K (also called K Project) is a Japanese anime series created by the animation studio GoHands and GoRA, a group consisting of seven anonymous authors known as Kōhei Azano, Tatsuki Miyazawa, Yukako Kabei, Yashichiro Takahashi, Hideyuki Furuhashi, Suzu Suzuki, and Rei Rairaku. The series is directed by Shingo Suzuki, who also serves as its character designer. It began airing on MBS on October 5, 2012. The anime has been licensed by Viz Media in North America and by Madman Entertainment in Australia. The series is set when Japan is secretly being ruled by seven Kings of psychic clans called the Seven Clans of Color. Yashiro Isana, a seemingly normal student of Ashinaka High School, is targeted by HOMRA of the Red Clan and Scepter 4 of the Blue Clan, following the murder of pacifist Tatara Totsuka from HOMRA. With the help of a highly skilled swordsman named Kuroh Yatogami and a feline Strain with the ability of sensory interference named Neko, Yashiro rediscovers his true identity.

K
Promotional artwork for the anime featuring the main cast of characters.
GenreAction, science fantasy[1][2]
Created by
Manga
K: Memory of Red
Written byGoRA
Illustrated byYui Kuroe
Published byKodansha
MagazineAria
DemographicShōjo
Original runMay 28, 2012August 15, 2013
Volumes3
Anime television series
Directed by
  • Shingo Suzuki
  • Hiromichi Kanazawa[a]
  • Susumu Kudō[a]
Produced by
  • Hiroo Maruyama
  • Haruki Hayashi
  • Gō Nakanishi
Written byTatsuki Miyazawa (GoRA)
Music byMikio Endō
StudioGoHands
Licensed by
Original networkMBS, TBS, CBC, AT-X, BS-TBS
English network
Original run October 5, 2012 December 28, 2012
Episodes13 (List of episodes)
Further information
Manga
K: Stray Dog Story
Written byGoRA
Illustrated byYui Kuroe
Published byKodansha
Magazinegood! Afternoon
DemographicSeinen
Original runNovember 2012March 2013
Volumes1
Manga
K: Days of Blue
Written byGoRA
Illustrated byYui Kuroe
Published byKodansha
MagazineAria
DemographicShōjo
Original runNovember 5, 2013July 28, 2014
Volumes2
Manga
K: The First
Written byGoRA
Illustrated byRin Kimura
MagazineGFantasy
DemographicShōnen
Original runDecember 18, 2013March 18, 2015
Manga
Gakuen K
Written byGoRA
Illustrated byJirō Suzuki
MagazineMonthly GFantasy
DemographicShōnen
Original runJanuary 18, 2014January 18, 2016
Manga
K: Lost small world
Written byGoRA
Illustrated byYoru Ōkita
MagazineHatsu Kiss
DemographicShōjo
Original runJune 13, 2014June 13, 2016
Manga
K: Countdown
Written byGoRA
Illustrated byYui Kuroe
Published byKodansha
MagazineAria
DemographicShōjo
Original runDecember 27, 2014July 28, 2015[3]
Anime film
K: Missing Kings
Directed by
  • Shingo Suzuki
  • Hiromichi Kanazawa[a]
Produced byHaruki Hayashi
Written byGoRA
Music byMikio Endō
StudioGoHands
Licensed by
ReleasedJuly 12, 2014 (2014-07-12)
Runtime73 minutes
Video game
Gakuen K: Wonderful School Days
DeveloperOtomate
PublisherIdea Factory
GenreVisual novel
PlatformPlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita
Released
  • PlayStation Portable
  • October 30, 2014
  • PlayStation Vita
  • October 22, 2015
Manga
K: Missing Kings
Written byHideyuki Furuhashi
Illustrated byHaruto Shiota
Published bySquare Enix
MagazineMonthly GFantasy
DemographicShōnen
Original runApril 18, 2015August 18, 2015
Manga
K: Dream of Green
Written byGoRA
Illustrated byYui Kuroe
Published byKodansha
MagazineAria
DemographicShōjo
Original runSeptember 28, 2015[3]February 28, 2016
Anime television series
K: Return of Kings
Directed by
  • Shingo Suzuki
  • Hiromichi Kanazawa[a]
Produced by
  • Haruki Hayashi
  • Hiroshi Kamei
  • Kō Ōno
Written byYashichiro Takahashi (GoRA)
Music byMikio Endō
StudioGoHands
Licensed by
Original networkMBS, TBS, CBC, BS-TBS, AT-X
English network
  • SEA: Animax Asia
Original run October 3, 2015 December 26, 2015
Episodes13 (List of episodes)
Manga
K: Return of Kings
Written byHideyuki Furuhashi
Illustrated byHaruto Shiota
Published bySquare Enix
MagazineMonthly GFantasy
DemographicShōnen
Original runOctober 17, 2015 – present
Anime film series
K: Seven Stories
Directed byShingo Suzuki
Produced by
  • Haruki Hayashi
  • Hitomi Saitō
Written byRei Rairaku (GoRA)
Music byMikio Endō
StudioGoHands
Licensed by
  • AUS: Crunchyroll
  • BI: Anime Limited
  • NA: Viz Media
Released July 7, 2018 (2018-07-07) December 1, 2018 (2018-12-01)
Runtime59–66 minutes
Films6 (List of films)
icon Anime and manga portal

A manga prequel called K: Memory of Red, drawn by Yui Kuroe was serialized in Kodansha's Aria between May 28, 2012 and August 15, 2013.[4] Another prequel manga, K: Stray Dog Story, ran in Kodansha's good! Afternoon between November 2012 and March 2013. A third manga K: Days of Blue, was serialized in Kodansha's Aria between November 2013 and July 2014, and a fourth, K: Countdown, ran in Aria from December 2014 to July 2015, while a fifth, K: Missing Kings, ran in Monthly GFantasy from April to August 2015. Five more manga series; K: The First, Gakuen K, K: Lost small world, K: Dream of Green, and K: Return of Kings, are also still ongoing. Furthermore, two light novels, called K Side:Blue and K Side:Red, were released in October and November 2012. A third light novel called K Side:Black and white was released in May 2013 and another one, K - Lost small world was released in April 2014.

A sequel film was released on July 12, 2014.[5] A visual novel is also in development by Otomate.

A sequel anime project was announced on the official Twitter account of the series. The new anime series, K: Return of Kings, aired from October 3, 2015 to December 26, 2015, rounding up the anime series and delivering its ending.[6]

A new anime project featuring an original story by GoRA and GoHands, titled K: Seven Stories, has been green-lit. GoHands and Shingo Suzuki are returning to produce and direct the anime, respectively. [7]

Plot

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Yashiro Isana has lived a relatively ordinary, simple life. He lives in the technologically advanced Shizume City and attends Ashinaka High School, a notable high school that is located on an island just outside the areas. Yashiro is friendly with everyone. Nothing seems wrong about him, except perhaps his habit of forgetting where his school-issued PDA is. However, nothing normal has been happening since the recent murder of Tatara Totsuka, prominent member of the infamous HOMRA. No one knows who exactly killed him but the man responsible bears an uncanny, identical appearance to Yashiro. Seeking vengeance, the Red Clansmen of HOMRA set out to get Yashiro and kill him. Everyone suspects that Yashiro is the murderer.

Media

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Anime

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The anime began airing on October 5, 2012. The anime has been licensed by Viz Media in North America[8] and by Madman Entertainment in Australia.[9] It was also being streamed on VizAnime video site. The opening theme song is "KINGS" by Angela and the ending theme song is "Tsumetai Heya, Hitori" (冷たい部屋、一人) by Mikako Komatsu. Insert songs include "Circle of Friends" by Yūki Kaji and "Itsuka no Zero Kara" (いつかのゼロから) by Angela. The anime has a movie sequel released in 2014.[10][11] Viz has also licensed the second season.[12]

Film

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It was announced that there will be a sequel to the anime series in the form of a film.[13] The movie was released on July 12, 2014. Its title is "K: Missing Kings" and includes a new character Mishakuji Yukari. The movie takes place one year after anime in the summer. Viz Media has licensed the movie.[12]

It was announced that there will be a six-part film series, titled "K: Seven Stories"[14] and was released between July 7, 2018 and December 1, 2018. Viz Media has licensed the film series.[15]

Light novels

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No. Title Release date ISBN
K SIDE : BLUE2012/10/18978-4062838177
Author is Hideyuki Furuhashi (GoRA), illustrator is Shingo Suzuki (GoHands)
K SIDE : RED2012/11/15978-4062838184
Author is Rei Rairaku (GoRA), illustrator is Shingo Suzuki (GoHands)
K SIDE : BLACK & WHITE2013/5/21978-4062838320
Author is Tatsuki Miyazawa (GoRA), illustrator is Shingo Suzuki (GoHands)
K -Lost Small World-2014/4/2978-4062838665
Author is Yukako Kabei (GoRA), illustrator is Shingo Suzuki (GoHands)

Manga

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K -Memory of Red- (K-メモリー・オブ・レッド-)
Illustrated by Yui Kuroe, written by Rei Rairaku (GoRA). Spin-off that focuses on Homra. The story follows events that took place before the TV series.
No. Release date ISBN
1 2012/10/12978-4063805963
  • 001. Homra Part 1 (吠舞羅 (前編))
  • 002. Homra Part 2 (吠舞羅 (後編))
  • 003. Strange Love (ストレンジ・ラブ)
  • 004. Memory Part 1 (Memory (前編))
  • 005. Memory Part 2 (Memory (後編))
2 2013/3/13978-4063806205
  • 006. Horse sashimi panic Part 1 (馬刺しパニック (前編))
  • 007. Horse sashimi panic Part 2 (馬刺しパニック (後編))
  • 008. Rainy Day
  • 009. Kamamoto of Summer (夏のKamamoto)
  • 010. In the Crypt Part 1 (あなぐらの中 (前編))
3 2013/10/7978-4063806526
  • 011. In the Crypt Part 2 (あなぐらの中 (後編)))
  • 012. The elegant day of King and Princess (王と姫の優雅な一日)
  • 013. Summer Night Ghost (サマーナイトゴースト)
  • 014. King (キング)
  • 015. HAPPY BIRTHDAY
  • 016. After the sweet memory
K Stray Dog Story (K ストレイ・ドッグ・ストーリー)
Illustrated by Saki Minato, written by Tatsuki Miyazawa (GoRA). Spin-off that focuses on Kuroh Yatogami.
No. Release date ISBN
1 2013/4/5978-4063878837
K -Days of Blue- (K-デイズ・オブ・ブルー-)
Illustrated by Yui Kuroe, written by Rei Rairaku (GoRA). Spin-off that focuses on Scepter 4. The story follows events that took place before the TV series.
No. Release date ISBN
1 2014/4/7978-4063806878
  • 001. (東京法務局戶籍課第四分室寮棟)
  • 002. LONELY BABY
  • 003. (淡島の休日)
  • 004. ()
  • 005. (白あん煮込み豆腐パニック(前編))
2 2014/8/12978-4063807134
K - The First
Illustrated by Rin Kimura, written by Suzu Suzuki (GoRA). Mainly a re-telling of the story in the TV series.
Gakuen K
Illustrated by Jirō Suzuki, written by Hideyuki Furuhashi (GoRA). Comedy spin-off where all the K characters are going to high school together.
K: Lost small world
Illustrated by Yoru Ōkita, written by Yukako Kabei (GoRA). Focuses on Yata's and Fushimi's past.
K: Countdown
Illustrated by Yui Kuroe, written by Rei Rairaku. The story reveals what happens after the Missing Kings movie from the viewpoints of different characters.
K: Missing Kings
Illustrated by Haruto Shiota, written by Hideyuki Furuhashi. K: Missing Kings is an adaptation of the film of the same name, and ran in the Monthly GFantasy magazine from April 18, 2015, to August 18, 2015.[16]
K: Dog and Cat
Illustrated by Rin Kimura, written by Hideyuki Furuhashi. About Neko and Kuroh. The story takes place between the first season and the movie. Published in G-Fantasy between May 18 and November 18, 2015.
K: Dream of Green
Illustrated by Yui Kuroe, written by Rei Rairaku. Began publication in Aria on September 28, 2015.[3]
K: Return of Kings
The K: Return of Kings manga is an adaptation of the anime television series of the same name, written by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Haruto Shiota. It began serialization in the G Gantasy magazine on October 17, 2015.[17]

Visual novel

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A visual novel adaptation was developed by Otomate and subsequently released in 2014. The game is targeted towards a female audience, allowing the player to be the heroine of the story. The player takes on the role of an original character named Saya Konohana (木野花 沙耶, Konohana Saya) who does not show up in the anime. The objective of the game is to pursue one of the available heroes using the school as a setup.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d Series Director (シリーズディレクター).
  2. ^ In the United Kingdom through Crunchyroll UK and Ireland (formerly known as Manga Entertainment) via Kazé and in Australia through Madman Anime.

References

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  1. ^ Foote, Aiden. "K". THEM Anime Reviews. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  2. ^ "The Official Website for K". Viz Media. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "K: Countdown Manga Ends, K: Dream of Green Manga Launches". Anime News Network. July 29, 2015. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  4. ^ "K Anime Gets Manga Adaptation". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  5. ^ "K Film's July 12 Opening, Yukari Mishakuji Visual Unveiled". Anime News Network. December 11, 2013. Archived from the original on May 24, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  6. ^ "K Anime Project Gets Sequel in 2015". Anime News Network. October 18, 2014. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  7. ^ "K Project Gets New Anime, Stage Play, Dance Performance". Anime News Network. April 30, 2016. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  8. ^ "Viz Media Licenses "K" Anime". Crunchyroll News. Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  9. ^ "Madman Entertainment Loads Up On New Anime Acquisitions". Madman Entertainment. November 12, 2012. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  10. ^ "K Anime Gets Sequel Green-Lit". Anime News Network. December 27, 2012. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  11. ^ "K Movie Adaptation Green-lit". Anime News Network. May 26, 2013. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  12. ^ a b "Viz Adds Legend of the Galactic Heroes Novels, One-Punch Man Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  13. ^ "K Anime Movie Adaptation Green-Lit". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  14. ^ "K: Seven Stories Theatrical Anime Project Opens in Japan Starting in Summer 2018". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  15. ^ "Viz Media Licenses K: Seven Stories Film Series". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  16. ^ "Haruto Shiota Ends K: Missing Kings Manga in August". Anime News Network. July 19, 2015. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  17. ^ "K: Return of Kings TV Anime Gets Manga Adaptation". Anime News Network. August 15, 2015. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
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