Blue Seed | |
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Genre | |
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Manga | |
Written by | Yuzo Takada |
Published by | Takeshobo |
Imprint | Bamboo Comics |
Magazine | Comic Ganma |
Demographic | Shōnen |
Original run | March 1992 –June 1996 |
Volumes | 2 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Jun Kamiya |
Produced by |
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Written by | Naruhisa Arakawa |
Music by | Kenji Kawai |
Studio | |
Licensed by |
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Original network | TV Tokyo |
English network | |
Original run | October 5, 1994 – March 29, 1995 |
Episodes | 26(List of episodes) |
Video game | |
Blue Seed: The Secret Records of Kushinada | |
Developer | Sega |
Publisher | Sega |
Platform | Sega Saturn |
Released | June 23, 1995 |
Original video animation | |
Blue Seed 2 | |
Directed by |
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Produced by |
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Written by | Naruhisa Arakawa |
Music by | Kenji Kawai |
Studio |
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Licensed by |
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Released | July 24, 1996 – February 4, 1998 |
Runtime | 30 minutes per episode |
Episodes | 3(List of episodes) |
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Blue Seed (stylized asBLUE SEED) is a Japanesemanga series written and illustrated byYuzo Takada. The plot is based on the Izumo cycle ofJapanese mythology.[not verified in body] The main character, Momiji Fujimiya, is a descendant of the mythical Princess Kushinada (奇稲田姫,Kushinada-hime). When Japan is menaced byAragami (荒神,Aragami, lit. "angry gods") spawned byYamata no Orochi, Momiji is intended to be sacrificed to appease the Aragami. She instead, however, becomes a member of the Terrestrial Administration Center (TAC), a secret agency charged with fighting them.
Ashi Productions andProduction I.G. created ananime adaptation for broadcast on Japan'sTV Tokyo. The anime series ran for 26 episodes, originally airing from October 5, 1994, to March 29, 1995.[2] Anoriginal video animation (OVA),Blue Seed 2, was released in three episodes between 1996 and 1998. Both the anime and OVA (under the nameBlue Seed Beyond) were licensed byADV Films in the United States until 2009, when the company shut down. They were later licensed byDiscotek Media for a SDBD release on December 18, 2018.
In 1992, Momiji Fujimiya is a middle school student living with her mother and grandmother in the city ofIzumo, Shimane. One day, she is confronted on her way to school by a cat-eyed man with bluemagatama beads embedded in his hands, who then attempts to kill her. Momiji is confused and terrified by this strange man's sudden desire to kill her; he also refers to her asKushinada, confusing her even further. Momiji is saved by the sudden appearance of two government officials, one of whom shoots the man in the arm and sends him fleeing.
Momiji is intrigued as to why she was referred to as the Kushinada. She discovers that the Kushinada refers to an ancient princess whose blood holds the power to stop the ancient monsters known as Aragami by sending them to an eternal sleep. Momiji dismisses the idea that she could be such a person, but reconsiders after vines begin to appear from every crack and opening attempting to capture her.
Momiji tries to escape, not knowing that the vines are being employed by a powerful Aragami known as theYamata no Orochi. She is saved by the man with the magatamas embedded into his hands, who introduces himself as Mamoru Kusanagi. He confronts Orochi using Momiji as bait. The plan fails and the government officials appear again. They reveal themselves to be members of the Terrestrial Administration Center (TAC for short), and subdue Orochi. However, with the last of its strength, it makes a final attempt on Kusanagi.
Momiji saves Kusanagi by taking Orochi's blow. Impaled by the Aragami, instead of dying, she is instead fused with the magatama, more specifically identified as amitama, which gives Momiji the ability to sense the presence of other Aragami. The TAC agents explain that they are an organization dedicated to defeating the Aragami, who seek to destroy humanity. The current Kushinada, Momiji, must aid them because the other Kushinada, Momiji's twin sister Kaede Kunikida, is now dead. Momiji, wishing to discover more about the twin sister she never knew and also to fulfill her destiny, agrees to join the TAC under the protection of Kusanagi, who wishes to destroy his former masters, the Aragami.
The story becomes increasingly complex with the appearance of Murakumo, a man with eight mitamas who kills any Aragami he comes across for his own personal reasons. Kusanagi repeatedly attempts to kill Murakumo. Kaede reappears along with a strange energy field in Tokyo, and Murakumo and Kaede's plans soon become clear – they intend to resurrect the godSusanoo and purify the world of humanity's influences, with Kaede acting as the leader of the movement.
There is also a three episode OVA,Blue Seed Beyond, which takes place two years after the end of the TV series. It concerns what seems to be a resurgence of aragami (actually created via biotechnology), and introduces a new character, Valencia Tachibana. Like Kusanagi, she was implanted with a mitama without turning into a full aragami.
The manga's complete title is Aokushimitama Blue Seed (碧奇魂ブルーシード). Originally serialized byTakeshobo inComic Ganma between March 1992 and June 1996, its 17 chapters were also collected into two Japanese Tankōbon volumes.
No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN | ||
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1 | March 28, 1994[3] | 4-88-475705-X | ||
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2 | December 16, 1995[4] | 4-81-245004-7 | ||
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No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | English air date |
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1 | "Princess Kushinada" Transliteration: "Kushinada-hime" (Japanese:奇稲田姫) | Jun Kamiya | Masaharu Amiya | October 5, 1994 (1994-10-5) | November 6, 1999 |
2 | "It's Mysterious! It's Cruel! It's My Destiny!!" Transliteration: "Nazo desu! Koku desu! Watashi no Unmei!!" (Japanese:謎です! 酷です! 私の運命!!) | Jun Kamiya | Masaharu Amiya Naruhisa Arakawa | October 12, 1994 (1994-10-12) | November 6, 1999 |
3 | "It's Spring! It's the Capital! I Gotta Do My Best!!" Transliteration: "Haru desu! Shuto desu! Ganbaranakucha!!" (Japanese:春です! 首都です! 頑張らなくちゃ!!) | Takao Kato | Naruhisa Arakawa | October 19, 1994 (1994-10-19) | November 13, 1999 |
4 | "Why? I Hate This! Why Am I So Unlucky?!" Transliteration: "Dōshite? Saiaku! Watashi wa Daikyō?!" (Japanese:どーして? サイアク! 私は大凶?!) | Hideaki Hisashi | Naruhisa Arakawa | October 26, 1994 (1994-10-26) | November 13, 1999 |
5 | "Surprise! The Pine Tree! The Scientific Mother!!" Transliteration: "Odoroki! Matsu no Ki! Kagaku na Mama desu!!" (Japanese:オドロキ! 松の木! 科学なママです!!) | Kiyoshi Murayama | Aoba Fujimiya | November 2, 1994 (1994-11-2) | November 20, 1999 |
6 | "Complicated and Hard to Understand! Isn't It Tough Being a Man?!" Transliteration: "Fukuzatsu! Nankai! Otoko wa Tsurai ne?!" (Japanese:フクザツ! 難解! 男はつらいね?!) | Daisuke Chiba | Yoshimasa Takahashi | November 9, 1994 (1994-11-9) | November 20, 1999 |
7 | "I'm Fired Up! I'll Do It! Because I'm Kushinada!!" Transliteration: "Moemasu! Yarimasu! Kushinada da mon!!" (Japanese:燃えます! やります! 奇稲田だもん!!) | Takao Kato | Naruhisa Arakawa | November 16, 1994 (1994-11-16) | November 27, 1999 |
8 | "What!? How Strange, A Rival Appears?!" Transliteration: "Nan nano! Henna no Raibaru Tōjō?!" (Japanese:何なの! 変なの ライバル登場?!) | Kiyoshi Murayama | Naruhisa Arakawa | November 23, 1994 (1994-11-23) | November 27, 1999 |
9 | "Are You Serious?! Is This a Dream?! An Exciting Date!!" Transliteration: "Maji nano?! Yume nano?! Dokidoki Dēto" (Japanese:マジなの?! 夢なの?! ドキドキデート!!) | Shinya Sadamitsu | Masaharu Amiya | November 30, 1994 (1994-11-30) | December 4, 1999 |
10 | "Innocence! Love! My First Kiss?!" Transliteration: "Jun desu! Ai desu! Fāsutokissu?!" (Japanese:純です! 愛です! ファーストキッス?!) | Hideaki Hisashi | Kenichi Araki | December 7, 1994 (1994-12-7) | December 4, 1999 |
11 | "Anxious! Jealous?! Unbelievable!!" Transliteration: "Yakimoki! Yakimochi?! Anbirībabō!!" (Japanese:ヤキモキ! ヤキモチ?! アンビリーバボー!!) | Takao Kato | Yoshimasa Takahashi | December 14, 1994 (1994-12-14) | December 11, 1999 |
12 | "Can You Feel It?! I Can't Ignore It! An Ominous Premonition of Catastrophe!!" Transliteration: "Kanjiru?! Kininaru! Hakyoku no Yokan!!" (Japanese:感じる?! 気になる! 破局の予感!!) | Shinya Sadamitsu | Ryōe Tsukimura | December 21, 1994 (1994-12-21) | December 11, 1999 |
13 | "I Love You! This is so Extreme! It's Time to Confess?!" Transliteration: "Suki desu! Kyūkyoku! Kokuhaku Taimu?!" (Japanese:好きです! 究極! 告白タイム?!) | Kiyoshi Murayama | Yuzo Takada | December 28, 1994 (1994-12-28) | December 18, 1999 |
14 | "A Chase Down Yamato Highway! Love Under Fire!!" Transliteration: "Oimasu! Yamato-ji! Koi no Midareuchi!!" (Japanese:追います! 大和路! 恋の乱れ撃ち!!) | Takao Kato | Naruhisa Arakawa | January 4, 1995 (1995-1-4) | December 18, 1999 |
15 | "Lost & Trembling on a Trip to Michinoku" Transliteration: "Tomadoi Yurameki Michinoku Kikō" (Japanese:戸惑い ゆらめき みちのく紀行) | Kenji Takemura | Yoshimasa Takahashi | January 11, 1995 (1995-1-11) | December 25, 1999 |
16 | "Japan is a Paradise, Tears in Wakasa" Transliteration: "Yamato yo Mahoroba Nageki no Wakasa" (Japanese:日本よ まほろば 嘆きの若狭) | Shinya Sadamitsu | Kenichi Araki | January 18, 1995 (1995-1-18) | December 25, 1999 |
17 | "Let it Bloom! Japan! A Blizzard of One-sided Love!!" Transliteration: "Sakasete! Nihon! Katakoi Fubuki! !" (Japanese:咲かせて! 日本! 片恋吹雪!!) | Takao Kato | Naruhisa Arakawa | January 25, 1995 (1995-1-25) | January 1, 2000 |
18 | "Jesus!! Goddamn!! Cherry Blossoms are Unripe!?" Transliteration: "Jīzasu!! Gaddemu!! Sakura wa Mijuku?!" (Japanese:ジーザス!! ガッデム!! 桜は未熟?!) | Hideaki Hisashi | Yuzo Takada | February 1, 1995 (1995-2-1) | January 1, 2000 |
19 | "Heat Haze, Setting Off! Love is Inseparable!" Transliteration: "Kagerō Tabidachi Ai, hanarenai!" (Japanese:陽炎 旅立ち 愛、離れない!) | Kenji Takemura | Ryōe Tsukimura | February 8, 1995 (1995-2-8) | January 8, 2000 |
20 | "I'm Home! Birthplace! The Prologue of Hope!!" Transliteration: "Tadaima! Furusato! Kibō no Joshō!!" (Japanese:ただいま!出雲! 希望の序章!!) | Shinya Sadamitsu | Masaharu Amiya Naruhisa Arakawa | February 15, 1995 (1995-2-15) | January 8, 2000 |
21 | "Goodbye? No Way! A Tearful Farewell?!" Transliteration: "Sayonara? Iya desu! Namida no Wakare?!" (Japanese:さよなら? いやです! 涙のわかれ?!) | Hideaki Hisashi | Masaharu Amiya | February 22, 1995 (1995-2-22) | January 15, 2000 |
22 | "Sadness, Fate, Kushinada Momiji" Transliteration: "Kanashimi Unmei Kushinada Momiji" (Japanese:悲しみ 運命 奇稲田紅葉) | Kenji Takemura | Naruhisa Arakawa | March 1, 1995 (1995-3-1) | January 15, 2000 |
23 | "Meeting Again, Starting the Journey, I Won't Give Up!" Transliteration: "Saikai Tabidachi Watashi Makenai!" (Japanese:再会出発 私負けないっ!) | Shinya Sadamitsu | Naruhisa Arakawa | March 8, 1995 (1995-3-8) | January 22, 2000 |
24 | "The Setting Sun, The Coming Day, A Private Time for Each" Transliteration: "Shizumu Hi Semaru Hi Sorezore no Toki" (Japanese:沈む陽 迫る日 それぞれの時) | Takao Kato | Naruhisa Arakawa | March 15, 1995 (1995-3-15) | January 22, 2000 |
25 | "All or Nothing! Deciding My Fate!" Transliteration: "Kakemasu! Kimemasu! Watashi no Unmei!!" (Japanese:賭けます! 決めます! 私の運命!!) | Shinya Sadamitsu | Naruhisa Arakawa | March 22, 1995 (1995-3-22) | January 29, 2000 |
26 | "New Soul" Transliteration: "Aratama" (Japanese:新魂) | Jun Kamiya | Naruhisa Arakawa | March 29, 1995 (1995-3-29) | January 29, 2000 |
No. | Title | Written by | Original release date |
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1 | "Mission: Eradicate Kushinada, Operation MITAMA PHASE 1" Transliteration: "Kushinada Fūmetsu Sakusen Operation MITAMA PHASE 1" (Japanese:奇稲田封滅作戦 Operation MITAMA PHASE 1) | Naruhisa Arakawa | July 24, 1996 (1996-7-24) |
2 | "Mission: Eradicate Kushinada, Operation MITAMA PHASE 2" Transliteration: "Kushinada Fūmetsu Sakusen Operation MITAMA PHASE 2" (Japanese:奇稲田封滅作戦 Operation MITAMA PHASE 2) | Naruhisa Arakawa | August 21, 1996 (1996-8-21) |
3 | "Six Babes on a Trip, Big Explosion in a Secret Hotspring" Transliteration: "Bijin OL Rokunin Tabi Hitō Daibakuha" (Japanese:美人OL6人旅 秘湯大爆破) | Kiyoshi Murayama | February 4, 1998 (1998-2-4) |
Arole-playing video game entitledBlue Seed: The Secret Records of Kushinada (ブルーシード 奇稲田秘録伝,Burūshīdo Kushinada Hirokuden) was released bySega for theSega Saturn on June 23, 1995. It follows anadventure format, and utilizes a card-based battle system. The game's story is not an adaption of either the manga or the TV series, but a set of original episodes set in the samecontinuity as the TV series. The main cast of the TV series reprised their roles for the battle sequences and introductory cutscene.
The game was one of 12 Sega Saturn games announced when the system was first unveiled at the 1994 Tokyo Toy Show.[6]
On release,Famicom Tsūshin scored the game a 28 out of 40.[7]
Preceded by Tottemo! Luckyman (April 6, 1994 – September 28, 1994) | TV Tokyo Wednesday 18:00 timeslot Blue Seed (October 5, 1994 – March 29, 1995) | Succeeded by Legend of the Angel of Love: Wedding Peach (April 5, 1995 – March 27, 1996) |