Advance screening of the first episode of the TV anime "K"! Detailed comments and reviews

The appeal and evaluation of the TV anime "K" - Impressions of the advance screening of the first episode and a general introduction

The advance screening of the first episode of the TV anime "K" held on September 29th and 30th, 2012, was a long-awaited event for fans. "K" is an original anime created in collaboration between GoRA and GoHands, and its unique world view and characters have attracted many viewers. In this article, we will introduce the appeal and reviews of "K" in detail, as well as general information, focusing on impressions from the advance screening.

Impressions from the advance screening

The advance screening was sponsored by King Records and showed the 30-minute first episode, "Knight." The atmosphere in the venue was extremely lively, and the fans' sense of anticipation was palpable. In particular, the talk show, featuring voice actors from the all-star cast, including Namikawa Daisuke, who plays Isana Yashiro, and Ono Daisuke, who plays Yatogami Kuro, got the crowd in a frenzy as they shared behind-the-scenes stories and shared their feelings for the characters.

The first episode tells the story of the protagonist, Yashiro Isana, who meets a mysterious beautiful cat girl and becomes embroiled in his own destiny. The 30 minutes, packed with beautiful visuals, music, and charming characters, flew by in an instant, leaving me wanting to see what happens next. In particular, the character designs and action scenes, which show the attention to detail of director Shingo Suzuki, were visually extremely satisfying.

The world view and story of "K"

The world of "K" is set in modern Japan, but with fantasy elements in the form of people with special powers known as kings. The kings each have their own clans, and sometimes fight with each other, but sometimes cooperate with each other. The basic story is that an ordinary high school student named Isana Yashiro suddenly awakens to the powers of the king and becomes embroiled in various incidents.

In the first episode, Isana Yashiro meets Neko and learns that he is the "Colorless King." This scene is an important point for viewers to understand the worldview of "K," and it has greatly increased interest in the subsequent developments. The appearance of other kings such as Yatogami Kuro and Suo Mikoto also gave a sense of the scale of the story.

Character Introduction

The appeal of "K" lies above all in its characters. Below are the main characters.

Isana Shrine

Age: 17, Birthday: June 1 (Gemini), Blood type: B, Height: 169cm
"Um, I guess I shouldn't abandon my friends after all."
A playful boy who gets his lunch at school and walks around. In the first episode, he meets a cat and becomes embroiled in his own destiny. Isana Yashiro's character is relatable to viewers, but also plays an important role as the central figure in the story.

Kuro Yatogami

Age: 18, Birthday: January 5th (Capricorn), Blood type: A, Height: 178cm
"There is only one thing I believe in. The words of my deceased master."
He is good at swordsmanship, martial arts, and housework. He has a strict personality. In the first episode, he appears as someone who is pursuing Isana Yashiro, and leads the story with his calm and strict attitude. Yatogami Kuro's character leaves a strong impression on viewers.

Cat

Age: 15, Birthday: February 22 (Pisces), Blood type: B, Height: 155cm
"I am... a cat!"
A mysterious beautiful girl appears in front of Shiro. She hates wearing clothes. In the first episode, she meets Isana Yashiro and becomes the catalyst that changes his fate. The cat character is loved by the audience and adds brightness and humor to the story.

Mikoto Suo

Age: 24, Birthday: August 13 (Leo), Blood type: B, Height: 185cm
"There's only one way to keep me locked up forever."
The third sovereign, the Red King. He is feared as the king of the Red Clan, Homura. Although he did not make a direct appearance in the first episode, his presence influenced the entire story. Suo Mikaru's character leaves a strong impression on viewers.

Reiji Munakata

Age: 24, Birthday: October 1st (Libra), Blood type: AB, Height: 185cm
"Sword against sword. Our cause will remain untainted."
The Fourth King of the Blue. Head of the Blue Clan Scepter 4. He speaks politely but is rude. In the first episode, he appears to be pursuing Isana Yashiro along with Yatogami Kuro. Munakata Reiji's character gives viewers the impression of being calm and strict.

Production staff and background

K was produced by GoHands. It was directed by Shingo Suzuki, with character design by Shingo Suzuki. Series composition was by GoRA, with series directors Hiromitsu Kanazawa and Susumu Kudo. Chief animation director was Makoto Furuta, mecha designer Hiroshi Okubo, and prop designer Takahiro Kishida. The main animators were Takayuki Uchida, Jun Nakai, Hiroshi Okubo, and Kazuaki Imoto, art director was Masanobu Nomura, color design was Tomoko Saito, directors of photography were Susumu Fukushi and Ko Oizumi, CGI director was Yoshinori Nagamine, editor was Ayako Tan, sound directors were Hideo Takahashi and Ryo Tanaka, sound effects were Hidemi Tanaka, sound production was Dreamforce, music was Mikio Endo, music production was Starchild Records, and animation producer was Suzugo Kishimoto. It was produced by k-project.

The background to the production of "K" is that it is an original anime created through a collaboration between GoRA and GoHands. GoRA was in charge of the story and character settings, while GoHands was in charge of their visualization. This collaboration resulted in a unique world view and attractive characters. The character designs and action scenes, which reflect the attention to detail of director Shingo Suzuki, were also visually very satisfying.

Theme songs and music

The theme songs and music for "K" are as follows:

OP1

"KINGS"
Lyrics: atsuko, Composition: atsuko, KATSU, Arrangement: KATSU, Singer: angela

ED1

"A cold room, alone"
Lyrics: atsuko, Composition: atsuko, KATSU, Arrangement: KATSU, Singer: Mikako Komatsu

ED2

"Circle of Friends"
Lyrics: TOMBOW, Composition: Makoto Miyazaki, Arrangement: Makoto Miyazaki, Sung by: Tatara Totsuka (Yuki Kaji)

ED3

"To be with U!"
Lyrics: atsuko, Composition: atsuko, KATSU, Arrangement: KATSU, Singer: angela

These theme songs and music are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the story. In particular, the opening theme song "KINGS" leaves a strong impression on the audience, and gives them a sense of the scale of the story. The ending theme song "Cold Room, Alone" is a song that symbolizes the character of Neko, and is loved by the audience.

Ratings and Recommendations

"K" has been praised by many viewers for its unique worldview, attractive characters, beautiful visuals, and music. In particular, the character designs and action scenes, which reflect the attention to detail of director Shingo Suzuki, were visually very satisfying. In addition, the fact that it is an original anime created in collaboration between GoRA and GoHands left a fresh impression on viewers.

The recommended points are as follows:

• A unique world view and fascinating characters
• Visual and music quality
• The character designs and action scenes show the attention to detail of director Shingo Suzuki.
• The freshness of an original anime created through a collaboration between GoRA and GoHands

"K" is an appealing anime with fantasy elements and a story set in modern-day Japan. It has been well received by many viewers, with impressive characters and high quality visuals and music. In particular, the character designs and action scenes, which reflect the attention to detail of director Suzuki Shingo, were visually very satisfying. Additionally, the fact that it is an original anime created in collaboration between GoRA and GoHands left a fresh impression on viewers. Be sure to watch "K" and experience its charm.