Ajin: Demi-Human

Ajin: Demi-Human

Cover of the first manga volume released in Japan.
亜人
(Ajin)
Genre Action, adventure, horror, mystery, supernatural
Manga
Written by Gamon Sakurai
Published by Kodansha
English publisher
Demographic Seinen
Magazine good! Afternoon
Original run 2012 – ongoing
Volumes 7
Anime film
Ajin Part 1: Shōdō
Directed by Hiroyuki Seshita
Produced by Naoya Tanaka
Written by Hiroshi Seko
Music by Yugo Kanno
Studio Polygon Pictures
Released November 27, 2015
Anime television series
Directed by Hiroyuki Seshita
Produced by Naoya Tanaka
Written by Hiroshi Seko
Music by Yugo Kanno
Studio Polygon Pictures
Network MBS, TBS, CBC, BS-TBS
English network Netflix
Original run January 16, 2016 – ongoing
Episodes 13
Original video animation
Directed by Hiroaki Andō
Written by Kenta Ihara
Studio Polygon Pictures
Released May 6, 2016
Anime film
Ajin Part 2: Shōtotsu
Directed by Hiroyuki Seshita
Produced by Naoya Tanaka
Written by Hiroshi Seko
Music by Yugo Kanno
Studio Polygon Pictures
Released May 2016

Ajin: Demi-Human (Japanese: 亜人 Hepburn: Ajin) is a seinen manga written and illustrated by Gamon Sakurai. It will be adapted into three anime films.[1]

Plot

The story is about a student named Kei Nagai, who discovers he is an immortal "Ajin" when he is hit by a truck. He becomes a wanted person because the Ajins are considered "criminals" and the only person who is there to support him is his best friend, Kaito. In reality, the Ajins are branded criminals so they can be easily hunted down and captured for research and cruel experimentation in order to unlock, control, and eventually reproduce the strange powers that all Ajins have, even though many of the Ajins themselves don't understand or even know why they have their abilities. As a result, many of the Ajin encountered in the series are cold and unfeeling; some even look down on humans with contempt and wish death upon them.

Publication

The series began publication in Kodansha's magazine good! Afternoon in 2012.[2] Initially it was written by Tsuina Miura; however, his name is not mentioned in the credits after the first volume, and Gamon Sakurai has been creating the manga himself since.[3]

During February 2014, it was announced that Vertical had licensed the series for English release.[2] On March 15, 2014, Crunchyroll began to release the series on their manga service under the title Ajin: Demi-Human, starting with the first two chapters. The service will continue to add chapters until it can release new chapters the same week they are released in Japan.[4]

Volume list

No.Japanese release dateJapanese ISBNEnglish release dateEnglish ISBN
1 March 7, 2013[5]ISBN 978-4-06-387868-4October 14, 2014[6]ISBN 978-1-939130-84-6
  • 01. "Detection and Subsequent Action" (発覚とその後の行動について Hakkaku to Sonogo no Kōdō ni Tsuite)
  • 02. "Event on the First Night" (１日目、深夜の事象について 1-Nichi-me, shinya no jishō ni tsuite)
  • 03. "Escape and Threat" (逃走と脅威について Tōsō to Kyōi ni Tsuite)
  • 04. "Interrogation and Conspirator" (尋問と協力者について Jinmon to Kyōryoku-sha ni Tsuite)
  • 05. "Appearance and Organization" (発現と組織について Hatsugen to Soshiki ni Tsuite)
2 June 7, 2013[7]ISBN 978-4-06-387902-5December 9, 2014[8]ISBN 978-1-939130-85-3
  • 06. "Fresh Start" (心機一転 Shinki Itten)
  • 07. "003"
  • 08. "Blindness"
  • 09. "Killtacular" (キルタキュラー Kirutakura)
  • 00. "The Shin’ya Namakura Incident" (中村慎也事件 Nakamura Shin’ya Jiken)
3 November 7, 2013[9]ISBN 978-4-06-387934-6February 3, 2015[10]ISBN 978-1-941220-21-4
  • 10. "The Real Kei Nagai 1" (本当の永井 圭1 Hontō no Nagai Kei 1)
  • 11. "The Real Kei Nagai 2" (本当の永井 圭2 Hontō no Nagai Kei 2)
  • 12. "The Real Kei Nagai 3" (本当の永井 圭3 Hontō no Nagai Kei 3)
  • 13. "Plan A" (作戦A Sakusen A)
  • 14. "Backstage" (舞台裏 Butaiura)
4 May 7, 2014[11]ISBN 978-4-06-387972-8April 7, 2015[12]ISBN 978-1-941220-44-3
  • 15. "Fighter" (ファイター Faita)
  • 16. "Runaway" (逃亡者 Tōbō-sha)
  • 17. "Double Team" (ダブルチーム Daburuchīmu)
  • 18. "Fringe" (フリンジ Furinji)
  • 19. "Let's Make It Flashy!" (派手に行こうぜ！ Hade ni Ikōze!)
5 November 7, 2014[13]ISBN 978-4-06-388007-6June 2, 2015[14]ISBN 978-1-941220-45-0
  • 20. "Sucker Punch" (サッカーパンチ Sakkāpanchi)
  • 21. "Battlefield Bad Company" (バトルフィールド バッドカンパニー Batorufīrudo Baddo Kanpanī)
  • 22. "Ajin" (亜人 Ajin)
  • 22.5. "Ajin 2" (亜人② Ajin 2)
  • 23. "The Chosen Man" (選ばれた男 Erabareta Otoko)
  • 24. "Come with Me!!"
6 June 5, 2015[15]ISBN 978-4-06-388067-0August 25, 2015[16]ISBN 978-1-941220-88-7
  • 25. "Day One" (初日 Shonichi)
  • 26. "Genius…?!"
  • 27. "Izumi Shimomura" (下村 泉 Shimomura Izumi)
  • 27.5. "Izumi Shimomura 2" (下村 泉② Shimomura Izumi 2)
  • 28. "Wall" (壁 Kabe)
7 November 6, 2015[17]ISBN 978-4-06-388098-4February 23, 2016[18]ISBN 978-1-942993-26-1
  • 29. "Listen!!"
  • 30. "Call of Duty"
  • 31. "Don't say "lazy""
  • 31.5. "Don't say "lazy" 2"
  • 32. "The Attack Begins"
  • 33. "Invincible"
8 April 28, 2016[19]ISBN 978-4-06-358796-8—ISBN —
Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

Media

Film

Plans to adapt the series into an anime film trilogy were announced in June 2015.[20] The films are directed by Hiroaki Ando and written by Hiroshi Seko, with animation by the animation studio Polygon Pictures.[21] The first film, titled Ajin: Shōdō (Ajin: Impulse),[22] debuted in Japan on November 27, 2015.[23]

Cast

Television series

A television series that follows the anime films premiered on January 16, 2016.[lower-alpha 1][24] It is produced by the staff that produced the film trilogy.[25] The ending theme is performed by Mamoru Miyano, the voice actor who portrays Kei.[24] It airs on MBS, TBS, CBC and BS-TBS,[25] and will have 13 episodes.[26] The series will be streamed by Netflix.[25] The opening theme song is "Can You Sleep at Night?" (Yoru wa Nemureru kai?) by Flumpool, and the ending theme is "HOW CLOSE YOU ARE" by Mamoru Miyano.

Episode list

No. Title Original air date
1 "Bokura ni wa Kankeinai Hanashi" (僕らには関係ない話) January 16, 2016
Kei Nagai is a good student whose life turned upside down when he was struck by a truck. After this accident he discovers that he is an immortal (ajin). Feeling shocked and panic, he runs away to an isolated place. Now he can't trust anyone but his childhood friend Kaito. 
2 "Nande kon'na kotoni natta nda. Boku wa warukunainoni" (何でこんなことになったんだ。僕は悪くないのに) January 23, 2016
3 "Mō dame janai ka na?" (もうダメじゃないかな?) January 30, 2016
4 "Kimi wa Kuroi Yuurei wo Mita Koto ga Aruka?" (君は黒い幽霊を見たことがあるか?) February 06, 2016

Reception

The Japanese manga news site Comic Natalie awarded the series third place in its poll of the best manga in 2013.[27] The third volume ranked 6th on the Oricon manga chart on the week of its release.[28] In a survey of 400 manga and publishing professionals for the manga guidebook Kono Manga ga Sugoi!, the series was rated 3rd place in a list of top 20 manga for Male readers.[29]

The series was listed as a nominee for the Readers Award in the 18th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize, and in the Seinen category in the 38th Annual Kodansha Manga Awards.[30][31]

Notes

  1. ↑ The episode is listed for broadcast at 25:55 on January 15; this is the same as a broadcast time of 1:55 on January 16.[24]

References

  1. ↑ "Ajin: Demi-Human Action Manga Gets Anime Film Trilogy". Anime News Network. June 2, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Vertical Licenses Ajin, Witchcraft Works, Garden of Words Manga". Anime News Network. February 15, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  3. ↑ Thompson, Jason (June 26, 2014). "Ajin - House of 1000 Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Crunchyroll Releases Ajin, Koe no Katachi, Arslan Manga". Anime News Network. March 14, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  5. ↑ "亜人（1）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Ajin, Volume 1". Random House. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  7. ↑ "亜人（2）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Ajin, Volume 2". Random House. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  9. ↑ "亜人（3）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Ajin, Volume 3". Random House. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  11. ↑ "亜人（4）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Ajin, Volume 4". Random House. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  13. ↑ "亜人（5）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Ajin, Volume 5". Random House. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  15. ↑ "亜人（６）". Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Ajin, Volume 6". Random House. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  17. ↑ "亜人（７）". Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Ajin, Volume 7". Random House. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  19. ↑ "亜人（8）". Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Ajin: Demi-Human Action Manga Gets Anime Film Trilogy". Anime News Network. June 2, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Ajin: Demi-Human Film Trilogy Unveils Teaser Trailer, Staff from Sidonia". Anime News Network. June 4, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Ajin Anime Film Project's 2nd Promo Video Reveals Cast". Anime News Network. July 30, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Ajin - Demi-Human Film's Trailer Reveals flumpool Song, Release Date". Anime News Network. September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  24. 1 2 3 "Mamoru Miyano to Perform Ajin TV Anime's Ending Theme". Anime News Network. October 15, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  25. 1 2 3 "Ajin - Demi-Human Manga Gets TV Anime in January (Updated)". Anime News Network. September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Ajin - Demi-Human TV Anime to Have 13 Episodes". Anime News Network. September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Nami Sano's Sakamoto desu ga? Manga Wins Comic Natalie Grand Prize". Anime News Network. September 18, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, November 4–10". Anime News Network. November 13, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Top Manga Ranked by Kono Manga ga Sugoi 2014 Voters". Anime News Network. December 9, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  30. ↑ "18th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize 'Reader Award' Nominees Announced". Anime News Network. March 3, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  31. ↑ "38th Annual Kodansha Manga Awards' Nominees Announced". Anime News Network. April 3, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2014.

External links

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