Blood+
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Blood+ (BLOOD+ (ブラッドプラス) Buraddo Purasu?, pronounced "Blood Plus") is an anime series produced by Production I.G and Aniplex and directed by Junichi Fujisaku. The series premiered in Japan on Sony's anime satellite channel, Animax, as well as on terrestrial networks such as MBS, TBS, and RKB on October 8, 2005. The final episode aired on September 23, 2006.[1] Blood+ is licensed for international distribution in several regions through Sony Picture's international arm, Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI).[2]
Blood+ was inspired by the 2000 anime film Blood: The Last Vampire[3], however, there are only a few allusions and basic elements from the film. Fujisaku has been involved with both works, including acting as the director for Blood+ and writing the novelization of Blood: The Last Vampire.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Under the care of her adoptive family, Saya Otonashi has been living the life of an anemic and amnesiac, but otherwise ordinary schoolgirl. Saya’s happy life is shattered when she is attacked by a chiroptera, and learns that she is the only one who can defeat them.
Armed with her sword, Saya embarks on a journey with her family, allies, and her Chevalier, Haji[4], to rid the world of Chiropterans and rediscover her identity. The course of the journey reveals the background history of the chiropterans and Saya's very deep past, which extends into the mid-19th century.
The series is initially set in present day (September 2005) Okinawa City (Koza), on Okinawa Island, near the US Kadena Air Base. In the course of the series, Saya visits locales across the world, while fighting enemy chiropterans and searching for her origins.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Chiroptera
Chiroptera are hematophagous bat-like creatures that live by feeding on human blood. They generally possess extraordinary speed, strength, and supernatural healing abilities. They are also capable of contorting and transforming various body parts in order to fly or have longer limbs and higher level Chiroptera have the ability to disguise themselves as ordinary humans.
As Chiroptera can heal almost instantly from most wounds, bullets are non-lethal and only useful in slowing them down. Even explosions do not seem to be capable of killing them, though if buried or sealed inside stone they will go into a sleep state until freed.[5]
Chiroptera are created from the blood of a Queen, and ironically it is also the primary method of killing them. When the blood of the other Queen is introduced into a Chiropteran's bloodstream, it almost instantly crystallizes and destroys them. So Chiroptera created from Diva's blood can be killed by Saya's blood, and visa versa.
Through human experimentation with Diva's blood, a substance called "Delta 67" was created. When "Delta 67" is introduced into the blood stream of humans, they change into Chiroptera. As they are all formed from Diva's blood, they can be killed through the induction of Saya's blood.
[edit] Artificial chiropterans
The most basic form of Chiropterans that are created from the straight infusion of Delta 67 into a human host. The human host quickly loses their human intelligence and memories, transforming into a form resembling a horse-headed gorilla with fangs. Phase 1 Chiropterans live and act purely on instinct, hunting and killing humans, and sometimes animals, for their blood.
Through the research efforts of Dr. Boris and Amshel, a higher level artificial Chiroptera was created from the Delta 67 which were collectively called the Schiff. Unlike Phase 1 Chiropterans, the Schiff have human level intelligence and emotions, though somewhat stunted by having lived most of their lives caged. They are aggressive, but this is due to their being trained as warriors. As they are exposed to other ways of living after escaping the lab, they seem to be able to learn and adapt.[6] The Schiff are unique among the Chiropterans as they can be killed by exposure to direct sunlight. They also suffer from a condition called Thorn, which slowly crystallizes and kills them.[7]
Using the genetic template of Moses, the leader of the Schiff, an improved version of the Schiff were created called the Corpse Corps. Like the Schiff, the Corpse Corps are capable fighters with bladed weapons and are marketed to various national military organizations as "Chiropteran exterminators", despite being Chiropterans themselves.
[edit] Chevaliers
Chevaliers are the second highest level of Chiroptera in terms of strength and ability. They are created when a human drinks the blood of a Queen. This creates a powerful bond between the Chevalier and the Queen that sired them, and they are mentally compelled to serve and protect her at all costs.
Chevaliers have even greater enhanced speed, strength and endurance than regular Chiroptera. Though they retain the appearance in body form and age that they had when they were transformed, Chevaliers have vast shape-shifting abilities. They can transform into unique forms resembling regular Chiroptera, either entirely or limited to specific body parts, and can transform into the humans they have fed upon. They can instantly heal from almost any non-lethal wound, though severe wounds will temporarily cause an increase in their need for blood.
[edit] Queens
Queens, also called the originals, are the first Chiroptera. In any given generation, there are always two Queens, who are female twins born from one of the last Queens, and they are naturally antagonistic with one another. Saya and Diva are the current Queens of their species. They were discovered by Joel Goldschmidt in the 19th century inside a mysterious creature found in Iceland known as SAYA. As part of his experiment, he raised Saya like a daughter, but kept Diva locked away in a tower.[8]
All other Chiroptera are born of the blood of Queens, either through the Queen's own efforts or human experimentation. Unlike all other Chiroptera, Queens appear to retain a human appearance at all times, though they can change their human appearances somewhat and their mother's corpse had a Chiropteran appearance. Their blood can also crystallize and destroy any Chiroptera of any level that was created by their sister Queen.[8]
Queens spend only a few years awake at any given time, between decades of hibernation inside a cocoon. Queens have enhanced speed, strength, and endurance that surpasses those of their Chevaliers and other Chiroptera. They may also have some shape-shifting abilities, though during the series their abilities seem to be limited to modifying to their outward human appearance. The strength of a Queen's traits are dependent on their feeding regularly on human blood. As such, Diva, who freely feeds on humans, can also freely use all of her abilities, while Saya, who lives almost entirely on transfusions, is usually only slightly above human level strength.
When a Queen becomes pregnant with the next generation of Queens, her blood will lose its dangerous qualities. A Queen can only be impregnated by a Chevalier created by her sister Queen, ensuring the purity of the species is maintained.
[edit] Adaptations
[edit] Anime
- See also: List of Blood+ episodes
The Blood+ anime series premiered in Japan on October 08, 2005 on MBS/TBS.[1] A new episode was aired each week with the final episode airing on September 23, 2006. The series was also simultaneously aired on Animax, Sony's Japanese anime satellite channel. Through Sony's international division Blood+ was licensed for distribution in multiple regions. In the United States, the series premiered on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim on March 11, 2007 with new episodes airing every week on Sunday at 12:30 am (eastern).
The series was directed by Junichi Fujisaku and features original character designs by Chizu Hashii. Each season has separate opening and ending themes from a variety of artists, with the final episode using the season one ending theme.
[edit] Novels
There are two Japanese light novel adaptations of the Blood+ series. Blood+, written by Ryo Ikehata with illustrations by Chizu Hashii, is the four volume official novel adaptation of the anime series, expanding upon the events of the 50 episode anime series and giving greater background on the battle against Chiropterans.[9] The second adaptation, Blood+ Russian Rose, is written by Chougatsu Karino and illustrated by Takagi Ryou. It spans two volumes and details Saya and Haji's lives at the start of the 20th century and the Russian Revolution.
Both novel series were originally published by Kadokawa Shoten and have been licensed for release in English in North America by Dark Horse Comics. The first volumes are expected to be released in 2008.[10]
| Title | Pages | Releases | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | US | ||
| Blood+, Volume 1: First Kiss | 224 | May 1, 2006 | March 19, 2008 - ISBN 1-59307-898-6[9] |
| Blood+, Volume 2: Chevalier | 256 | September 1, 2006 | April 13, 2008 - ISBN 1-59307-931-1[11] |
| Blood +, Volume 3 | TBA | ||
| Blood +, Volume 4 | TBA | ||
| Blood + Russian Rose, Volume 1 | May 1, 2006 | TBA | |
| Blood + Russian Rose, Volume 2 | September 1, 2006 | TBA | |
[edit] Manga
To lead up to the Blood+ anime series, three Blood+ manga series were released and published in three different manga magazines. The collected tankōbon of all three series were published by Kadokawa Shoten.[12]
Blood+, by Asuka Katsura, is a five tankōbon series that first premiered in Beans Ace Magazine in July 2005. It covers the same story events as the anime series. Blood+ Adagio, also called Blood+ A was written by Kumiko Suekane. It is a two tankōbon series that premiered in the September 2005 issue of Monthly Shonen Ace and follows Saya and Haji's experiences during the Russian Revolution. The third series, Blood+ Yakō Jōshi, also called Blood+: City of the Night Walkers, is a single tankōbon series by Hirotaka Kisaragi. It premiered in the September issue of Asuka Ciel.[12][10] Set in Shanghai, it follows Haji as he searches for Saya and the complications he must deal with. Unlike the other Blood+ manga adaptations, which are shonen/seinen works, Blood+ Yakō Jōshi is a shonen-ai, or boy's love, piece.
All three manga adaptations have been licensed for release in English in North America by Dark Horse Comics.[10]
| Title | Pages | Releases | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | US | ||
| Blood+, Volume 1 | 208 | December 26, 2005[13] | January 16, 2008 - ISBN 1-59307-880-3[14] |
| Blood+, Volume 2 | 208 | April 26, 2006[13] | May 14, 2008 - ISBN 1-59307-935-4[15] |
| Blood+, Volume 3 | 189 | August 26, 2006[13] | TBA |
| Blood+, Volume 4 | 189 | December 26, 2006[13] | TBA |
| Blood+, Volume 5 | 189 | April 26, 2007[13] | TBA |
| Blood+ Adagio, Volume 1 | TBA | April 26, 2006[16] | TBA |
| Blood+ Adagio, Volume 2 | 170 | December 26, 2006[16] | TBA |
| Blood+ Yakō Jōshi | TBA | April 26, 2006[17] | TBA |
[edit] Video games
Two Sony Playstation video games have been created that are based on the Blood+ series. Both games are currently only available in Japan and have not been licensed for release in any other countries.
Blood+: One Night Kiss, from Bandai Namco and Grasshopper Manufacture, is an action shooter that was originally released on August 30, 2006. Featuring cel-shaded graphics in the same style as Killer 7, the game is directed by the CEO of Grasshopper Goichi Suda.[18] Set in the fictional town of Shikishi, players spend most of the game playing as Saya, with times where they switch to Aoyama, an original character created for the game.[19]
Blood+: Souyoku no Battle Rondo, from Sony Entertainment, is an adventure game released July 27, 2006. Set during the year between episodes 32 and 33, after Riku's death, the game alternates between an "Active Demo" section where the player can make decisions that change the story line, and full action sequences where the player, as Saya, fights with her sword to collect Chiropteran crystals.[20]
[edit] Soundtracks
Except for the opening and ending themes, Blood+'s musical score is the work of award-winning film score producer Hans Zimmer and composer Mark Mancina.[21] Blood+ was the first anime project Mancina worked on, though he has stated that working on the projected turned him into an anime fan.[22]
In 2006, four CD soundtracks were released for the series, though none are currently licensed for release outside of Japan.
[edit] Blood+ Original Soundtrack 1
| Blood+ Original Soundtrack 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image:Blood+ ost1.png | ||
| Soundtrack by Mark Mancina | ||
| Released | May 2, 2006 | |
| Label | Aniplex | |
| Producer | Hans Zimmer | |
- Track listing
- "Saya's Victory" - 03:34
- "Chasing The Enemy" - 02:01
- "Saya-Nara" - 03:31
- "Being Chased" - 02:29
- "BLOOD+ Countdown" - 02:08
- "Saya's Daily Life" - 02:27
- "Vampire Battle" - 03:16
- "Chasing Thru Time" - 02:05
- "Saya's Destiny" - 02:32
- "Saya's Courage" - 02:22
- "The Vampires' Threat" - 01:21
- "BLOOD+ The Final Battle" - 03:42
- "Saya's Love" - 03:37
- "BLOOD+ Grand Theme" - 06:37
- "Diva" - 04:51
[edit] Blood+ Original Soundtrack 2
| Blood+ Original Soundtrack 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image:Blood+ ost2.png | ||
| Soundtrack by Mark Mancina | ||
| Released | September 27, 2006 | |
| Label | Aniplex | |
| Producer | Hans Zimmer | |
- Track listing
- "The Vampires' Conspiracy" - 02:34
- "RUN!" - 02:27
- "Isolation" - 02:17
- "Twisted Tension" - 02:02
- "BLOOD+ Attack" - 01:31
- "Saya's Joy" - 02:11
- "BLOOD+ Red Herring" - 01:18
- "The Red Shield" - 02:53
- "Infiltration" - 01:58
- "Squaring Off" - 01:54
- "Fear The Change" - 02:50
- "Violent Vampires" - 02:54
- "Saya's Fear" - 05:37
- "Saya's Lonliness" - 03:41
- "Witness the Vampires" - 02:06
- "Diva Awakens" - 01:40
- "Saya's Battle Theme" - 03:35
- "Diva (instrumental version)" - 04:52
[edit] Hagi Plays J.S. Bach
| Hagi Plays J.S. Bach | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image:Hagi plays.png | ||
| Soundtrack by Nobuo Furukawa, Yoshihiro Hanno | ||
| Released | May 9, 2006 | |
| Label | Aniplex | |
| Producer | Hans Zimmer | |
Hagi Plays Suite No. 5 in C minor for Solo Cello is the third soundtrack to Blood+. It is composed of several parts of J.S.Bach's Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor (BWV 1011) performed by Nobuo Furukawa (古川展生 Furukawa Nobuo?). It also includes a bonus track remix by Yoshihiro Hanno (半野喜弘 Hanno Yoshihiro?). A bonus DVD contains a Hagi special episode and video featuring Nobuo Furukawa.
- Track listing (Disc 1 - Audio CD)
- "Prelude" (プレリュード?) - 05:26
- "Allemande" (アルマンド?) - 05:35
- "Courante" (クーラント?) - 01:55
- "Sarabande" (サラバンド?) - 03:01
- "Gavottes I & II" (ガヴォットI&II?) - 04:14
- "Gigue" (ジーグ?) - 02:04
- Prelude (remix) featuring Hagi (プレリュード・リミックス・セリフ入り?) (Yoshihiro Hanno) - 04:11
- Track listing (Disc 2 - DVD)
- Hagi playing the Prelude
- Furukawa Nobuo playing the Prelude
[edit] Blood+ Complete Best
| Blood+ Complete Best | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image:Blood+ complete.png | ||
| Compilation album by Various artists | ||
| Released | October 25, 2006 | |
| Label | Aniplex | |
| Producer | Hans Zimmer | |
Blood+ Complete Best is a compilation set that consists of an audio CD and a DVD, with the full versions of the series' theme songs as well as two tracks from the original soundtracks and eight videos of the full versions of opening and ending songs.
- Track listing (Disc 1 - Audio CD)
- "Aozora no Namida" (青空のナミダ lit. Tears of the Blue Sky?) (Hitomi Takahashi)
- "Kataritsugu Koto" (語り継ぐこと lit. Things I pass down?) (Chitose Hajime)
- SEASON'S CALL (Hyde)
- CRY NO MORE (Mika Nakashima)
- Colors of the Heart (UVERworld)
- This Love (Angela Aki)
- "Raion" (雷音 lit. Thunder sound?) (Jinn)
- Brand New Map (K)
- BLOOD+ Grand Theme (Mark Mancina)
- Diva (Mark Mancina)
[edit] References
- ^ a b Production I.G Unveils Blood+. Anime News Network (2005-05-11). Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
- ^ Blood+ Licensed. Anime News Network (2006-01-23). Retrieved on 2007-06-08.
- ^ a b Blood+ Opening Film Ver. 3 in competition at the 11th HAFF. Production I.G (2006-10-20). Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
- ^ Note: Haji's name can be spelled Haji or Hagi. The katakana used for Haji's name reads "Haji", and as this is also the spelling used in the credits of the Region 1 English release and the one most commonly used in sources about the show, per Wikipedia guidelines it is the name used in all of the Blood+ articles. However, it should be noted that the Production I.G's English web site uses Hagi, as do the English releases of the novels and manga.
- ^ "Moon Over Ekaterinburg". Blood+. No. 18, season 3.
- ^ "Cursed Blood". Blood+. No. 29, season 3.
- ^ "Sour Grapes". Blood+. No. 21, season 3.
- ^ a b "Joel's Diary". Blood+. No. 30, season 3.
- ^ a b Dark Horse Comics > Blood + Volume 1: First Kiss (Novel)
- ^ a b c "Dark Horse Nabs 'Gantz' Manga, 'Blood+,' 'The Color of Rage,' & More", ICv2 News, 2007-07-05. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
- ^ Dark Horse Comics > Blood + Blood+ Volume 2: Chevalier
- ^ a b "Three New Blood Manga", Anime News Network, 2005-06-14. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
- ^ a b c d e Anime News Network - Blood+ (manga)
- ^ Dark Horse Comics > Blood+ Volume 1 TPB
- ^ Dark Horse Comics > Blood+ Volume 2 TPB
- ^ a b Anime News Network - Blood+ Adaigo (manga)
- ^ Anime News Network - Blood+ Yakō Jōshi (manga)
- ^ Simon Carless. "Blood: One Night Kiss - Sudasational?", GameSetWatch, 2006-09-03. Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
- ^ IGN Staff. "Killer 7 Producer Brings Blood to PS2", IGN Entertainment, 2006-04-26. Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
- ^ Anoop Gantayat. "PS2 Gets More Blood", IGN Entertainment, 2006-04-28. Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
- ^ Hans Zimmer And Mark Mancina Do Blood+ Music. Anime News Network (2005-08-28). Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- ^ Official Mark Mancina web site > Blood+ project
[edit] External links
- Official website (Japanese)
- MBS Blood+ website (Japanese)
- Production I.G official English website
- Official Sony web site
- Blood + (anime) in the Anime News Network encyclopedia
- Blood + (anime) in the AnimeNfo.com encyclopedia
- Blood + (anime) in the TV.com database
- Blood + (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
- Blood+ Adagio (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
- Blood+ Yakō Jōshi (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
Works by Production I.G | |
|---|---|
| Feature Films | Blood: The Last Vampire • Cyber Team in Akihabara: Summer Holidays of 2011 • Dead Leaves • Evangelion: Death and Rebirth • The End of Evangelion • Ghost in the Shell • Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2 • Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society • Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade • Kill Bill: Volume 1 (animated sequence) • MiniPato • Patlabor: The Movie • Patlabor: The Movie 2 • Sakura Wars: The Movie • Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters • The Sky Crawlers • Tsubasa Chronicle - The Princess of the Birdcage Land • The Prince of Tennis - Two Samurai: The First Game • The Weathering Continent • xxxHolic - A Midsummer Night's Dream |
| Television Series | Blood+ • Blue Seed • Medabots Damashii • Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex • Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG • Guardian of the Sacred Spirit • Idaten Jump • IGPX Immortal Grand Prix • Le Chevalier d'Eon • Otogi Zoshi • PaRappa the Rapper • The Prince of Tennis • Reideen • Shinreigari/Ghost Hound • Vampiyan Kids • Windy Tales • xxxHolic |
| Original Video Animations | FLCL • Kai Doh Maru • One Piece: Defeat the Pirate Ganzack • Please Save My Earth • The King of Fighters: Another Day • Zillion: Burning Night • Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations |
| Video Games | Blood: The Last Vampire • Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance • Ghost in the Shell • Mega Man X4 • Namco x Capcom • Seiken Densetsu DS: Children of Mana • Sonic Riders • Summon Night 4 • Surveillance Kanshisha • Tales (role-playing game series) • Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria • Xenogears • Yarudora • Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 12 • Star Ocean: The First Departure • Star Ocean: The Second Evolution |
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Categories: Anime series | Manga series | Light novels | Aniplex | Action anime and manga | Seinen | Drama anime and manga | Horror anime and manga | Mystery anime and manga | Anime of the 2000s | Production I.G | 2005 television series debuts | 2006 television series endings | Anime with original screenplays
