Aoharu x Machinegun

Aoharu x Machinegun

Cover of Aoharu x Kikanjū volume 1 by Square Enix
青春×機関銃
(Aoharu x Kikanjū)
Genre Action, Comedy, Military (Airsoft)
Manga
Written by NAOE
Published by Square Enix
English publisher
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Monthly GFantasy
Original run January 2013 – present
Volumes 9
Anime television series
Directed by Hideaki Nakano
Written by Kenji Konuta
Music by Asami Tachibana
Studio Brain's Base
Licensed by
Original network TBS, MBS, CBC, TUT, BS-TBS, TBS Channel 1
Original run July 3, 2015 – September 18, 2015
Episodes 12 + 1 special

Aoharu x Machinegun (Japanese: 青春×機関銃, Hepburn: Aoharu x Kikanjū) is a Japanese manga series by NAOE, serialized in Square Enix's shōnen manga magazine Monthly GFantasy since January 2013 and collected in seven tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation was announced and began airing on July 3, 2015.[1]

Characters

Toy Gun Gun

Hotaru Tachibana (立花 蛍, Tachibana Hotaru)
Voiced by: Mikako Komatsu (Japanese); Monica Rial (English)

Hotaru is the Student Council President of her highschool and is known for her brute strength, good reflexes, and a strong sense of justice. She claims to not let "evil doers" get away with their evil deeds, and is often noted to enjoy picking fights for the sake of what's right. Early examples include her beating up a student who was extorting money from a helpless classmate, and desiring revenge after learning that her best friend, Kanae, was conned by a Host (later going after said host on her quest for justice). She is often mistaken as male due to her appearance. She is next door neighbors with Masamune. Hotaru uses illeism, referring to herself as "Tachibana".

Masamune Matsuoka (松岡 正宗, Matsuoka Masamune)
Voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno (Japanese); Corey Hartzog (English)

Masamune works as a Host, and is responsible for introducing Hotaru to the world of "Survival Games". He, together with his childhood friend, Tooru, form an alliance called the "Toy ☆ Gun Gun Team". He is unaware of the fact that Hotaru is actually female. To repay the damages caused by Hotaru to the club at which he works at, he offers her the chance to become a member of his team. Because of his past, he has abandonment issues, which later cause him to kick Hotaru out of the team, fearing she will leave him like his former friends/teammates and mother did. However, after Hotaru helps him face his past through a one-on-one challenge, he lets her rejoin. After Hotaru rejoins the team he develops feelings for her, but struggles with them as he does not know that Hotaru is female. There was a moment in his past where, after being abandoned by his mother, he grew suicidal. Nagamasa introduced him to survival games to convince him to live on.

Tōru Yukimura (雪村 透, Yukimura Tōru)
Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Japanese); Chris Patton (English)

Tooru is a manga artist who specializes in erotic comics. He is Masamune's childhood friend, both of them having shared the same dream of pursuing soccer as a career when they were young. He lives in the same apartment block as his teammates. Due to his past, when he was betrayed by friends he trusted, he has low self-confidence and often worries that Masamune might abandon him. He is also the most sensitive to others, being the first one to notice changes in the member's moods.

Haruki Hosokawa (細川 春樹, Hosokawa Haruki)

Haruki was the third member of Toy Gun Gun before Hotaru, who blamed Masamune for making him hate survival games. In truth, Haruki was overwhelmed by his younger twin brother Haruka during TGC and left the team because he felt that he wasn't strong enough. He intended to return to the team after he had trained significantly, but was surprised to hear that Hotaru had filled his spot. Although first antagonistic towards Hotaru, he eventually warms up to her and was brought back into the team as their fourth member. Haruki is also the first one of the team to find out that Hotaru is female. He wears a gas mask during his games.

Hoshishiro

Nagamasa Midori (緑 永将, Midori Nagamasa)
Voiced by: Kazuyuki Okitsu (Japanese); Greg Ayres (English)

Nagamasa is the leader of the survival game team Hoshishiro, which is the name of the hospital he works as a doctor at along with his teammates Fujimon and Ichi. He initially appears to be a very kind man, but he is the object of Tooru and Masamune's resentment due to what took place in the past. It is revealed that he beat up two former Toy Gun Gun players, but it was all within the rules of TGC. He and Masamune used to be close partners, but after being told by another survival game player that Masamune was also a strong vanguard, Nagamasa was convinced to end their partnership. Although brutal during survival games, Nagamasa is known to show kindness outside of it. He knows that Hotaru is a girl but kept a secret though it ended being a blackmail for Hotaru.

Takatora Fujimoto (藤本 高虎, Fujimoto Takatora)
Voiced by: Ryōhei Kimura (Japanese); Scott Gibbs (English)

Nicknamed Fujimon, he is a member of Hoshishiro and works at hospital alongside the rest of his teammates. He fights using a minigun and can move fast despite the weight of his weapon. Due to his earnest and easy-going personality, he gets along well with Hotaru and often expresses concern for the Toy Gun Gun members.

Ichi Akabane (赤羽 市, Akabane Ichi)
Voiced by: Eri Kitamura (Japanese); Allison Sumrall (English)

Ichi is Hoshishiro's sniper. She appears to work as a nurse in the same hospital with Nagamasa and Takatora. She is the newest member of the team, brought in after Haruka's departure. As such she is unaware of the team's history, nor of Nagamasa's past with Masamune.

Haruka Hosokawa (細川 春花, Hosokawa Haruka)

Haruka is Haruki's younger twin brother, who was the original third member of Hoshishiro until Haruki stopped playing survival games. Haruka has an obsession with his brother, and feels guilty for being the reason why Haruki quit survival games. He eventually returns to Hoshishiro, but unlike the other members of the team he expresses distrust for Nagamasa, finding it difficult to tell what he's planning. He hates when other people call his brother 'Haruharu'.

Others

Hanako Sagara (相楽 華子, Sagara Hanako)
Voiced by: Kana Ueda (Japanese); Allison Keith-Shipp (English)

Hanako is a close friend of Masamune. During a practice match, Hotaru temporarily becomes a member of her team and she instructs her to observe how the game is played.

Kanae Yajima (矢島 鼎, Yajima Kanae)
Voiced by: Yui Horie (Japanese); Shenae'a Moore (English)

Kanae is Hotaru's friend, and is the only one who knows of Hotaru being a girl (besides Haruki and Nagamasa, who find out later).

Media

Manga

Aoharu x Kikanjū is written and illustrated by NAOE. It started serialization in Square Enix's shōnen manga magazine Monthly GFantasy as a one-shot, on June 18, 2012,[2] and later as a full-fledged series, on January 18, 2013. As of June 28, 2015, 7 tankōbon volumes have been released in Japan.

No.Japanese release dateJapanese ISBNEnglish release dateEnglish ISBN
1 July 28, 2013 [3]ISBN 978-4-7575-4020-0December 29, 2015ISBN 978-0-3163-5496-7
2 July 28, 2013 [4]ISBN 978-4-7575-4021-7February 23, 2016ISBN 978-0-3163-5821-7
3 November 27, 2013 [5]ISBN 978-4-7575-4152-8April 19, 2016ISBN 978-0-3163-1648-4
4 April 27, 2014 [6]ISBN 978-4-7575-4298-3June 21, 2016ISBN 978-0-3163-1650-7
5 September 28, 2014 [7]ISBN 978-4-7575-4431-4August 23, 2016ISBN 978-0-3163-1652-1
6 February 28, 2015 [8]ISBN 978-4-7575-4574-8October 25, 2016ISBN 0316435686
7 June 28, 2015 [9]ISBN 978-4-7575-4680-6December 20, 2016—

Anime

An anime television series adaptation produced by Brain's Base and directed by Hideaki Nakano premiered on July 2, 2015[lower-alpha 1] at TBS. It also aired at CBC at the same date[lower-alpha 1] and at MBS, TUT, and BS-TBS at later dates.[10] The anime is licensed by AnimeLab in Australia and New Zealand is streaming in simulcast on their website as it airs in Japan.[11] The anime has also been licensed in North America by Sentai Filmworks.[12]

Episode List

TBS uses an after-midnight programming schedule, so that the first broadcast took place on July 2, 2015 at 25:46, which was July 3 at 1:46 am JST. The same with CBC, where it was broadcast an hour and a minute after the premiere.

No. Title Original air date[13]
1 "Let's Start This Deathless Death Match"
"Shinanai Koroshiai wo Hajimeyou ka" (死なない殺し合いを始めようか) 		July 3, 2015
Hotaru Tachibana, a lively headstrong student council president, meets a strange mysterious man on her way home, waiting by her apartment door. On learning that her best friend was conned by a Host, Hotaru goes over to the Host club to deal with the person in question, who in turn challenges her to a Gun game called "The Survival Game". 
2 "Didn't I Tell You I Don't Need Friends?"
"Nakama nante Iranai tte Itta yo ne?" (仲間なんていらないって言ったよね?) 		July 10, 2015
Tōru Yukimura, an S&M ero-manga artist is introduced as the third member of "Team Toy Gun Gun". Yukimura seems rather displeased with his new team mate, but will they manage to pull it off and win as a team despite everything? 
3 "It'll Become Your Greatest Partner"
"Saikō no Pātonā ni Narunda kara yo" (最高の戦友 (パートナー)になるんだからよ) 		July 17, 2015
The black envelop is a special invitation given to a chosen few who have earned the right to be in a special Survival Game tournament, those given to the members of Team Toy Gun Gun and to a certain man dressed in a white lab coat, who works as a pediatrician. On Masamune's call, Yukimura goes on to help Hotaru buy her own Survival Game gun, as a commemoration of her joining the team after a small pep talk from her seniors, only to be left to go shopping alone to the store. Lost and confused, she meets a seemingly kind stranger who seemed knowledgeable enough in regards to survival games and guns, who advises her on buying a gun, but what are his true intentions? 
4 "He's Not Cut Out for That Tournament"
"Koitsu wa ano taikai ni wa mui tené yo" (こいつはあの大会には向いてねぇよ) 		July 24, 2015
Yukimura clashes with Midori, as some past issues concerning Masamune and their past feuds were brought up. Caught in a rifle accuracy test which she fails at, Hotaru goes up against the gun store manager as her last resort to win her G3 SAS gun. With two weeks left till the commencement of the TCG (Top Combat Game) tournament, Team Toy Gun Gun participate in a survival game event to get all the practice they need, and for the twin purpose of training Hotaru, a novice at survival games. Things don't turn out as expected for Hotaru, and in consequence of her fall-out with Matsuoka, she is sent on to play on the opponent's team. With the introduction of a new character, will Hotaru be able to learn a thing or two and grow from her mistakes? 
5 "I Don't Want to Leave This Team!"
"Kono Chīmu o Nuketakunai!" (このチームを抜けたくない!) 		July 31, 2015
Hanako was asked by Masamune for Hotaru to join her team instead, for the day. Later on Hanako found out why Masamune wanted Hotaru to know more of the basics to the game, to bring out the hidden talent that Hotaru may have. And why Masamune doesn't wants girls in their club for an unknown reason. Then Masamune wanted to have water gun match with Yukimura and Hotaru. 
6 "The Storm is Coming"
"Arashi ga, Kuru" (嵐が、来る) 		August 7, 2015
A competition is starting soon, Hanako is surprised by how many are competing in it. While as others plan ahead. 
7 "We'll Have to Crush That Hope"
"Sono Kibou, Hayaku Buchikowashite Agenakya ne" (その希望、早くブチ壊してあげなきゃね) 		August 14, 2015
Hanako's team is up and everyone is splitting up to their places. Then Hanako sees Fujimon what will Hanako do? 
8 "What Controls Your Mind Now"
"Ima, Kimi no Kokoro o Shihai Suru Mono" (今，君の心を支配するもの) 		August 21, 2015
Round One of the Top Gun Combat competition continues. With Fujimon out of the match, team Toy Gun Gun and duo Midori and Ichi remain. Matsuoka, Yukimura and Tachibana each have a turn fighting Midori. The winner of the first match is determined. 
9 "That's What Makes Me Cool!"
"Dakara Watashi wa Kakkoii!" (だから私はかっこいいっ!) 		August 28, 2015
Hotaru is resting at school, when Kanae wonders why and asked? As Hotaru felt down when the match ended, in a lost. Later Kanae wonders if Hotaru just quits? Then Kanae looks at her phone she knows what is it about, and what Hotaru does in the games she plays in. Later Kanae challenged Hotaru to a small race. 
10 "I Want to Fight With These People"
"Kono Hitotachi To Ishoni Tatakaeritai" (この人達と一緒に戦いたいっ) 		September 4, 2015
Masamune kicks Hotaru out of the team, giving her the reason that she's too weak. In order to prove her worth, Hotaru challenges Nagamasa Midori in a one on one fight. 
11 "Let's Do Something Fun"
"Ii Koto, Shimashouka" (いいこと、しましょうか) 		September 11, 2015
After the challenge, Hotaru runs into Tooru, who informs her about the real truth behind Masamune's actions and the true history of Toy Gun Gun. 
12 "I Won't Yield!"
"Kono Basho Wa Yuzuranai!" (この場所は譲らないつ！) 		September 18, 2015[14]
On knowing the truth from Yukimura concerning the previous Toy Gun Gun members, Hotaru's resilience leads her to challenge Masamune to a duel, on the condition that she'd join the Team if she won even once against him. 

Reception

Anime News Network had three editors review the first episode of the anime:[15] Theron Martin found interest in the relationship dynamic between Hotaru and Masamune, a potential exploration of gender identity, and gave credit to the show's technical aesthetics despite lacking in palpable comedic moments; Nick Creamer was drawn in by the characterization of Hotaru but found criticism in the direction of both the plot and animation as feeling mediocre and typical of its given genre. The third reviewer, Rebecca Silverman, found the episode to be one of weakest debuts of its given season, criticizing the character of Hotaru and the storytelling she's placed in, and the middling production that's accessory to the delivery. Silverman said that, "If you're really into survival game shows and find mistaken gender hilarious, there might be more here for you than I found, but I'm also sure that there are better versions of both stories to be found elsewhere."[15]

Notes

  1. 1 2 TBS uses an after-midnight programming schedule, so that the first broadcast took place on July 2, 2015 at 25:46, which is July 3 at 1:46 am JST. The same with CBC, where it was broadcast an hour and a minute after the premiere.

References

  1. ↑ "Aoharu x Kikanjū Survival Games Manga Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. February 26, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Monthly G Fantasy Comics 2012 July Issue". CDjapan.
  3. ↑ "青春×機関銃（1） at Square-enix.co.jp" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  4. ↑ "青春×機関銃（2） at Square-enix.co.jp" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  5. ↑ "青春×機関銃（3） at Square-enix.co.jp" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  6. ↑ "青春×機関銃（4） at Square-enix.co.jp" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  7. ↑ "青春×機関銃（5） at Square-enix.co.jp" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  8. ↑ "青春×機関銃（6） at Square-enix.co.jp" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  9. ↑ "青春×機関銃（7） at Square-enix.co.jp" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  10. ↑ "Aoharu x Kikanjū TV Anime Adds Ryohei Kimura, Yui Horie to Cast". Anime News Network. June 7, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  11. ↑ AnimeLab Simulcast Line-Up For Summer 2015
  12. ↑ "Sentai Filmworks Acquires Ushio & Tora, Gate, School Live, Wakaba Girl, Aoharu X Machinegun Anime". Anime News Network. July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Aoharu x Kikanjū" (in Japanese). Aoharu x Kikanjū Production Committee.
  14. ↑ "青春×機関銃 broadcasting dates at TBS.co.jp" (in Japanese). Tokyo Broadcasting System.
  15. 1 2 "Aoharu x Machinegun - The Summer 2015 Anime Preview Guide". Anime News Network. July 4, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
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