Gosick

GOSICK
Cover of Gosick volume 1 as published by Fujimi Shobo
GOSICK -ゴシック- (Goshikku)
Genre	Mystery
Light novel
Written by	Kazuki Sakuraba
Illustrated by	Hinata Takeda
Published by	Fujimi Shobo
Demographic	Male
Original run	December 10, 2003 – July 23, 2011
Volumes	13
Manga
Written by	Kazuki Sakuraba
Illustrated by	Sakuya Amano
Published by	Fujimi Shobo
Magazine	Monthly Dragon Age
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	July 9, 2008 – present
Volumes	6
Anime television series
Directed by	Hitoshi Nanba
Written by	Mari Okada
Studio	Bones
Original network	AT-X, TV Tokyo
Original run	January 7, 2011 – July 2, 2011
Episodes	24

Gosick (GOSICK -ゴシック-, Goshikku) is a Japanese light novel series by Kazuki Sakuraba, published by Fujimi Shobo. Set in a fictional European country in 1924, a Japanese exchange student meets a mysterious, brilliant girl who only leaves the library to sleep. Her brother, a detective, relies on her exceptional mind to solve difficult mysteries.

Tokyopop released the first novel in the series in English in April 2008 and the second in March 2010. The series has been published in Germany by Tokyopop since November 2006. A manga adaptation started serialization in the shōnen manga magazine Monthly Dragon Age on December 9, 2007. An anime adaptation by Bones premiered on January 7, 2011. Crunchyroll is currently simulcasting the series.

Plot and settings

Gosick takes place in 1924 in a small, French-speaking fictional European country of Sauville. The story centers on Kazuya Kujo, the third son of a high ranking officer of Japanese Imperial Army, who is a transfer student to St. Marguerite Academy, where urban legends and horror stories are all the rage. There he meets Victorique, a mysterious yet beautiful and brilliant girl who never comes to class and spends her days reading the entire content of the library or solving mysteries that even detectives can't solve. The series mostly focuses on Kazuya and Victorique getting involved in different mystery cases and their struggle to solve them, at the same time forming important bonds with different people.

Characters

Kazuya Kujo (久城 一弥, Kujō Kazuya)

Voiced by: Miyu Irino (Drama CD), Takuya Eguchi (Anime)

The main character of the story. As the youngest son of a soldier, Kazuya has spent most of his life struggling with living in his highly successful siblings' shadows. Jealous of all the attention his brothers got, he worked hard to compete, but everything changed when he understood that adults, who think that the youngest child is always spoiled and useless, will never acknowledge his efforts. With a permanent scar in his heart he left the military academy in Japan and before anyone from his family could stop him, went to study abroad to St. Marguerite. Unfortunately, his appearance, combined with the student body's belief that "the traveler who comes in the spring brings death with him" has resulted in Kazuya being called the "Reaper" and having no friends. By some twist of fate he becomes a messenger and companion to the most eccentric pupil in the school, Victorique. At first he didn't like Victorique because of her arrogant attitude, but after some time he started to care for her and be protective of her. It is shown that he is willing to risk his life to protect her on more than one occasion. He is described, by Victorique, as a good and sincere person whose soul is pure and beautiful enough to admit pride. Although he claims to have good academic achievement higher than his older brothers, he can be very dense and slow which is quite contrary. He does have admirable fighting and athletic ability however. It can be assumed that while Kujo has a good memory, he is not good at being creative or applying intelligence to real life. He has to rely on Victorique too much for explanation for even simple things. Despite everything that happened in Japan he is proud to be a soldier's son.

Victorique de Blois (ヴィクトリカ・ド・ブロワ, Vikutorika do Burowa)

Voiced by: Chiwa Saitou (Drama CD), Aoi Yūki (Anime)

The heroine of the story. Victorique has the appearance of a small (4' 7"), almost doll-like, girl with long golden hair and emerald eyes and a voice that sounds exactly like that of an older woman. Another important part of Victorique's appearance is a pipe that she smokes when thinking about something; though in the anime, it is never shown to be lit or showing her smoking due to her young age. She spends her days at the conservatory at the top of the library, reading several difficult books, often in different languages, simultaneously. She points at one wall of the library and has told Kazuya that she has read almost all the books over there. Along with her sharp tongue, abusive bluntness and eccentric attitude, she possesses a genius level intellect which she applies as a consulting detective. After Victorique saves him from a near-arrest, Kazuya finds himself being entangled in every new mystery. Because her mother, Cordelia Gallo, was a mistress, and according to Victorique "a dangerous person", she was imprisoned in the depths of the de Blois mansion where she developed very un-childlike mannerisms. She was sent off to school under strict orders to never leave the campus (although Grevil sometimes obtains special permission to take her out). When she first met Kazuya she didn't like him and thought that he was annoying and stupid for climbing up all the stairs in the library. She even ignored him and made fun of him, but gradually warmed up to him and began to trust and cherish him. Despite acting harshly towards Kazuya at times, it's clear that she cares deeply for him, as seen any time he is in danger. She enjoys "reconstructing chaos" by solving intricate mysteries and often complains of the boredom that causes her headaches.

Victorique's name is spelled "Victorica" on the official Gosick website, likely as a phonetic spelling. Her name is spelled "Victorique" in the first two novels (English translation) and in episode 9 of the anime. All evidences in the novel are that Sauville, the academy and Victorique's family all speak French as their first language. Victorica probably signs her name with the French spelling, "Victorique". In the novels, it is noted that her name is apparently usually a man's, as Avril initially does not believe Victorique is a female student when she is being discussed.

Grevil de Blois (グレヴィール・ド・ブロワ, Gurevīru do Burowa)

Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu (Drama CD), Hidenobu Kiuchi (Anime)

Grevil is an aristocrat who had forced the local police to make him a detective purely because he had an interest in crime. The most noticeable thing in his appearance is his drill-like hairstyle that Kazuya thinks could be used as a deadly weapon. Despite being a terrible detective and always having to rely on Victorique to solve his crimes, he usually refuses to acknowledge that she even exists. When he comes to the library he speaks about the case that troubles him to Kazuya, saying that it helps him to clarify his thoughts. Kazuya tries to get him to tell it to Victorique, which he ignores. Victorique tells Kazuya to chat with the detective, that she will just read her books; if she says anything to herself, pay no attention. This is because he is Victorique's half brother and even if they are family they could never acknowledge each other in public. He has however been shown to care for her and is implied to have become a detective and ignore Victorique in order to cure her boredom and care for her behind their father's back. His mother was their father's proper wife and because he is the eldest son he takes all the glory for solving crimes and will take over after their father dies. He is described by Victorique as a heel and a playboy. It is revealed that he is in love with his childhood friend Jacqueline and helped her with her previous case. His drill-like hairstyle is the price for making Victorique solve the case.

Avril Bradley (アブリル・ブラッドリー, Aburiru Buraddorī)

Voiced by: Tomoko Kawakami (Drama CD), Noriko Shitaya (Anime)

An international student from Great Britain. Because she and Kazuya were both from abroad, they quickly found common ground and were able to talk freely. Is a beautiful girl with short blond hair and blue eyes. It is hinted that she has feelings for Kazuya. She represents Kazuya's ordinary ties to the school, apart from his adventures with Victorique. She also enjoys eating and is fond of ghost stories. Through the first novel she has not met Victorique.

In the anime the real Avril Bradley was kidnapped on the way to the academy and replaced by Keiran II, the successor of the famous thief Keiran who mysteriously disappeared eight years prior. This thief wishes to continue his legacy by stealing the priceless works of famous artists and writers, etc., and was after a rare stamp that Avril's grandfather, a famed adventurer, had intended to give to her. She was rescued by Kujo, and later in the nurse's office said she thought he was a "black-haired prince". Ironically, because the thief knew in high details of the real Avril, it wasn't hard for Kazuya to reestablish a friendship with the real Avril, who even developed feelings for him, but has a hard time trying to get closer to him due to his dedication to Victorique. In episode 14, she confessed her love for Kujo to Victorique but Victorique left before she can hear Avril's confession.

Cecile Lafitte (セシル・ラフィット, Seshiru Rafitto)

Voiced by: Yui Horie (Drama CD), Yui Kano (Anime)

A teacher in St. Marguerite Academy. She teaches Kazuya's, Avril's (and Victorique's) class. A small woman with a baby face, fluffy brown hair and big round glasses. She tasks Kazuya with taking the class handouts to Victorique, and she was the one who first brought Kazuya and Victorique together. She also dislikes ghosts and is prone to fainting in certain supernatural situations.

Brian Roscoe (ブライアン・ロスコー, Buraian Rosukō)

Voiced by: Tooru Ookawa (Anime)

A famous magician whom Kujo regularly encounters. After Victorique proves Cordelia Gallo's innocence, he is seen beside Cordelia commenting that her "sin" has been burned together with the only bridge connecting the Grey Wolves' village to the outside world. During the First World War, he used his capabilities as an illusionist, along with a magic lantern, to disrupt a German bombing run on the "Beelzebub's Skull" convent in Lithuania - a huge projection of the Virgin Mary. He was the one who helped Cordelia escape from the sanitarium she was left by Albert after Victorique's birth. Since then they have been working together to oppose the Marquis' intentions.

Later is revealed that Brian is not a single individual, but a pair of identical twins who share the same appearance and name. Both care deeply but Cordelia, but one of the twins made clear even to her that the circumstances of Victorique's birth prevent him from having similar feelings for the child.

Cordelia Gallo (コルデリア・ギャロ, Koruderia Gyaro)

Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro (Anime)

Victorique's mother, who hails from the legendary "Village of the Gray Wolves", a secluded castle town (later stated to be a small independent kingdom by the village elder.) inhabited by people with seemingly communal attributes - short stature, pale skin, blond hair, green eyes, and high intelligence. It is also shown that they develop precognitive abilities in old age. She was expelled from the town after being framed for the murder of the then-current elder, and her whereabouts were a mystery until Victorique manages to prove her innocence, when she is seen beside Brian Roscoe.

Cordelia's resemblance to her daughter is uncanny, and her short stature even as an adult leads even Kujo to mistake Cordelia for Victorique when he sees her. It is eventually revealed that Cordelia never had any kind of relationship with Victorique's father, the Marquis Albert de Blois; The Marquis in fact kidnapped, raped, and imprisoned her for the duration of the resulting pregnancy for the express purpose of producing Victorique - a child with Gray Wolf intellect which he could use for his own ends. Immediately after she gave birth to Victorique, the Marquis placed Cordelia in a sanitarium where she remained until she was freed by Roscoe. Despite the circumstances of Victorique's birth, Cordelia loves her daughter deeply, and watches over her closely, even visiting her to deliver a pendant containing her picture despite the risk of being found by the Marquis.

Voiced by: Takayuki Sugo (Anime)

Marquis Albert de Blois is Saubure's "Minister of the Occult" and the main antagonist and Grevil and Victorique's father. He is the responsible for Victorique's secluded life and instructed Grevil to keep track of her movements. Impressed by Leviathan's tricks to impress the king and queen of Subure, he offered him protection in exchange of creating homunculus for the army. In Leviathan's last moments, he suggested that Albert mate with a woman with extraordinary powers to produce an child capable of achieving his goals. As per this suggestion, Albert then proceeded to kidnap and rape Cordelia Gallo to produce Victorique. He cares little for Victorique as his daughter, seeing her as a mere tool. According to him, Victorique's conception and raising have been part of his plan to seize power in Saubure in spite of an upcoming storm that is set to engulf the entire world. It is implied that the event in question is the Second World War that began more than a decade before its real life counterpart.

Thanks to Victorique's efforts, Albert managed to obtain precious information to topple his main oppositor in the government, The Minister of Science, Jupiter Roget and blackmail the King into making of him the Prime Minister. He also managed to amass a legion of followers by making the people believe that his daughter is the legendary creature "Monstre Charmant". His plans are ruined when Cordelia manages to have Victorique escape with Brian Roscoe's help and ultimately kills him before being slain herself by one of his bodyguards.

Media

Light novels

There are nine light novels out titled 'Gosick' and four collections of shorter writings, stories, titled 'GosickS', with a capital 'S' on the end of the title. The Gosick novels are full length works, and the GosickS books are short story collections. The series was authored by Kazuki Sakuraba with illustrations by Hinata Takeda. The first novel was released in Japan on December 10, 2003 and the last one on July 23, 2011.

• Gosick (GOSICK -ゴシック-, GOSICK -Goshikku-) ISBN 4829162295
• Gosick II: The Crime That Has No Name (GOSICK II -ゴシック・その罪は名もなき-, GOSICK II -Goshikku - Sono Tsumi wa Na mo Naki-) ISBN 4829162546
• Gosick III: Beneath the Blue Rose (GOSICK III -ゴシック・青い薔薇の下で-, GOSICK III -Goshikku - Aoi Bara no Shita de-) ISBN 4829162732
• Gosick IV: A Fool Represents the Case (GOSICK IV -ゴシック・愚者を代弁せよ-, GOSICK IV -Goshikku - Gusha o Daiben seyo-) ISBN 4829162880
• Gosick V: Beelzebub's Skull (GOSICK V -ゴシック・ベルゼブブの頭蓋-, GOSICK V -Goshikku - Beruzebubu no Zugai-) ISBN 4829163283
• Gosick VI: Night of the Masquerade (GOSICK VI -ゴシック・仮面舞踏会の夜-, GOSICK VI -Goshikku - Kamen Butōkai no Yoru-) ISBN 4829163755

GosickS takes place before Gosick, GosickS II between Gosick IV and Gosick V. GosickS III takes place after Gosick VI.

• GosickS: The Reaper Comes in the Spring (GOSICKS -ゴシックエス・春来たる死神-, GOSICKS -Goshikku Esu - Haru Kitaru Shinigami-) ISBN 4829163100
• GosickS II: Summer from the Disappearing Train (GOSICKS II -ゴシックエス・夏から遠ざかる列車-, GOSICKS II -Goshikku Esu - Natsu kara Tōzakaru Ressha-) ISBN 4829163526
• GosickS III: Memories of an Autumn Flower (GOSICKS III - ゴシックエス・秋の花の思い出-, GOSICKS III -Goshikku Esu - Aki no Hana no Omoide-) ISBN 9784829163870
• GosickS IV: Winter of Sacrifices (GOSICKS IV - ゴシックエス・冬のサクリファイス-, GOSICKS IV -Goshikku Esu - Fuyu no sakureifaisu-) ISBN 9784044281199

Manga

A manga with illustrations by Amano Sakuya, is currently serialized in the shōnen manga magazine Monthly Dragon Age.

The first volume was published by Fujimi Shobo on July 9, 2008. As of March 2011, a total of six manga volumes are available.

Volume listing

No.	English release date	English ISBN
1	July 9, 2008	978-4047125582
2	November 10, 2008	978-4047125773
3	August 9, 2009	978-4047126152
4	January 9, 2010	978-4047126442
5	2010	978-4047126930
6	February 9, 2011	978-4047127104

Drama CD

A drama CD in which the story is based on the first volume of GosickS, was released on April 21, 2006.

Anime

Gosick was adapted into a 24-episode anime television series by Bones under the direction of Hitoshi Nanba and script supervision by Mari Okada. The series began its original broadcast run on TV Tokyo on January 8, 2011. However, episode 11 and afterward was on hold after a 9.0 earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on March 11, but has since begun broadcasting again. The media streaming website Crunchyroll is also simulcasting the anime series to audiences in Africa, Europe, North and South American, the Middle East, and southeast Asia.

Two pieces of theme music are used for the opening and closing. The opening theme is "Destin Histoire" by yoshiki☆lisa and was released on March 2, 2011. From episodes one to twelve, the ending theme is "Resuscitated Hope" by Komine Lisa and was released on April 27, 2011. From episodes thirteen onwards, the ending theme is "unity", also by Komine Lisa.

Episode list

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No.	Title	Original airdate

Reception

Anime News Network's Carlo Santos commends the first volume of light novels for "a mysterious, elegant atmosphere and an intricate plotline make this a thrilling read from start to finish". However, he criticises the light novels for "flashback scenes [that] never really fit in". He also mentions that "the final conclusion is rather far-fetched"

External links

• Official Website Template:Ja icon
• Official TV Tokyo Website Template:Ja icon
• Gosick (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia