The appeal and reviews of "Kishin Houkou Demonbane": A must-see mecha anime

All-round review and recommendation of Kishin Houkou Demonbane

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

18+ games

■ Broadcast period

May 19, 2006 - August 18, 2006
WOWOW May 18, 2006 - August 17, 2006 (Episodes 1-12) Every Thursday 24:00-24:30

■Broadcasting station

・Broadcast/WOWOW

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 12

■Original Story

Original work: Kadokawa Shoten, DigiTurbo, Nitroplus

■ Director

・Director: Akio Masuo

■ Production

・Animation production: Viewworks
Produced by: Demonbane Production Committee Production cooperation: WOWOW
Executive producers: Takeshi Yasuda, Takaki Kosaka

■Works

©2006 Demonbane Production Committee

■ Story

Arkham City, a metropolis that thrives on magical technology, is under threat from the Black Lodge, a fearsome criminal organization. The followers of the Black Lodge, led by the Grand Master Master Therion, wreak destruction as their desires dictate. Overwhelmingly powerful destructive robots, magicians who control evil powers, and the strongest magical robot, Deus Machina... The Hadou Zaibatsu, the guardian of Arkham City, creates a giant robot, Demonbane (one who cuts off evil), to fight back against them.
Daijuuji Kuro, a humble third-rate detective, encounters Al-Azif, a girl who is the incarnation of a grimoire, and begins fighting while riding Demonbane.
Magic clashes with magic. Steel with steel. The battle between Demonbane and the Black Lodge has just begun.
The roar of the machine god echoes through the skyscrapers!

■Explanation

Released as a PC game in the spring of 2003, "Zanma Daisei Demonbane" was also published in paperback in the same year, and received overwhelming support from fans. With its innovative visuals, charming characters, and profound storyline, it has gained a passionate fanbase, and in the summer of 2004, "Kishin Houkou Demonbane" was released as a PS2 software. And now, the long-awaited TV animation "Kishin Houkou Demonbane" has finally arrived!
The production will be handled by Viewworks, who also produced the OVA bundled with the game, with the director being Shoichi Masuo, who is renowned for his mecha animation supervision and direction, and the series composition by Yousuke Kuroda, who has worked on "Scryed" and "Gungrave."

The story is set in a world where magic theory has advanced alongside science. Arkham City, a metropolis that prospered thanks to advances in magical technology, was threatened by the Black Lodge, a crime syndicate led by a vicious archmage. To counter this evil power, the Hado Conglomerate, the protector of Arkham City, built the gigantic robot Demonbane, boasting overwhelming power. A fierce battle between Demonbane and Black Lodge has begun.

■Cast

・Daijuuji Kuro/Kentaro Ito・Al Azif/Rie Kanda・Ruri Hadou/Junko Asami・Laika/Nami Kurokawa・Winfield/Takehito Koyasu・Chiaki/Kaoru Morota・Sonya/Satomi Koorogi・Makoto/Yu Asakawa・George/Ai Orikasa・Colin/Naoko Seto・Allison/Sawa Ishige・Ness/Kazuhiro Nakata・Stone/Takuo Kawamura・Doctor West/Takumi Yamazaki・Elsa/Mikako Sato・Augustus/Norio Wakamoto・Tiberius/Kazuki Yao・Caligula/Daisuke Gori・Claudius/Tomoko Kawakami・Vespasianus/Masashi Hirose・Titus/Jouji Nakata・Ennea/Mia Naruse・Master Therion/Hikari Midorikawa・Etheldreda/Rie Kanda・Nya/Ai Orikasa

■ Main staff

Original work: Kadokawa Shoten, DigiTurbo, Nitroplus
Scenario supervision: Jin Hagaya Series composition: Yosuke Kuroda Character and mechanic design: Niθ
・Character design / Hideki Hashimoto, Masaaki Sakurai ・Mechanic design / Yoshihiko Machida ・Special mechanic design / Kazutaka Miyatake, Yasuyasu Moriki ・Art director / Dai Ota ・Special set design / Hajime Sato, Tomoyuki Aoki ・Director of photography / Hiroshi Akimoto ・Color design / Hitomi Sano ・Special effects / Yutaka Senba ・2D CGI / Yujiro Yamane ・Music / ZIZZ STUDIO
・Music Producer: Akira Yoshikawa ・Music Production: Frontier Works ・Sound Director: Takeshi Takadera ・Sound Producer: Toru Nakano ・Sound Production: HALF H.P. Studio ・Editor: Kengo Shigemura ・Saikyou PR: Joymax ・Modeling Cooperation: Polygon Bancho ・Director: Shoichi Masuo ・Production Cooperation: WOWOW
・Executive producers: Takeshi Yasuda, Takaki Kosaka ・Animation production: Viewworks
Produced by: Demonbane Production Committee

■ Main Characters

A third-rate detective who runs a struggling office. A young man who will pilot Demonbane. He has an aptitude for magic, but for some reason, he avoids it.
Al Azif: A girl who becomes Kuro's partner. Her true identity is the incarnation of the strongest grimoire, Al Azif, and she can activate Demonbane. She sees Kuro's potential magical powers, makes a contract with him, and transforms him into a Magius with superhuman powers.
Hadou Ruri: A beautiful and intelligent young lady who is the protector and ruler of Arkham City and head of the Hadou Conglomerate. In times of emergency, she also serves as the commander of the forces opposing the Black Lodge, supporting Demonbane from her secret base in the basement of the Hadou Mansion.
・Raika A nun who is an acquaintance of Kuro. She takes in orphaned children and lives in a church in a corner of town. She is a caring woman who takes care of Kuro in many ways, but also lectures him at every opportunity. Her only flaw is that she is a bit delusional.
A butler who serves the Winfield Hadou Conglomerate, he always supports Ruri from behind the scenes. He is a calm and collected person who can handle anything. He also assists the commander as second-in-command during battles.
・Doctor West A mad scientist who belongs to the Black Lodge. He stirs up mayhem with his bizarre inventions, including destructive robots. He acts according to his own "aesthetics of evil", but his nature is more like a prankster. In short, he's a weirdo.
Elsa: An artificial human created by Dr. West. She looks exactly like a human girl. She's an expert in combat and can use a variety of weapons, but as someone created by Dr. West, she has some personality problems.
Augustus: A high-ranking member of the Black Lodge and leader of the Anti-Cross. He summons the Deus Machina Legacy of Gold using the Grimoire The Golden Bough. A calculating man who stands by Master Therion as his advisor.
Master Therion is a young man who is the Grand Master of the Black Lodge, a magical society. He controls Liber Regis, a demon god with overwhelming power. He has his sights set on Al Azif for a certain purpose, but no one can grasp his true intentions.
A girl who follows Master Therion like a shadow. Her true identity is the incarnation of the oldest grimoire, the Nakoto Codex, and summons the demon god Liber Regis. She has sworn absolute loyalty to her owner, Master Therion, which could be called fanaticism.
The owner of a second-hand bookstore whom Nia Kuro met while searching for a grimoire. There is something about her hidden knowledge that no one can see through.

■ Main robot items

Demonbane: A giant robot built by the Hado Conglomerate to fight against the criminal organization Black Lodge.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1／I AM PROVIDENCE(2006/05/18)
Episode 2: EVIL SHINE (2006/05/25)
Episode 3: REANINATOR (2006/06/15)
・Episode 4: THE INVADERS (2006/06/22)
Episode 5: THE SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH (2006/06/29)
・Episode 6/QUO VADIS(2006/07/06)
Episode 7: BIG "C" (2006/07/13)
Episode 8: Shadow in the Dark (2006/07/20)
Episode 9: THE HUNT (2006/07/27)
Episode 10: Metallic Warcry (2006/08/03)
Episode 11: The Return of the Sorcerer (2006/08/10)
・Episode 12: STRANGE EONS (2006/08/17)

■ Related works

・Kishin Houkou Demonbane OVA
・Ouroboros Rondo

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Man, God, Machine -Man God Machine-
Lyrics: Kazuhiro Watanabe, Ikuko Ebata Composer: Toshimichi Isoe Arrangement: Toshimichi Isoe Singer: Yuichi Ikuzawa

・ED1
・Modern Rose・Lyrics by Kanako Ito・Music by Masayoshi Murakami・Arrangement by Masayoshi Murakami・Singer by Kanako Ito

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

"Kishin Houkou Demonbane" is a TV anime series that aired in 2006, and its original work is the 18+ game "Zanma Daisei Demonbane" by Kadokawa Shoten, DigiTurbo, and Nitroplus. This work is set in the futuristic city of Arkham City, where magical technology has developed, and tells the story of the giant robot Demonbane, who fights against the crime organization Black Lodge. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and evaluation of this work, as well as the recommended points.

Story and worldview

The story of "Demonbane" takes place in a world where science and magic are fused together. Arkham City thrives thanks to magical technology, but at the same time it is under threat from the Black Lodge, a criminal organization. The protagonist, Kuro Ouji, meets Al Azif, a girl who is the incarnation of a grimoire, and begins fighting the Black Lodge as a Demonbane pilot. The story is captivating, depicting the conflict between magic and science, as well as the growth and struggles of each character.

Of particular note is the setting based on HP Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. The design of the Black Lodge members and Deus Machina incorporates elements of the Cthulhu Mythos, beautifully expressing the fusion of fantasy and horror. This world view is inherited from the original game, and its charm is fully enhanced in the anime version.

character

Each character in this work is unique and an important element in adding excitement to the story. The protagonist, Daijuuji Kuro, is depicted as growing through his encounter with Al-Azif, despite aversion to magic. Al-Azif is the incarnation of the strongest grimoire, and it is impressive to see him searching for the meaning of his own existence while supporting Kuro. In addition, the supporting characters such as Hadou Ruri, Lyca, and Winfield are also fascinating, and their backstories and relationships are explored in depth.

In particular, characters such as Black Lodge members Doctor West, Master Therion, and Etheldreda stand out as villains. Their actions and thoughts are not merely those of a villain, but have their own unique aesthetics and goals, leaving a deep impression on the viewer. The portrayal of these characters is where the skill of Hagane Jin, who oversaw the scenario for the original game, shines through, and their appeal is carried over into the anime version.

Visual and mechanical design

The visuals of "Demonbane" have been highly praised for both the character design and the mecha design. The character designs were done by Hideki Hashimoto and Masaaki Sakurai, and they bring out the distinctive features of each character vividly. Meanwhile, the mecha designs were done by Yoshihiko Machida, Kazutaka Miyatake, and Yasuyasu Moriki, and the designs of Demonbane and Deus Machina are very sophisticated. The design of Demonbane in particular combines the intimidating presence of a giant robot with beauty, making a strong visual impact.

Additionally, the background and set designs by art director Dai Ohta and special set designers Hajime Sato and Tomoyuki Aoki are stunning, and realistically recreate the atmosphere of Arkham City. These visual elements play an important role in enriching the worldview of the story and increasing the viewer's immersion.

Music and Sound

The music is handled by ZIZZ STUDIO, with the opening theme "Man God Machine" and the ending theme "Modern Rose" sung by Yuichi Ikuzawa and Kanako Itou, respectively. These songs not only enhance the atmosphere of the story, but also leave a deep impression on the viewers. The background music is also used skillfully to match the development of the story, further enhancing the battle scenes and moving scenes.

In terms of sound, the sound effects produced by HALF H.P. Studio under the direction of Takeshi Takadera have been highly praised. The sound effects in the battle scenes in particular realistically reproduce the movements of Demonbane and Deus Machina, enhancing the sense of realism for the viewer. These music and sound elements are important factors in improving the quality of the entire work.

Evaluation and recommendation points

"Kishin Houkou Demonbane" has been highly praised not only by fans of the original game, but also by anime fans. It has been especially praised for its worldview based on the Cthulhu Mythos, its unique characters, its sophisticated visuals and mecha designs, and the quality of its music and sound. The story development and character growth are also superb, drawing viewers in.

The recommended points are as follows:

• Those who want to enjoy a unique worldview based on the Cthulhu Mythos
• People who like stories about unique characters and their growth
• Those who are attracted to sophisticated visuals and mecha designs
• Those who value the quality of music and sound
• Those who want to enjoy a showdown between giant robots and magic

If these points apply to you, we recommend you watch "Kishin Houkou Demonbane." You can also enjoy the world of this work even more by checking out the original game and related works.

Related works and their appeal

"Kishin Houkou Demonbane" has related works such as the OVA version and "OUROBOROS RONDO". These works depict different perspectives and stories from the TV anime series, making them must-sees for fans. The OVA version in particular is an animated version of episodes from the original game, and you can enjoy character backstories and battle scenes that were not depicted in the TV series. In addition, "OUROBOROS RONDO" develops a new story as a sequel to the TV series, digging even deeper into the world of Demonbane. By watching these related works together, you will be able to feel the charm of "Kishin Houkou Demonbane" even more.

Conclusion

"Kishin Houkou Demonbane" is a work that has been praised for its unique worldview based on the Cthulhu Mythos, its unique characters, its sophisticated visuals and mecha designs, and the quality of its music and sound. It is recommended not only for fans of the original game, but also for anime fans, so please watch it and experience its charm. You can also gain a deeper understanding of the world of Demonbane by enjoying related works.