Mob Psycho 100 (Japanese:モブサイコ100,Hepburn:Mobu Saiko Hyaku) is a Japanesewebmanga series written and illustrated byOne. It was serialized onShogakukan'sUra Sunday website from April 2012 to December 2017. It has been also available online on Shogakukan's mobile appMangaONE since December 2014. Shogakukan compiled its chapters in 16tankōbon volumes. The story followsShigeo Kageyama, nicknamed Mob, a boy who has strongpsychic powers, and his struggles to find the simple happiness he is looking for.
Ananime television series adaptation was produced byBones. The first season aired between July and September 2016, followed by a second season from January to April 2019, and a third and final season from October to December 2022. Alive-action series adaptation aired from January to April 2018. A spin-off manga series, titledReigen, was serialized in ShogakukanMangaONE app in 2018. In North America,Dark Horse Comics licensed the manga for English publication in 2018. Meanwhile,Crunchyroll licensed the anime series for streaming, with an Englishdub produced byBang Zoom! Entertainment in December 2016, and broadcast onAdult Swim'sToonami block in October 2018.
By December 2022, the manga had over 2.8 million copies in circulation. In 2017,Mob Psycho 100 won the 62ndShogakukan Manga Award in theshōnen category. The anime adaptation has been considered one of the best anime series of the 2010s.
Shigeo Kageyama is an average middle school-aged boy, nicknamed Mob.[c] Although he looks like an inconspicuous person, he is in fact a powerfulesper with immensepsychic power. To keep from losing control of this power, he consistently represses his emotions, and as a result has trouble expressing himself. In order to help learn how to control his abilities, Mob works as an assistant to well-meaning con-man Arataka Reigen, a self-proclaimed spiritmedium. Mob wants to live a normal life just like those around him, but a barrage of trouble keeps coming after him. With his suppressed emotions growing inside Mob little by little, his power threatens to break through its limits as he deals with supernatural threats, such as ghosts and other espers.
Written and illustrated byOne,Mob Psycho 100 began inShogakukan'sUra Sunday webcomic magazine on April 18, 2012.[2] It has been also available on Shogakukan's mobile appMangaONE since December 2014.[3] The series finished on December 22, 2017.[4][5] Shogakukan collected its chapters in 16tankōbon volumes, released from November 16, 2012, to July 19, 2018.[6][7]
Dark Horse Comics announced on April 23, 2018, that it had licensed the series for English serialization in North America, the first volume of which was released on October 24, 2018.[8]
A spin-off manga series titledReigen was serialized online inUra Sunday website and in theMangaONE mobile app starting on March 19, 2018.[9] Shogakukan released a compiled volume on February 19, 2019.[10][11] In March 2020, Dark Horse Comics announced the acquisition of the manga for English-language release.[12] The volume was published on December 2, 2020.[13]
On December 2, 2015,Ura Sunday announced thatMob Psycho 100 would be adapted into an anime television series.[44] The anime adaptation was produced byBones and directed byYuzuru Tachikawa.Hiroshi Seko wrote the scripts,Yoshimichi Kameda [ja] designed the characters, andKenji Kawai composed the music.[45] The series aired between July 12 and September 27, 2016, onTokyo MX, later airing onytv,BS Fuji andTV Asahi Channel 1. The opening theme song, "99", is performed by Mob Choir while the ending theme song, titled "Refrain Boy" (リフレインボーイ,Rifurein Bōi), is performed by All Off.[46]
Mob Psycho 100 was simulcast on Crunchyroll, whileFunimation broadcast the show's simuldub.[47][48] The Englishdub was produced byBang Zoom! Entertainment.[49] The series was simulcast onAnimax Asia in Southeast Asia.[50] The Bang Zoom!-produced dub has been released on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack with a limited edition on December 5, 2017, and the first season was broadcast onAdult Swim'sToonami programming block beginning on October 27, 2018.[51] According to Jason DeMarco, Adult Swim executive producer, legal issues arose with the licensing of the second season at the time, as the Japanese version was licensed by Crunchyroll, and the English version was licensed by Funimation, and it prevented the second season from the airing on the block. At the time of the legal incident, both companies were not owned by a single conglomerate company.[52] The third season would also not air on the block, mainly due in part to Crunchyroll's "unwillingness" to work with Adult Swim on syndication deals for most of their licensed catalog.[53] The series was also streamed onHBO Max in the United States until August 3, 2022.[54][55]Madman Entertainment imported Funimation's release in Australia and New Zealand,[56] andManga Entertainment distributed the series in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[57]Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia.[58]
Following a screening of three Bones films, attendees reported that Bones teased that progress was being made on a furtherMob Psycho 100 anime project.[59] In October 2017, an event anime titledMob Psycho 100 Reigen (The Miraculous Unknown Psychic) (モブサイコ100 REIGEN ～知られざる奇跡の霊能力者～,Mob Psycho 100 Reigen ~Shirarezaru Kiseki Reinōryokusha~) was revealed.[60] It is a 60-minute compilation of the anime series and features new scenes focused on Arataka Reigen. The event anime was screened twice at the Maihama Amphitheater inChiba on March 18, 2018, and was later released on home video.[61] At the end of the event, the second season of the anime series was announced, with the staff and voice cast returning to reprise their roles.[62]Mob Psycho 100 II aired from January 7 to April 1, 2019, with the series being simulcast onCrunchyroll.[63] On April 18, 2019, Funimation and Crunchyroll confirmed that season two would simuldub on April 25.[64] The opening theme for the second season is "99.9" by Mob Choir feat.Sajou no Hana.[65] Four ending themes performed by Sajou no Hana; "Gray" (グレイ,Gurei), "Memosepia" (メモセピア), "Mabuta no Ura" (目蓋の裏;lit. "Under the Eyelids") and "Ikiru Hitobito" (いきるひとびと;lit. "Living People"), were used for the second season.[66][67][68]
Following the conclusion of the second season, anotherOVA was announced, with Yuzuru Tachikawa reprising his role as director.[69] The OVA, titledMob Psycho 100: The Spirits and Such Consultation Office's First Company Outing (A Healing Trip that Warms the Heart) (モブサイコ100 第一回霊とか相談所慰安旅行~ココロ満たす癒やしの旅~,Mob Psycho 100 Dai Ikkai Rei to ka Sōdansho Ianryokō ~Kokoro Mitasu Iyashi no Tabi~) was released on September 25, 2019.[70] The second OVA episode premiered worldwide at Crunchyroll Expo 2019 on September 1, 2019. Simulcast streaming of the OVA episode on Crunchyroll began worldwide (except Asia) on September 25, 2019.[71]
On October 19, 2021, it was announced that a third season was in production. Takahiro Hasui directed the season, with Yuzuru Tachikawa serving as chief director. The main cast and staff reprised their roles.[72]Mob Psycho 100 III aired from October 6 to December 22, 2022.[73][74] The opening theme is "1", and the ending theme is "Cobalt", both performed by Mob Choir.[75]
The third season's simuldub was slated to be produced by Crunchyroll rather than Bang Zoom! with some roles recast, due to the choice to move dub production to in-person recording sessions at their Dallas based studio, rather than remote recordings, after largely relying on the latter at the start of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[76] Among the planned recastings was the voice of Mob,Kyle McCarley, who stated that he would likely not be reprising the role as Crunchyroll had refused to negotiate a potential union contract for future anime dubbing productions with McCarley's unionSAG-AFTRA. McCarley had offered to work non-union on season 3 under the condition that Crunchyroll discuss with SAG-AFTRA, but as this did not proceed, McCarley did not return.[77][78][79] This news prompted much criticism of Crunchyroll on social media.[80]
A stage play adaptation of the manga was announced in October 2017. It ran in Tokyo from January 6–14, 2018 at The Galaxy Theatre.[85] The play is directed and written by Keita Kawajiri, whileSetsuo Itō reprised his role as Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama from the anime. The other cast includesRyōma Baba as Arataka Reigen, Takeshi Nadagi as Dimple, Takuya Kawaharada as Teruki Hanazawa, andGaku Matsumoto as Ritsu Kageyama.[86]
A second stage play adaptation was announced in June 2018, with the cast and staff returning to reprise their roles. It ran in Tokyo from September 13–17 at The Galaxy Theatre, and in Hyōgo from September 20–23, 2018 at Shinkobe Oriental Theater.[87] Shoichiro Oomi andKentarou Kanesaki replacing Yūya Kido andNaoya Gomoto as Tenga Onigawara and Musashi Gōda respectively, while Seiichirō Nagata joined the cast as Shō.[88]
A third stage play adaptation, titledMob Psycho 100 (Crash! Tsume's 7th Branch) (モブサイコ100 〜激突！ 爪 台ー７ 支部〜,Mob Psycho 100 ~Gekitotsu! Tsume Dai-7 Shibu~), ran in Tokyo's Hulic Hall from August 6–15, 2021, with the cast and staff reprise their roles from the previous stage plays.[89]
A drama CD, titled "Psychic Human Show", was released on January 25, 2017. This CD includes 15 tracks written by creatorOne and directorYuzuru Tachikawa. It includes humorous skits, character songs, and talking songs. The jacket illustration was drawn by the anime series character designer and animatorYoshimichi Kameda [ja].[90][91]
A fanbook was published on November 17, 2022. It includes detailed information about the series, its characters, story and setting. It also features illustrations by various manga artists, includingHiromu Arakawa, Kotoyama,Takako Shimura, Nagano,Ryōji Minagawa and Itaru Bonnoki.[92][93]
By July 2016,Mob Psycho 100 had over 1.2 million copies in circulation.[94] By December 2022, the manga had over 2.8 million copies in circulation.[95]
Ian Wolf fromAnime UK News praised the first two volumes of the series, giving them 8 out of 10, and stated "One's art is notable for a few reasons. The art is designed to be humorous rather than stylish. Part of the comedy value in One's work is the rough styling that adds to the scenarios he creates. In this second volume ofMob Psycho 100, it is the action which is the main focus. There is some comedy thrown into the mix as well, but mainly this time it is about the battle between the two psychics and their different philosophies. It is also interesting to witness this fight because it is one in which one of the participants is trying their hardest not to fight, while the other is giving it all they've got. Having said this, there is still some comedy added to the heat of the battle, the main highlight being when Teru tries to use knives to beat Mob, but Mob deflects one of the knives away, accidentally cutting off a massive chunk of Teru's hair. It is at times like this where One's art style can sometimes fall down. His rough artwork does lead neatly to the chaotic scenes he is trying to depict at the height of the fight but when it comes to the more dramatic moments, the rough style lacks pathos. Here, the anime has the edge when it depicts the fight because other elements such as the music or the use of colour can add to the tension".[99][100]
In theCrunchyroll's inaugural Anime Awards, the first season of the anime series received two awards:Best Action and Best Fight Scene (Shigeo vs. Koyama). It was also nominated in six other categories, including "Anime of the Year".[101] At the4th Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2020, the second season of the anime also won two awards:Best Animation andBest Opening Sequence for "99.9" by Mob Choir feat. Sajou no Hana. It was also nominated in five other categories, including "Anime of the Year".[102][103]Mob Psycho 100 was one of the Jury Recommended Works in the Animation Division at the 20thJapan Media Arts Festival in 2017.[104] In November 2019,Polygon namedMob Psycho 100 as one of the best anime of the 2010s,[105] andCrunchyroll listed it in their "Top 25 best anime of the 2010s".[106]IGN also listedMob Psycho 100 among the best anime series of the 2010s.[107]
OnTumblr's 2019 Year in Review, which highlights the largest communities, fandoms, and trends on the platform throughout the year,Mob Psycho 100 ranked second behindMy Hero Academia on the Top Anime & Manga Shows while Arataka Reigen was fifth on the Top Anime & Manga Characters category.[108] In September 2020, the series went viral after American businessmanEric Trump, son ofPresidentDonald Trump, published atweet connecting the series to allegations ofcensorship by Google, due toGoogle Search results for "mob" showing Mob's face rather thana group of people.[109][110]
Anime News Network listed the first season ofMob Psycho 100 among the best anime series of 2016. Nick Creamer praised the series' visual style, character story and its concepts of heroism and society also presented in ONE's other workOne-Punch Man. Lauren Orsini commended thecoming-of-age story of Mob and praised the series' animation and music.[111] James Beckett ofAnime News Network gave the second season an A+, and describes the series as "I don't know how else to put it:Mob Psycho 100 II is about as close to perfect a season of television as I can imagine. I am willing to bet that the series will go down as one of the best seasons of anime ever produced, and you owe it to yourself to experience it first-hand. A modern masterpiece of animation that needs to be seen to be believed".[112]
Steve Jones complimented the anime's final episode and said: "While it hurts to say goodbye, it's fitting forMob Psycho 100 to take a bow with some final flexes of its two strongest muscles: a parting exaltation of simple kindness, and a brilliantly animated display of Reigen getting the everloving crap kicked out of him. There aren't many surprises in this finale (maybe one big one, depending on how gullible you are), but I like that. This feels like the series going out on its own terms, in an adaptation that has maintained its trailblazing spirit and quality for over six years. This is the farewell Mob deserves."[113] Kirsten Carey ofThe Mary Sue deemed the series' ending as "emotional", describing that its last arc added an important new message which made her crying, and it's one that had been building quietly throughout the series.[114]
^Mob (モブ,Mobu;wasei eigo for "background character") for lacking a sense of presence. Furthermore, the characters of his first name (茂夫), when read with Chinese-derivedon'yomi instead of the standardkun'yomi, is "Mobu".
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