Nobunagun: A new battle appeal born from the fusion of history and science fiction

Nobunagun - A story of a battle where history and the future intersect

The TV anime series "Nobunagun," which aired in 2014, is based on the original manga by Hisa Masato, and depicts warriors who inherited the genes of great historical figures fighting against "evolutionary invaders" who are trying to invade the Earth. This work has a unique worldview that combines history, science fiction, and action, providing fresh surprises to viewers.

story

The story begins with the Honnoji Incident in 1582. Oda Nobunaga is betrayed by Akechi Mitsuhide, and while engulfed in flames, he encounters a mysterious life form resembling a sunshade clay figurine. Time passes and we arrive at the present day. During a school trip to Taiwan, high school girl Ogura Shio encounters an attack by "evolutionary invaders" and meets E-gene holder "Jack the Ripper." The E-gene of Oda Nobunaga that had been sleeping inside Shio awakens, and she begins fighting as "Nobunagun."

The story depicts warriors who inherited the E genes of historical figures fighting to protect the Earth. In each episode, characters with the E genes of various historical figures, such as Oda Nobunaga, Jack the Ripper, Mahatma Gandhi, and Isaac Newton, appear, and their personalities and abilities add excitement to the story.

character

The main character, Shio Ogura, is a girl with unusual hobbies for a high school girl: she is a weapons nerd and loves special effects. She claims to be bad at group activities and socializing, but having inherited Oda Nobunaga's E gene, she displays bold behavior and amazing combat instincts in battle. Her AU weapon is a giant gun that comes out of her transformable right arm, and she attracts attention as the 25th E gene holder.

Adam Muirhead, also known as Jack the Ripper, is a confident and sarcastic man. Although he often acts on his own, his abilities are genuine, and at first he looked down on Shio as a "half-baked" man. His E gene comes from a murderer who once terrorized London, and he fights with a knife as tall as his own body.

Mahatma Gandhi, also known as Mahesh Mirza, is an E gene holder who fights with an ironclad barrier, but he hates the "barrier" because he thinks it's uncool. He is a calm and sensible person among the eccentric E gene holders, but in normal times he shows a completely different, assertive side (especially towards women).

Jess Beckham, also known as Isaac Newton, is a proud and aggressive woman who shows no mercy to anyone. However, when not in combat, she transforms into a philanthropist (?) who kisses anyone and everyone. Her ability is to manipulate gravity and make anything she steps on heavier.

Other unique characters such as Robert Capa, Francois Vidocq, Galileo Galilei, John Hunter, Geronimo, Suho, and Antoni Gaudi also make an appearance to add excitement to the story. In addition, mysterious characters such as the alien "Dogu" who came to Earth from his home planet destroyed by the evolutionary invaders, the founder of the supranational organization DOGOO, "Commander", and her assistant "Saint Germain" also appear.

Mech Weapons and Items

In "Nobunagun," the mecha weapons and items used by the E-Gene holders play an important role. There are various types of evolutionary invaders, such as landing craft type, infantry type, and flying boat type, and each poses a different threat to the Earth.

The mechanical weapons of the E-gene holders include the AU Ball, Nobuna Gun, Nobunaga's Gun, and Drop Pod, and are designed to match the personality and abilities of each character. These mechanical weapons not only liven up the battle scenes, but also have a major impact on the progression of the story.

Subtitles and episodes

"Nobunagun" consists of 13 episodes, each with a subtitle such as "First Gun" or "Second Gun." Each episode depicts the battles and growth of the E-Gene holders, as well as their battles against the Evolutionary Invaders, gradually building up to a climax.

Particularly memorable episodes include "The Third Gun: Capa's Island," in which Robert Capa's past is revealed, and "The Seventh Gun: Musashi Wonder," in which a new E-gene holder appears, all of which have a major impact on the development of the story. In addition, "The Eleventh Gun: Operation Stone Forest Part 1" and "The Twelveth Gun: Operation Stone Forest Part 2" depict the unity and battle of the E-gene holders, leading to the climax of the story.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme of "Nobunagun" is "Respect for the dead man" by Pay money To my Pain. This song is a powerful piece that symbolizes the fight and determination of the E gene holders, and leaves a strong impression on the viewers.

There are two ending themes: "Little Star ver.α" and "Little Star ver.β". "Little Star ver.α" is sung by Ogura Shio (Muto Shiori), Newton (Asakawa Yuu), and Galileo (Uesaka Sumire), while "Little Star ver.β" is sung by Ogura Shio (Muto Shiori), Geronimo (Saito Chiwa), Suho (Tamura Mutsumi), and Gaudi (Murase Ayumu). These songs express the bonds and friendships between the E gene holders, enhancing the emotional impact of the story.

Production Staff

Nobunagun was directed by Kondo Nobuhiro and assistant director Furuta Takeshi. Series composition was by Yamaguchi Hiroshi, character design by KAZZ.T and Matsushita Hiromi, and mechanical design by Takase Kenichi and Nakata Hirofumi. Art direction was by Takahashi Maho, color design by Funada Keiichi, cinematography by Sato Katsushi, editing by Sakamoto Kumiko, music by Araya Yutaka, and sound direction by Tsuchiya Masaki. Animation was produced by Bridge, and copyright was handled by the Nobunagun Production Committee.

Broadcast information

"Nobunagun" was broadcast from January 5th to March 30th, 2014. It was broadcast on Tokyo MX, Yomiuri TV, Chukyo TV, BS11, AT-X, and other stations at different times. It was also available on a variety of online streaming services, including Niconico Video, NTV On Demand, Bandai Channel, Video Market, NTT Plala, showtime, DMM.com, TV Dogatch, HAPPY! Video, U-NEXT, and GyaO!

Evaluation and Impressions

"Nobunagun" is a fascinating work with a unique worldview that combines history, science fiction, and action, and a rich cast of unique characters. As the story depicts the battles and growth of the E-gene holders, as well as their fights against the evolved invaders, viewers are moved by their bonds and friendships, and are drawn into the development of the story. The designs of the mecha weapons and items are also excellent, not only adding excitement to the battle scenes, but also having a major impact on the progression of the story.

However, on the other hand, the story development of "Nobunagun" was a little rushed, and the characters were not fully developed. In addition, some people said that it was difficult to understand the overall picture of the story because the background and purpose of the evolved invaders were not clearly depicted. Nevertheless, "Nobunagun" was loved by many viewers for its unique worldview and attractive characters.

Recommendation

"Nobunagun" is especially recommended for fans of history, science fiction, and action. As the E-gene holders' battles and growth, as well as their fight against the evolved invaders, are depicted, viewers will be moved by their bonds and friendships and drawn into the story's development. The designs of the mecha weapons and items are also excellent, not only adding excitement to the battle scenes but also having a major impact on the progression of the story.

Furthermore, "Nobunagun" was loved by many viewers for its unique worldview and attractive characters. The warriors who inherited the E genes of great historical figures fight to protect the Earth, providing viewers with a fresh surprise. Please watch "Nobunagun" and experience its charm for yourself.