"NEEDLESS" - An action anime featuring psychic battles and unique characters "NEEDLESS" is a TV anime series that aired in 2009, and is based on the manga of the same name by Imai Jin. Set in Japan after the Third World War, the series depicts the battles of people with special abilities called "Needless" who can control supernatural powers called "Fragments." In this article, we will take a closer look at the appeal, highlights, characters, music, and more of "NEEDLESS." story The Third World War created contaminated areas all over Japan, known as "Black Spots." Among the people who settled there, some with mysterious powers appeared. Fire, wind, gravity... they controlled supernatural powers known as "Fragments," and people called them "Needless" with awe. Now begins a battle to overturn common sense for the "Needless," who possess superhuman powers! Commentary The original work is a series of the same name currently being serialized in Shueisha's Ultra Jump, and the highlight of the series is the powerful action of its cute characters. The anime version was produced by Madhouse and directed by Masayuki Sakoi. It consists of 24 episodes and was broadcast on TOKYO MX and other stations from July 2 to December 10, 2009. Broadcast information "NEEDLESS" was broadcast on the following stations: - TOKYO MX: July 2, 2009 to December 10, 2009 (Every Thursday 25:30 to 26:00)
- Mainichi Broadcasting System: July 4, 2009 to December 26, 2009 (every Saturday 26:58 to 27:28)
- Teletama: July 6, 2009 to December 14, 2009 (every Monday 25:30 to 26:00)
- tvk: July 8, 2009 to December 16, 2009 (every Wednesday 26:15-26:45)
- Tokai Television: July 17, 2009 to January 15, 2010 (Every Friday 27:35-28:05)
- AT-X: August 18, 2009 to January 26, 2010 (Tuesdays 8:00-8:30)
cast The voice actors who play the main characters in "NEEDLESS" are as follows: - Adam Blade: Takehito Koyasu
- Adam Blade (past): Park Hye Mi
- Eve Neuschwanstein: Eri Kitamura
- Cruz Schild: Aya Endo
- Teruyama Saiji: Kentaro Ito
- Disc: Emiri Kato
- Arka Schild: Mariya Ise
- Adam Arkright: Hiroki Tochi
- Seto: Kaori Fukuhara
- Solver: Asami Imai
- Left Heaven: Kisho Taniyama
- Rokuroji Temple: Megumi Toyoguchi
- Right Heaven: Mayumi Yamaguchi
- Mio: Yui Makino
- Setuna: Goto Saori
- Gardenia: Minori Chihara
- Walnut: Yu Shimamura
- Kafka: Komatsu Fuminori
- Nibi: Mitsuhiro Sakamaki
- Kasumi Ogiha: Aya Hisakawa
- Kannazuki Mirror: Kisho Taniyama
- Ishiyama: Mitsuo Senda
- Vonzanger: Takahisa Houki
- Nanami: Mayuko Takahashi
- Misaki: Megumi Toyoguchi
- Net: Mitsuhiro Sakamaki
- Utsuma: Fumiaki Komatsu
- Inui: Kazuyuki Okitsu
- Robert: Fuminori Komatsu
- Trick: Mitsuru Miyamoto
- Darts: Matsumoto Dai
- Honoka: Yuka Iguchi
- Natsuki: Kei Shindo
- Yui: Ayana Taketatsu
- Guido, Narration: Kenji Utsumi
Main Staff The main staff involved in the production of "NEEDLESS" are as follows: - Original story: Imai Kami (serialized in Shueisha's Ultra Jump)
- Planning: Yoshito Takaya, Masao Maruyama
- Executive producers: Hiroyuki Oizumi, Masashi Yabe, Shunji Inoue, Yasuteru Iwase
- Producers: Kanji Ohgo, Jin Kawamura, Yuka Sakurai, Yukiko Futakata
- Series Composition: Satoru Nishizono
- Character design: Hiromi Kato
- Chief animation director: Yoshio Kosaka
- Technical Director: Seiya Numata
- Art director: Yuka Okamoto (Atelier Booka)
- Color design: Shuji Uemura
- Director of photography: Shinya Matsui
- Sound Director: Hajime Takakuwa
- Music: Tatsuya Kato, Masaaki Iizuka
- Music producer: Yoshiyuki Ito
- Edited by: Tsukatomo Mariko, Jinguji Yumi
- Editing studio: MAD BOX
- Video editing: Sony PCL, Tomoki Takemura, Yoko Mikami
- Title logo design: Tomohiro Watanabe
- Sound: Tamayo Kawaguchi
- Effect: Masami Kitakata
- Recording assistant: Nozomi Mashita
- Recording studio: Jinnan Studio
- Sound Production: Jinnan Studio, Atsushi Nagashima
- Music Production: Lantis
- Promotion: Yuji Ukaji, Mai Kawashima
- Overseas program sales: Showgate, Fuminori Yamazaki, Chiho Ikeda
- Web production: avex entertainment
- Planning cooperation: Shueisha "Ultra Jump" editorial department, Toshimitsu Kawanaka
- Assistant Director: Hajime Otani
- Assistant Producer: Mina Tsuchitani
- Production management: Eri Kuno
- Production desk: Yuji Nakatsuka
- Setting production: Tomohiro Suga
- Animation producers: Ayuri Taguchi, Aya Nozaki
- Animation Production: Madhouse
- Animation production cooperation: IMAGIN
- Director: Masayuki Sakoi
- Produced by: Needless Production Committee (Avex Entertainment, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Lantis, Madhouse)
Main Characters We will introduce the main characters of "NEEDLESS" in detail. - Adam Blade is a "ZERO" ability user who can learn the abilities of others. He serves as a priest at the church in BLACK SPOT. His weakness is beautiful lolita girls. His catchphrase is "Death sentence."
- She is the partner of Eve NeuschweinsteinBlade and has the ability to transform (doppelganger). She is an airheaded girl who doesn't seem nervous at all. She lives in the church with Blade and Guido. She has trouble remembering people's names and has a habit of giving them nicknames.
- Cruz Silt : A survivor of the Resistance that tried to kill Arclight. He was chased by the Testaments but was saved by Blade. Eve gave him the name "Yamada."
- Guido
An old man with a doctorate who looks after Blade and Eve at the Black Spot church. His identity is shrouded in mystery. - She is the older sister of Alka Siltcruz and a member of the Resistance. She and her companions attack Adam Arkright.
- Teruyama Momiji
He lost all of his companions in Simeon's hunt for the Needless. In order to avenge his companions, he is searching for a man named "Adam." He has the ability of "fire." - An information broker who lives in Disk Iron Mountain and is said to "know everything." He has the ability to "scan." He is a "half" human with machines built into his body. He looks like a child, but he is actually over 100 years old.
- Adam Arkwright
The commander of Simeon, who plans to take control of BLACK SPOT. In order to collect all the abilities, he conducts a "Needless Hunt." - Rokujojiriru
One of the Four Heavenly Kings of Simeon. He has earned the utmost trust from Arclight. He has the strongest ability, "Psychokinesis." - Uten
One of the four heavenly kings of Simeon. Specializes in magic. - Saten
One of the four heavenly kings of Simeon. A mysterious character who stands out for his lone wolf behavior. - A member of Kafka Simeon and an intelligence unit member. He has the ability of the "Kandata String." It is said that only God can cut the thread that he spins out.
- She is a member of the "Girls' Squad", an assassination unit directly under the command of Riru, one of the Setsuna Simeon Four Heavenly Kings. She has the ability of "Speed". Together with Kusagi and Mio, they act under the name "Beautiful Girls' Squad". She is like an older sister to the three. She is also known for her polite way of speaking.
- Gardenia
She is a member of the "Girls' Squad", an assassination unit directly under the command of Riru, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Simeon. She has the ability "Fragrance". She works as part of the "Beautiful Girls' Squad". She does not speak in front of people, but communicates through a sketchbook, and often makes mistakes with kanji. - Mio
She is a member of the "Girl Squad", an assassination unit under the direct command of Riru, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Simeon. She has the ability of "power". She works as part of the "beautiful girl squad". She is airheaded and loves stuffed animals. She always carries one with her. Her stuffed bear (which she calls a "rabbit") is a lethal weapon.
subtitle The subtitles for each episode of "NEEDLESS" are as follows. - Episode 1: Adam Blade (2009/07/02)
- Episode 2: Yves Neuschwanstein (2009/07/09)
- Episode 3: Saiji Teruyama (2009/07/16)
- Episode 4: Iron Mountain (2009/07/23)
- Episode 5: Simeon Girls' Brigade (2009/07/30)
- Episode 6: Goldilocks (2009/08/06)
- Episode 7: Adam Arkright (2009/08/13)
- Episode 8: Rokurokuji Riru (2009/08/20)
- Episode 9: Shelter No. 3 (2009/08/27)
- Episode 10: Seto x Solva (2009/09/03)
- Episode 11: Black Attraction (2009/09/10)
- Episode 12: Walnut (2009/09/17)
- Episode 13: Byakugo (2009/09/24)
- Episode 14: Lilith Temptation (2009/10/01)
- Episode 15: Fourth wave (2009/10/08)
- Episode 16: Alka Schild (2009/10/15)
- Episode 17: Resistance (2009/10/22)
- Episode 18: Agneshwattas (2009/10/29)
- Episode 19: Positive Feedback Zero (2009/11/05)
- Episode 20: AB (2009/11/12)
- Episode 21: AA (2009/11/19)
- Episode 22: Committee of 666 (Triple Six) (2009/11/26)
- Episode 23: Left Heaven (2009/12/03)
- Episode 24: Cruz Schild (2009/12/10)
Related Titles A related work to "NEEDLESS" is "Needless+ -The Secret of Saint Lily Academy-", which is a spin-off of the original manga and has a more comical element. Theme songs and music We will introduce the theme song and insert songs of "NEEDLESS." - OP1
- Period: 1-13
- Title: modern strange cowboy
- Lyricist: Kisho Taniyama
- Composer: Masaaki Iizuka
- Arrangement: Masaaki Iizuka
- Sung by: GRANRODEO
- OP2
- Period: 14-23
- Title: Scarlet Bomb!
- Lyricist: Aki Hata
- Composer: Masaaki Iizuka
- Arrangement: Masaaki Iizuka
- Vocals: Aki Misato
- ED1
- Period: 1-13
- Title: Aggressive zone
- Lyricist: Aki Hata
- Composer: Akira Takada
- Arrangement: Akira Takada
- Sung by: Needless★Girls+ (Eve (Kitamura Eri), Cruz (Endo Aya), Setsuna (Goto Saori), Mio (Makino Yui), Disk (Kato Emiri))
- ED2
- Period: 14-23
- Title: WANTED! for the love
- Lyricist: Aki Hata
- Composer: Keiji Ayahara
- Arrangement: Akira Takada
- Sung by: Needless★Girls+ (Eve (Kitamura Eri), Cruz (Endo Aya), Setsuna (Goto Saori), Mio (Makino Yui), Disk (Kato Emiri))
- IN1
- Duration: 10
- Title: Deadly Wound
- Lyricist: KIBA
- Composer: Gargoyle
- Sung by: Gargoyle
- IN2
- Period: 14, 18, 23
- Title: Magma Kid
- Lyricist: KIBA
- Composer: Gargoyle
- Sung by: Gargoyle
- IN3
- Period: 19
- Title: I'm a coconut with juice
- Lyricist: Aki Hata
- Composer: Keiji Ayahara
- Arrangement: Katsumichi Harada
- Sung by: KILLER GIRLS (Honoka (Iguchi Yuka), Natsuki (Shindo Kei), Yua (Taketatsu Ayana))
Rating and highlights While "Needless" is an action anime centered on psychic battles, the drama woven by the unique characters is also a big attraction. In particular, the dialogue between Adam Blade and Eve Neuschwanstein is comical and entertains viewers. Also, the story development, such as the conflict with the organization called Simeon and the movement of the resistance, is not to be missed. Madhouse, the animation studio, has been highly praised for the quality of its character designs and action scenes. In particular, the battle scenes that make the most of each character's abilities are spectacular and provide visual enjoyment. In terms of music, popular artists such as GRANRODEO and Aki Misato are in charge of the theme songs, which add to the atmosphere of the work. In addition, the ending and insert songs by Needless Girls+ and KILLER GIRLS are also important elements that bring out the charm of the characters. Recommendation "NEEDLESS" is recommended for those who like psychic battles and those who want to enjoy a story with unique characters. It is also a work that will satisfy those who are particular about the quality of animation and music. It is a compact structure of 24 episodes, so you can start watching it easily. Please give it a try. |
