Shock and laughter in Detroit Metal City: Experience the world of black metal

Detroit Metal City: Radical Death Metal Meets Stylish Pop

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

August 8, 2008

■Release and sales

Toho

■Frequencies

168 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 12

■Original Story

Kiminori Wakasugi

■ Director

Hiroshi Nagahama

■ Production

Animation Production: STUDIO4℃

■Works

©2008 Anime "Detroit Metal City" Production Committee

■ Story

Negishi Soichi is a young man (virgin) who loves Swedish pop and other fashionable pop music. He came to Tokyo from Oita with the dream of making his professional debut with the music he loves, but he was forced to sing demonic death metal at Death Records, which is the complete opposite of "fashionable" and "pop" music. Before he knew it, Negishi made his indie debut as "Johanne Krauser II", the guitarist and vocalist of "Detroit Metal City" (commonly known as DMC), wearing devil makeup and costumes. However, contrary to his will, his hidden talent for metal blossomed rapidly, and DMC became a big hit with their radical performance and lyrics. He can never reveal his true identity to Aikawa-san, whom he has liked since college...!

■Explanation

"Detroit Metal City" was said to be impossible to film due to its excessively extreme expressions, but it has been miraculously animated by STUDIO 4℃, the studio behind "Tekkonkinkreet," "Mind Game," and "The Animatrix"! Responding to the expectations of the original author, Kiminori Wakasugi, the talented director Hiroshi Nagahama, who made his directorial debut with "Mushishi" (winner of the Excellence Award in the TV category at the 2006 Tokyo Anime Awards), shows off his humorous sense in every direction!

■Cast

・Johanne Krauser II/Yuji Ueda・Souichi Negishi/Daisuke Kishio・Alexander Jagi/Yuto Nakano・Camus/Makoto Yasumura・President of Death Records/Ai Kobayashi・Capitalist Pig/Takashi Matsuyama・Nina/Kaori Nazuka・Jack Il Dark/Riki Takeuchi・Yuri Aikawa/Masami Nagasawa・DMC Fan A/Go Maeda・DMC Fan B/Masashi Yabe・Hideki Saji/Shugo Nagashima・Makoto Tonozono/Kenichi Matsuyama・Hanae Yamano/Rosa Kato・Go Sawai Spellman/Toshio Lee

■ Main staff

・Original work: Wakasugi Kiminori・Director: Nagahama Hiroshi・Chief animation director: Shimamura Shuichi・Art director: Kobayashi Shichiro・Sound director: Tanaka Kazuya・Color design: Sato Masaru・CGI director: Takase Yusuke, Oyama Yoshihisa・Music producer: Kitahara Kyoko・Music: Yamamoto Harukichi・Producers: Fujiwara Masamichi, Nagai Hideo, Kitagawa Naoki, Tanaka Eiko・Producers: Takahashi Atsushi, Furusawa Yoshihiro, Hatada Rika・Planning cooperation: Young Animal editorial department, Shimada Akira, Nagashima Takayuki・Animation production: STUDIO4℃

■Subtitle

・Episode 1/"PV" & "SICK MUREDERER" (2008/08/08)
・Episode 2: "REAL LEGEND" & "SATAN" (2008/08/08)
・Episode 3/"PIG" & "DRUG"(2008/08/08)
Episode 4: "FRUSTRATION" & "GOOD SONG" (2008/08/08)
・Episode 5: "MASOCHIST" & "FAMILY" (2008/08/08)
・Episode 6/"PUNK. 1" & "PUNK. 2" (2008/08/08)
Episode 7: "TOWER" & "CONFESSION" (2008/08/08)
Episode 8: "PROMISE" & "ALTERNATION" (2008/08/08)
・Episode 9: "CINEMA. 1" & "CINEMA. 2" (2008/08/08)
Episode 10: "FAKE" & "DETROIT・MOE・CITY" (2008/08/08)
・Episode 11/"HIP HOP. 1" & "HIP HOP. 2" (2008/08/08)
・Episode 12: "EMPEROR. 1" & "EMPEROR. 2" (2008/08/08)

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

■ Background and theme of the work

"Detroit Metal City" (DMC) is an original video animation (OVA) based on the manga of the same name by Wakasugi Kimitoku. It was made into an anime by STUDIO4℃ in 2008, and became a hot topic for its radical expressions and unique sense of humor. The theme of the work is the radical performance of a death metal band on the surface, and the conflict and growth of the protagonist that unfolds behind the scenes. The protagonist, Negishi Souichi, is a young man who loves fashionable pop music, but ends up working as "Johanne Krauser II", the guitarist and vocalist of the death metal band DMC. This duality is a major part of the work's appeal.

■Story development

The story begins when Negishi Soichi moves to Tokyo from Oita and joins Death Records. He is forced to sing death metal against his will, but his talent blossoms and DMC becomes a big hit. Each episode depicts DMC's radical performances and Negishi's personal struggles, and is full of laughs and emotions. In particular, his feelings for Aikawa Yuri and his relationship with the other members of DMC are explored in depth.

■Character Analysis

・Souichi Negishi : A pure-hearted young man who loves fashionable pop music, he grows through his work as Johanne Krauser II of DMC. His dual nature and conflict are at the heart of the work, evoking sympathy from the viewer.
・Johanne Krauser II : The character that Negishi plays when working with DMC, a figure with radical performances and devilish charm. His character supports the success of DMC.
・Yuri Aikawa : A woman whom Negishi has had feelings for since his university days, who supports him emotionally. His relationship with her adds depth to the story.
Alexander Jaggi : A member of DMC and a good friend of Negishi. Their friendship supports Negishi's growth.
・Camus : A member of DMC, he brings out Negishi's talent. His presence enhances the musicality of DMC.

■Animation and direction

The animation by STUDIO4℃ skillfully depicts radical expressions and a unique sense of humor. In particular, the live performance scenes of DMC draw the viewer in with their realistic movements and energetic direction. In addition, the private scenes of Negishi portray his humanity with a warm touch. Director Nagahama Hiroshi has utilized his experience with "Mushishi" to bring out the worldview of DMC to the fullest.

■Music and Sound

DMC's music is a unique style that combines the extremeness of death metal with Negishi's love of fashionable pop music. Harukichi Yamamoto's music is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. Kazuya Tanaka, the sound director, effectively uses different sounds in the scenes depicting DMC's live performances and Negishi's inner thoughts.

■ Viewer reactions and ratings

"Detroit Metal City" has gained many fans with its radical expressions and humorous sense. In particular, the DMC live performance scenes and Negishi's conflict have resonated with viewers and earned high praise. In addition, fans of the original work have praised the quality of the animation, praising it for faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work.

■ Recommendation points

- Fusion of radical death metal and stylish pop : DMC's music is a unique style that combines the radicalism of death metal with Negishi's love of stylish pop. This musicality enhances the appeal of the work.
・The protagonist's duality and growth : The duality and growth of Negishi Souichi are depicted, evoking sympathy from the viewer. His conflict and growth are at the heart of the story, making it deeply moving.
・High-quality animation by STUDIO4℃ : STUDIO4℃'s animation skillfully depicts radical expressions and a unique sense of humor. In particular, the realistic movements and energetic direction of DMC's live performance scenes draw the viewer in.
- Effective use of music and sound : Harukichi Yamamoto's music and Kazuya Tanaka's sound direction are key elements in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. Sound is used effectively in the scenes depicting DMC's live performances and Negishi's inner thoughts.
・Highly praised by viewers : The DMC live performance scenes and Negishi's inner conflict have been well received by viewers, who have sympathized with the show. In addition, fans of the original work have praised the quality of the animation, praising it for faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work.

■ Related works and recommendations

For viewers who enjoyed Detroit Metal City, we also recommend the following titles:
・"Tekkonkinkreet" : Another work by STUDIO4℃, it is appealing for its unique world view and animation.
・"Mind Game" : A work by STUDIO4℃ that depicts extreme expressions and deep themes.
- "The Animatrix" : STUDIO4℃ participated in this work, which has been praised for its beautiful visuals and story.
・"Mushishi" : Directed by Nagahama Hiroshi, this film is captivating with its beautiful animation and deep storyline.

Conclusion

"Detroit Metal City" is a unique work that depicts the collision of extreme death metal and fashionable pop. The duality and growth of the main character, STUDIO4℃'s high-quality animation, and effective use of music and sound enhance the work's appeal. It has been highly praised by viewers, and fans of the original work have also praised the quality of the animation. Viewers who enjoyed this work should also check out other works by STUDIO4℃ and Hiroshi Nagahama. Be sure to watch "Detroit Metal City" and experience its unique world view and charm.