Mysterious Joker | |
![]() Cover of the first volume of Mysterious Joker | |
怪盗ジョーカー (Kaitō Jōkā) | |
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Manga | |
Written by | Hideyasu Takahashi |
Published by | Shogakukan |
Imprint | Tentōmushi CoroCoro Comics |
Magazine |
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Demographic | Children |
Original run | April 2007 – September 2019 |
Volumes | 27 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Yukiyo Teramoto |
Written by | Dai Satō |
Music by | Yūsaku Tsuchiya |
Studio | Shin-Ei Animation |
Original network | Tokyo MX, Kids Station |
English network | |
Original run | October 6, 2014 – December 26, 2016 |
Episodes | 52 |
Manga | |
Mysterious Joker Encore | |
Written by | Hideyasu Takahashi |
Published by | Shogakukan |
Magazine | Weekly CoroCoro Comic |
Demographic | Children |
Original run | April 15, 2024 – present |
Video game | |
Kaitō Joker: Toki o Koeru Kaitō to Ushinawareta Hōseki | |
Developer | Bandai Namco Games |
Publisher | Bandai Namco Games |
Genre | Action |
Platform | Nintendo 3DS |
Released |
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Mysterious Joker (Japanese: 怪盗ジョーカー, Hepburn: Kaitō Jōkā) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hideyasu Takahashi. The series was originally published as a one-shot, then later began serialization in Shogakukan's Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic Special, CoroCoro Comic, and CoroCoro Dragon manga magazines. An anime adaptation produced by Asatsu DK and animated by Shin-Ei Animation aired in Japan from October 6, 2014 to December 26, 2016. The series follows the adventures of a thief named Joker, who goes around the world stealing treasures with his apprentice Hachi, while avoiding traps set by the police.
Written and illustrated by Hideyasu Takahashi, the Mysterious Joker manga began as a one-shot. It was later serialized in Shogakukan's Bessatsu Corocoro Comic Special, then moved to Corocoro Comic. The chapters were collected into 26 tankōbon volumes, which were released under Shogakukan's Tentōmushi Corocoro Comics imprint in Japan, from March 28, 2008, to September 15, 2017.[2][3] There is also a sequel series set in the future after the events of the original series, centered on Joker's son Kaitou J: Kaitou Shounen Jokers (怪盗少年ジョーカーズ).
A spin-off manga titled Mysterious Joker Encore began serialization on the Weekly Corocoro Comic website on April 15, 2024.[4]
Main article: List of Mysterious Joker episodes |
An anime adaptation produced by Asatsu DK, animated by Shin-Ei Animation, written by Dai Satō, and directed by Yukiyo Teramoto aired in Japan on Tokyo MX from October 6, 2014, to January 5, 2015. The series has also aired on Kids Station since October 16, 2014. The series was simulcasted by Crunchyroll under the title Joker.[5] The series' opening theme is "Kaitō Miracle Shōnen Boy" (怪盗ミラクル少年ボーイ Phantom Thief Miracle Young Boy) by Aruka Rider, and the ending theme is "Parade Illusion" (パレード・イリュージョン) by Mainya, with the Shuffle Sisters. The music in the series is composed by Yūsaku Tsuchiya. The February 2015 issue of Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic announced that the series has been green-lit for a second season, which would premiere in April 2015.[6] The second 2015 issue of CoroCoro announced that the second season would premiere on April 6, 2015.[7] A 3rd season aired in April 2016,[8] while the 4th TV season aired in October 2016.[9]
An official English dub of the series premiered on Disney XD Asia on August 6, 2016.[10] On February 24, 2021, Cinedigm announced they would stream the series on their CONtv service in North America.[11]
A Nintendo 3DS video game based on the series entitled Kaitō Joker: Toki o Koeru Kaitō to Ushinawareta Hōseki (怪盗ジョーカー 時を超える怪盗と失われた宝石 Mysterious Joker: The Phantom Thief Who Crosses Time & the Lost Gem) was developed by Bandai Namco Games and released on June 25, 2015, in Japan.[12]
The series was awarded the 58th Shogakukan Manga Award in the Children's Category.[13]
The series has received generally positive reviews, with praise for its art style, characters and unorthodox mix of light-hearted elements with dark undertones, but criticism of its pacing.[citation needed]