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Black Cat (ブラックキャット, Burakku Kyatto?) is a Japanese Shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Kentaro Yabuki. It was originally serialized in Japan in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump. It was later collected in twenty tankōbon volumes from January 11, 2001 to October 9, 2004. The series was adapted into a twenty-four episode anime series by Gonzo studio. It debuted in Japan on the anime satellite television network Animax and the terrestrial Tokyo Broadcasting System network on October 6, 2005 with its final episode airing on March 30, 2006. The story centers on a man named Train Heartnet who withdrew from an elite group of assassins called the Chronos Numbers (時の番人, Toki no Bannin?) to becomes a bounty hunter dubbed sweeper.
Viz Media licensed the manga series for English-language publication in North America and as of May 2009, have released all 20 volumes of the series. Funimation Entertainment licensed the anime series for North American broadcast where it was broadcast on the Funimation Channel. The series later were released on six dvd compilations, as well as a Complete Series boxed set.
[edit] Summary
In the world of Black Cat, Chronos, an organization bent on world peace, rules one third of the world's economy through underground control of almost every kind of business. To maintain the balance of the world, Chronos is essential, and there is the need for people to protect Chronos. There are special elite assassins with Orichalcum-made weapons called the Chrono Numbers who work for Chronos. When the thirteenth Chrono Number Train Heartnet, also known as Black Cat, meets a Sweeper named Saya Minatsuki, she opens his eyes and helps him see that he has choices as whether to kill his victims or not. He leaves Chronos but Creed Diskenth resents the way that Saya changes the elite assassin's life, and murders her. Six months later, Train is a Sweeper and travelling with his partners Sven Vollfied and Eve as the story follows their adventures of catching bounties and protecting/relying on one another.
Written and illustrated by Kentaro Yabuki, Black Cat was originally serialized in Japan by Shueisha in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from 2000 to 2004. One hundred and eighty-five chapters were collected in twenty tankōbon volumes by Shueisha. The first volume on January 6, 2004, with the final volume released on October 14, 2004.[2]
Black Cat is licensed for an English-language release in North America by VIZ Media. The first volume released on March 8, 2006 with the final volume released on May .[3][4] Madman Entertainment published Viz's English release in Australia and New Zealand.[5] The series is also licensed for regional language releases in French by Glénat, Italian by Star Comics, German by Carlsen Comics Simplified Chinese by Chuang Yi, and traditional Chinese by Tong Li Publishing.
Gonzo studio adapted Black Cat into a twenty-four anime series, directed by Shin Itagaki.[1] It premired on Animax and the terrestrial Tokyo Broadcasting System network on October 6, 2005 with its final episode airing on March 30, 2006. In Japan, the series was released across twelve Region 2 DVD volumes.[6]Two pieces of theme music were also used for the anime series. The opening theme is "Daia no Hana" (ダイアの花?, lit. "Diamond Flower") by Yoriko. The ending themes are "Namidaboshi" (ナミダボシ?, lit. "Tears of Stars") by Puppypet for the first half of the series and "Kutsuzure" (くつずれ?, lit. "Blisters") by Matsuda Ryouji for the rest of the series.
Black Cat was later licensed for an English-language dubbed release by Funimation Entertainment. The series was released across six Region 1 DVD volumes released between December 19, 2006 and July 24, 2007.[7][8]
There were three drama CD's based on the series released between February 28, 2005 and October 14, 2005.[9]
Cover to the Black Cat Original Soundtrack Nikukyu
A full anime soundtrack was released on March 15, 2006 entitled Black Cat Original Soundtrack Nikukyu.[10] It contains the opening and ending themes along with twenty-one tracks of background music.
[edit] Light novel
With the permission from the author, Kentaro Yabuki, Tomohito Ōsaki wrote a light novel titled Black Cat: Hoshi no Zanshou. It was released in Japan in October 2005.
[edit] Video games
There were two video games released in Japan. "Black Cat:Kikai Shikake no Tenshi" (lit. Black Cat: The New Angel) was released for the Playstation 2 on March 30, 2006 by Capcom. Black Cat:Kuroneko no Concerto was released for the Nintendo DS in June 21, 2007 by Compile Heart. Characters of the Black Cat series have also made appearances in the games Jump Super Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars.
[edit] Reception
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Shueisha
Viz Media
Madman Entertainment
Formosa Youth
MVM Films
Kaze
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