Witchblade | |
ウィッチブレイド (Witchibureido) | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Created by | Top Cow Productions |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Yoshimitsu Ohashi |
Produced by |
|
Written by | Yasuko Kobayashi |
Music by | Masa Takumi |
Studio | Gonzo |
Licensed by | Crunchyroll |
Original network | JNN (CBC, TBS) |
English network | |
Original run | April 6, 2006 – September 21, 2006 |
Episodes | 24 |
Witchblade (Japanese: ウィッチブレイド, Hepburn: Uitchibureido) is a Japanese anime television series loosely based on the American comic book of the same name. It was directed by Yoshimitsu Ōhashi, with Yasuko Kobayashi handling series scripts, Makoto Uno designing the characters and Masa Takumi composing the music. The series was broadcast for 24 episodes on CBC and TBS from April to September 2006. A packaged version of the series in eight DVD volumes was released, followed by a DVD box version released in 2008.
The series sets up an entirely new storyline with all new characters, but in the same continuity as the original comic books.
The series follows Masane Amaha, a kindhearted, well-intentioned woman who is clumsy and awkward around the house. Having lost her memory during the Great Quake which ravaged Tokyo, Masane was found uninjured at the quake's ground zero with a baby in her arms. Six years later she returns to Tokyo with the child, whom she believes is her daughter, intending to live a peaceful life. Masane becomes entangled in a power struggle between a large corporation and a government agency, and discovers that a mysterious bracelet on her right wrist is the legendary Witchblade.
Produced by Gonzo and directed by Yoshimitsu Ohashi, Witchblade was broadcast from April 6 to September 21, 2006, on CBC and TBS.[10][11] From episodes 1–13 and 24, the first opening theme song is "XTC" by Psychic Lover. From episodes 14–23 the second opening theme is "Dear Bob", by Koologi. From episodes 1–12, the first ending theme is "Ashita no Te" (あしたの手) by Mamiko Noto. From episodes 13–23, the second ending theme is "Kutsuhimo" (靴ひも) by Asami Yamamoto. For episode 24, the ending theme is "Kodō -Get Closer-" (鼓動 -get closer-) by Psychic Lover.
In North America, the series was licensed by Funimation.[12] They release the series on six DVD sets from September 25, 2007,[13] to April 29, 2008.[14] A Blu-ray box set was released on November 3, 2009.[15] In the United Kingdom, the series was licensed by MVM Films, with six DVD sets released from February 4 to December 15, 2008.[16][17] A Collector's Blu-ray edition was released on March 13, 2023.[18] In the United States, the series was broadcast on the cable network IFC from January 4 to June 13, 2008.[19][20] In South Africa, the series was broadcast on Animax.[21] Crunchyroll added the series to their catalog in February 2018, streaming it in its original Japanese language with English subtitles.[22][5] Following the announcement that Funimation would be unified under the Crunchyroll brand, the English dubbed episodes were added to the platform in February 2023.[5]
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date [11] | U.S. airdate | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 | "The Beginning" Transliteration: "Shi" (Japanese: 始) | Hiroyuki Tsuchiya | Yasuko Kobayashi | April 6, 2006 | January 4, 2008[19] | |
Six years after losing her memory, Masane Amaha returns to Tokyo with her daughter Rihoko to start a new life. But after trying to stop the NSWF, who wants to separate them, she ends up in jail. There she is attacked by a monster and awakens a mysterious power called the Witchblade. | ||||||
02 | "Bewilderment" Transliteration: "Waku" (Japanese: 惑) | Naotaka Hayashi | Yasuko Kobayashi | April 13, 2006 | January 11, 2008[23] | |
After awakening the immense powers and abilities of the Witchblade, Masane is captured and used as a test subject. Meanwhile, Rihoko escapes from the NSWF and starts to search for her. Masane is informed of her role as bearer of the Witchblade and forced to fight an I-Weapon. | ||||||
03 | "Defiance" Transliteration: "Kō" (Japanese: 抗) | Hiroatsu Agata | Yasuko Kobayashi | April 20, 2006 | January 18, 2008 | |
After savagely destroying an I-Weapon, Masane receives an offer to work for Takayama, but she only cares about looking for her daughter. Later, Takayama is contacted by a mysterious woman who has a bracelet similar to the Witchblade. | ||||||
04 | "Movement" Transliteration: "Dō" (Japanese: 動) | Takatsugu Takahashi | Yasuko Kobayashi | April 27, 2006 | January 25, 2008 | |
Masane and Rihoko start to look for a place to live. Meanwhile the appearance of the Witchblade starts to draw the attention of the NSWF leader Furumizu. Masane is confronted by the Neogenes. | ||||||
05 | "Search" Transliteration: "Tan" (Japanese: 探) | Tomoya Kunisaki | Yasuko Kobayashi | May 4, 2006 | February 1, 2008[24] | |
In search for the truth, Tozawa tries to interrogate Masane but she refuses to talk. Masane learns of the NSWF's Cloneblades. Meanwhile, Shiori, one of the Cloneblades, decides to challenge the bearer of the real Witchblade for a fight. | ||||||
06 | "Change" Transliteration: "Hen" (Japanese: 変) | Satoshi Saga | Yasuko Kobayashi | May 11, 2006 | February 8, 2008 | |
Masane was badly injured in her fight against Shiori and had to be rescued by Dohji's men. Tozawa, who witnessed the match, decided to investigate Masane's employers. Reina starts to investigate the strange behavior Shiori has been showing after her bout with Masane. | ||||||
07 | "Past" Transliteration: "Ka" (Japanese: 過) | Yoshinobu Tokumoto | Yasuko Kobayashi | May 18, 2006 | February 15, 2008[25] | |
Masane, while recovering from her fight with Shiori, gets to know Takayama and Reina were in love in the past. Shiori goes berserk from overuse of the Cloneblade, unlocking a new level of power in the process, and attacks Masane again. After beating her, Shiori's blade breaks down causing her body to crystallize. | ||||||
08 | "Reciprocity" Transliteration: "Go" (Japanese: 互) | Masaharu Tomoda | Yasuko Kobayashi | May 25, 2006 | February 22, 2008 | |
An Ex-Con suddenly attacks Tozawa and Masane in their investigation, and Masane is forced to wield the Witchblade in front of the journalist. In the fight, Masane senses something different about the Ex-Con. Meanwhile, Reina tries to make contact with Rihoko. | ||||||
09 | "Sadness" Transliteration: "Ai" (Japanese: 哀) | Eiichi Kuboyama | Toshiki Inoue | June 1, 2006 | February 29, 2008[26] | |
Masane and Tozawa get to know an incredible fact about the Ex-Con series. After talking to Nakata they realize that the Ex-Con is human. In a battle, Masane regretfully destroys the Ex-Con. | ||||||
10 | "Interaction" Transliteration: "Kō" (Japanese: 交) | Naotaka Hayashi | Yasuko Kobayashi | June 8, 2006 | March 7, 2008 | |
Masane accompanies Takayama to a party and conflicts there with Wado, Takayama's rival at Dohji. She discovers that Ex-Cons are manufactured from corpses signed over to Dohji. | ||||||
11 | "Danger" Transliteration: "Ki" (Japanese: 危) | Mitsuru Kawasaki | Yasuko Kobayashi | June 15, 2006 | March 14, 2008 | |
Maria, a new generation of Neogenes, is introduced. During the time Rihoko is in the hospital, a Cloneblade, Nora, attacks Masane to kidnap the real Witchblade bearer and succeeds. | ||||||
12 | "Prisoner" Transliteration: "Shū" (Japanese: 囚) | Takashi Kobayashi | Yasuko Kobayashi | June 22, 2006 | March 21, 2008[27] | |
Masane has been captured. Nishida, a researcher of the NSWF, finds from Masane's data that Reina actually is not a potential bearer of the Witchblade. Masane escapes from the NSWF with Takayama and Tozawa's help. Masane receives startling news about her relation to Rihoko. | ||||||
13 | "Separation" Transliteration: "Betsu" (Japanese: 別) | Yukio Okazaki | Yasuko Kobayashi | June 29, 2006 | March 28, 2008[28] | |
A government agent tells that Masane is not a true parent and she needs to get Rihoko back to her real mother. After hearing it, they run away and hide themselves. Nishida sends Nora there to capture Rihoko, knowing of her compatibility with the Witchblade, but Reina interrupts. In a fight, Reina kills Nora. Masane gives Rihoko to Reina after thinking she's unfit to be her mother. | ||||||
14 | "Family" Transliteration: "Ka" (Japanese: 家) | Masanori Takahashi | Kiyoko Yoshimura | July 6, 2006 | April 4, 2008 | |
Rihoko begins to live at Reina's house. Takayama takes a disappointed Masane out to where she had lived before the earthquake disaster. In the NSWF, Maria is looking forward to meeting her "mom". | ||||||
15 | "Bonds" Transliteration: "Han" (Japanese: 絆) | Yū Nobuta | Yasuko Kobayashi | July 13, 2006 | April 11, 2008[29] | |
Masane stays over with Takayama. Meanwhile, Maria rushes out to meet Reina, her "genetic" mother, but her hope turns into madness when she finds Reina does not love her at all. In her fit of rage, Maria kills Reina. Before dying she tells Takayama of her feelings. | ||||||
16 | "Relaxation" Transliteration: "Kei" (Japanese: 憩) | Satoshi Saga | Kiyoko Yoshimura | July 20, 2006 | April 18, 2008 | |
Masane, Rihoko and their neighbors go to the beach. Masane spends her momentary but peaceful hours. She also learns that Rihoko may be in line to take on the Witchblade, to which she promises not to let that happen. She is also horrified to learn the Witchblade may kill her. | ||||||
17 | "Confusion" Transliteration: "Saku" (Japanese: 錯) | Masaharu Tomoda | Yasuko Kobayashi | July 27, 2006 | April 25, 2008 | |
Masane, shocked by words of Takayama's secretary Segawa, begins to show her excessive love for Rihoko. Tozawa gets information of the personal history of Furumizu. Wado puts into action his plan to eliminate Takayama as his competition by unveiling the Ultimate blade, a blade created to be wielded by a man. | ||||||
18 | "Turn" Transliteration: "Ten" (Japanese: 転) | Matsuo Asami | Kiyoko Yoshimura | August 3, 2006 | May 2, 2008[30] | |
The connection between Dohji and the serial murder case becomes public, and Takayama loses his position to Wado. Meanwhile, Masane's too much passion to Rihoko embarrasses the daughter and the neighbors. | ||||||
19 | "Feelings" Transliteration: "Shi" (Japanese: 思) | Naotaka Hayashi | Yasuko Kobayashi | August 10, 2006 | May 9, 2008 | |
Takayama disappears. Masane, ignoring him and restarting to work under Wado at first, gradually accepts her true feelings and finally visits Takayama and the two kiss. But an Ultimateblade, sent by Wado, attacks them and Masane confronts it. In the fight, the Witchblade transforms and then shows signs of breakdown. Meanwhile, "grown up" Maria kills Furumizu. | ||||||
20 | "Request" Transliteration: "Gan" (Japanese: 願) | Masahiro Sekino | Kiyoko Yoshimura | August 17, 2006 | May 16, 2008[31] | |
Maria takes over the NSWF. Meanwhile, after Takayama's "dating" with Rihoko, planned by Masane, an assassin falls on them. This incident makes Masane wield the Witchblade in front of her daughter. Masane collapses after the fight. | ||||||
21 | "Vow" Transliteration: "Sei" (Japanese: 誓) | Takatsugu Takahashi | Kiyoko Yoshimura | August 31, 2006 | May 23, 2008[32] | |
It becomes apparent that Masane's body is breaking down from the Witchblade's power. Masane tries to remove the Witchblade to resist her fate. After realizing it is useless, she swears to drag the Witchblade with her to Hell. | ||||||
22 | "Inform" Transliteration: "Koku" (Japanese: 告) | Yū Nobuta Yasushi Shingō | Yasuko Kobayashi | September 7, 2006 | May 30, 2008 | |
Masane, prepared for her death, takes Rihoko to a picnic to say farewell to her daughter. Meanwhile, Wado sends out several I-Weapons to try to capture the Witchblade, which the public has learned of its existence. | ||||||
23 | "Chaos" Transliteration: "Ran" (Japanese: 乱) | Masaharu Tomoda | Yasuko Kobayashi | September 14, 2006 | June 6, 2008[33] | |
The residents of Masane's apartment building learn of her secret. The tremendous power of the Witchblade makes Dohji's 3800 autonomous weapons rampage and begin to aim at the bearer. After knowing it, doomed Masane proceeds to her last battle place. | ||||||
24 | "Light" Transliteration: "Kō" (Japanese: 光) | Naotaka Hayashi | Yasuko Kobayashi | September 21, 2006 | June 13, 2008[20] | |
Dohji's thousands of weapons and Maria attack Masane one after another, and the Bladewielder confronts them with her body increasingly collapsed. Rihoko, watching the mother's battle through TV live news, cannot help but rush out to where Masane is. In an act of self sacrifice, Masane uses every ounce of power in the Witchblade to destroy herself, the Witchblade, and every single I-Weapon. |