| Kimi ga Nozomu Eien | |
Kimi ga Nozomu Eien's original visual novel cover. Depicted are the two female leads, Haruka Suzumiya (left) and Mitsuki Hayase (right). |
|
| 君が望む永遠 | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama, Romance, Tragedy |
| Game | |
| Developer | âge (PC) Alchemist (DC) Princess Soft (PS2) |
| Genre | Dating sim, Eroge, Visual novel |
| Rating | 18+ (PC) |
| Platform | PC, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2 |
| Released | August 3, 2001 (PC CD) September 26, 2002 (DC) May 1, 2003 (PS2) July 25, 2003 (PC DVD) March 28, 2008 (Latest Edition) |
| TV anime | |
| Directed by | Tetsuya Watanabe |
| Studio | Studio Fantasia |
| Licensed by | Funimation Entertainment Revelation films Madman Entertainment |
| Network | Chiba TV, Kids Station, Mie TV, Sun TV, TV Kanagawa, TV Saitama |
| Original run | October 5, 2003 – January 4, 2004 |
| Episodes | 14 |
| Original video animation | |
| Kimi ga Nozomu Eien ~Next Season~ | |
| Directed by | Hideki Takayama |
| Studio | Brain's Base |
| Released | December 21, 2007 – December 19, 2008 |
| Episodes | 4 |
Kimi ga Nozomu Eien (君が望む永遠, lit. The Eternity You Desire), abbreviated as Kimibou or Kiminozo, is a Japanese visual novel adventure game created by âge. It was first released in 2001 for the PC and was later ported to the Dreamcast (by Alchemist) and PlayStation 2 (by Princess Soft) under the title Rumbling Hearts[1] as all-age versions. A Windows Vista-optimized version of the game, known as Kimi ga Nozomu Eien ~Latest Edition~, was released on March 28, 2008.[2]
The game was adapted into a fourteen-episode anime television series, first airing between October 5, 2003 and January 4, 2004. The three DVD volumes of the series were released in the United States in December 2006, February 2007, and March 2007 respectively. The series was also licensed for release by Revelation Films in the United Kingdom and Madman Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand, under the title Rumbling Hearts - Kiminozo. It was one of the first anime shows to be officially made available for the iPod through the iTunes Store and is also available through Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace.
An anime OVA series called Kimi ga Nozomu Eien ~Next Season~[3] began its release on December 21, 2007. The booklet that accompanied the first DVD release revealed that the OVA series will be four episodes long. Promotional videos for the new OVA were posted on December 4, 2007.[4] The OVA series follows an alternate ending that centers around Haruka.
Kimi ga Nozomu Eien's title 君が望む永遠, due to its length, is usually reduced to "君望". This is officially read as "Kimibō", but many read it as "Kiminozo" instead. Both abbreviations are now considered to be acceptable, with "Kiminozo" being officially written as "君のぞ" instead (this is used in Kiminozo Radio). Early English-speaking fans of the series often shorten the title to "KGNE".
Contents |
The game is played from the viewpoint of Takayuki with the player controlling his actions. Much of the game's dialogue involves an introspective view of Takayuki's thoughts on what he is feeling and what he thinks the other characters might be thinking or feeling. The original PC version, Dreamcast version, PS2, and DVD versions of the game are played in two chapters, with the first one revolving around the events leading up to August 27 and the second chapter set three years later.
It is in the second chapter that the game allows the player to choose to pursue one of eight girls in the game and also has endings if the player chooses to pursue more than one of the girls at the same time. The original game and the Dreamcast version has 14 endings. Some fans complained that the Manami ending was too disturbing and nightmarish. In this ending, she kidnaps and tortures Takayuki, sodomizing and urinating on him while dressing him in girl's clothing while forcing him to undergo gender reassignment surgeries so he can be closer to his "Mommy" (Manami), reducing him to a child-like state. An additional ending was added for Manami where Takayuki professes his "Pure Love" for her and she becomes pregnant with his child. Two additional "bad" endings were added for Mitsuki in the DVD version. The Dreamcast and PS2 versions had the explicit sex scenes removed.
The Kimi ga Nozomu Eien 〜special FanDisk〜 released on June 25, 2004 contains "Kimi ga Nozomu Daiisshou (君が望む第一章 "The first chapter you desired"), a retelling of the first chapter of the game allowing for greater control over Takayuki's actions in the first chapter. The player is now allowed to prevent the accident or end up with someone else altogether. It also includes a collection of short stories featuring the game's various characters, a game version of True Lies from the Kimi ga Nozomu Eien Drama Theatre vol. 4 Radio Special, the Kiminozo Rajio Shucchouban (君のぞらじお出張版) radio special, a parody of Muv-Luv Extra called Muv-Nozo (マブノゾ) featuring Kimi ga Nozomu Eien's characters and a version of the puzzle game Marii no Okataduke 2: Ayumayu Funtou-hen (マリーのおかたづけ2 あゆまゆ奮闘編).
The game was re-released on March 28, 2008 in a Vista-enhanced edition known as Kimi ga Nozomu Eien 〜Latest Edition〜. In addition to being built on an improved game engine and featuring improved graphics, the re-release also included the story content of the Special FanDisk and an all-new third chapter for selected heroines.[7]
With the exception of the Fandisk version, the first chapter is played like a prologue to the second chapter. Regardless of player actions, Mitsuki and Shinji set Takayuki up with the bashful Haruka. Takayuki ends up in bed with a nude sprawled out Haruka, but their relationship is not consummated due to performance anxiety. Mitsuki stops Takayuki on her birthday and has him buy her a ring which results in him being late for his date with Haruka. At the end of the chapter, Haruka ends up getting hit by a car.
Although the above events always take place, there are decisions to make and the game spends time developing the type of relationships Takayuki has between Akane, Haruka, Mitsuki, and Manami (if the player doesn't choose to ignore her in this chapter).
There are no choices for the player to make until the shower scene involving Mitsuki and Takayuki on July 29. Mitsuki has been taking care of Takayuki and they have formed a relationship. Takayuki has also taken a part-time job at Daikuuji (Sky Temple) Family restaurant. After three years Haruka's father contacts Takayuki to tell him that Haruka has come out of her coma and is asking to see him. The player can choose to pursue a number of the female characters with the following endings:[8]
Ayu and Mayu have two endings each, one good and one bad.
A TV anime based on the game and animated and produced by Studio Fantasia first aired across Japan from October 5, 2003 to January 4, 2004 with the erotic elements from the game greatly toned down. The anime provides a realistic depiction of PTSD and a believable depiction of the effects the disorder has on personal relationships.
The series consists of three timelines:
The first one takes place before the accident, which is mostly contained in the first two episodes and covers the development of the relationship among Haruka, Mitsuki, Shinji, and Takayuki in their third year of high school. In Japan high school comprises grades 10 to 12 with students entering high school at age 15 or 16. Akane is also introduced. However, later episodes flash back prior to the beginning of this timeline and also depict photographs of events that happen in this timeline but are not shown; for example the photograph of Mitsuki, Akane, Haruka, and Takayuki at the pool. This timeline ends with all the friends at the hospital with a shot of Takayuki collapsed on the floor and Mitsuki wearing the ring that Takayuki bought on her left ring finger, much like an engagement ring. Unlike the US, the left ring finger is not reserved for engagement, wedding, chastity rings, or less common promise rings in Japan.
The second timeline takes place one year after the accident. As a prelude to this, Takayuki arrives as the ambulance takes Haruka away from the scene and he witnesses the still fresh pool of blood next to Haruka's bloodied hair ribbons. This traumatic experience causes Takayuki's PTSD, which is portrayed in episode 5 of the series. This has affected him more than Mitsuki and Akane. Takayuki and Mitsuki both experience flashbacks, emotional detachment or numbing of feelings (emotional self-mortification or dissociation), insomnia, avoidance of reminders and extreme distress when exposed to the reminders ("triggers"), loss of appetite (Takayuki), feelings of misplaced guilt, memory loss (may appear as a difficulty of paying attention as with Mitsuki), excessive startle responses (animated as visual changes in the pupils of the eyes), clinical depression, and anxiety three years after Haruka's accident. Akane suffers from hyper-vigilance, misplaced guilt, and irritability. Haruka herself is left in a coma. At the end of this timeline, Haruka's parents ban Takayuki from seeing Haruka after he tries to remove her from hospital while comatose. Mitsuki offers herself sexually to Takayuki while he is at his emotional low point following the incident. Akane discovers an undressed Mitsuki on Takayuki's futon the next day.
The third timeline takes place three years after the accident. Takayuki is now working part-time at a restaurant called "Sky temple", along with the comic relief characters Ayu and Mayu. Mitsuki and Takayuki have agreed to live together but have difficulties finding a new apartment. Eventually, Haruka awakens from her coma, oblivious of what has happened during the last three years. In addition, she is diagnosed with anterograde amnesia.
After having been awake for a month, Haruka still thinks it is three years ago. Akane contacts Takayuki to inform him that Haruka has awakened. The doctor warns Takayuki and Mitsuki that her condition is very fragile and informs them of the condition of her memory before they enter the room. She tells them not to let her know that three years have passed because she feels the shock would damage her psyche, possibly destroying her will to recover, and trigger a relapse. This does happen when Akane tells Haruka that three years have passed, Takayuki has been dating Mitsuki, and that everyone has been working to deceive Haruka. She then falls into another coma, although she wakes a few days later.
Haruka improves after seeing Takayuki. The only thing she can remember since the accident is Takayuki's visit. Takayuki is conflicted with his feelings of guilt and responsibility and must choose between Mitsuki and Haruka. The bulk of the rest of the story focuses on the suffering of the characters because of this predicament. Takayuki chooses Mitsuki after saying farewell to Haruka.
The plot consists of a blend of multiple game storylines, mostly the Mitsuki storyline with a bit of Haruka's storyline mixed with elements from the Akane storyline. The general fate of Amakawa is also disclosed through one scene between Fumio and Takayuki and a line by Fumio at the end of the final episode indicating she died. Manami is limited to one line at the very end and several dialogueless cameos. Materials not included in the game due to its perspective being in first person, such as depictions of Mitsuki having sex with Shinji (in certain routes) and Haruka telling Mitsuki that she has a crush on Takayuki while walking home, are also included.
| # | Title | Original air date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Friends to Lovers" "Dai Ichi Wa" (第一話) |
October 5, 2003 | ||
| 02 | "Waiting" "Dai Ni Wa" (第二話) |
October 12, 2003 | ||
| 03 | "Moving On" "Dai San Wa" (第三話) |
October 19, 2003 | ||
| 04 | "Betrayed by Love" "Dai Yon Wa" (第四話) |
October 26, 2003 | ||
| 05 | "Lead Astray" "Dai Go Wa" (第五話) |
November 2, 2003 | ||
| 06 | "Wishing" "Dai Roku Wa" (第六話) |
November 9, 2003 | ||
| 07 | "Always Second Thoughts" "Dai Nana Wa" (第七話) |
November 17, 2003 | ||
| 08 | "Old Scars are New" "Dai Hachi Wa" (第八話) |
November 23, 2003 | ||
| 09 | "Unraveling" "Dai Kyū Wa" (第九話) |
November 30, 2003 | ||
| 10 | "Impulses" "Dai Jū Wa" (第十話) |
December 7, 2003 | ||
| 11 | "Where the Blame Lies" "Dai Jū-ichi Wa" (第十一話) |
December 14, 2003 | ||
| 12 | "Friends to Enemies" "Dai Jū-ni Wa" (第十二話) |
December 21, 2003 | ||
| 13 | "The Past Will Catch Up" "Dai Jū-san Wa" (第十三話) |
December 28, 2003 | ||
| 14 | "Mayauru's Gift" "Saishū Wa" (最終話) |
January 4, 2004 | ||
The anime was later licensed for American distribution by FUNimation Entertainment under the title Rumbling Hearts: Kiminozo.[9] Rumbling Hearts is the title of the game's theme song and the title of the PS2 release of the game,[10] while Kiminozo is an abbreviation for the name of the franchise. The North American release also used the tagline "Betrayal is a Bitch" included on the back of each DVD. The first two English dubbed episodes of the show are available for free, along with a significant amount of clips of the other episodes, on the official FUNimation website.[11]
The writers for the English dub took a very liberal approach while producing the script[12] taking creative license in many places resulting in an extremely interpretive script[13] which at several points reworks the dialogue to have the characters say the opposite thing. By contrast, the writers for the subtitle script in the North American release produced a script which faithfully translates the original work, going as far as including honorifics.
In addition to the differences in dialogue, there is also a marked difference in the displayed level of affect between the Japanese and English voicework. For the most part Takayuki's Japanese voice actor portrays him as severely emotionally-numbed (dissociated), consistent with PTSD (one of the major themes). The English voice actor does not perform the role this way.[14]
The English dub dialogue is different from the subtitles provided on the same disc. Some examples include:
The company that made the original game, âge, announced on August 25, 2006 that a new animated adaption of the game would be produced. The original video animation follows "Haruka's route", in contrast to the TV series' modified version of Mitsuki's ending. The solicitation for the series, animated by Brain's Base and distributed by Bandai Visual, followed on August 25, 2007. The first three episodes were released in both regular and special editions on December 21, 2007, on March 25, 2008, and on June 25, 2008 respectively.[16][17][18] The special editions contain a bonus CD soundtrack with each DVD and a different cover artwork. According to the website for the OVA series, the fourth volume is scheduled to be released on December 19, 2008. This website was launched on December 4, 2007, and includes a promotional clip for the series.
Haruka Suzumiya awakens after a three-year coma. Time has deprived her of many important things, but one still remains: her love for Takayuki Narumi. They visit various places they remember as if to recover the time that was lost. However, there is one place they refuse to visit: the phone booth in front of the Hiiragi-cho Station where Haruka had her accident three years ago.[19] The Next Season OVA series follows an alternate ending to the TV series where Takayuki chooses Haruka. This story was also featured in the 2008 re-release of the PC game, sub-titled ~Latest Edition~.
Ayumayu Gekijou is a comedy "web anime" that was broadcasted from September 2006 to January 2007 on Kiminozo Radio's homepage. The main characters are SD versions of Ayu and Mayu, and various other characters. Although it is technically a Kimi ga Nozomu Eien show, many characters and even a senjutsuki (type-00 Takemikaduchi, Meiya custom) from Muv-Luv show up. The series contains many references to Muv-Luv (for example, in the second episode, Ayu uses an S-11 SDS and Haruka is turned into a 00 Unit) and the fourth episode is little more than a parody of Muv-Luv Alternative.
| # | Title | Original air date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Hakuchuu no Shikaku... sa." (白昼の死角...さ.) | |||
| 2 | "Furikaereba Yatsu ga Iru... sa." (振り返れば奴がいる...さ.) | |||
| 3 | "Ari yo Saraba... sa." (アリよさらば...さ.) | |||
| 4 | "Ou-sama no Resutoran... sa." (王様のレストラン...さ.) | |||
Characters from Kimi ga Nozomu Eien can be seen in other works by âge.
Akane is the main heroine in the Kimi ga Nozomu Eien spin-off and Muv-Luv prequel, Akane Maniax.
Akane returns again in Muv-Luv, still a student in Hakuryou Hiiragi. Also, part of "Rumbling Hearts", the Kimi ga Nozomu Eien game opening theme, is played when Sumika, one of the main heroines, got hit by a car.
Several of the Kimi ga Nozomu Eien characters return in the alternate world sequel to Muv-Luv, Muv-Luv Alternative.
Haruka, Mitsuki, and Akane are members of the special task force A-01, also known as the Isumi Valkyries, and Homura Manami is a nurse at the Yokohama base. Mitsuki and Akane pilot senjutsuki, but Haruka is the command post officer. Takayuki is also mentioned. He was killed in action prior to the start of the game.
In the epilogue, Haruka and Mitsuki can be seen walking around together near the station, Mitsuki with her pre-accident hairstyle. This suggests that the events of Kimi ga Nozomu Eien may be taken by future games to have never happened, allowing for Mitsuki and Haruka to show up as best friends in newer games as they did in Alternative.