Venus Versus Virus
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| Venus Versus Virus | |||
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 Venus Versus Virus logo. |
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| ヴィーナス ヴァーサス ヴァイアラス (Vīnasu Vāsasu Vaiarasu) |
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| Genre | Adventure, Fantasy, Yuri[1] | ||
| Manga | |||
| Author | Atsushi Suzumi | ||
| Publisher |  MediaWorks Seven Seas Entertainment Kadokawa Media Samyang Publish Company |
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| Demographic | Shōnen | ||
| Magazine | Dengeki Comic Gao!, Dengeki Daioh | ||
| Original run | June 27, 2005 – ongoing | ||
| Volumes | 7 | ||
| TV anime | |||
| Director | Shinichiro Kimura | ||
| Studio | Studio Hibari |
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| Licensor |  ADV Films |
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| Network | TBS |
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| Original run | January 11, 2007 – March 29, 2007 | ||
| Episodes | 12 | ||
Venus Versus Virus (ヴィーナス ヴァーサス ヴァイアラス Vīnasu Vāsasu Vaiarasu?)[2] is a Japanese manga series created by Atsushi Suzumi which was first serialized in the Japanese shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Comic Gao!, published by MediaWorks, starting on June 27, 2005. The manga ended serialization in Dengeki Comic Gao! on February 27, 2008 due to the magazine's discontinuation, but the manga continued serialization in MediaWorks' manga magazine Dengeki Daioh on March 21, 2008. As of March 2008, seven bound volumes have been released by MediaWorks in Japan. The manga has been licensed for English language distribution by North American based company Seven Seas Entertainment. The first volume was released in July 2007.[3] Later, a drama CD was created based on the manga series. The series has since been adapted into an anime produced by Studio Hibari that aired in Japan between January 11, 2007 and March 29, 2007 on BS-i, containing twelve episodes. The anime has been licensed by ADV Films for distribution in North America, and has aired on the Anime Network.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Venus Versus Virus revolves around the life of the young girls named Sumire Takahana and Lucia Nahashi, who met as Sumire mysteriously discovered Lucia's secrets at the Venus Vanguard, a group who hunts demons called "Virus" lead by Lucia's adopted father Nahashi. Now, while accepting jobs from people who find the Venus Vanguard brochure, they fight off the “Virus” while seeking their true roots and motives, and for that, Lucia will find that Sumire can be a lot more useful than she seems.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Main characters
- Sumire Takahana (鷹花 スミレ Takahana Sumire?)
- Voiced by: Minori Chihara (Japanese), Natalie Arneson (English)
- Sumire is a young high school girl and the newest member of the Venus Vanguard, despite being terribly scared of Viruses. While initially she cannot be of much help to Lucia, they eventually find out that whenever her body reacts to the special chemical used to defeat Viruses (the so called Vaccine), she transforms into a "Berserker Mode", or a living Anti-Virus. With this strange ability, she becomes stronger and violent, and is capable of defeating Viruses with her bare hands, though when under the influence of this power, she cannot discern friend from foe.
- Lucia Nahashi (名橋 ルチア Nahashi Ruchia?)
- Voiced by: Ayahi Takagaki (Japanese), Joanne Bonasso (English)
- Lucia is a strong, young girl who lead the fights against Viruses alongside the other members of the Venus Vanguard, sworn to fight and kill all Viruses. Her left eye holds a mysterious powers, though is almost always covered with an eye patch. Use of her powers is taxing and wears her out, but can often be disastrous to her enemy in many ways. Her left arm has a symbol of the enchantment succeeded from her father.
- Sōichirō Nahashi (名橋 総一郎 Nahashi Sōichirō?)
- Voiced by: Jūrōta Kosugi (Japanese), John Swasey (English)
- Sōichirō, who is always referred to by his surname (as per Japanese respectful standard), is the guardian of Lucia who loves her as if he were her real father. Before Lucia was born, Nahashi was studying to become a mage along with Lucia's mother Lilith, and Lucia's father Lucif. He harbored an unrequited love for Lilith, but never got close with her as she was in love with Lucif.
- Laura (ローラ Rōra?)
- Voiced by: Ayumi Tsuji (Japanese), Kim-Ly Nguyen (English)
- A mysterious blonde girl who lives with Lucia and Nahashi. She loves chocolate and is often seen eating it. She has a twin named Layla and neither of them seem to age since they are soulless dolls created by Lucif and Nahashi's teacher. She is a major character right from the beginning in the anime, but in the manga she does not arrive right away.
- Layla (ライラ Raira?)
- Voiced by: Ayumi Tsuji
- Layla is Laura's twin. After Lucif left to find the True World, Layla went with him and Laura stayed with Nahashi and Lilith. Layla loves confetti candy as much as Laura loves chocolate. Like Laura, she does not seem to age.
- Lucif (リュシフ Ryushifu?)
- Voiced by: Daisuke Namikawa
- Lucif is Lucia's father who, before she was born, left to find the path to the True World. His past is filled with mysteries, and Nahashi refuses to talk about the subject with Lucia. It is thought he turned himself into a virus so he could obtain the 'true world'.
- Lilith (リリス Ririsu?)
- Voiced by: Wakana Yamazaki
- Lilith is Lucia's mother who once worked under a mentor with Lucif and Nahashi to learn magic arts, but after he died, their training ceased. Lilith fell in love with Lucif and eventually became pregnant with Lucia, though by the time she was born, Lucif was already gone on his quest for the True World. A virus allegedly killed Lilith when Lucia was still two years old. The virus that killed her was Lucif so he could obtain her special fragment, although in the end, the fragment disappears.
- Yoshiki (与識?)
- Voiced by: Kiyotaka Furushima (Japanese), Blake Shepard (English)
- Yoshiki is a young man Sumire met one day in a park while he was reading a book. After a few more meetings together while exchanging books to read, Yoshiki starts to develop romantic feelings for Sumire. However it is later discovered that he is actually one of Lucif's followers named Aeon, he tries to take Sumire's fragment but stops because he trully cared for her, thus, he betrays Lucif but Lucia not knowing of his betrayal kills him.
[edit] Sumire's friends
- Nene Mikumo (三雲 音々 Mikumo Nene?)
- Voiced by: Sakura Nogawa (Japanese), Carli Mosier (English)
- Nene is Sumire's female cousin who always tries to look out for her like an older sister. She often encourages her younger brother Riku in his attempts to ask Sumire out on a date.
- Riku Mikumo (三雲 理久 Mikumo Riku?)
- Voiced by: Hiromi Hirata (Japanese), Luci Christian (English)
- Riku is Nene's younger brother who has a crush on Sumire. Multiple times, Riku attempts to ask Sumire out on a date, but something always interferes, leaving him heartbroken each time. He has a timid personality, which makes it even more difficult to ask Sumire out.
- Mika (ミカ?)
- Voiced by: Kaya Miyake (Japanese), Pamela Morris (English)
- Mika is one of Sumire's good friends and classmates. She has a tomboyish personality.
- Kyōko (京子?)
- Voiced by: Noriko Shitaya (Japanese), Tami Nutt (English)
- Kyōko is another one of Sumire's good friends and classmates.
[edit] Other antagonists
- Sonoka (苑果?)
- Voiced by: Fumi Morisawa (Japanese), Christine Auten (English)
- Sonoka is the current leader of the Virus, and has a particular focused interest in Lucia and Sumire.
- Ruka (ルカ Ruka?)
- Voiced by: Yui Itsuki (Japanese), Melissa Pritchett (English)
- Ruka is a young girl who serves under Sonoka. She has a sadistic personality and has the power to control electricity.
- Guy (ガイ Gai?)
- Voiced by: Akio Suyama
- Guy is another one of Sonoka's henchman. He has a similar personality to Ruka, though has proven to be more skilled than her; he has the power to control fire and earth.
[edit] Media
[edit] Manga
The Venus Versus Virus manga was first serialized on June 27, 2005 in the shōnen magazine Dengeki Comic Gao! published by MediaWorks. On February 27, 2008, the manga ended serialization in Dengeki Comic Gao!, but continued serialization in MediaWorks' manga magazine Dengeki Daioh on March 21, 2008. As of March 2008, seven bound volumes have been released in Japan by MediaWorks under their Dengeki Comics label. The manga has since been licensed in America by Seven Seas Entertainment with the first volume released in July 2007.
[edit] Drama CD
A drama CD based on the manga series was first released in Japan on October 25, 2006 produced by Frontier Works.
[edit] Anime
The Venus Versus Virus anime was produced by the animation studio Studio Hibari and aired in Japan between January 11, 2007 and March 29, 2007 on the BS-i network, containing twelve episodes. The anime was also made available in November 2007 on Anime Network's On Demand setup. The anime has been licensed by ADV Films for distribution in North America. The anime's opening theme is "Bravin' Bad Brew" by Riryka, and the ending theme is "Shijun no Zankoku" by Yousei Teikoku. The anime's original soundtrack contains background music composed by Hikaru Nanase.
[edit] Episodes
| # | Title | Original air date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Blue Invitation" "Aoi Sasoi" (アオイ サソイ) |
January 11, 2007 | ||
| The Venus Vanguard gets a request from a new client about a strange shadow that may be the cause of some recent disappearances. When Lucia and Sumire try to fight it, Lucia soon discovers that she will need Sumire's help more than she thought. | ||||
| 02 | "Reverent World" "Ikei Sekai" (イケイ セカイ) |
January 18, 2007 | ||
| While tests are performed to help Sumire control her Berserker power, she begins to wish that her life was back to normal. When confronted by a Virus at school, she has no choice but to find some way to defeat it. | ||||
| 03 | "Request Indication" "Irai Kehai" (イライ ケハイ) |
January 25, 2007 | ||
| A young girl come to the Venus Vanguard to request help after her brother starts acting cold toward her. Suspecting the cause being a Virus, Lucia and Sumire go to her house to investigate. | ||||
| 04 | "Dizzy Encounter" "Memai Deai" (メマイ デアイ) |
February 1, 2007 | ||
| The story of when Sumire first met Lucia is explained. Once being told everything by Lucia, Sumire ends up joining the Venus Vanguard to help to exterminate them. | ||||
| 05 | "Distant Messenger" "Tōi Tsukai" (トオイ ツカイ) |
February 8, 2007 | ||
| A new enemy named Ruka appears, and she is different than a typical Virus; for one, the anti-virus bullets are not affective on her. Ruka attacks Yoshiki at the park, which causes Sumire to turn the gun on herself to unleash Berserker. | ||||
| 06 | "Bitter Damage" "Nigai Higai" (ニガイ ヒガイ) |
February 15, 2007 | ||
| Guy, a new foe stronger than Ruka appears and Lucia tries to stop him, but gets severely injured in the process. Later, Lucia tries again, but is losing until Sumire comes to help. | ||||
| 07 | "Deep Thoughts" "Fukai Omoi" (フカイ オモイ) |
February 22, 2007 | ||
| As Lucia recovers from her fight with Guy, Nahashi reminisces about the past. The story begins eighteen years ago when Nahashi was with Lucia's parents before she was born. | ||||
| 08 | "Dark Wish" "Kurai Negai" (クライ ネガイ) |
March 1, 2007 | ||
| Lucia starts to act cold towards Sumire and acts on her own, going after Guy, but is caught in a trap when Ruka interferes. | ||||
| 09 | "Sweet Scent" "Amai Nioi" (アマイ ニオイ) |
March 8, 2007 | ||
| Sumire's and Lucia's birthday, both on July 7, is coming up, and at first Lucia does not want to celebrate her birthday. Lucia ultimately gives in and starts learning with Sumire on how to bake a cake. Meanwhile, Sumire's and Yoshiki's relationship develops further. | ||||
| 10 | "Misunderstood Aim" "Gokai Nerai" (ゴカイ ネライ) |
March 15, 2007 | ||
| Yoshiki and Sumire start to hang out more together, and Sumire believes him to be a very kind person. However, Lucia believes he has an ulterior motive. | ||||
| 11 | "Sacrificial Intent" "Gisei Satsui" (ギセイ サツイ) |
March 22, 2007 | ||
| Yoshiki disappears and Sumire tries to search for him alone, but is initially unsuccessful. Nahashi and Laura come back and they leave with Lucia to try and find Sumire before Lucif gets to her. | ||||
| 12 | "White Future" "Shiroi Mirai" (シロイ ミライ) |
March 29, 2007 | ||
| After a short fight between Lucia and her father Lucif, Lucia initially concedes defeat when she is told she will be able to see her mother. However, the power of her eye shows her the truth behind what happened in the past and Lucia vows to destroy her father. | ||||
[edit] References
- ^ Venus Versus Virus Ultimate Guide. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
- ^ In volume 1 of the original manga, Venus Versus Virus is sometimes referred to as simply V.V.V., while katakana only appears as furigana, or a pronunciation aide, to the English title.
- ^ Seven Seas Entertainment's Venus Versus Virus page. Retrieved on 2007-07-13.
[edit] External links
- Official anime website (Japanese)
- Seven Seas Entertainment's website on the manga
- Venus Versus Virus (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
