Dragon, Dragon Age
Original run November 1998 – 2004
Volumes 8
TV anime
Director Yuu Kou
Studio GONZO
Network Flag of Japan Fuji TV
Original run November 24, 2003 – June 10, 2004
Episodes 24

Chrono Crusade (クロノ クルセイド Kurono Kuruseido?), known as Chrono Crusade in Japan, Singapore, Germany, France, Australia and Estonia, is an eight volume manga series authored by the Japanese mangaka Daisuke Moriyama.

It was originally published by Kadokawa Shoten in Monthly Dragon Magazine which began serialization in November of 1998. A 24-episode anime television series based on the manga ran from 2003 to 2004 on Fuji TV. The animation work was done by GONZO Digimation. The series was released in North America by ADV Manga and ADV Films, titled Chrono Crusade.

Set in the United States during the 1920s, Chrono Crusade follows the story of Rosette Christopher, and her devil partner Chrono. As members of the Magdalene Order, they travel around the country eliminating demonic threats to society, while Rosette searches for her lost brother Joshua.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Chrono Crusade is set in the height of the Roaring Twenties, where jazz is king, bootleg liquor flows freely, and the mob rules the streets. It is a time of prosperity, luxury and decadence, and the division between rich and poor grows even wider in the wake of the First World War. It is at such times of great change and upheaval that the dark things that lurk below the world of man can come to the surface. In the world of Chrono Crusade, a fictional organization known as the Order of Magdalene (or more specifically, the characters of Sister Rosette Christopher and her soul-bound demon partner, Chrono) exists to fight the demonic threats that appear with increasing regularity across America. Both Rosette and Chrono are revealed during the course of the story to be driven by a shadowy past, centered around a search for Rosette's lost brother, Joshua. Joshua is shown to have been taken from her by the sinner, Aion, a devil who shares a dark and bloody history with Chrono, and seeks nothing less than to overthrow Heaven and Earth.

The anime follows the manga through the first half, but it diverges halfway through, creating different courses of events and endings. The characterization of some the characters, including Rosette and Aion, and their roles in the story were changed in the adaptation of the manga. Much of the story is driven by the individual pasts of the main characters and the complex relationships between them.

[edit] Conception and production

[edit] Manga

Many of the events in Chrono Crusade were based upon prophecies in the Book of Revelation.[citation needed]

It is not completely clear why the romanization of the title within Japan is Chrno Crusade. The common assumption is that the name was altered to not conflict with the popular game franchise Chrono Trigger or its sequel, Chrono Cross. Another explanation is provided in the November 4, 2005 edition of Anime News Network's "Hey, Answerman!" column, where "Answerman" (Zac Bertschy) explains that it was a simple mistake.[1] Additionally, in a subsequent forum posting the owner of ANN, Christopher Macdonald, cites his first-hand account from Daisuke Moriyama at the Anime Boston 2005 anime convention that it was a mistake due to a production error.[2] Both explanations have credibility and reference issues due to the sources of the info, both agree that "Chrono" was the intended spelling.

[edit] Anime

In an interview with ADV Manga, Daisuke Moriyama expressed his own opinion about the differences and similarities of the anime and manga, with one of them being the theme of the story. Although the bond between Chrono and Rosette and the idea of time running out were the same, Moriyama felt that the anime and manga showed this theme in different ways. While the anime centered more on the currents of time, fate and trust, Moriyama believed that the manga focused more on the Rosette's individual ideology and how the potential strength of her will can change her current situation.[3]

ADV did extensive research in keeping the slang words within 1920s canon. One word, "bimbo", is explained to mean a tough man in 1920s slang, while the modern version refers to a stupid female.[4] The English voice actors for Rosette and Chrono (Hilary Haag and Greg Ayres) nearly lost their voices on numerous occasions due to the fast-paced voice work demanded by the anime.[4]

[edit] Characters

[edit] Main

Major characters(from left to right: Rosette, Azmaria and Chrono; top: Satella)
Major characters(from left to right: Rosette, Azmaria and Chrono; top: Satella)
Rosette Christopher (ロゼット・クリストファ Rosetto Kurisutofa?)
The protagonist of Chrono Crusade. Rosette is an elite exorcist of the Order of Magdalene and goes out on missions to destroy deadly spirits and devils. Her primary motivation is to save her brother Joshua, who has been captured by Aion.
Chrono (クロノ Kurono?)
Rosette's contractor and assistant. In the past Chrono has helped Aion.However, when Aion told Chrono to kill the Mary of Magdalene, he refused because of his love for her. This is why Chrono betryed Aion; fueling his hatred for him. Over time when he met Rosette he has fallen in love with her as well. For this reason he is highly protective of her.
Azmaria Hendric (アズマリア・ヘンドリック Azumaria Hendorikku?)
The Apostle of Charity and Songstress of Vegas. Azmaria is a 12 year old girl with the gift of healing people through her voice. She has sufferd great grief, for this reason she is senstive to other's words.
Satella Harvenheit (サテラ・ハーベンハイト Satera Hābenhaito?)
A jewel summoner and bounty hunter who kills devils. Also she is on the search for her sister, who was taken by Aion.

[edit] Magdalene Order

Sister Kate Valentine (ケイト・ヴァレンタイン Keito Varentain?)
Head of the New York Branch of the Magdalene Order. She is a strong willed woman who often seems out of place fighting demons and devils. She leads the order with an iron resolve, making sure the New York Branch Office runs as smooth as clockwork.
Father Ewan Remington (ユアン・レミントン Yuan Reminton?)
The minister of the Magdalene Order. He also serves as a field agent and second in command to Sister Kate. In the Anime, towards the end he leaves the Order. He is seen quite a while later, looking about the same age but unshaven, when the third Prophecy of Fatima happens, just before, seeing someone who appears similar, if not the same, to Aion. He also has the apparent ability to warp, moving from the Magdalene NY HQ to a carnival instantly without anyone's notice. Immediately afterward, during the phone conversation with Sister Kate, he states that he is an Angel. He later states "I am A Sinner", after he severs ties with God, declaring "I have no regrets about my torn wings".
Edward "Elder" Hamilton (エドワード・ハミルトン Edowādo Hamiruton?)
Elder is the person who makes the wepons used by the excorcists. He also has a great love for women which is why he may apppear perverted, though he greatly cares for all the girls.
Sister Anna (アンナ Anna?)
Sister Mary (メアリ Meari?)
  • Voiced by: Ema Kogure (Japanese), Michelle Maulsby (English)
Sister Claire (クレア Kurea?)
Minister Gilliam (ジャック・ギリアム Jakku Giriamu?)

[edit] Sinners

Aion (アイオーン Aiōn?)
The antagonist of the anime/manga series. He is a Sinner and a devil. He is after all of the Apostles, including Asmaria, for reasons that are unknown until Chrono reveals them.
Joshua Christopher (ヨシュア・クリストファ Yoshua Kurisutofa?)
He holds allegiance to Aion's Sinners, and is also the Apostle of Hope and Rosette's little brother. He is able to turn people to stone with the use of Chrono's devil horns. He was originally turned into what he is in the series because he didn't want Rosette to worry about him, and he was tricked by Aion.
Florette "Fiore" Harvenheit (フィオレ／フロレット・ハーベンハイト Fiore/Furoretto Hābenhaito?)
When younger she was taken by Aion, he erased her memory. Later when encountering her sister she has no idea whom she is. She also is the maid for Joshua; who in time thinks she is his sister.
Rizelle (リゼール Rizēru?)
A Spider-like sinner who can cast a spell that paralyzes its victims which thus can be controlled like puppets. All she desires is to be helpful to Aion. Rizelle knew Chrono before Chrono left the sinners.
Genai (ジェナイ Jenai?)
Shader (シェーダ Shēda?)
Viede (ヴィド Vido?)

[edit] Episodes

Main article: List of Chrono Crusade episodes

[edit] Terminology

Many words used in Chrono Crusade sound like those used in Catholicism, but are used in nonstandard ways.

  • Apostle: A person who is able to call upon the Astral Line and tap its power. There are seven Apostles, each from a different section of the world. The Apostles can fly using their wings, which appear on their back whenever they need them. They have supernatural powers which is both a blessing and a curse. Many greedy individuals target the Apostles to extort their powers. Though their powers seem a blessing, all the apostles are also cursed with bad luck (ex: Azmaria loses her parents during World War I and Joshua is constantly ill, also loses his parents in sinking ship accident)
  • Astral Line: A river of spiritual energy, invisible to the human eye, that is the source of life of every living being in the universe. The Astral Line is also the energy source for devils, and is channeled by their horns.
  • Contract: A pact between a devil and a human. Since the Astral Line is also the source of life of human beings, a devil can take energy from the lifetime of a person wanting to use his powers and pay it back with services. In the anime, the Contractor must wear a heart-lock, which resembles a little brown cage with a glass circle in the center. When the heart-lock is opened, the power of the devil is released, and a clock appears on the glass circle, symbolizing the lifespan of the Contractor.
  • Devil: Demon in the manga (Not to be mistaken with the fallen angels of the Bible who rebelled against God) Monsters who are mostly hostile towards humans. Devils, while appearing hostile, are not completely evil. They are not immortal and they can be either male or female. Devils have their own society, a hive-like society not unlike bee or ants, in which everyone has a rank according to their power level. High-ranking devils (such as Chrono and Aion) are similar to humans in intelligence and figure, except they never age and have extraordinary powers based on the energy of the Astral Line. All devils are born from one mother, Pandaemonium, the devil queen.
  • Eden: The Sinner's headquarters, a large floating fortress hidden in the clouds.
  • Exorcist: A member of the Magdalene Order who fights against devils and monsters.
    • Militia: The highest rank of exorcist in the Magdalene Order. Members of the militia are granted many privileges including the right to go on solo investigations for long periods of time. Members of the militia include: Father Ewan Remington, Father Jack Gilliam, Sister Rosette Christopher (apprentice class), Feather, Storm, Leinbach, Leibler, Alc and Strauss.
  • Legion: Legion can refer to one of two things:
    1. The smallest, weakest, and lowest-ranking devils of Pandaemonium. Legion are unintelligent, hive-minded beings and have the ability to put themselves together to create different forms.
    2. The devilic version of cells. Legion are what make up each and every devil. Unlike cells, legion can heal and regenerate very quickly by absorbing astral energy via the devil's horns or other sources. Although a devil is normally the master of his or her own legion, Pandaemonium can override the control of other demons and may regulate the legion so they do not grow out of control. Also, when Pandaemonium casts geas, it effects the legion itself, making resistance extremely difficult. Legion directly injured by Pandaemonium die off and cannot regenerate.
  • Geas: A spell cast by a devil, a pure article of devilic power formed from energy from the Astral Line by their horns. High Ranking devils may sometimes have a unique power.
  • Life Span: This refers to the amount of time the person will spend alive on Earth. Rosette signed a contract with Chrono so that he could use his powers even without the Astral Energy and Horns, at the cost of her lifespan. Every time she releases the seal on the Contract clock to allow Chrono to access his powers, her life is shortened by a considerable amount, causing this to be a measure of last resort.
  • The Magdalene Order: A religious organization that specializes in battling all sorts of monsters and investigating mysterious supernatural cases. There are several branches in the United States, the most influential ones being in New York and Chicago. The Order also has the duty of protecting people blessed with special abilities (such as the Apostles) from evil people who desire to use their powers for their own ambitious purposes. Additionally, the Magdalene Order is a powerful, technologically advanced organization, and its members have to undergo very difficult military training and are dispatched on all kinds of dangerous missions.
  • Minister: A male member of the Magdalene Order. Ministers are able to use all sorts of weapons, but seem to be experts in hand-to-hand combat.
  • Pandaemonium: The devil queen, mother of all devils. Pandaemonium comes in two forms; the core of Pandaemonium which regulated the devil utopia and the excretionatory unit which "births" all the devils. Alternately, the devil society that is hidden deep under the sea and is named after said queen.
  • The Prophecy of Fatima: Three prophecies imparted to shepherds by the Virgin Mary. The first was that the "Great War" would soon end (World War I). The second was that an even greater war would occur within twenty years. The third was kept secret by the Vatican until the year 2000, and prophesied the assassination attempt of Pope John Paul II. Presumably, this is based on the Three Secrets of Fatima.
  • Pursuer: A devil who is in charge of hunting down the Sinners. All devils loyal to Pandaemonium are potential Pursuers.
  • Sinner: A devil who betrayed Pandaemonium, the devil society. They planned to escape Pandaemonium, but they had to face an army to try to escape and many devils died, Sinners and Pursuers. There are only six Sinners left: Aion, Chrono, Genai, Rizelle, Shader and Viede. (Also known as Aion, Chrno, Jenai, Rizel, Sheda and Videl)
  • Sister: A female member of the Magdalene Order. Nuns are able to use different kinds of weapons (mostly firearms) and other types of equipment (like cross-barriers).
  • Soul: The lifetime of a person. Not to be mistaken with a person’s “spirit”.

[edit] Novel

A novel of Chrono Crusade, titled "Tsubasa yo, are ga tamashii no hi da" (翼よ、あれが魂の灯だ) – "Wings, they are the light of the soul", was published on April 20, 2004. It was written by Tominaga Hiroshi and illustrated by Miyazawa Hiroshi.

[edit] Music

Opening Theme:

Lyrics by: Aki Hata
Composition arrangement by: Noriyama Agematsu
Performed by: Minami Kuribayashi

Ending Theme:

  • "Farewell Solitier" (さよならソリティア Sayonara Solitier?)
Lyrics, composition and arrangement by: Yuki Kajiura
Performed by: Saeko Chiba

Original Soundtrack, Volume 1 and 2 were composed by Masumi Itō

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bertschy, Zac (2005-11-04). Anime News Network – Hey, Answerman!. Anime News Network. Retrieved on 2006-07-10.
  2. ^ Anime News Network – Forums – Re: Hey, Answerman! (2006-11-04). Retrieved on 2006-07-10.
  3. ^ Moriyama, Daisuke (2004). Chrono Crusade Volume 2. ADV Manga, 195. ISBN 1-4139-0104-2. 
  4. ^ a b Chrono Crusade DVD 1 A Plague of Demons Commentary Track. ISBN 1-57813-850-7.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Chrono Crusade
Media
Characters