The appeal and reviews of "selector infected WIXOSS": The intersection of card battles and youth

"selector infected WIXOSS" - A story of girls' wishes and battles

"Selector infected WIXOSS" is a TV anime series that aired in 2014, and is based on the card game "WIXOSS". This anime depicts girls taking on dangerous games to make their wishes come true. Below, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of this work, as well as recommended points.

■Overview of the work

"Selector infected WIXOSS" aired from April 4th to June 20th, 2014, and is a 12-episode series. It was produced by JCSTAFF, directed by Takuya Sato, and written by Mari Okada. It is based on the card game "WIXOSS," which was especially popular among junior and senior high school students. The anime unfolds a story based on the card game.

■ Story

Hope, desire, and desire. With each of these feelings in their hearts, the girls are sucked into the vortex of a dangerous game.

"WIXOSS" is a card game that is extremely popular among middle and high school students. However, few people know that among the cards are "girl character cards with their own wills" = LRIG cards. Only special girls can hear the voices of the LRIGs, and the owners of these cards are called Selectors.

The Selectors, each with their own "wish," engage in card battles in a field that normal humans cannot sense. This is because it is said that if a Selector continues to win battles with other Selectors, their "wish" will come true.

When Kominato Ruuko first got her hands on WIXOSS, she heard the voice of her LRIG. Surprised and confused, she was challenged to a battle by her schoolmate and Selector, Kurebayashi Yuzuki. Not understanding the situation, Ruuko named her LRIG Tama and was forced to fight as a Selector...

■ Characters

This work features many unique characters. The main characters are introduced below.

Ruuko Kominato

A quiet second-year junior high school girl. As a chance to make friends, her brother gives her a WIXOSS starter deck, which leads to her meeting Tama the LRIG and her getting involved in a Selector Battle. Her voice actor is Ai Kakuma.

Yuzuki Kurebayashi

A bright and lively girl who is a classmate of Ruuko. Her LRIG is Hanayo. She has a twin brother named Kazuki, and fights in the Selector Battles with a wish that she cannot tell anyone. She is the first to challenge Ruuko to a battle. Her voice actor is Sakura Ayane.

Kazue Uemura

She is a lonely and shy girl who has no friends because she is not good at socializing. She is a selector who has a LRIG card named Midoriko. Although she and Ruuko go to different schools, they meet by chance. Her voice actor is Ai Kayano.

Akira Aoi

A charismatic and popular reader model. He appears to be a cheerful and frank person to the outside world, but he is actually a rather sinister and paranoid selector. His battle style is also quite vicious. He is voiced by Chinatsu Akasaki.

Iona Urasoe

A girl who is a fellow reader model of Akira, she is silent, poker-faced and gives off a cold impression. However, Iona is more popular than Akira, and Akira harbors strong resentment towards her. She also appears to have great skills as a selector. Her voice actor is Seto Asami.

Chiyori

An unconventional beginner Selector who challenged Yuzuki. Her thoughts are childish just like her appearance, and she is an innocent girl if you want to put it in a good way. She is an avid reader of the novelized version of WIXOSS and is fascinated by its contents. Her voice actress is Ayako Kawasumi.

Tama

Ruuko's LRIG. Still a newborn, she behaves as innocently as a baby. However, she instinctively urges Ruuko into battle. During battles, she can sometimes show a belligerent demeanor. Her voice actor is Misaki Kuno.

Hanayo

Yuzuki's LRIG. She is an intelligent type, and sometimes gives calm advice to the impulsive Yuzuki. She also knows Yuzuki's wishes, and acts as a big sister to her, providing emotional support. Her voice actor is Minami Takahashi.

Midoriko

Ichii's LRIG. She is rational and uses the first person pronoun "boku", but has a kind heart. She knows Ichii's feelings well and sympathizes with her. She fights alongside Ichii for her modest wish. Her voice actor is Saori Onishi.

Piruluk

Akira's LRIG. Unlike other LRIGs, she hardly ever speaks and obediently follows Akira. She is cool and doesn't show her emotions. She's an eerie presence and it's hard to tell what she's thinking. Her voice actor is Saori Onishi.

Ulysses

Iona's LRIG. She has a very aggressive personality and is quite talkative. She often uses provocative words and actions that give a glimpse of her evil side. She can also instinctively smell the "smell" of the Selector Battle. She is voiced by Saori Onishi.

Eldora

Chiyori's LRIG. She is polite and humble, but also speaks in a light-hearted and easy-going manner. She also supports Chiyori, who often behaves foolishly. They are an odd couple. Her voice actor is Saori Onishi.

Kozuki Kurebayashi

He is Yuzuki's twin brother. He also plays WIXOSS, but of course he is not a Selector. He knows that Yuzuki is playing Selector battles, and kindly gives her advice on deck composition. He is voiced by Saori Onishi.

Ayumu Kominato

Ruuko's older brother. He is a university student living alone, but occasionally comes to visit Ruuko and his grandmother at their apartment. He jokes around with Ruuko, but he really cares about his sister. He also loves video games. His voice actor is Saori Onishi.

Kominato Heart

Ruuko's grandmother. A gentle woman who currently lives with Ruuko as her guardian. She has always loved games and is good at them. She often plays WIXOSS with Ruuko. Her voice actor is Saori Onishi.

■ Staff

Many talented staff members were involved in the production of this work. Below are the main staff members:

original work

LRIG

director

Takuya Sato

Series Composition

Mari Okada

Character Design

Sakai Kyuta

Supervised by WIXOSS

Tomo Yamaguchi

Prop Design

Kenichi Takase

Art Director

Kentaro Akiyama (Studio Pablo)

Color design

Yukiko Ito

Director of Photography

Shingo Fukuyo

edit

Masahiro Goto (REAL-T)

music

Maiko Iuchi

Sound Director

Miwa Iwanami

Animation Production

JCSTAFF

■Broadcast information

"selector infected WIXOSS" was broadcast on the following stations:

• MBS: April 3, 2014 - June 19, 2014 / Thursday 26:49 - 27:19
• TOKYO MX: April 4, 2014 - June 20, 2014 / Friday 25:05 - 25:35
• TV Aichi: April 5, 2014 - June 21, 2014 / Saturday 26:20 - 26:50
• AT-X: April 6, 2014 - June 22, 2014 / Sunday 20:30 - 21:00
• BS11: April 6, 2014 - June 22, 2014 / Sundays 24:00 - 24:30

It was also available to watch on the following online streaming services:

• Niconico Live Broadcast: April 6, 2014 - June 22, 2014 / Sundays 22:30 - 23:00
• Niconico Channel: April 6, 2014 - June 22, 2014 / Updated Sundays at 12:00
• Bandai Channel: April 6, 2014 - June 22, 2014 / Updated Sunday

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• 01/This miracle is a competition
• 02/That encounter was a powerful drug
• 03/This peace is nonsense
• 04/That Prayer is Blasphemous
• 05/That oath is invalid
• 06/This chest is pure white
• 07/The Girl Desires
• 08/That promise was a lie
• 09/The truth is cruel
• 10/ Those thoughts drifted ashore
• 11/That Summer is a Longing
• 12/The choice is...

■ Theme songs and music

The opening and ending themes are as follows:

Opening Theme

• "killy killy JOKER"
• Lyrics by Kanon Wakeshima
• Composer: Kanon Wakeshima
• Arrangement: Naoki Chiba "naotyu-"
• Singer: Kanon Wakeshima

Ending Theme

• "Realize -The place where dreams await-"
• Lyrics by Sumiyo Mutsumi and Takuya Sato
• Composer: Wataru Maeguchi
• Arrangement: Wataru Maeguchi
• Vocals: Cyua

Ending theme (Episode 11 only)

• "Realize -The place where dreams await- ~White Hope mix~"
• Lyrics by Sumiyo Mutsumi and Takuya Sato
• Composer: Wataru Maeguchi
• Arrangement: Kazunori Watanabe
• Vocals: Cyua

■ Evaluation and impressions

"selector infected WIXOSS" has been highly praised as a dark fantasy that depicts the hopes and struggles of young girls. In particular, the portrayal of the characters' psychological state and the development of the story are ingeniously crafted, drawing viewers in. The setting, which uses a familiar element of a card game, is also appealing, making it a particularly enjoyable work for viewers who love games.

The characters, including the main character Kominato Ruuko, have realistic portrayals of the desires and conflicts they each harbor, evoking deep empathy from the viewer. In particular, the characters of Kurebayashi Yuzuki and Uemura Kazue have carefully drawn backgrounds and feelings, adding depth to the story. Additionally, characters such as Aoi Akira and Urasoe Iona also have a strong presence as villains, playing an important role in adding excitement to the story.

The animation produced by JCSTAFF is of high quality, and the depiction of the battle scenes is particularly impressive. The design of the LRIG cards and the expression of the battlefield are beautiful, and the visual appeal is very strong. The music is also an important element in livening up the atmosphere of the work, and the opening theme "killy killy JOKER" is particularly loved by many viewers as a memorable song.

■ Recommended points

"selector infected WIXOSS" is a recommended work for the following reasons:

1. Deep story and characters

The story, which depicts the girls' hopes and struggles, deeply moves the viewer. In particular, the characters' psychological portrayals are carefully drawn, allowing viewers to empathize with their struggles and growth. Additionally, the backstories and relationships of each character are fascinating, adding depth to the story.

2. Card Game Elements

Based on the card game "WIXOSS," this work is packed with elements that are especially enjoyable for game-loving viewers. The design of the LRIG cards and the depiction of the battle scenes are beautiful, making the world of the game feel realistic. The rules and strategies of the Selector Battle are also interesting, and have the power to draw viewers in.

3. High production quality

The animation produced by JCSTAFF is of high quality, with realistic depictions of battle scenes and character movements. Music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the opening theme "killy killy JOKER" in particular is loved by many viewers as a memorable song.

4. The allure of dark fantasy

One of the main attractions of "selector infected WIXOSS" is its dark fantasy nature. The girls' participation in a dangerous game and the desires and conflicts they carry leave a strong impression on viewers. The story is also cleverly developed, drawing viewers in.

■ Related works

A sequel to "selector infected WIXOSS" was produced, titled "selector spread WIXOSS." There are also related novels and comics, allowing you to enjoy the world of the work even more deeply. The following are related works.

"Selector spread WIXOSS"

This anime series is a sequel to "selector infected WIXOSS." It aired from October to December 2014 and is a 12-episode series. JCSTAFF continues to produce it, with Takuya Sato as director and Mari Okada in charge of series composition. This work features a deeper story and character development.

Novel "selector infected WIXOSS"

A novel based on the anime's story. Written by Mari Okada, it describes the characters' feelings and backgrounds in more detail. It is an important work for gaining a deeper understanding of the anime.

Comical adaptation: "selector infected WIXOSS"

This is a comic version based on the anime story. The illustrations are by Kotaro Takada, and you can enjoy the world of the anime visually. The depictions of the battle scenes are particularly impressive.

■ Summary

"selector infected WIXOSS" is a highly acclaimed dark fantasy that depicts the hopes and battles of young girls. The deep storyline, characters, and card game elements are appealing and have the power to draw viewers in. The high production quality and music also enhance the appeal of the work, and there are plenty of elements to enjoy, especially for viewers who love games. There is also a wide range of related works, allowing you to enjoy the world of the work even more deeply. Be sure to watch this work and experience the story of the girls.