Angel Densetsu (Japanese: エンジェル伝説, Hepburn: Enjeru Densetsu, lit. "Legend of Angel") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Norihiro Yagi. It was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Jump from 1993 to 2000, with its chapters collected in tankōbon 15 volumes. A two-episode original video animation (OVA) adaptation, animated by Toei Animation, was released in 1996.

Angel Densetsu
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Seiichirō Kitano
エンジェル伝説
(Enjeru Densetsu)
GenreComedy,[1] yankī[2]
Manga
Written byNorihiro Yagi
Published byShueisha
ImprintJump Comics
MagazineMonthly Shōnen Jump
DemographicShōnen
Original run19932000
Volumes15
Original video animation
Directed byYukio Kaizawa
Produced byTakehiko Shimazu
Written byNaoyuki Sakai
Music by
  • Ryūichi Katsumata
  • Tsuyoshi Itō
StudioToei Animation
Released September 13, 1996 December 13, 1996
Runtime45 minutes
Episodes2

Plot

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The series follows Seiichirō Kitano, a kind and naive boy with the heart of an angel, but the sinister looks of a devil. This paired with his horrible luck and awkward social skills causes many misunderstandings, leading people to assume that he is a delinquent and heroin addict, and (unbeknownst to himself) results in a career as the head thug, or "school guardian" at his new school.

Characters

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Hekikuu High School

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  • Seiichirō Kitano (北野 誠一郎, Kitano Seiichirō) Voiced by: Nobuo Tobita
  • Seikichi Kuroda (黒田 清吉, Kuroda Seikichi) Voiced by: Kōji Ishii
  • Yūji Takehisa (竹久 優二, Takehisa Yūji) Voiced by: Kyousei Tsukui
  • Ryoko Koiso (小磯 良子, Koiso Ryōko) Voiced by: Tomo Sakurai
  • Ikuko Hirayama (平山 郁子, Hirayama Ikuko)
  • Suda
  • Koide
  • Takashi Ogisu (荻須 高志, Ogisu Takashi)
  • Ikuno Shirataki (白滝 幾奶, Shirataki Ikuno)
  • Principal Voiced by: Takaya Hashi
  • Shiraishi Voiced by: Hisashi Izumi
  • Murakami, the teacher in charge of Ryoko's class and the advisor for the karate club.
  • Kishida, a guidance counselor at Hekikuu High.
  • Iwata, a guidance counselor at Hekikuu High.

Hakuun High School

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  • Takeshi Kojima Voiced by: Kazuhiro Nakata
  • Hayami, Hakuun High's number 2.
  • Tanabe, the guidance counselor of Hakuun High.

Hirin High School

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  • Nakanishi, the boss of Hirin High.
  • Katayama
  • Shioda, Takehisa's senpai in middle school.

Delinquent re-educators

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They are known as special guidance counselors, but they are actually working for the Education Committee. They are known as the "Shadowy Seven" (and "Shadowy Six" after Shirataki's retirement).

  • Irie, the first of the seven guidance counselors, seen in chapter 7.
  • Kumagai, the most warrior-like of the seven.
  • Shirataki, the third special guidance counselor dispatched from the Education Committee to deal with Kitano.
  • Haruka Hishida, first seen in chapter 43.
  • The other three members of the seven/six were never introduced during the series.

Kitano's Parents

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  • Ryuichiro Kitano (北野 隆一郎, Kitano Ryūichirō), his father, an ordinary office worker, first seen in chapter 21.
  • Midori Kitano (北野 みどり, Kitano Midori), his mother, first seen in chapter 21.

Ryoko's Parents

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  • Heizo Koiso, Ryoko's father.
  • Mrs. Koiso, Ryoko's deceased mother.

The Halford Family

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  • Papa Halford, an American with a Japanese wife and two children, who moved to Japan 20 years ago.
  • Mama Halford, introduced in chapter 66.
  • Leo Halford (レオ·ハルフォード, Reo Harufōdo), the half-Japanese first son of the Halford family.
  • Sana Halford (サナ·ハルフォード, Sana Harufodo), Leo's little sister.

Others

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  • Kiyomi Kaburagi, president of the Photography Club at a high school near Hekikuu High.
  • Kikuchi, a member of the Photography Club.
  • Yamazaki, a member of the Photography Club
  • Noguchi, a member of the Photography Club
  • Chuji Asai, Midori's cousin, only seen 18 years ago in chapters 76 to 78.

Media

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Manga

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Written and illustrated by Norihiro Yagi, Angel Densetsu was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Jump from 1993 to 2000.[3][4] Its chapters were collected in 15 tankōbon volumes, released from August 4, 1993, to April 4, 2000.[5]

Volumes

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No. Release date ISBN
01 August 4, 1993[5]4-08-871105-X
02 February 4, 1994[5]4-08-871107-6
03 August 4, 1994[5]4-08-871145-9
04 January 11, 1995[5]4-08-871146-7
05 July 4, 1995[5]4-08-871147-5
06 December 1, 1995[5]4-08-871148-3
07 March 4, 1996[5]4-08-871149-1
08 August 2, 1996[5]4-08-871150-5
09 February 4, 1997[5]4-08-872339-2
10 August 4, 1997[5]4-08-872360-0
11 February 4, 1998[5]4-08-872522-0
12 August 4, 1998[5]4-08-872596-4
13 February 4, 1999[5]4-08-872676-6
14 August 4, 1999[5]4-08-872753-3
15 April 4, 2000[5]4-08-872857-2

Original video animation

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A two-episode original video animation (OVA), animated by Toei Animation, was released on September 13 and December 13, 1996.[6][7]

Reception

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On Anime News Network, Justin Sevakis calls the OVA "easily one of my top 10 anime comedies of all time."[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Viz Media Delivers New Complete Manga Series Box Set Editions for Claymore and Rosario+Vampire". Anime News Network. October 2, 2015. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  2. ^ 男の中の男を知る!定番ヤンキー漫画5選. music-book.jp (in Japanese). February 4, 2016. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  3. ^ 八木教広. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  4. ^ Sherman, Jennifer (March 9, 2017). "Claymore's Norihiro Yagi Draws Gekkō no Arcadia 1-Shot Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023. Yagi's Angel Densetsu manga ran from 1993 to 2000
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p エンジェル伝説 コミックス一覧 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on February 6, 2003. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  6. ^ アニメ レンタルアップVHS エンジェル伝説 [1]. suruga-ya.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  7. ^ アニメ レンタルアップVHS エンジェル伝説 [2]. suruga-ya.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  8. ^ Justin Sevakis (February 10, 2011). "Buried Treasure Legend of the Angel". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
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