The appeal and evaluation of COPPELION: Review of the DVD included with the October 2013 issue of Monthly Young Magazine

COPPELION - Hope and despair in the ruins

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

September 10, 2013

■Release and sales

・Publisher: Kodansha

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

・Original story by Tomonori Inoue (serialized in Kodansha's "Monthly Young Magazine")

■ Director

・Shingo Suzuki

■ Production

・Animation production: GoHands

■Works

© Tomonori Inoue/Kodansha/Coppelion Production Committee

■ Story

The old capital city is in ruins due to a past accident. Three girls, Naruse Ibara, Fukasaku Aoi, and Nomura Taeko, land on this land. The Coppelions are tasked with rescuing the lives of those left in the old capital city. As they search the old capital city for survivors, they come across a survivor clad in protective clothing, crying out for help. Ibara, who finds him, goes to rescue him, despite Vice Principal Mishima's protests. The survivor survives when Ibara administers a vaccine called "Ether" that temporarily grants contaminated antibodies. Ibara and the others continue to search for survivors, while Vice Principal Mishima points out the tragic reality of the old capital city to the nation on television. Suddenly, an alarm sounds. What awaits them is a wolf that has gone wild and become ferocious. Worried about Taeko, who is with a dog she met on the way, Ibara heads off to rescue her.

※Only Part A is included

■Explanation

We will not give up on this world...

A sci-fi action story set in the near future, based on the original work by Tomonori Inoue. The year is 20XX - the old capital city is in ruins, with no trace of its former prosperity. This is the result of a sudden accident. At the time, about 90% of the residents suffered a tragedy. Several decades have passed since then... Three girls land in the old capital city. At first glance, they are just ordinary high school students in uniforms. But in fact, this is an abnormal sight. This is because there is no human being who can survive in this polluted city without wearing protective clothing. Their names are Coppelion. They are artificially created humans with contamination resistance in their bodies. They belong to the 3rd Division Special Forces of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and their mission is to rescue the people remaining in the old capital city. Set in the ruins of the old capital city, a story of "life" begins now...

It was included in the October 2013 issue of Monthly Young Magazine, which went on sale on September 10, 2013. Ahead of the TV broadcast, a DVD containing Part A of the first episode was included as an appendix.

■Cast

・Naruse Ibara/Tomatsu Haruka/Fukasaku Aoi/Hanazawa Kana/Nomura Taeko/Akesaka Satomi/Kurosawa Haruto/Suzumura Kenichi/Ozu Kanon/Horie Yui/Ozu Shion/Sakamoto Maaya/Mishima Onihei/Koyama Rikiya/Mushanokoji/Chafurin/Ibuse/Sato Tomohiro/Master Kurobee/Nakamura Kotaro/Ishikawa Gennai/Naka Hiroshi/Kajii Gojiro/Tanaka Masahiko/Kajii Ibuki/Noto Mamiko

■ Main staff

・Original story by Tomonori Inoue (serialized in Kodansha's "Monthly Young Magazine")
Director, character designer: Shingo Suzuki Series composition: Makoto Nakamura Series directors: Susumu Kudo, Hiromitsu Kanazawa Chief animation director: Makoto Furuta Mechanical designer: Hiroshi Okubo Art director: Masanobu Nomura, Takahiro Matsuura Color setting: Sakura Komatsu, Tomoko Saito Director of photography: Tsunetaka Ema, Toru Fukushi Editor: Saori Tadokoro Sound director: Hideo Takahashi Sound effects: Mitsuru Kageyama (Fizz Sound Creation)
・Sound Production: Dream Force ・Music: Mikio Endo ・Music Production: Starchild Records ・Animation Production: GoHands
Produced by Coppelion Production Committee

■ Main Characters

・Naruse Ibara・Fukasaku Aoi・Nomura Taeko・Kurosawa Haruto・Ozu Kanon・Ozu Shion・Mishima Onihei・Mushanokoji・Ibuse・Kurobee Master・Ishikawa Gennai・Kajii Gojiro・Kajii Ibuki

■ Main robot items

・COPPELION
1 Children born through genetic manipulation who have powerful resistance.
2 The name of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's 3rd Division Special Forces, which was formed by these children.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1 / Doll (Coppelion) (magazine bundled version) (2013/09/10)

■ Related works

・COPPELION (October 2013)

■ Review

"COPPELION" is an OVA based on the manga of the same name by Tomonori Inoue, and was first released in September 2013 as a DVD bundled with the October 2013 issue of "Monthly Young Magazine". The story is set in an abandoned former capital city, and follows girls with special abilities born through genetic manipulation as they take on the task of saving lives. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal and reviews of this work.

Story and Themes

The story of "COPPELION" is set in Japan in the near future. A sudden accident causes the former capital to become contaminated by radiation and turn it into ruins, resulting in the tragedy of 90% of the residents losing their lives. Meanwhile, a group of girls who have been genetically engineered to be resistant to radiation appear. They are called "Coppelions" and belong to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's 3rd Division Special Forces, tasked with rescuing the survivors left behind in the former capital.

The theme of this work is the strength and fragility of human beings, torn between "hope" and "despair." In the ruins of the former capital, the girls try to find hope even in a hopeless situation. Their actions are not just the fulfillment of a mission, but also a journey to search for human dignity and the meaning of life. In particular, the character of Naruse Ibara is portrayed as a being who combines strong will and kindness, deeply moving the viewer.

character

Each character in "COPPELION" is unique and charming. The main character, Naruse Ibara, is a girl with leadership and courage, and her actions are at the heart of the story. Fukasaku Aoi has a calm and rational personality, and plays the role of maintaining the balance of the team. Nomura Taeko is a bright and energetic character, and her presence brings vitality to the team. The way these characters support each other while carrying out their missions leaves a strong impression on viewers.

The supporting characters, such as Haruto Kurosawa and the Ozu sisters, are also fascinating, and their backgrounds and actions add depth to the story. In particular, the character of Vice Principal Mishima plays an important role in emphasizing the theme of the story by appealing to the whole country about the tragic reality of the former capital.

Visuals and Music

The visuals of "COPPELION" are beautifully drawn and colored by GoHands. The scenery of the ruined former capital is realistic and makes a strong impact on the viewer. The character designs are also attractive, especially the uniforms of the girls. Director Shingo Suzuki skillfully expresses the tension and beauty of the story, and the visual appeal enhances the appeal of the work.

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of the work. The music by Mikio Endo enhances the atmosphere of the story and arouses the emotions of the viewer. In particular, the background music in tense scenes has the power to draw the viewer into the story. The sound effects are also realistic, enhancing the realism of the work.

Ratings and Recommendations

"COPPELION" is a work that leaves a strong impression on viewers, with a high level of story, characters, visuals, and music. It is especially recommended for those who like near-future sci-fi action and those who are looking for works that explore deep themes. It is also an appealing story about the growth and friendship of girls, and will be enjoyed by a wide range of viewers.

This work unfolds in a short OVA, but even so, it is still fascinating. Please watch this work that depicts hope and despair in the ruins, and experience the courage and strength of the girls.

■ Additional Information

The original manga of "COPPELION" was serialized in "Monthly Young Magazine" by Tomonori Inoue and gained many fans. The OVA version is a visualization of a part of the manga, and brings out the charm of the original work to the fullest. In addition, a TV anime version was broadcast in October 2013, and the charm of the work was conveyed to an even larger audience.

This work is not only a science fiction action movie, but also contains deep human drama. In particular, the theme of genetic manipulation raises ethical questions in modern society and makes viewers think. I hope you will also enjoy the original manga and TV anime version.

■Recommended Works

If you enjoyed "COPPELION," we also recommend the following works:

• Ghost in the Shell - A sci-fi action film set in a cyberpunk near future. Its deep theme is about the boundary between man and machine.
• "Evangelion" - A science fiction work depicting giant robots and human psychology. It features deep themes and beautiful visuals.
• "Death Note" - A suspenseful story about psychological warfare using the notebook of the Grim Reaper. It also contains deep human drama.

These works share the same appeal as "COPPELION" as sci-fi action and deep themes. Please watch them and experience even deeper emotions and excitement.