Yuki Yuna Is a Hero
Yuki Yuna Is a Hero | |
![]() Promotional image for the series featuring the main characters. | |
結城友奈は勇者である (Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru) | |
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Genre | Dark fantasy,[1] magical girl[2] |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Seiji Kishi |
Written by | Makoto Uezu Takahiro |
Music by | Keiichi Okabe Monaca |
Studio | Studio Gokumi |
Licensed by | |
Original network | MBS, TBS, CBC, BS-TBS |
Original run | October 16, 2014 – December 25, 2014 |
Episodes | 12 |
Print media | |
| |
Video game | |
Developer | Minato Soft |
Genre | Visual novel |
Platform | Windows |
Released |
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Video game | |
Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru: Jukai no Kioku | |
Developer | FuRyu |
Genre | Action |
Platform | PlayStation Vita |
Released |
|
Video game | |
Developer | Minato Soft |
Genre | Visual novel |
Platform | Windows |
Released |
|
Anime film series | |
Yuki Yuna wa Yūsha-bu Shozoku | |
Studio | W-Toon Studio |
Released | March 18, 2017 (part 1) April 15, 2017 (part 2) July 8, 2017 (part 3) |
Runtime | 7 minutes each |
Anime television series | |
Yuki Yuna is a Hero: Washio Sumi Chapter | |
Directed by | Seiji Kishi (chief director) Daisei Fukuoka |
Written by | Makoto Uezu |
Music by | Keiichi Okabe Monaca |
Studio | Studio Gokumi |
Licensed by | Amazon.com (streaming) |
Original network | MBS, TBS, CBC, BS-TBS, AT-X |
Original run | October 6, 2017 – November 17, 2017 Theatrical screening March 18, 2017 (part 1) April 15, 2017 (part 2) July 8, 2017 (part 3) |
Episodes | 7 |
Anime television series | |
Yuki Yuna is a Hero: Hero Chapter | |
Directed by | Seiji Kishi (chief director) Daisei Fukuoka |
Written by | Makoto Uezu Takahiro |
Music by | Keiichi Okabe Monaca |
Studio | Studio Gokumi |
Licensed by | Amazon.com (streaming) |
Original network | MBS, TBS, CBC, BS-TBS, AT-X |
Original run | November 24, 2017 – January 5, 2018 |
Episodes | 6 |
Yuki Yuna is a Hero (結城友奈は勇者である, Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru) is a 12-episode Japanese anime television series produced by Studio Gokumi and directed by Seiji Kishi as part of a media project called Takahiro IV Project. The series aired in Japan between October 16 and December 25, 2014 on MBS. The anime has been licensed by Pony Canyon's North American label Ponycan USA. Multiple light novel and manga series have been published by ASCII Media Works. A PlayStation Vita video game was released in Japan in February 2015. A visual novel for Windows was released in December 2014 with the first DVD and Blu-ray Disc volume for the anime, with a second released with the sixth volume in May 2015. A second anime season project, consisting of an adaptation of a prequel light novel and a sequel series, ran between March 2017 and January 2018.
Plot
The story takes place on the Japanese island Shikoku in the fictional city of Sanshu, based on the real-life city of Kan'onji in Kagawa Prefecture,[3] in the 300th year of the Era of the Gods (神世紀, Shinseiki).[4] Yūna, Mimori, Fū, and Itsuki are all members of the Sanshu Middle School Hero Club (讃州中学勇者部, Sanshū Chūgaku Yūsha-bu), dedicating themselves to helping those that request help. One day in their regular daily lives, the Hero Club members are suddenly caught in an explosion of light and transported to a strange forest, where they encounter mysterious monsters known as Vertex which seek to destroy the Shinju (神樹, "Divine Tree"), the guardian deity which protects and blesses humanity. Using a special phone application granted by Taisha, an organization dedicated to the Shinju, Yuna and her friends must transform into "heroes" with magical powers to protect their world from imminent destruction.
Characters
- Yuna Yuki (結城 友奈, Yūki Yūna)
- Voiced by: Haruka Terui[5] (Japanese); Xanthe Huynh[6] (English)
- A second-year in middle school and member of the Hero Club. She prides herself on being a hero, helping out others in need and always remaining optimistic. She uses armored fists for powerful close-range combat during her hero form and has a cow-like familiar named Gyūki (牛鬼) who, unlike the other familiars, likes to roam freely; she later gets another, cat-like familiar named Kasha (火車). As a result of using her Mankai form, she loses her sense of taste. Later, she uses the Mankai form for a second time and loses the use of her legs. Having fallen into a coma due to her efforts, she regains consciousness after Mimori's voice reaches her. She soon recovers and regains her sense of taste and the ability to walk.
- Mimori Togo (東郷 美森, Tōgō Mimori) / Sumi Washio (鷲尾 須美, Washio Sumi)
- Voiced by: Suzuko Mimori[5] (Japanese); Erika Harlacher[6] (English)
- Yūna's best friend and fellow classmate and club member who lives next door to her and often prefers to be called by her family name. Mimori takes pride in her national heritage and is always ready to defend her country and protect its people. She had lost the use of her legs, along with some of her memories, allegedly due to a car accident. In her hero form, she uses guns and sniping rifles for long-range combat and her ribbons serve as appendages for moving around. She also has three familiars, Gyōbudanuki (刑部狸), Aobōzu (青坊主), and Shiranui (不知火). Later, she gets another familiar named Kawabataru (川蛍). As a result of using her Mankai form, she loses her hearing in her left ear. Like the rest of her Hero Club friends, she recovers after the events of the final episode and regains her memory and the ability to walk.
- Prior to the events of the series, she was adopted under the name of Sumi Washio and fought alongside her elementary school classmates Sonoko and Gin. She originally used a bow and arrow in her hero form but later upgraded to a silver rifle. The loss of her legs and memory were actually a result of her using Mankai twice, after which she was returned to her original family and relocated next to Yūna due to her high affinity. Upon meeting Sonoko again, she learns both the truth about the Hero System and the true nature of Shinju.
- Fu Inubozaki (犬吠埼 風, Inubōzaki Fū)
- Voiced by: Yumi Uchiyama[5] (Japanese); Erica Mendez[6] (English)
- A third-year in middle school and the president of the Hero Club. She is the older sister of Itsuki, who she has been looking after following the death of their parents. She is knowledgeable about Shinju and the Vertex and was the one who gave her fellow members the app needed to fight against the Vertex. She uses a large sword in her hero form and her familiar is Inugami (犬神). Later she gets another familiar named Kamaitachi (鎌鼬). As a result of using her Mankai form, she loses vision in her left eye, but regains it back after the events of the final episode. It is also revealed that her parents were killed by Vertex, and as such her original motivation for fighting Vertex was for revenge. Details about the exact situation of her parents' death were not given.
- Itsuki Inubozaki (犬吠埼 樹, Inubōzaki Itsuki)
- Voiced by: Tomoyo Kurosawa[5] (Japanese); Brianna Knickerbocker[6] (English)
- A first-year in middle school and member of the Hero Club. She is Fū's younger sister and respects her dearly. She uses vines to attack her enemies in her hero form and her familiar is Kodama (木霊). Later, she gets another familiar named Ungaikyō (雲外鏡) As a result of using her Mankai form, she loses her voice, but regains it after the events of the final episode.
- Karin Miyoshi (三好 夏凛, Miyoshi Karin)
- Voiced by: Juri Nagatsuma (Japanese); Sarah Anne Williams[6] (English)
- An experienced, but somewhat stubborn hero who transfers into Yūna and Mimori's class and joins the Hero Club to supervise the other heroes. She uses a pair of katanas in her hero form and her familiar is Yoshiteru (義輝, voiced by: Kaneta Kimotsuki). In episode 11, as a result of using Mankai four times, she loses the use of her right arm, right leg, her hearing and vision, but later regains them after the events of the final episode.
- Sonoko Nogi (乃木 園子, Nogi Sonoko)
- Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa (Japanese); Christine Marie Cabanos (English)
- Mimori's classmate during elementary school who first appears in Washio Sumi wa Yūsha de Aru and uses a large trident in her hero form. She nicknamed Mimori "Wasshī". As a result of using Mankai twenty times, she loses the use of most of her limbs and becomes unable to move, and afterwards is put in direct supervision of Taisha as a trump card. She later appears in the anime series, where she informs Yūna and Mimori about the truth behind the Hero System. After the events of the final episode, she is shown to have regained her lost body functions and later joins the Hero Club.
- Gin Minowa (三ノ輪 銀, Minowa Gin)
- Voiced by: Yumiri Hanamori
- Mimori and Sonoko's classmate during elementary school who appears in Washio Sumi wa Yūsha de Aru and uses a pair of large blades in her hero form. She dies protecting Mimori and Sonoko, prompting Taisha to change the Hero System, implementing faeries and Mankai. Her terminal is eventually given to Karin.
Media
A prequel light novel titled Washio Sumi wa Yūsha de Aru (鷲尾須美は勇者である, lit. Washio Sumi is a Hero), written by Takahiro and illustrated by Bunbun, was serialized in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Magazine between April 30, 2014[7] and November 29, 2014.[8] The novel takes place two years before the anime's time frame.[9] Another light novel series, titled Nogi Wakaba wa Yūsha de Aru (乃木若葉は勇者である, lit. Nogi Wakaba is a Hero), written by Aoi Akashiro and illustrated by Bunbun, began serialization in Dengeki G's Magazine on July 30, 2015.[10] Nogi Wakaba takes place 300 years before the anime's time frame during the first Vertex attack on the world. It follows Sonoko Nogi's ancestor, Wakaba Nogi as its protagonist and the first Shikoku hero team consisting of her, Hinata Uesato, Yūna Takashima, Chikage Kōri, Tamako Doi and Anzu Iyojima.[11] Another light novel written by Akashiro, Kusunoki Mebuki wa Yūsha de Aru, began serialization in Dengeki G's Magazine on June 30, 2017.[12]
A manga adaptation of Washio Sumi wa Yūsha de Aru, illustrated by Mottsun*, began serialization in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Comic from June 30, 2014.[13] A manga titled Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha-bu Shozoku (結城友奈は勇者部所属, lit. Yūki Yūna is a Hero Club Member), written by Takahiro and illustrated by Kotamaru, began serialization in Dengeki G's Magazine from July 30, 2014. The first volume of a third manga, titled Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru and illustrated by Tōko Kanno, was released on November 27, 2014.[8] Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru later started serialization in Dengeki G's Comic on December 26, 2014.[14][15]
Anime
The 12-episode anime television series is produced by Studio Gokumi and directed by Seiji Kishi.[16] Planned by Takahiro, the anime's screenplay is written by Makoto Uezu, and the character design is provided by Takahiro Sakai. The series aired in Japan on MBS between October 16 and December 25, 2014 and was simulcast by Crunchyroll. The opening theme is "Hoshi to Hana" (ホシトハナ, Star and Flower) and the ending theme is "Aurora Days"; both are performed by Sanshū Chūgaku Yūsha-bu (Haruka Terui, Suzuko Mimori, Yumi Uchiyama, Tomoyo Kurosawa, and Juri Nagatsuma). The ending theme for episode four (acoustic version) and episode nine is "Inori no Uta" (祈りの歌, Song of Prayer) by Tomoyo Kurosawa. The anime has been licensed by Pony Canyon's North American label Ponycan USA and released the series with an English dub on Blu-ray Disc and DVD from April 10, 2015.[17][18][19][20]
A second anime season was released in 2017 and consists of two parts; The Washio Sumi Chapter (鷲尾須美の章, Washio Sumi no Shō), an adaptation of the Washio Sumi is a Hero light novels, and Hero Chapter (勇者の章, Yūsha no Shō), which takes place after the first season. The Washio Sumi Chapter was first released as three theatrical films between March 18 and July 8, 2017 before airing as six television episodes between October 6 and November 10, 2017, followed by a recap of the first season which aired on November 17, 2017.[21] Hero Chapter, which consists of six television episodes, aired between November 24, 2017 and January 5, 2018.[22] Both parts were simulcast in North America by Anime Strike.[23] Three short films produced by W-Toon Studio, based on the spin-off manga, Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha-bu Shozoku, were screened alongside each The Washio Sumi Chapter film.[24]
Video games
Two visual novels for Windows, developed by Minato Soft and featuring scenarios written by Takahiro and Osamu Murata, are bundled with the first and sixth DVD and Blu-ray Disc volumes of the anime series released on December 17, 2014 and May 20, 2015, respectively. Each visual novel features ten different scenarios original to the game and is fully voiced by the original cast. The graphics are handled by Studio Gokumi.[25][26] An action video game developed by FuRyu titled Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru: Jukai no Kioku (結城友奈は勇者である 樹海の記憶, lit. Yūna Yūki is a Hero: Memories of the Tree Sea) was released on February 26, 2015 for the PlayStation Vita.[27][28] A mobile game titled Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru: Hanayui no Kirameki was released on June 8, 2017 for iOS and Android.[29]
Reception
The first Japanese Blu-ray volume opened as the week's eight best selling animation Blu-ray, with 4,781 copies,[30] and remained on the sales charts for an additional four weeks, selling 10,373 copies in total.[31][32][33][34] Each volume of the series has charted highly on Oricon list.[35][36][37] Volume five charted at No. 1 on sales list, with 6,422 copies,[38] whereas the sixth and final volume placed second, with 7,626 copies.[39] Yuki Yuna is a Hero was the 15th-best selling animation BD in Japan of 2015's half yearly sales list, having earned 58,961 copies in total.[40]
The first film ranked No. 1 on the mini-theater rankings in Japan.[41] The second film also ranked No. 1 on the mini-theater rankings when it was released, outselling the first film.[42]
References
- ^ "ダークファンタジーまとめ" (in Japanese). Akiba Souken. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- ^ Farris, Cristopher (December 21, 2017). "How Yuki Yuna is a Hero Challenges Madoka Magica's Legacy". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- ^ "Yuki Yuna is a Hero" Fights for Local Tourism in Kan'onji City". Crunchyroll. February 24, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
- ^ Project 2H. "Story". Studio Gokumi. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d Project 2H. "Staff/Cast". Original TV animation "YUKI YUNA wa Yusha de aru" (Yuki Yuna is a Hero) Official Site. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d e "Xanthe Huynh, Erika Harlacher Star in Yuki Yuna is a Hero English Dub Cast". Anime News Network. April 4, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
- ^ "電撃G'sマガジン2014年6月号" [Dengeki G's Magazine June 2014 issue] (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- ^ a b "TVアニメ『結城友奈は勇者である』関東&中部は本日放送!&コミック版1巻の表紙できましたー!" (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. November 8, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ "Story" (in Japanese). Project 2H. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- ^ "『乃木若葉は勇者である』ティザーサイトOPEN!" (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. June 30, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ^ "キャラクター紹介 | 乃木若葉は勇者である公式サイト" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ^ "Yuki Yuna is a Hero Franchise Launches New Spinoff Novel". Anime News Network. July 13, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ "電撃G'sコミック(3) 2014年8月号" [Dengeki G's Comic (3) August 2014 issue] (in Japanese). Tohan Corporation. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ "電撃G'sコミックVol.9" [Dengeki G's Comic Vol. 9] (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. Archived from the original on January 7, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
- ^ "電撃G'sコミック Vol.9" [Dengeki G's Comic Vol. 9] (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
- ^ "Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru Anime by Akame ga Kill! Writer Announced". Anime News Network. July 31, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
- ^ "Pony Canyon Company Expands to US Market". Anime News Network. September 25, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
- ^ "Pony Canyon Will Release Yuki Yuna is a Hero, Denki-Gai no Honya-san in North America". Anime News Network. January 8, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ "Yuki Yuna is a Hero Will Get English Dub". Anime News Network. January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
- ^ "Interview: Kazuyoshi Fukuba, Executive Director of Pony Canyon". Anime News Network. March 3, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- ^ "Yuki Yuna Is a Hero: Washio Sumi Chapter Anime's Teaser Video Reveals Cast, Staff". Anime News Network. November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ "Yuki Yuna Is a Hero TV Anime Gets 2nd Season in 2017". Anime News Network. October 23, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ^ "Anime Strike Announces Fall Streaming Schedule". Crunchyroll. October 3, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
- ^ "Yuki Yuna is a Hero 4-Panel Spinoff Manga Gets Theatrical Anime". Anime News Network. November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ "Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru Anime Gets PC Game Bundled With Home Video Releases". Anime News Network. October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
- ^ "Yuki Yuna is a Hero Anime Bundles 2nd PC Game". Anime News Network. February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
- ^ "Yuki Yuna Wa Yusha De Aru Getting Vita Game From Unchained Blades Maker". Siliconera. October 17, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
- ^ "Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru Anime Gets PS Vita Game". Anime News Network. October 17, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
- ^ "The "Yuki Yuna" Countdown Was for a Game -- And Here It Is!". Crunchyroll. March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
- ^ "Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, December 15-21". Anime News Network. December 23, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, December 22-28". Anime News Network. December 30, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, December 29-January 4". Anime News Network. January 6, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, January 5-11". Anime News Network. January 13, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, January 12-18". Anime News Network. January 20, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, January 19-25". Anime News Network. January 27, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, February 16-22". Anime News Network. March 3, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, March 16-22". Anime News Network. March 24, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, April 13-19". Anime News Network. April 21, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, May 18-24". Anime News Network. May 26, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Top-Selling Animation in Japan by Title: 2015 (First Half)". Anime News Network. June 17, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ "Precure Dream Stars! Film Opens at #5, but Kuroko's Basketball Earns More". Anime News Netework. March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
- ^ "Yuki Yuna Is a Hero: Washio Sumi Chapter's 2nd Anime Film Outsells 1st, Ranks #1 in Mini-Theaters". Anime News Network. April 19, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
External links
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