Needless | |
![]() Manga volume 1, featuring Eve Neuschwanstein (left) and Adam Blade | |
Genre | |
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Manga | |
Written by | Kami Imai |
Published by | Shueisha |
Magazine | Ultra Jump |
Demographic | Seinen |
Original run | October 18, 2003 – June 19, 2013 |
Volumes | 16 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Masayuki Sakoi |
Produced by |
|
Written by | Satoru Nishizono |
Music by |
|
Studio | Madhouse |
Licensed by | |
Original network | Tokyo MX, MBS, TV Saitama, tvk, THK |
English network | |
Original run | July 3, 2009 – December 11, 2009 |
Episodes | 24 |
Needless (stylized as NEEDLESS) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kami Imai. It was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Ultra Jump from October 2003 to June 2013, with its chapters collected in 16 tankōbon volumes. A 24-episode anime television series adaptation by Madhouse aired from July to December 2009. The anime was licensed for English release in North America by Sentai Filmworks.
This anime is set in the year 2130 (the beginning date remains unclear), 50 years after World War III. The war has left a crater where Tokyo once stood, a place now filled with contaminated rubble. This spot, known as "The Black Spot", has no electrical power (with the exception being the Simeon building) and is seen as a dark spherical patch from outer space and one of many Black Spots across Japan. The Black Spot eventually becomes populated by outcasts, some of whom, as a result of the contamination, gain various powers called "fragments". Those in possession of such fragments come to be known as "Needless".
Written and illustrated by Kami Imai, Needless was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Ultra Jump from October 18, 2003, to June 19, 2013.[3][4][5] Shueisha collected its chapters in sixteen tankōbon volumes, released from June 18, 2004, to September 19, 2013.[6][7] Additionally, a prequel, Needless Zero, was collected in two volumes, released on January 19, 2004, and June 19, 2009.[8][9]
See also: List of Needless episodes |
An anime television series adaptation of Needless was announced in March 2009.[10] The series was animated by Madhouse and directed by Masayuki Sakoi.[11] It was broadcast for twenty-four episodes on Tokyo MX, MBS, TV Saitama, TV Kanagawa and Tokai TV from July 3 to December 11, 2009.[12][11][a] The first opening theme is "Modern Strange Cowboy" by GRANRODEO and the first ending is "Aggressive Zone" by Needless★Girls (a group composed of the series' voice actresses, Aya Endo, Eri Kitamura, Emiri Katō, Saori Gotō and Yui Makino).[12][14] The second opening theme is "Scarlet Bomb!" by Aki Misato and the second ending theme is "WANTED! for the love" by Needless★Girls.[11] Gargoyle also contributed the insert songs "Shi ni Itaru Kizu" (死にいたる傷) and "Magma Kid" (マグマキッド, Maguma Kiddo).[11]
In North America, Section23 Films announced in November 2010 that Sentai Filmworks licensed the series and that it would be released on Blu-ray and DVD.[1] Two sets were released on February 15[15] and April 12, 2011, respectively.[16] The series was also streamed on the Anime Network and Hulu.[17][18] The anime was licensed Australia and New Zealand by Siren Visual[19] and in the United Kingdom by MVM Entertainment.[20]
The anime drew comparisons to the work of Hiroyuki Imaishi.[21][22]