| Human Crossing | |
 First edition ofHuman Crossing, published by Shogakukan on October 1, 1981 | |
| 人間交差点 (Hyūman Sukuranburu) | |
|---|---|
| Manga | |
| Written by | Masao Yajima |
| Illustrated by | Kenshi Hirokane |
| Published by | Shogakukan |
| Magazine | Big Comic Original |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | July 5, 1980 –December 20, 1991[1] |
| Volumes | 27(List of volumes) |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Issei Kume |
| Studio | A.C.G.T |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | TV Tokyo |
| English network | |
| Original run | April 5, 2003 – June 28, 2003 |
| Episodes | 13 |
Human Crossing, originally titledHuman Scramble (Japanese:人間交差点,Hepburn:Hyūman Sukuranburu), is a Japanesemanga written byMasao Yajima and illustrated byKenshi Hirokane. The manga is about a series of unrelated stories of people's life and their lessons in life.Human Crossing received the 1985Shogakukan Manga Award for the General category.[2]
Shogakukan publishedHuman Crossing in 27tankōbon between October 1, 1981 and March 1, 1991.[3][4] The series was republished into 19bunkoban between November 17, 1994 and June 15, 1996.[5][6]
The series was adapted into a 13-episodeanime in 2003 byA.C.G.T and produced byOB Planning.[7] Directed by Issei Kume, it was broadcast onTV Tokyo between April 5, 2003 and June 28, 2003.[8] It was licensed byGeneon in 2004.[9] Each episode is a separate story of little relevance to each other. The anime is released in France by Kaze,[10] and in Taiwan byMuse Communication.[11]
The anime uses two pieces oftheme song. "REVENGE ~Asu e no Chigai~" byNana Katase is the opening theme, while "Believing" byAki Asahina is the ending theme.
Geneon released a set of four DVDs forHuman Crossing. They released the first DVD,Human Crossing - The 25th Hour on February 8, 2005,[12] the second DVD,Human Crossing, Vol. 2: The Cicadas of Winter on April 26, 2005,[13] the third DVD,Human Crossing, Vol. 3: Message in White on June 28, 2005,[14] and the fourth and final DVD,Human Crossing, Vol. 4: Instructor's Rain on August 30, 2005.[15] On March 13, 2007,Geneon releasedHuman Crossing: Complete Brick Pack, which contains all four DVDs of the anime.[16]
Maiden Japan has now licensed the anime series.[17]
| # | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | "The Wound" Transliteration: "Kizu" (Japanese:傷) | April 5, 2003 (2003-4-5) |
| 02 | "The 25th Hour" Transliteration: "Hatsuyuki Ni Jū Go Ji" (Japanese:初雪25時) | April 12, 2003 (2003-4-12) |
| 03 | "A Promise" Transliteration: "Yakusoku" (Japanese:約束) | April 19, 2003 (2003-4-19) |
| 04 | "Direction" Transliteration: "Yukue" (Japanese:行方) | April 26, 2003 (2003-4-26) |
| 05 | "The Cicadas of Winter" Transliteration: "Fuyu no Semi" (Japanese:冬の蝉) | May 3, 2003 (2003-5-3) |
| 06 | "The Beautiful Afterimage" Transliteration: "Sougon Na Zanzō" (Japanese:荘厳な残像) | May 10, 2003 (2003-5-10) |
| 07 | "Sidelined" Transliteration: "Sasen" (Japanese:左遷) | May 17, 2003 (2003-5-17) |
| 08 | "Message in White" Transliteration: "Shiroi Henji (Messeeji)" (Japanese:白い返事 (メッセージ)) | May 24, 2003 (2003-5-24) |
| 09 | "Smile" Transliteration: "Bishō" (Japanese:微笑) | May 31, 2003 (2003-5-31) |
| 10 | "Street" Transliteration: "Machi" (Japanese:街) | June 7, 2003 (2003-6-7) |
| 11 | "Whisper" Transliteration: "Sasayaki" (Japanese:ささやき) | June 14, 2003 (2003-6-14) |
| 12 | "Instructor's Rain" Transliteration: "Kyōkan no Ame" (Japanese:教官の雨) | June 21, 2003 (2003-6-21) |
| 13 | "Watershed" Transliteration: "Bunsuirei" (Japanese:分水嶺) | June 28, 2003 (2003-6-28) |
Avex trax released a soundtrack CD onHuman Crossing anime's ending theme called,Human Scramble - Believing, on June 4, 2003. The CD usesBobby Caldwell,Marsga Randcliffe andDebra Shane lyrics. It was sung byAki Asahina.[18] On July 16, 2003,Hiboom released a soundtrack CD forHuman Scramble, containing the opening and ending themes of the anime.[19] On January 7, 2005,Universal Music released a CD forHuman Scramble, which was sung byShinji Tanimura.[20] On March 11, 2009,Universal Music created a SHM-CD version ofShinji Tanimura's 10-part album, which includes "Ningen Kosaten - Human Scramble".[21]
Anime News Network's Theron Martin criticizes “The 25th Hour” episode, "which comes off as preachy, improbable, and forced" but he also commends the “Direction" episode for its "poignancy and emotional appeal" at the end.[22]Anime News Network's Carlo Santos criticizes the second DVD ofHuman Crossing because of its animation, labeling it "stiff" and "choppy".[23] Mania.com's Jennifer Rocks comments on the "stand-alone" nature of each episode more saying that it might be more rewarding if the anime is "viewed as a cultural study, rather than as pure entertainment".[24]DVD Talk's Don Houston commends the anime on its "background detail" and writes that many of the episodes have a "universal appeal".[25]