Blood+

Blood+
	File:Blood plus logo.jpg Blood+ Logo
Genre	Horror, Action, Drama, Mystery, Supernatural
Anime
Blood+
Directed by	Jun'ichi Fujisaku
Studio	Production I.G
Related
	Blood: The Last Vampire

Blood+ is an anime series based on the animated movie, Blood: The Last Vampire.

It started airing in Japan (on MBS, TBS, RKB, etc.) on October 8, 2005 (on CBC, etc. on October 15, 2005). The series is also available as internet high resolution streaming video provided by AII.co.jp for Japanese internet users on a subscription basis. Sony Pictures Entertainment has already released Vol.1 Region 2 (Japan) DVD (Ep. 1-2). Vol. 2 (Ep.3-6) will be available on 25/1/2006.

Although there isn't an exact announcement date, Blood+ was licensed for distribution in a number of international markets, including North America (Region 1), by Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) ^[1]. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will distribute the title in North America.

Settings

The series is initially set in present day (September 2005) Okinawa City (Koza), on Okinawa Island, near the US Kadena Air Base. It picks up a few decades after the events of Blood: The Last Vampire. Under the care of her adoptive family, Saya has been living the life of a seemingly normal girl. She did not remember anything of her past self and deeds, or even her origins, until the day she had to resume her fight against the chiroptera, and her memories start to surface.

The Chiroptera are bat-like creatures whose origin are not known. They possess superhuman strength, speed and regenerating ability. They are also capable of flight by metamorphosing their forelimbs into wings. In the film Blood: The Last Vampire, Saya notes that using an efficient slicing weapon to cause profuse bleeding is the only way to defeat them. This is later changed in the series to include the ability of Saya's blood to kill them, although decapitating them also seems to work.

Characters

Template:Spoiler-blank (I) - Production I.G. Spellings; (M) - Blood.tv Spellings; (S) - On-screen Spellings (F) - Dominant Fansub Spellings

Saya's Friends & Family

Otonashi Saya (I,M) - Saya appears to be a high school girl living a normal life on the Japanese island of Okinawa. She is adopted and has no memory of her life before one year ago. However, she does suffer from some flashbacks of images from her fighting Chiroptera in the Vietnam War and in 1920's Russia. But her oldest memories are from a 19th century mansion in France. She was "born" in 1833 from a cocoon like object taken from a mummy of a Chiropteran along with another cocoon containing Diva, despite her outward appearance of a young teenage girl. Whenever her and Diva's blood mix, they crystallize and disenigrate. She is a skilled athlete and her weapon of choice is a sword specially designed to spread her blood through its entire blade, making it a deadly weapon for the Chiroptera made from Diva's blood. It's broken by Amshel, but she acquires a new one with a red crystal at the base of its blade. She is also a Chiropteran herself, but she spends many years sleeping in a cocoon, only awaking for a few years before sleeping for decades.
Hagi (I,M,S) (Haji) - He is partly instrumental in Saya's "awakening" and his right arm is covered in bandages, hiding some Chiropteran features. Hagi first met Saya when he was a child and was bought by Joel be her companion and to hopefully mate and create more specimens. But one day after he fell from a cliff, Saya gave him a bit of her own blood, unwittingly turning him into her "Chevalier." Since then, his single wish is to serve and protect her. Saya was the one who taught Hagi to play the cello, but it did not take long for him to surpass her. He is often seen with a cello case in which he hides Saya's sword. Much like how Saya looks eternally young, Hagi appears to be in his early twenties even though he has been around since the 19th century. It was implied in episode 28 that for some reason he doesn't believe he will be around forever.
George Miyagusuku (I,M) - An Okinawan-American US Army veteran, he served in the Vietnam War and now lives on Okinawa with his adopted children Saya, Kai, and Riku. He lost his wife and biological children in an accident years before. Later in the series, after becoming a Chiropteran himself, he asks Saya to kill him, and she reluctantly does so.

File:Ep 08 - 02.JPG

Kai

Kai Miyagusuku (I,M) - Saya's step-brother. Kai is one of the most popular students at school and a star athlete. He stopped playing baseball when one of his arms sustained an injury. Since George's death, he tried his best to keep his family united, but just when he was getting used to the fact that their relatives aren't human, Riku was killed, and Saya disappeared.Since the destruction of the red shield, he has been living with Lewis and David in an orphan home in London, actively hunting chiropterans with Lewis
Riku Miyagusuku (I,M) - Saya's step-brother. A very obedient and smart boy who loves to cook. For some reason, he could hear Diva's song even before he was turned into a Chevalier, which is something only a Chiroptera can seemingly do. After he was attacked by Diva, Saya had no option but to save his life by turning him into a Chevalier, just like she did with Hagi. Since then, Riku was thought to be developing powers similar to Hagi's and just like him, was compelled to protect Saya at any cost. For some reason, Diva developed an interest in him and in episode 32 during her and Carl's assault on Red Shield HQ, it is implied that she forced herself upon Riku and then "rewarded" him with her blood in return for "something he had given her", which killed him as he is a Chevalier by Saya's blood.
Akihiro Okamura (M) - A reporter working for the local Ryuukyuu Daily (Ryuukyuu Mainichi Shimbun) newspaper
Mao Jahana (M) - Kai's girlfriend and the daughter of the head of the Jahana Yakuza. Worked with Okamura to track down Saya so she could meet up with Kai.

The Red Shield (Goldschmidts)

David (I,M) - David is a member of Red Shield, an organisation formed to track down and destroy Chiroptera and they also carry a red crystal made from Chiroptera on a trinket. He is aware of Saya's past life and wishes to use her in the struggle against the chiroptera. Much like Joel, David is a title bestowed to those entrusted with the task to watch over Saya, but might not be his true name, although it was his fathers, who was the Red Shield operative in Vietnam and possibly seen in Blood: The Last Vampire. He carries a cross.
Julia (I,M) - Julia Silverstein, a medical doctor working for Red Shield Medical Section. She often accompanies David and was Saya's doctor when she was dormant, supervising her regular blood transfusion. She believed her research about the Chiroptera's true nature, and the changes in Riku's body while he is transforming into one, should be used in the Red Shield's war against them, and be destroyed after it. Collins had other plans for it, and her whereabout are currently unknown.
Lewis (I,M) - Another Red Shield operative. He is often responsible for the gadgets and transportation for the operations. He makes many of the meals and also provides most of the comic relief.
Joel (The 6th) (M) - Joel Goldschmidt, current head of the Red Shield. His "diary" is a record of Red Shield's activities since its formation, and also contains information regarding Saya, Diva, the Chevaliers and the Chiroptera. He is related to the man who found Saya and Diva, whose name was also Joel.One year after the attack on the Red Shield HQ he is shown to be confined to a wheelchair having been paralyzed from the waist down after he sustained a serious injury during the attack.
Joel (The 1st) - Joel Goldschmidt, in the 1800s he gathered rare specimens in an estate in Bordeaux named "The Zoo" for his personal studies. One of them was the mysterious creature visibly pregnant and containing Saya and Diva. He separated the sisters after birth, raising Saya as his own daughter, and locking Diva up in a tower, for scientific reasons. He also bought Hagi as Saya's companion hoping to create more specimens. He was killed by Diva after Saya released her from the tower to sing at Joel's birthday party.
Collins - 2nd in command in Red Shield. In charge of researching the Chiroptera with Julia as his assistant. Van Argeno convinced him to betray the Red Shield in order to preserve his research which he believes can be used for the future of mankind.
Kurara (M) (Clara), Spencer (M), Rodgers (M), Makkoi (M) (McCoy) - Red Shield Special Operations Team, who accompanied Saya and David into a Vietnam jungle in an effort to retrieve Diva's container. The mission was a failure, and all four team members were killed.
Liza (M) (Elizaveta, Elizabeta) - Russian Red Shield agent. During her travel in the Trans-Siberian express, she is killed by Amshel, who assumed her place, in order to get closer to Saya.

Cinq Flèches Group (Goldsmiths (S))

The Goldsmiths are a branch of the Goldshmidt family.

Diva (M) - Saya's real sister and sworn greatest enemy of the Red Shield. Confined by the original Joel just after her birth, she spent her first decades of life locked in a tower in the outskirts of his estate. As she was just a guinea pig to Joel she had no name, until she was found by Saya, who named her Diva because of her voice. Diva has been found out to be the one who killed the original Joel in the late 1800's after she tricked Saya to free her from her captivity. The "Delta 67" substance used in the researches involving Chiroptera is obtained from her body, and the top echelons of the Cinq Flèches Group include some of her faithful chevaliers. Just like Saya's blood is a threat to her and her minions' existence, her blood can also destroy Saya and her chevaliers. Her air-headed demeanor (much like a spoiled, naive child) probably is fruit of her secluded childhood. It is speculated (though not confirmed) that in ep 32 that Diva forced herself upon Riku in order to become pregnant.
Amshel (M) (Ansell, Anshel) - Amshel Goldsmith, London Stockbroker. He tried to bring Saya to their side at first, but later was the first one to propose Saya's extermination. He is the oldest and the most powerful of Diva's chevaliers, and used to work with the original Joel Goldshmidt. For some reason he has kept secrets from the others, including the creation of the Sif.
Grigory Efimovich Rasputin/Sonya - The very same Rasputin involved in the historical downfall of Romanov dynasty of Russia. In this fictional account, he survived the assassination attempt in 1916 and took refuge in a village near his hometown. He took the physical form of a young girl named Sonya but was killed by Saya.
Solomon (M,S) - Solomon Goldsmith (S), CEO of Cinq Flèches Group, and Anshel's younger brother. Although he agrees that Saya is now a threat to him and his partners, he harbors strong feelings for her, and always tries to protect her, despite his brother's intentions to destroy her. He is introduced first while dancing with Saya at her dance at the school, but it is quickly revealed that he is a Chevalier. Related to Joel Goldschmidt.
Carl (M) (Karl) - Carl Faion, school governing board chairman and CEO of Vietnamese branch of Cinq Flèches Group. Disguised as his alter ego "The Phantom", Carl was secretly kidnapping girls that looked like Saya in his anguish to meet her someday so they can finish their fight.
James (M) - James Ironside, Navy Officer on board a US aircraft carrier, he is the Cinq Flèches' contact with the US military.
Nathan (M) - Nathan Mahler, Opera director based in New York. Despite being one of Saya's grooms, Nathan seems more interested in Hagi and James.
Vin Argiano (I) or Van Argeno (M) - consultant expert on Chiroptera, in charge of the development of Delta 67. Officially he worked for Solomon, but convinced Amshel to change his position so that he now works under him.

The Schiff (F) (Shifu, Sif)

The Schiff are an unstable balance between Chevaliers & Chiroptera. They were created by a group of scientists led by Boris, under the sponsorship of Amshel Goldsmith. The Schiff (F)differ from the Chevalier and Chiroptera in certain ways. For instance, they cannot bathe in sunlight without being crystalized and consumed by a green flame. But just as Chevaliers and Chiroptera must feed on blood, the Schiff require the same to stop their "Thorn" attribute which crystalizes them if they go without drinking blood. At first they thought the blood of Saya would cure the "Thorn" attribute but they were made from Diva's blood and so, like normal Chiroptera, crystalize when they come in contact with Saya's blood. (The effects of Diva's blood has not yet been confirmed)

Moses (M) - The leader of the Schiff who uses a scythe (F)
Karman (M) - An aggressive individual who is constantly reprimanded by Moses and uses a spear.
Irène (M) - Has the ability to locate Saya regardless of distance. Decided to stop killing and drinking blood, leaving her weakened and is saved from thugs by Kai in Paris. Deceased Ep 29 after Saya agrees to give her some of her blood. Uses a wide-bladed sword
Guy (Gee (F)) - A Schiff (F) with an affinity for the moon. He uses a sort of modified dagger. Deceased Ep 21
Dismas - Female who broke into Cinq Fleches Lab. Used a cleaver Deceased Ep 20
Gestas - Male who broke into Cinq Fleches Lab. Used a halberd Deceased Ep 20
Loulou (Lulu (F)) - A diminutive young girl. Uses an axe
Darth - A mute yet cooperative being. Uses a mace
Jan - A non-descript Schiff (F). Uses a pick-axe Deceased Ep 26
Gudrif - Also mute, wears unusual sunglasses, even at night. Uses a sword

Okinawan Locals

Prof. Hirohisa Sukegawa (S) - Forensic Pathologist at Naha University, conducted autopsy on serial murder victims. His office was raided after Okamura gave him a bottle of Chateau Duel '67 to test the contents.
Kaori Kinjo (I,M) - Saya's best friend at Koza Commerce High School

Vietnam Locals

Ms Lee (M) - School teacher, very strict
Min (M) - Saya's roommate
Annamary (M) (Anne-Marie), Chen, Beni, Alison - students
Mui (M) - Riku's friend, test subject of the Delta 67 Phase 1 trial

Russian Locals

Ted A. Adams (S) and Phillip Rosenberg (S) - MIA Chiropteran scientists, last seen in Ekaterinburg.
Andrei - Ted's son. Somehow he was changed into a chiropteran, and since the Russia experiments were terminated, his body was sealed in a Sverdlovsk facility.

UK Locals

Gray -
Monique, Javier, Nahabi -

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Manga

There is not only one, but three different manga based on Blood+ mythology being published by Kadokawa Shoten.

The official adaptation of the TV series, by Kumiko Suekane, serialized in Monthly "Shonen Ace".
A story focused on Saya and Hagi's past in Russia, by Asuka Katsura, serialized in "Beans Ace".
A Hagi solo story, prior to the events of the TV series, by Hirotaka Kisaragi, serialized in "Ciel".

Episodes

Template:Spoiler-blank Okinawa Arc

1) First Kiss (ファーストキス fāsuto kisu) - Saya leads a normal life as a high school student under the care of her foster family, except that she has no memories of her life before last year.
2) Magic Words (魔法の言葉 mahō no kotoba) - Saya's life has turned upside down since her last encounter with a Chiropteran.
3) The Place Where It All Started (はじまりの場所 hajimari no basho) - David has given George a deadline to hand over Saya back to the Red Shield. George takes Saya to his family grave to show what happened to her one year ago.
4) Dangerous Boy (アブない少年 abunai shōnen) - George is attacked by the second Chiropteran and is severely wounded. Kai goes off with his father's handgun to track down the monster.
5) Towards the Dark Forest (暗い森の向こうへ kurai mori no mukō e) - George has been transferred secretly to a hidden facility in Yanbaru, Northern Okinawa under the authority of the American Forces in Okinawa.
6) Father's Hands (おとうさんの手 otōsan no te) - David, Saya and Hagi infiltrate the Yanbaru Centre to rescue George. Meanwhile the Commander of US Forces on Okinawa has authorized surgical bombing of Yanbaru to remove any incriminating evidence.
7) What I Have to Do (私がやらなきゃ watashi wa yaranakya) - Miyagusuku children are still shocked by the death of their father.

Vietnam Arc

8) The Phantom of the School (ファントム・オブ・ザ・スクール fantomu obu za sukūru) - Saya is given the assignment to infiltrate a Vietnamese boarding school.
9) Every Rainbow (それぞれの虹 sorezore no niji) - Left behind by David, Kai and Riku are searching for Saya in Hanoi.
10) I Want to Meet With You (あなたに会いたい anata ni aitai) - A strange masked man known as the Phantom shows an interest in Saya.
11) After Dance (ダンスのあとで dansu no ato de) - David and Julia are making use of the opportunity provided by the annual Ball held in the boarding school to search for the mysterious container somehow connected to the events in Vietnam 30 years ago.
12) Drawn Into the White Mist (白い霧にさそわれて shiroi kiri ni sasowarete) - The Red Shield has tracked the container to a secret research farm inside the jungle in Vietnam.
13) Jungle Paradise (ジャングル・パラダイス janguru paradaisu) - Under the mysterious influence of the Diva, Saya starts to attack friends and foes just like 30 years ago.

Okinawa Arc - 2

14) The Last Sunday (さいごの日曜日 saigo no nichiyōbi) - The Miyagusuku family returns to Okinawa to say goodbye to their friends.
15) I Want to Pursue! (おいかけたいの! oikaketai no!) - Ever since returning from Vietnam, Journalist Akihiro Okamura is getting more and more obssessed about the events happening around the high school student called Saya and his father's encounter with Chiroptera near Laos border 30 years ago. The plot sequence in this episode was chilling in a way as the Journalist begins connecting the dots towards Saya.

Russia Arc

16) Siberian Express (シベリアンエクスプレス shiberian ekusupuresu) - David, Saya and others enter the Russian port Vladivostok to board the Trans-Siberian express heading for Ekaterinburg, where a key scientist in Chiropteran research was last seen. Two Chiroptera appear out of nowhere on board the train.
17) Do You Remember Your Promise? (約束おぼえてる？ yakusoku oboeteru?) - Hagi, Saya and Riku are separated from the main group after Chiropteran attack. Saya relives in a dream her past life with Hagi in 1920's Russia, tracking down Rasputin, Anastasia and Diva.
18) Moon Over Ekaterinburg (エカテリンブルグの月 ekaterinburugu no tsuki) - David, Lewis and Kai search for a defected Delta-67 scientist leads them to an abandoned nuclear facility in Sverdlovsk-51. Hagu, Saya and Riku have reached Tyumen and by train go to Ekaterinburg.
19) Broken Heart (折れたココロ oreta kokoro) - Saya, Riku and Hagi arrive at Ekaterinburg to rendez-vous with David. Suddenly, Riku falls ill. Liza questions Saya about her true intention to fight the chiroptera.

France Arc

20) Chevaliers (シュヴァリエ shuvarie) - David and the others arrive at the Red Shield HQ. Kai finds out some shocking truth from Joel's diary. In France, Amshel, Solomon, James and Nathan are deciding the fate of Saya.
21) Sour Grapes (すっぱいぶどう suppai budou) - Okamura and Mao are looking for clues about the 67 vintage in Chateau Duel. Saya and Hagi are suddenly hunted by a group of hooded chiroptera known as the Schiff.
22) The Zoo (動物園) - Saya visits ruins of Joel's mansion known as "The Zoo". She recalls her first encounter with Hagi here in her previous life.
23) The Two Chevaliers (ふたりのシュヴァリエ) - David and others arrive at the Zoo. Solomon confronts Saya with his side of story and tries to convince Saya to his side.
24) Gentle Singing Voice (軽やかなる歌声) - Saya confronts Diva after Riku was lured into the bell tower by Diva's singing voice.
25) The Red Shield (赤い盾) - Okamura and Mao arrive at the Zoo only to find a broken sword left behind. Saya is returning to Red Shield HQ with the wounded Riku.
26) Servants Of Saya (サヤに従うもの）- Riku's eyes are now open and he is wondering about his newfound properties, such as why he thinks about Saya constantly and an unquenchable thirst.
27) Paris, Je t'aime (パリ・ジュテーム) - In Paris, the weakened Irene seeks help from Kai.
28) Limited Existence (限りあるもの) - While the Red Shield is preparing for another attack by the Sif, Okamura and Mao suddenly appear.
29) Cursed Blood (呪われた血) - Saya agrees to share her blood with Irene. After drinking her blood, Irene's body begins to crystallize.
30) Joel's Diary (ジョエルの日記) - Saya visits Joel's Room in the Red Shield HQ and learns about her and Diva's beginnings and the 1972 tragedy in Vietnam from Joel's Diary.
31) The Shield to be Broken (壊れゆく盾) - Solomon informs David about the Chevaliers' plans to attack the Red Shield HQ.
32) Boy Meets Girl (ボーイ・ミーツ・ガール) - The Red Shield HQ is under attack from Diva and Carl and Red Shield members are falling one by one. Saya is fighting against Carl. While Kai is about to escape with David and others, the Chevalier blocks their way out. Joel decides to sink the Red Shield ship.

UK Arc

33) The Power of Believing (信じるチカラ) - It has been one year since Saya and Hagi went missing during the attack of the Red Shield HQ. Kai escaped to London and is living in a shelter for war orphans with Gray, an ex-military and former David's instructor.David has become despondent since the attack while Kai has been hunting chiropterans during the one year. The episode ends with Saya's appearance after Lewis and Kai were sorely outnumbered in a battle with 3 chiropterans.
34) The World We Are In (俺達のいる世界) - Kai finds Saya staggering. As he tries to carry Saya back to Gray's place, they are suddenly attacked by chiroptera.
35) Tomorrow without Hope (希望のない明日) - The Sifs are forced into a hard fight with Chevalier James and a masked man. Loulou seeks help from Saya.
36) Mismatched Feelings (すれちがう想い) - Diva is preparing for her performance at the Royal Opera House. There, the Chevaliers are setting up a trap for Saya and Hagi. David infiltrates Cinq Flèches research facilities and finds Julia there.
37) Until Going Crazy (狂おしいまでに) - Kai invites Saya to a party at Gray's House. At the same time, Carl leads the Corpse Corp without Anshel's permission for a showdown with Saya.

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Music

Opening

青空のナミダ (Aozora no NAMIDA) by Hitomi Takahashi(1-13)
SEASON’S CALL by HYDE (14-25)
Colors of the Heart by UVERworld (26-38/39?)

The official Blood+ website officially announced Jinn will be performing the fourth opening theme set to air in July around TV episode 38 or 39.

Ending

語り継ぐこと (Kataritsugu koto) by Chitose Hajime(1-13)
CRY NO MORE by Mika Nakashima(14-25)
This Love by Angela Aki (26-38/39?)

Blood+ website also disclosed that the fourth ending theme will also air in July around episode 38 or 39 and performed by a South Korean artist by the name of K.

References

^ Blood+ Licensed: 01/23/2006 @ Anime News Network

Links

Official website
MBS BLOOD+ website
Production I.G official English website
Blood+ general info Listing in the Anime News Network's anime encyclopedia
Episode by Episode Synopsis on the Random Curiosity blog
AnimeStocks.com - Large Anime Gallery, many HQ Blood+ images fansite