The appeal and reviews of "RUN=DIM": Exploring the depths of a story that keeps on running

"RUN=DIM": Future robot battles meet youth

The 2001 TV anime series RUN=DIM is based on the manga by Shingo Kuwana and is a story of futuristic robot battles and coming-of-age drama. The anime aired on TV Tokyo from April 1st to June 24th, 2001, with a total of 13 episodes. It was directed by Taisuke Kato, produced by Alpha Broadcasting, and had character designs by Hiromi Furuhara and Sayuri Suzuki.

Story and worldview

"RUN=DIM" is set in the year 2051, when robot battles on Earth, known as "RB," have become a popular sport. The protagonist, Moriguchi Kazuto, is a 14-year-old boy who dreams of piloting an RB built by his father. Together with his friends, he grows as he overcomes various obstacles. The story follows Kazuto and his friends as they take on RB matches and deepen their bonds with each other.

The appeal of this work is that it combines future technology with the drama of youth. While RB's battle scenes are powerful and draw the viewer in, the human drama of the characters' growth, friendship, and romance, such as Kazuto and Asou Kanna, is also carefully depicted. This allows the viewer to enjoy the story while empathizing with the characters' feelings and growth, rather than just watching a battle anime.

Character Introduction

Below are details about the main characters:

Kazuto Moriguchi

Date of birth: December 15, 2037 Age: 14 Height: 154cm
Weight: 41kg

Kazuto is a little absent-minded, but has a strong personality. He is a bright and healthy boy whose dream for the future is to ride the RB built by his father. He has a strong sense of justice and is willing to understand that wrongdoing is wrong. He also shows an interest in the opposite sex, typical of a 14-year-old.

Kanna Asou

Date of birth: December 14, 2037 Age: 14 Height: 155cm
Weight: Unknown

Kanna is a competitive and strong-willed girl. She is lively and a bit of a tomboy, and sometimes competes with boys. However, in reality, she is a normal girl with a pure and romantic heart, waiting for her prince charming.

Ken Muller

Date of birth: November 9, 2033 Age: 18 Height: 176cm
Weight: 68kg

Ken is the ace player of Green Frontier, and the Randym he controls shows smooth and beautiful movements. He is said to be the closest human to a true AI, and is attracted to Kazuto Moriguchi's talent.

Yu Mirai

Date of birth: February 25, 2038 Age: 14 Height: 148cm
Weight: Unknown

Mirai is a 14-year-old GF pilot with exceptional talent. She is a quiet, mysterious girl whose thoughts are hard to discern, and she has a pale blue flame deep in her eyes.

Ian Konno

Date of birth: May 5, 2036 Age: 16 Height: 164cm
Weight: Unknown

Ian is a normal girl who is considerate, graceful, cute, and kind to those around her. However, she also has a dangerous side, where she sometimes stares off into the distance and talks to herself.

Hiroshi Ohira

Date of birth: March 24, 2024 Age: 28 Height: 188cm
Weight: 97kg

Ohira is the commander of the RB unit at JESAS base and a strict instructor who leads the young pilots. He loves Jesus and wants to bring back the vitality that was there before.

Rie Koizumi

Date of birth: May 21, 2028 Age: 24 Height: 174cm
Weight: Unknown

Rie is a newspaper reporter, a woman who is curious about everything and eloquent. Because of her intense curiosity, she always finds herself getting into trouble wherever she gets involved, but despite her bad mouth, she also has a kind side and cannot abandon people in trouble.

Anime production and staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of RUN=DIM. The original story and script were written by Kuwana Shingo, the director was Kato Taisuke, and the character designs were by Furuhara Hiromi and Suzuki Sayuri. The mechanic and background designs were by Sugimoto Hirofumi, the animation director was Hwang Hyo-sun, the art director was Park Heung-min, the CG supervisor was Kenneth Shim, the sound director was Kikuta Hiromi, and the music was by Haijima Kuniaki. The producers were Iwata Makiko and Nakamura Sadao, and the animation producer was Go Sang-woo. The animation production was supported by IDEA FACTORY and Digital Dream Studios, and the production was handled by TV Tokyo and Alpha Broadcasting.

cast

The voice actors for the main characters are as follows:

• Kazuto Moriguchi: Yuki Miyata
• Kanna Aso: Moyu Arishima
• Shun Saeki: Takeshi Kusao
• Konno Ian: Mami Kanetsuki
• Shinpei Miyauchi: Kazuya Nakai
• Masao Yoshioka: Kentaro Ito
• Honda Jin: Morikubo Shoutarou
• Yu Nojima: Shinji Kawada
• Ken Mueller: Ryotaro Okiayu
• Yuu Mirai: Miki Nagasawa
• Souichi Yagihara: The Galaxy

Episodes and subtitles

The 13 episodes and their subtitles are as follows:

• EPISODE 1: Conformists, set (2001/04/01)
• EPISODE 2: The First Battle (2001/04/08)
• EPISODE 3: The Third Assassin (2001/04/15)
• EPISODE 4: Fate (2001/04/22)
• EPISODE 5: Invasion (2001/04/29)
• EPISODE 6: Yesterday, Today (2001/05/06)
• EPISODE 7: I Believe in You (2001/05/13)
• EPISODE 8: The Distance That Won't Close (2001/05/20)
• EPISODE 9: e4, Launch (2001/05/27)
• EPISODE 10: Pursuit (2001/06/03)
• EPISODE 11: What gets across, what doesn't? (2001/06/10)
• EPISODE 12: Comrades Charge (2001/06/17)
• EPISODE 13: Justice in the Heart (2001/06/24)

Theme songs and music

Details of the opening and ending themes are as follows:

Opening Theme

"Legend"
Lyrics: Satomi Arimori Composition: LEGOLGEL with Takeo Mirazu Singer: LEGOLGEL

Ending Theme

Heaven Knows
Lyrics: Murano Chokkyu Composition: Sumiyoshi Naka Arrangement: NOV
Sung by: Nana Mizuki

Anime reviews and impressions

"RUN=DIM" is highly acclaimed for its fusion of futuristic robot battles and youth drama. The RB battle scenes in particular are visually very appealing and have the power to draw viewers in. In addition, the human drama of character growth, friendship, and romance is carefully depicted, deeply moving viewers.

The strength of this anime lies in the personalities and growth of its characters, including the main character, Moriguchi Kazuto. Kazuto is a little absent-minded, but has a strong sense of justice and is portrayed as standing up to difficulties together with his friends. The charms of each character, such as Asou Kanna's competitive nature and Ken Mueller's admiration for talent, enrich the story.

Furthermore, the music is also an element that enhances the appeal of this anime. The opening theme "Legend" is impressive with LEGOLGEL's powerful singing voice and Takeo Mirazu's composition, and the ending theme "Heaven Knows" features Nana Mizuki's beautiful singing voice that enhances the lingering impression of the story. These songs help the viewer to immerse themselves in the story.

Recommendations and related works

For viewers who enjoyed "RUN=DIM," we also recommend the following works:

"Mobile Suit Gundam" series

The "Mobile Suit Gundam" series is also recommended as a work depicting robot battles and human drama. In particular, "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED" and "Mobile Suit Gundam 00" have in common with "RUN=DIM" in that they intertwine future technology and youth drama.

"Evangelion" series

"Neon Genesis Evangelion" and "Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time" are works that will resonate with fans of "RUN=DIM" as they depict giant robots and the drama of youth. In particular, they share a common theme of carefully portraying the psychological state and growth of their characters.

"Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion"

"Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion" is a work that depicts the drama of future technology and youth, and can be recommended to fans of "RUN=DIM". In particular, they have in common the rich depiction of human drama, such as the protagonist's growth, friendship, and romance.

summary

"RUN=DIM" is an anime that deeply touches viewers as a work depicting future robot battles and youth drama. The human drama of the growth, friendship, and love of the characters, including the main character Kazuto Moriguchi, is carefully depicted, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the story. In addition, RB's battle scenes are visually very attractive and have the power to draw viewers in. The opening theme "Legend" and the ending theme "Heaven Knows" also enhance the appeal of the story. For viewers who enjoyed this anime, we also recommend the "Mobile Suit Gundam" series, the "Evangelion" series, and "Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion". "RUN=DIM" will be loved by many viewers as a work that intertwines future technology and youth drama.