20th Century Boys

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For the song by T.Rex, see 20th Century Boy.
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20th Century Boys

Volume 1 cover (Japanese version)
20世紀少年
(Nijusseiki Shōnen)
Genre Sci-fi, Mystery
Manga
Author Naoki Urasawa
Publisher Flag of Japan Shogakukan
English publisher Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Viz Media
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Flag of Japan Big Comic Spirits
Original run 30 January 2000 – 2006
Volumes 22
Manga
21st Century Boys
Author Naoki Urasawa
Publisher Flag of Japan Shogakukan
English publisher Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Viz Media
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Flag of Japan Big Comic Spirits
Original run 2007 – 2007
Volumes 2
Live-action film
20th Century Boys Dai 1 Shō Owari no Hajimari
Director Yukihiko Tsutsumi
Composer Ryoumei Shirai
Released Flag of Japan 30 August 2008
Runtime 142 min
Live-action film
20th Century Boys Dai 2 Shō Saigo no Kibō
Director Yukihiko Tsutsumi
Released Flag of Japan 31 January 2009
Live-action film
20th Century Boys Saishū Shō Bokura no Hata
Director Yukihiko Tsutsumi
Released Flag of Japan 29 August 2009
Anime and Manga Portal

20th Century Boys (20世紀少年 Nijusseiki Shōnen?) is a science fiction mystery manga created by Naoki Urasawa. It won the 2001 Kodansha Manga Award in the General category,[1] an Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival, and the 2003 Shogakukan Manga Award in the General category.[2] The last two volumes of the story were serialized under the name 21st Century Boys (21世紀少年 Nijūisseiki Shōnen?). The series makes many references to rock and roll; its title is based on T. Rex's famous song, "20th Century Boy".

Urasawa wrote 20th Century Boys along with another popular title, Monster, for two years (Monster ended in 2001). It was licensed by VIZ Media in 2005; however, at Urasawa's request, it has been rescheduled for release after Monster finishes its English serialization due to a change in art style over time.[3]

A live action movie adaption, directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi, was released in Japan on August 30, 2008, as the first part of a trilogy of films. The second film was released on January 30th, 2009, with the final part being released late 2009.

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

In 1969, young boys Kenji, Otcho, Yoshitsune and Maruo build, in an empty field, a hideout they name their secret base, in which they and their friends can get together to share manga, stolen porn magazines and listen to a radio. To celebrate the event, Otcho draws a symbol for the base, that would represent their friendship. After their friends Yukiji and Donkey join the gang, they imagine a future scenario where villains would try to destroy the world, and in which the boys would stand up and fight; this scenario is transcribed and labeled "Book of Prophecy".

The series itself opens in the late 1990s, where Kenji is a convenience store owner, finding solace in his childhood adventures as he takes care of his niece Kanna and his mother. After Donkey is reported to have committed suicide, Kenji stumbles upon a large cult led by a man known only as "Friend". The cult has a plan to destroy the world on New Year's Eve of 2000, (referred to in the latter half of the story as the Bloody New Year's Eve,) and the events that are currently unfolding are suspiciously close to the plan documented in the "Book of Prophecy". Kenji begins to recruit some of his older friends, including Otcho and Yoshitsune, in an attempt to stop "Friend".

The series spans several decades, from 1969 to 2017, which in the chronology of the series, becomes 3FE (3rd Year of the Friend Era.) The series makes two distinct timeline cuts during the story; one from 2000 to 2014, and one from 2014 to 3FE. Several parts of the series are also told in flashbacks to previous events as the characters attempt to unravel the mystery of who "Friend" is and how to stop his plans of world destruction; most of the children's backstories through the 70s and 80s are told in this fashion.

[edit] Characters

Kenji (ケンヂ?)
The central protagonist of the first half of the story, which revolves around his childhood in the '60s to the present day. He is generally laid-back, and appears to be heavily interested in rock'n roll. He, his relatives, and friends play crucial roles as the plot unfolds. His whereabouts are unknown after the events of the Bloody New Year's Eve and is presumed dead.
Kanna Endō (遠藤 カンナ Endō Kanna?)
Kenji's niece, and the protagonist in the aftermath of the Bloody New Year's Eve. She seems to possess supernatural abilities the source of which is unknown, though it is hinted by "Friend" to be the result of a secret medicine given to her mother before childbirth. Coupled with her charisma, Kanna makes an able leader, leading a rebel faction against "Friend" under the moniker of "Ice Queen".
Otcho (オッチョ?)
Kenji's childhood friend and benefactor, he typically is referred to as "Shōgun". He is in prime physical shape, and has escaped certain death many times. Originally believed to be Friend, it has been revealed that he went to receive enlightenment and training from a monk after experiencing the pain of the loss of his son, and was simply living in Asia's seedy underground. His real name is Chōji Ochiai.
"Friend" (ともだち Tomodachi?)
An enigmatic character who draws on the childhood ideas of Kenji and his friends to commit acts of terrorism to gain power. "Friend" pretended in the Bloody New Year's Eve to have saved the world from a pandemic of hemorrhagic fever (similar to Ebola). That, adding to his unique charisma, made him the political leader of Japan with his Friendship Party, and a great moral figure of the 21st century. He ends up re-modeling Japan in a retro style, presumably to evoke nostalgia of the main characters' childhoods. His motives remain unclear, but it is known that he is somehow involved with Kanna and her mother Kiriko.
Yoshitsune (ヨシツネ?)
Kenji's childhood friend who created the secret base with him. He was one of the few who answered the call to fight back with him on the Bloody New Year's Eve. In the year 2014, he is the leader of an underground organization bent on taking down Friend.
God (神様 Kamisama?)
God is the name of a homeless old man who is bent on the return of Tenpin Bowling as a major sport in Japan. God has the power of foresight and can see what will happen before it comes to pass. God was the one who warned Kenji and told him of his future. Later in the series, God becomes extremely rich by using his foresight to play the stock market. With his new found wealth, he becomes the first Japanese civilian to travel into space.
Yukiji (ユキジ?)
Kenji's only female childhood friend. During Kenji's school years, Yukiji was a high-toned tomboy, whereas in the manga's adult years, Yukiji is portrayed as rather professional. She is re-united with Kenji while working at an airport in Tokyo as a customs official, (often comically mistaken for a narc,) along with a drug sniffing dog named Blue Three; a Japanese pun on the name Bruce Lee. Yukiji also assists Kenji during Bloody New Year's Eve. In the aftermath, Yukiji becomes Kanna's guardian, after Kenji's mysterious death.

[edit] Movies

The trilogy of 20th Century Boys live-action films (directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi) is set to be one of the biggest undertakings ever in the Japanese movie industry. The project not only has a budget of 6 billion yen, but it was revealed that it will feature a cast of 300 people. As a side note it must be said that the movie follows the story portrayed in the manga almost to the letter.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Availability

The first film in the trilogy is now available on DVD and Blu-ray in Japan from VAP[4], and in Hong Kong from Kam & Ronson[5]. Both discs are locked to Region A, while of the two, only the HK release contains English subtitles. A UK DVD release was announced by label 4Digital Asia, and released on 4th May 2009[6]. On the same day, Part 2 received its UK theatrical premiere at the 8th Sci-Fi-London annual fantastic film festival[7].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Joel Hahn. "Kodansha Manga Awards". Comic Book Awards Almanac. http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/kodansha.shtml. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. 
  2. ^ "小学館漫画賞：歴代受賞者" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/rist.html. Retrieved on 2007-08-19. 
  3. ^ 20th Century Boys Delay. Anime News Network. 2005-07-09
  4. ^ Amazon Japan listing: http://www.amazon.co.jp/20世紀少年-第1章-終わりの始まり-通常版-DVD/dp/B001KEM11Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1238602093&sr=1-1
  5. ^ YesAsia product listing: http://www.yesasia.com/twentieth-century-boys-blu-ray-english-subtitled-hong-kong-version/1014523007-0-0-0-en/info.html
  6. ^ Product listing at official company website: http://www.4digitalmedia.com/index.php/details/94
  7. ^ Official festival website screening listing: http://www.sci-fi-london.com/festival/2009/programme/feature/20th-century-boys-2.php

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_Century_Boys"
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