Joker Game
Joker Game | |
Cover of Joker Game. | |
ジョーカー・ゲーム (Jōkā Gēmu) | |
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Genre | Spy, Mystery[1] |
Novel series | |
Written by | Koji Yanagi |
Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
Original run | August 28, 2008 – March 25, 2016 |
Volumes | 4 |
Manga | |
D no Maō | |
Written by | Kayoko Shimotsuki |
Published by | Shogakukan |
Demographic | Seinen |
Magazine |
Big Comic Spirits Monthly Big Comic Spirits |
Original run | 2009 – 2010 |
Volumes | 3 |
Manga | |
Written by | Kayoko Shimotsuki |
Published by | Shogakukan |
Demographic | Seinen |
Magazine | Big Comic Spirits |
Original run | November 14, 2014 – January 19, 2015 |
Volumes | 1 |
Live-action film | |
Directed by | Yu Irie |
Written by | Yūsuke Watanabe |
Music by | Taisei Iwasaki |
Released |
|
Runtime | 107 minutes |
Manga | |
Joker Game the Animation | |
Written by | Subaru Nitō |
Published by | Mag Garden |
Magazine | Monthly Comic Garden |
Original run | February 5, 2016 – present |
Volumes | 2 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Kazuya Nomura |
Produced by |
|
Written by | Taku Kishimoto |
Music by | Kenji Kawai |
Studio | Production I.G |
Licensed by | |
Original network | AT-X, Tokyo MX, MBS, TV Aichi, BS11 |
Original run | April 5, 2016 – June 21, 2016 |
Episodes | 12 + 2 OVA |
Joker Game (Japanese: ジョーカー・ゲーム Hepburn: Jōkā Gēmu) is a Japanese novel series written by Koji Yanagi. It has inspired a live-action film and an anime television series.[1] An anime television adaptation produced by Production I.G aired between April 5, 2016 and June 21, 2016.[2]
Characters
- Yuuki (結城 Yuuki)
- Voiced by: Kenyuu Horiuchi (Japanese); Bill Jenkins (English)[3]
- Played by: Yusuke Iseya
He is the founder of D-Agency, a lieutenant colonel to the Imperial Japanese Army and also a spymaster. He once worked as a spy and given the nickname "Demon Lord". He was originally known as Akira Arisaki, the adopted son of Viscount Arisaki. He was very intelligent and consistently got the top grades as a student, but he would be expelled from military school for his cowardice tactics when fighting. This led him to open up the D-Agency, or so is how the information trail he left behind explains, but the spy who uncovers this information finds that it may all be a fabrication taken from another individual altogether.
- Sakuma (佐久間 Sakuma)
- Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki (Japanese); Christopher Wehkamp (English)[3]
A man from the Imperial Japanese Army. He was sent to D-Agency to work as a liaison. A soldier with diligence and cautious of his surroundings. While he personally dislikes spies, after the incident in Gordon's house, he's grown to understand about them.
- Miyoshi (三好 Miyoshi)
- Voiced by: Hiro Shimono (Japanese); Josh Grelle (English)[3]
- Played by: Keisuke Koide
He is a narcissist with a little bit of arrogance. He often talks in a sarcastic tone. Like Kaminaga, he often works overseas. At first, he acts bitter towards Sakuma due to his fixed thought about the military. But this soon changes after their first mission together.
- Kaminaga (神永 Kaminaga)
- Voiced by: Ryōhei Kimura (Japanese); Dave Trosko (English)[3]
- Played by: Yukiyoshi Ozawa
- At first glance he gives the atmosphere of a mischievous, happy-go-lucky playboy. He is also proud and prideful. Like Miyoshi, he works overseas.
- Odagiri (小田切 Odagiri)
- Voiced by: Yoshimasa Hosoya (Japanese); David Matranga (English)[3]
- Played by: Hiroshi Yamamoto
His real name is Tobisaki Hiroyuki. Graduated from military academy and cadet school, he is unique compared to other members of D-Agency. He is appointed as the second lieutenant. He rarely laughs and is somewhat distant to the other D-Agency members. In most visuals, he is shown to be not very good at handling alcohol.
- Amari (甘利 Amari)
- Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa (Japanese); Brad Hawkins (English)[3]
One of the oldest along with Kaminaga. A man with a sociable and caring personality, he is like a big brother to the other agency members. A very carefree man who is good at handling women.
While he is said to be charming with his pride, he has a cheeky personality. He also masters martial arts and is very agile.
- Jitsui (実井 Jitsui)
- Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama (Japanese); Joel McDonald (English)[3]
- Played by: Kiyohiko Shibukawa
He has a friendly personality, even to Sakuma who was antagonized by most of the members of the agency. He is soft-spoken and caring. But sometimes when he is against a hostile enemy, he shows a sadistic side.
- Tazaki (田崎 Tazaki)
- Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai (Japanese); Alejandro Saab[3] (English)
He talks calmly and gives an intellectual atmosphere which makes him sounds older than he looks. He has the habit of playing magic when he is thinking. In his conversation card, Amari stated that he can see how stressed Tazaki is from the amount of pigeons flying out from his coat.
- Fukumoto (福本 Fukumoto)
- Voiced by: Kazuya Nakai (Japanese); Jarod Warren[3] (English)
While he is goofy and quiet in nature, he gets along with Odagiri. He can cook.
- Jirou Gamou (蒲生 次郎 Gamou Jirou)
- Voiced by: Kenjiro Tsuda (Japanese); Eric Vale[3] (English)
A professional at chess. He is known as a good man even to missions that require no emotions.
Media
Novels
The original novel, Joker Game, published by Kadokawa Shoten on August 28, 2008,[4] is a collection of five short stories written by Koji Yanagi.[5] Three of them were published directly in the novel, but two of them—"Joker Game" and "Robinson"—were first published in Kadokawa Shoten mystery magazine Yasei Jidai on its November 2007 and May 2008 issues respectively.[5] The same happened in the following novels; Double Joker, released on August 29, 2009,[6] featured five stories that were previously serialized in Yasei Jidai, an original story—"Black Bird"–and a story that was slated to the magazine October 2009 issue.[7][8] Paradise Lost, released on March 23, 2012,[9] contained five stories published between Yasei Jidai's July 2011 and March 2012 issues.[10][11] Released on January 17, 2015,[12] the four stories of Last Waltz had previously been published between Yasei Jidai's September 2014 and January 2015 issues.[13][14]
No. | Title | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN | |
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1 | Joker Game (ジョーカー・ゲーム) | August 28, 2008 (tankōbon)[4] June 23, 2011 (bunkoban)[15] | ISBN 978-4-04-873851-4 (tankōbon) ISBN 978-4-04-382906-4 (bunkoban) | |
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2 | Double Joker (ダブル・ジョーカー) | August 26, 2009 (tankōbon)[6] June 22, 2012 (bunkoban)[16] | ISBN 978-4-04-873960-3 (tankōbon) ISBN 978-4-04-100328-2 (bunkoban) | |
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3 | Paradise Lost (パラダイス・ロスト) | March 23, 2012 (tankōbon)[9] June 21, 2013 (bunkoban)[17] | ISBN 978-4-04-110138-4 (tankōbon) ISBN 978-4-04-100826-3 (bunkoban) | |
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4 | Last Waltz (ラスト・ワルツ) | January 17, 2015 (tankōbon)[12] March 25, 2016 (bunkoban)[18] | ISBN 978-4-04-102137-8 (tankōbon) ISBN 978-4-04-104023-2 (bunkoban) | |
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Film
A live-action action suspense film directed by Yu Irie based on the novel was released on January 31, 2015.[19][20] Starring Kazuya Kamenashi, Yūsuke Iseya and Kyoko Fukada, it was filmed during April 2014 in Singapore and in Batam, Indonesia.[21] Irie described it as an international production since it featured British and Australian actors and only 20% of the crew was composed of Japanese people.[22] The film's budget was partially financed by Nippon Television and it was distributed by Toho.[23] The film earned ¥271 million on its opening weekend in Japan,[20] closing its run with ¥960 million grossed.[24] It received 225 votes (out of 677) and won the Fan Grand Prize of the Nikkan Sports Film Award.[25] Its North American premiere was held during the Japan Cuts festival on July 9, 2015.[26]
Manga
Kayoko Shimotsuki wrote two manga adaptations of the series. The first, D no Maō (Dの魔王), adapts the first novel and was serialized in the publisher Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits magazine from early 2009[note 1] to August 27, 2009, when it moved to Monthly Big Comic Spirits.[29] It was serialized until 2010,[27] and collected into three tankōbon volumes released between August 28, 2009 and July 30, 2010.[30][31][32] All volumes were made available in digital format on June 9, 2014.[30][31][32] The second manga, adapting the film, was simply titled Joker Game and serialized in Big Comic Spirits between November 17, 2014[33] and January 19, 2015, the same day its sole tankōbon was published.[27]
A manga by Subaru Nitō adapting the anime was announced in the February 2016 issue of Mag Garden's Comic Garden magazine. It began its serialization in the March 2016 issue of Mag Garden's Comic Garden Magazine on February 5, 2016, which contained the first two chapters of the manga.[34] The manga titled Joker Game the Animation has been collected into two volumes released on May 10, 2016 and October 8, 2016.[35][36]
Volumes
No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN | |
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1 | May 10, 2016[35] | ISBN 978-4800005724 | |
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2 | October 8, 2016[36] | ISBN 978-4800006219 | |
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Anime
An anime television series was announced in the September issue of Kadokawa's Newtype magazine. The 12-episode series was produced by Production I.G, directed by Kazuya Nomura and written by Taku Kishimoto.[37] Shirow Miwa provided the series' character designs and Kenji Kawai composed the music.[1] The anime began airing on April 5, 2016 on AT-X, Tokyo MX, MBS, TV Aichi and BS11, finishing on June 21, 2016.[2][38] The two Blu-ray disc released on July 27, 2016 and September 28, 2016, respectively, contained an original video animation each, titled Kuroneko Yoru no Bōken.[39][40] QUADRANGLE performed the anime's opening theme, titled "Reason Triangle", and MAGIC OF LiFE performed the anime's ending theme, titled "Double". The anime is licensed in North America by Funimation and simulcast through the streaming website Crunchyroll.[41]
Episode list
No. | Title | Original air date |
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1 | "Joker Game (Part 1)" "Jōkā Gēmu (Zenpen)" (ジョーカー・ゲーム(前編)) | April 5, 2016 |
The story is set in the autumn of 1937; with strong objection from the Imperial Army, Lieutenant colonel Yuki establishes the D-Agency where it trains spies for insertion into other countries. General headquarter's colonel Muto nominates first lieutenant Sakuma to monitor the D-Agency, and orders the agency to investigate John Gordon who is suspected to be an American spy. Disguised as military police, the training spies and Sakuma search the home of Gordon for evidence proving that he is in fact a spy. Sakuma's life is used as a pawn by one of the other spies when the act of him committing seppuku is used as a bargaining tool to get inside of Gordon's home. However, it seems clear that actually Sakuma is being played by his superior and the other spies and there is no evidence linking Gordon to being a spy. | ||
2 | "Joker Game (Part 2)" "Jōkā Gēmu (Kōhen)" (ジョーカー・ゲーム(後編)) | April 12, 2016 |
When he is preparing to commit seppuku, Sakuma remembers Yuki's definition of what constitutes the work spy—to be invisible—and infers the evidence they are looking for is behind the Emperor's portrayal. They succeed on their mission but Sakuma is intrigued when Gordon says this was the second time the military police went there. Sakuma then realizes that this plot was contrived by Muto to fail so as to hide his own failure investigating Gordon. Sakuma also realizes that Yuki discovered Muto's plan and used this event to blackmail him to collaborate with D-Agency, hoping to receive more funds from the Army. | ||
3 | "Miscalculation" "Gosan" (誤算) | April 19, 2016 |
A man, whose passaport has the name "Shimano Ryousuke", wakes up with amnesia in Marseille, France. He is in a house with Alain, Jean, and Marie, three members of French resistance to German occupation. When German soldiers surround the house, "Shimano" fixes their only gun and gives to Marie. He also prepares a dust explosion that gives them time to escape. The group stop to decided if "Shimano" could join the resistance and then Marie reveals she is a German collaborator since her family was made hostage by the Germans. Shimano tries to disarm her, but is knocked out by Jean, who is moved by his love. When Shimano wakes up, he remembers he is D-Agency's Hatano, whose mission was to infiltrate Alain group. Hatano meets Yuki and is informed he can return to Japan, and deduces Japan will align with Germany. | ||
4 | "City of Temptation" "Mato" (魔都) | April 26, 2016 |
After Captain Oikawa assigns Sergeant Honma to discover a supposed spy within the Shanghai Military Police, Oikawa's home is bombed, as was a Japanese business a few days ago. At the crime scene, Honma meets Shiozuka, whom he had once investigated for his affiliation with an anti-Japanese magazine. Shiozuka tells Honma he saw there the magazine's ringleader, Kusanagi, who may be involved on it because of his anti-Japanese feeling. Honma follows Kusanagi to a casino, where Honma solves the mystery; in fact, Oikawa himself bombed his home to cover his opium traffic. When a corporal, Miyata, discovered this, Oikawa paid a boy he met in the casino to kill him. Then the exploded the building to kill the boy. A private, Yoshino, kills Oikawa, revenging the death of the boy he loved. In the end, Shiozuka is revealed to be D-Agency's Fukumoto. | ||
5 | "Robinson" "Robinson" (ロビンソン) | May 3, 2016 |
Kaminaga's story, set in London. | ||
6 | "Asia Express" "Ajia Ekusupuresu" (アジア・エクスプレス) | May 10, 2016 |
Tazaki's story, set in Hsinking. | ||
7 | "Code Name: Cerberus" "Kōdonēmu: Keruberosu" (暗号名ケルベロス) | May 17, 2016 |
Amari's story, set aboard a ship bound for Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands. | ||
8 | "Double Joker (Part 1)" "Daburu Jōkā (Zenpen)" (ダブル・ジョーカー(前編)) | May 24, 2016 |
First half of Gamou's story, set in Japan. | ||
9 | "Double Joker (Part 2)" "Daburu Jōkā (Kōhen)" (ダブル・ジョーカー(後編)) | May 31, 2016 |
Second half of Gamou's story, also revealing Jitsui's involvement. | ||
10 | "Pursuit" "Tsuiseki" (追跡) | June 7, 2016 |
Episode 10 features an attempted investigation into Yuuki's past by Aaron Price, a journalist for the British Times newspaper. | ||
11 | "Coffin" "Hitsugi" (柩) | June 14, 2016 |
The main part of the episode features Miyoshi's story, set in Germany, whilst also delving a little deeper into Yuuki's past. | ||
12 | "Double Cross" "Daburu Kurosu" (ダブル・クロス) | June 21, 2016 |
The series draws to its close with Odagiri's story, set in Japan. | ||
OVA 1 | "Adventure of Black Cat Yoru: Part 1" "Kuroneko Yoru no Bōken Zenpen" (黒猫ヨルの冒険 前編) | July 27, 2016 |
OVA 2 | "Adventure of Black Cat Yoru: Part 2" "Kuroneko Yoru no Bōken Kōhen" (黒猫ヨルの冒険 後編) | September 28, 2016 |
Reception
In 2008, Joker Game ranked second on Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! and third on Shūkan Bunshun Mystery Best 10.[42] In 2009, Joker Game won the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers and the Mystery Writers of Japan Award for Best Novel.[1][21] The anime won the special Nogizaka46 Award given by the Newtype magazine.[43]
Notes
- ↑ It is known it starts in 2009,[27] but it was not possible to find a precise date, but through the WayBack Machine it is possible to have access to Big Comic Spirits lineup for some dates; the earlier 2009 archive is dated January 17, 2009, when D no Maō is already listed.[28]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Kōji Yanagi's Joker Game Novels Get TV Anime Adaptation". Anime News Network. August 7, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- 1 2 "Joker Game Spy Anime Premieres on April 5". Anime News Network. March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Fall 2016 SimulDub™ English Cast Announcements – For The Love of Dubs - Funimation – Blog!". www.funimation.com. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
- 1 2 ジョーカー・ゲーム: 書籍: 柳広司 (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- 1 2 ジョーカー・ゲーム (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on March 30, 2009. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- 1 2 ダブル・ジョーカー: 書籍: 柳広司 (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ↑ ダブル・ジョーカー (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on April 10, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ↑ "ダブル・ジョーカー" (in Japanese). CiNii. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- 1 2 パラダイス・ロスト: 書籍: 柳広司 (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ↑ "パラダイス・ロスト" (in Japanese). CiNii. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ↑ The following sources confirm the publication of "Kikan" (retitled "Gosan" for the novel), "Paradise Lost", "Tsuiseki" and "Angō-mei: Keruberosu" (part 1 and 2) in Yasei Jidai:
- "小説 野性時代7月号(6月13日発売)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- "小説 野性時代9月号(8月11日発売)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- "小説 野性時代11月号(10月12日発売)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- "小説 野性時代1月号(12月12日発売)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- "小説 野性時代3月号(2月13日発売)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- 1 2 ラスト・ワルツ: 書籍: 柳広司 (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ↑ "ラスト・ワルツ" (in Japanese). CiNii. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ↑ The following sources confirm the publication of "Valkyrie" (part 1 and 2), "Budōkai no Yoru" and "Asia Express" in Yasei Jidai:
- "小説 野性時代9月号(8月12日発売)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on February 24, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- "小説 野性時代10月号(9月12日発売)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on February 24, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- "小説 野性時代11月号(10月11日発売)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on February 24, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- "小説 野性時代1月号(12月12日発売)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived from the original on February 24, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ↑ ジョーカー・ゲーム: 文庫: 柳広司 (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ↑ ダブル・ジョーカー: 文庫: 柳広司 (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ↑ パラダイス・ロスト: 文庫: 柳広司 (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ↑ ラスト・ワルツ: 文庫: 柳広司 (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ↑ ジョーカー・ゲーム(2014). allcinema (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
- 1 2 Gavin J. Blair (February 2, 2015). "Japan Box Office: 'Big Hero 6' Tops Fifth Weekend, 'Exodus' Opens in Fourth". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
- 1 2 "亀梨和也が"天才スパイ"に!深田恭子&伊勢谷友介と共演…映画『ジョーカー・ゲーム』". CinemaCafé.net (in Japanese). IID. April 6, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ↑ "Japan Cuts 2015 Hibi Rock/Joker Game Yu Irie Exclusive Interview". TheDivaReview.com. July 9, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ↑ Hale, Mike (July 3, 2015). "Japan Cuts Film Festival at Japan Society Emphasizes the Eccentric". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ↑ "嵐・松本潤の新作映画発表で気になる「大コケジャニーズ映画」はこの4作!". Asajo (in Japanese). Tokuma Shoten. July 8, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ↑ "ファン大賞は「ジョーカー・ゲーム」/映画大賞". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 29, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ↑ "Joker Game". Japan Society. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "映画公開直前「ジョーカー・ゲーム」霜月かよ子のマンガ版が単行本に". Natalie.mu (in Japanese). Natasha. January 19, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- ↑ "連載作品紹介". spi-net.jp (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on January 17, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- ↑ "月刊!スピリッツ本日創刊。豪華19作品+2大付録". Natalie.mu (in Japanese). Natasha. August 27, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- 1 2 "Dの魔王 1" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- 1 2 "Dの魔王 2" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- 1 2 "Dの魔王 3" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- ↑ "柳広司「ジョーカー・ゲーム」映画化記念、霜月かよ子のマンガ版新章開幕". Natalie.mu (in Japanese). Natasha. November 17, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Joker Game Spy Anime Gets Manga Adaptation in February". Anime News Network. January 4, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- 1 2 ジョーカー・ゲーム THE ANIMATION 1 (BLADE COMICS) [Joker Game The Animation 1 (Blade Comics)]. Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- 1 2 ジョーカー・ゲーム THE ANIMATION 2 (BLADE COMICS) [Joker Game The Animation 2 (Blade Comics)]. Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ↑ "Joker Game Spy Mystery Anime Will Have 12 Episodes". Anime News Network. March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
- ↑ "Joker Game Anime Reveals Key Visual, Additional Staff, April Premiere". Anime News Network. December 10, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Blu-ray BOX 上巻" (in Japanese). Joke Gamer anime official website. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Joker Game Anime Blu-rays to Include Original Animation". Anime News Network. April 5, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ↑ "Crunchyroll, Funimation Announce Partnership to Share Content Via Streaming, Home Video, Est.". Anime News Network. September 8, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
- ↑ "柳広司の小説「ジョーカー・ゲーム」、「攻殻機動隊」のProduction I.Gがアニメ化!" (in Japanese). Eiga.com. August 14, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ↑ "Shinkai's 'your name.,' Kabaneri Win Top Newtype Anime Awards". Anime News Network. October 9, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
External links
- Joker Game official film website (in Japanese)
- Joker Game at Kadokawa (in Japanese)
- Joker Game official anime website (in Japanese)
- Official manga website at Monthly Comic Garden (in Japanese)
- Joker Game on IMDb