The appeal and reviews of "Tokyo Underground": A thorough analysis of an adventure in the underground world

Tokyo Underground - A passionate and friendly underground adventure

The TV anime series "Tokyo Underground" that aired in 2002 was loved by many fans, as it was originally a popular manga by Akinobu Yuraku. It was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April 2nd to September 24th, 2002, in a 30-minute time slot every Tuesday from 6:30pm to 7:00pm, with a total of 26 episodes. Animation was produced by Pierrot, and the director was Yuto Date.

story

The story begins when Asagi Rumina, an undefeated fighting champion about to enter high school, and her childhood friend Isuzu Ginnosuke, a machine-loving girl, meet two mysterious women, Ruri Sarasa and Chelsea Lorek, who have escaped from the underground world. Ruri and Chelsea say they have escaped from a forgotten world deep beneath Tokyo. Chelsea can control gravity, while Ruri has the power of "anti-soul," and Rumina and the others are astonished by their abilities. However, this encounter will greatly change Rumina's fate.

character

The protagonist, Asagi Rumina, was trained by her grandfather from an early age, and was feared as an undefeated fighting champion in her junior high school days. When she entered high school, she made a fresh start, determined to find a kind girlfriend and live a "rosy school life", but she got into trouble while hiding Ruri and Chelsea, and she also awakened to her own "wind power". The hot-blooded and impulsive Rumina fell in love with Ruri at first sight, and headed for the underground world with Chelsea and Ginnosuke.

Chelsea Lorek is Ruri's bodyguard. Upon learning of the secret plan of the underground secret organization "Company," she escaped to the surface with Ruri. She has the ability to manipulate gravity, and is the one who created the huge hole in Rumina's garden. Chelsea is driven by her pure desire to protect Ruri, but her competitive and competitive nature often leads to fights with Rumina.

Ruri Sarasa is a girl known in the underground world as the "Priestess of Life" and has the ability of "anti-soul." This ability is unique and only possessed by the Priestess of Life, and is said to be an unknown power. Although it is still an unstable ability, Ruri's ability is absolutely necessary for Koushi's plan.

Ginnosuke Isuzu is Rumina's childhood friend and has a kind personality with a knack for science and machines. In contrast to Rumina, he's not good at fighting or combat, but he's the only person who can stop her rampage. His trademark is his thick, spiral-shaped glasses, and although he doesn't show any surprising powers when he takes them off, he's still a reliable presence.

Other characters with unique personalities include Pyron, the company's number two, Seki, who has the power of fire, Ciel Messiah, who has the power of lightning, Rou, who has the power of magnetism, and Tail Ashford, who has the power of water. Each character has their own unique abilities and background, which add excitement to the story.

Production Staff

The original work was written by Akinobu Uraku, and the director was Yuto Date. The series was written by Katsuyuki Sumizawa, character design by Yuji Moriyama, sub-character design by Takami Rokudo, art direction by Mio Isshiki, color setting by Takuya Kawami, director of photography by Atsunori Matsumoto, music by Akifumi Tada, sound director by Hajime Takakuwa, producers by Fukushi Azuma, Taihei Yamanishi, and Ken Hagino, animation producer by Naoji Pakuya, animation by Pierrot, and production by TV Tokyo, Dentsu, and Pierrot.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Passion" from episodes 1 to 17, and "HEY YOU!! ~Things You Shouldn't Lose~" from episodes 18 to 25, both sung by [iksi:d]. The ending theme is "Awakening City" from episodes 1 to 25, sung by Akino Arai, and "Eternal Flower" from episode 26 only, sung by Haruhi Terada. The insert songs "Moon eyes" (episodes 17 and 19) and "Blow up" (episode 21) were also used.

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: A Fateful Encounter on Earth (2002/04/02)
• Episode 2: Hangon: The Maiden of Life (2002/04/09)
• Episode 3: Awakening Wind - When It Moves (2002/04/16)
• Episode 4: Full Moon: Ruri's Thoughts (2002/04/23)
• Episode 5: Showdown between two water users (2002/04/30)
• Episode 6: Training: Each Person's Determination (2002/05/07)
• Episode 7: Into the Underground (2002/05/14)
• Episode 8: Supei: A Trap Lurking in the Darkness (2002/05/21)
• Episode 9: The Reiki Gun: Fighting Together (2002/05/28)
• Episode 10: Counterattack: The Water User Returns... (2002/06/04)
• Episode 11: Deadly Battle: Overcoming Hatred (2002/06/11)
• Episode 12: Rebellion: Escape to the Light (2002/06/18)
• Episode 13: Promise: The Feelings in the Ribbon (2002/06/25)
• Episode 14: Pursuit: The Tower Gate Assassin (2002/07/02)
• Episode 15: Attack: Torn Bonds (2002/07/09)
• Episode 16: Shock: An Unforgettable Melody (2002/07/16)
• Episode 17: Gradual Attack for a Smile (2002/07/23)
• Episode 18: Reunion: The Wind Wipes Away Tears (2002/07/30)
• Episode 19: Anxiety: Unfulfilled Feelings (2002/08/06)
• Episode 20: The Assassin's Trap (2002/08/13)
• Episode 21: The Slums, the City of Rebels (2002/08/20)
• Episode 22: Gathering: An Invitation to the Killing Fields (2002/08/27)
• Episode 23: Fierce Battle to the Top (2002/09/03)
• Episode 24: Reason: Flames of Betrayal (2002/09/10)
• Episode 25: Collapse: An Unhealed Heart (2002/09/17)
• Episode 26: Towards the Light, Let's Unite Our Feelings! (2002/09/24)

Ratings and Recommendations

"Tokyo Underground" has been supported by many fans as an action anime with themes of passion and friendship. Highlights include the growth of the main character Rumina, the friendship between Ruri and Chelsea, and the battle with the underground secret organization "Kousho." In particular, the unique abilities of each character and the battle scenes are worth watching and draw viewers in. In addition, the original manga was serialized in "Monthly Shonen Gangan," so it was also highly rated by fans of the original work.

Musically, the opening and ending songs are also memorable and add to the atmosphere of the story. In particular, [iksi:d]'s "Jounetsu" and Akino Arai's "Kakusei Toshi" were loved by many fans as songs that symbolize the worldview of the anime.

This anime is a story about friendship, growth, and the drama of battles that can be enjoyed by a wide range of generations. It is especially recommended for those who want to enjoy the action scenes and the individuality of the characters. You can also enjoy the story more deeply by reading the original manga.

"Tokyo Underground" is still loved by many fans as a work that depicts the mysteries and adventures of the underground world, as well as the bonds of friendship. Please give it a watch.