is a Japanese high school delinquent manga series by Hiroshi Takahashi. It has the same setting and also shares some characters with Takahashi's later manga ''QP'' and ''

Worst The Worst or Worst may refer to: * ''The Worst'', a 1997 album by Sarcófago, or its title track * ''The Worst'', a 2000 album by Tech N9ne, or its title track * ''The Worst'', a 2004 EP by Lower Class Brats, or its title track * "The Worst" (On ...

''. As of April 2009, it had sold more than 46 million copies worldwide. The series was adapted into a two episode

OVA , abbreviated as OVA and sometimes as OAV (original animation video), are Japanese animated films and series made specially for release in home video formats without prior showings on television or in theaters, though the first part of an OVA s ...

Knack Productions , formerly known as or simply until August 2008, is a Japanese anime and film production company. History Knack Productions was founded on September 25, 1967, by a group of former employees of Toei Animation and Osamu Tezuka's Mushi Production, ...

in 1994 which covered the first three volumes of the manga. It inspired three live-action films: ''

Crows Zero , also known as ''Crows: Episode 0'', is a 2007 Japanese action film based on the manga ''Crows'' by Hiroshi Takahashi. The film was directed by Takashi Miike with a screenplay by Shōgo Mutō, and stars Shun Oguri, Kyōsuke Yabe, Meisa Kuroki, ...

'' in

2007 File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pr ...

, ''

Crows Zero 2 is a 2009 Japanese action film directed by Takashi Miike with a screenplay by Shogo Muto. It is the second film based on the manga ''Crows'' by Hiroshi Takahashi, and a direct sequel to 2007's ''Crows Zero''. The film stars much of the cast fro ...

'' in

2009 File:2009 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The vertical stabilizer of Air France Flight 447 is pulled out from the Atlantic Ocean; Barack Obama becomes the first African American to become President of the United States; 2009 Iran ...

(both directed by

Takashi Miike is a Japanese film director, film producer and screenwriter. He has directed over one hundred theatrical, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. His films run through a variety of different genres, and range from violent an ...

), and ''

Crows Explode is a 2014 Japanese action film directed by Toshiaki Toyoda. It is the third film based on the manga ''Crows'' by Hiroshi Takahashi. It is the sequel to 2009's ''Crows Zero 2''. It features new characters and an almost entirely new cast, includin ...

'' (directed by

Toshiaki Toyoda is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. Career Born in Osaka Prefecture, Toyoda was first a prodigy in the game of shogi or Japanese chess. He attended the Japan Shogi Association's Professional shogi player#Apprenticeship, apprenticeship ...

) in

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

. The films are not direct adaptations but take place before the events of the manga. Several characters from the manga appear in the movies but not the main character Bōya. ''Takahashi'' wrote a one volume side story called ''Crows Gaiden: Katagiri Ken Monogatari'' which was published in 2014. A tribute manga called ''Crows Respect'' written by various authors was published by ''Akita Shoten'' in 2018. Two manga spin-offs were released in 2017 in ''Monthly Shonen Champion''. The first titled ''Crows: Explode'', written by Kōsuke Mukai, Rikiya Mizushima and Takashi Hasegawa and illustrated by Tatsuya Kanda, began on October 6. The manga will be finished on October 6, 2020. The second, ''Crows Gaiden: Housenka - The Beginning of Housen'' by ''Shūhei Saitō'', about the beginning of Hōsen Academy, started on November 6. A beat-em-up game for the

Sega Saturn The is a home video game console developed by Sega and released on November 22, 1994, in Japan, May 11, 1995, in North America, and July 8, 1995, in Europe. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, it was the successor to the succ ...

titled ''Crows: The Battle Action'' was released in 1997, which was developed and published by

Athena Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft who was later syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarded as the patron and protectress of ...

. An action-adventure video game by

Bandai Namco Games is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game video game publisher, publisher headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Entertainment America and Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, are resp ...

for

PlayStation 4 The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013 in ...

titled ''Crows: Burning Edge'' was released on 27 October 2016, it sold 9,574 units in its first week of release.

Plot

The story begins when Harumichi Bōya transfers into the second year at Suzuran High School. Suzuran is notorious for its delinquent students who are nicknamed 'Crows' because of their dark uniforms and inauspicious nature. Quickly enough Bōya meets a group centered around Hiromi Kirishima who are trying to challenge the school boss Hideto Bandō. From there the story follows the exploits of Suzuran students and the teen-aged delinquents of various surrounding schools and gangs.

Characters

Suzuran

; :Voiced by

Hidenari Ugaki is a Japanese actor and voice actor from Tokyo. He is currently attached to 81 Produce. He is best known for his roles in ''Mobile Fighter G Gundam'' (as Argo Gulskii), the TV Tokyo edition of ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (as Donatello), th ...

(OVA) :The main protagonist. His loyalty to his friends and cocky nature often get him into conflict but he is otherwise lazy and laid-back and rejects any leadership role. ; Also known as ''"Yasu"'' :Voiced by Kappei Yamaguchi (OVA) :Yasu is small and scrawny which makes him an easy target for bullies. He becomes Bōya's closest friend and right-hand man. ; Also known as ''"Atchan"'' :Voiced by

Masashi Sugawara is a Japanese voice actor who voiced Vigoro in ''Skies of Arcadia'' and Jean Valjean in '' Les Misérables: Shōjo Cosette''. Filmography Television animation *''Aoki Densetsu Shoot!'' (1993) (Tetsuya Sugawara) *''Trigun'' (1998) (Ingway) *''On ...

(OVA), played by Issei Okihara (live action) :Akutsu is bullying Yasu when he first crosses paths with Bōya who quickly teaches him a lesson. Despite being somewhat cowardly he becomes loyal in his own way to Bōya. ; :Voiced by

Toshiyuki Morikawa is a Japanese voice actor, narrator and singer who is the head of Axlone, a voice acting company he founded in April 2011. His name is also sometimes mistranslated as Tomoyuki Morikawa. In 2003, he and Fumihiko Tachiki formed the band "2Hearts", ...

(OVA), played by

Shunsuke Daito is a Japanese actor, talent and fashion model. He was born in Sakai, Osaka, Japan. Currently, he is employed by the Top Coat subsidiary of Watanabe Productions is a multimedia management company in Japan dealing in recordings, films, telev ...

(live action) :Leader of the group that included Mako and Pon. After initially clashing with Bōya he allied with him to fight against Bandō. Also appears in the manga "QP". ; Also known as ''"Mako"'' :Voiced by

Jūrōta Kosugi is a Japanese voice actor. His major roles include Arlong in ''One Piece'', Asuma Sarutobi in ''Naruto'', Akio Ohtori in ''Revolutionary Girl Utena'', Isamu Kenmochi in ''Kindaichi Case Files'', Big Zenki in ''Zenki,'' and Jotaro Kujo in ''JoJ ...

(OVA), played by

Yū Koyanagi is a very common Japanese given name used by either sex. Possible writings Yū can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: *優, "tenderness" or "superiority" *夕, "evening" *友, "friend" *有, "qualified" *勇, "courage" *� ...

(live action) :One of the strongest fighters at Suzuran. Managed to get a girlfriend much to Bōya's chagrin. Dropped out of school in his last year. ; Also known as ''"Pon"'' :Voiced by

Kōji Tsujitani was a Japanese actor, voice actor, narrator and director of audiography credited for voicing many anime and video game characters. Tsujitani used to be affiliated with Sigma Seven. He married Kumiko Watanabe in 2012. He died of a stroke on Octob ...

(OVA), played by Ryō Hashizume (live action) :A hotheaded boy usually wearing a face mask after breaking his two front teeth in a bike accident. ; :Voiced by

Kazuki Yao Kazuki (written: , , , , , , , , or in hiragana) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese wrestler *, Japanese anime director *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese footballer *, J ...

(OVA), played by Dai Watanabe (live action) :The ruthless boss of Suzuran when Bōya arrived and a member of the gang ''The Front of Armament''. Also appears in the manga "QP". ; Also known as ''"Rindaman"'' :Voiced by

Akio Ōtsuka is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from the Tokyo Metropolitan area. He is attached to Mausu Promotion. The astringent and calm quality of his deep voice has landed him many roles in films, dubbing, animation, and video games. He is ...

(OVA), played by Motoki Fukami (live action) :Third year student and a surly loner who was the only one at Suzuran who could stand up to Bōya in a fight. He has however no interest in gang politics. He is modelled after the character "Ricky Linderman" from the 1980 film

My Bodyguard ''My Bodyguard'' is a 1980 American family comedy drama film directed by Tony Bill (his directorial debut), and written by Alan Ormsby. The film stars Chris Makepeace, Adam Baldwin (in his first film role), Matt Dillon, Martin Mull, and Ruth Gor ...

. ; Also known as ''"Zetton"'' :A former middle school junior of Bōya who entered Suzuran as a freshman when Bōya was beginning his third year. His nickname comes from a

Kaiju is a Japanese media genre that focuses on stories involving giant monsters. The word ''kaiju'' can also refer to the giant monsters themselves, which are usually depicted attacking major cities and battling either the military or other monster ...

in the

Ultraman ''Ultraman'', also known as the , is the collective name for all media produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad monsters. Debuting with ''Ultra Q'' and then ''Ultraman'' in 1966, the series is one ...

television series.

Kurotaki Alliance

; Also known as ''"Bulldog"'' :Boss of Takiya Commerce High School and president of The Kurotaki Alliance. A charismatic leader who bonds with Bōya over their common inability to get anywhere with girls. ; Also known as ''"Maruken"'' :Played by Joey Iwanaga (

live action) ; Also known as ''"Kakuken"'' :Played by Shuhei Nogae (

live action) :Maruken and Kakuken are the bosses of Kurosaki Industrial. Though they often argue about trivial things they are such close friends that they are sometimes collectively known as 'MaruKaku'. They are the first to join Bulldog and form The Kurotaki Alliance. ; Also known as ''"Ammo"'' :A freshman at Kawada 2nd High who managed to become the new boss by defeating the previous boss Ishikawa. He is the only freshman to become an officer in The Kurotaki Alliance.

Hōsen

; :Played by

Haruma Miura was a Japanese actor and singer. He made his acting debut in the television drama ''Agri'' (1997) and rose to popularity after starring in the film ''Koizora'' (2007), winning Newcomer of the Year at the 31st Japan Academy Prize. In the follow ...

(live action) :Ruled Hōsen Academy, Suzuran's rival school, along with his younger brother Hideyuki. They seek revenge for the death of their older brother. Later the brothers move to Tokyo. ; Also known as ''"King Joe"'' :A freshman who took control of Hōsen after the Bitōs left. Always ambitious and picking fights with the bosses of other schools. His nickname is the name of a robot in the

Ultra Seven is a Japanese ''tokusatsu'' science fiction television series created by Eiji Tsuburaya. It is the third installment in the Ultra Series and was produced by Tsuburaya Productions. The series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from October 1, 19 ...

television series.

Others

; :Became the leader of ''The Front of Armament'' motorcycle gang after his brother Hideomi is defeated. Unlike his brother, Ryūshin is tough and honorable. Later moves to Tokyo to become a professional boxer. ; :Voiced by

Masahiro Anzai Masahiro Anzai ( ja, 安西正弘; ''Anzai Masahiro'') (26 November 1954 – 15 March 2021) was a Japanese voice actor and actor. Biography Anzai graduated from the . He retired from acting in 1997 due to his treatment for diabetes, which caused ...

(OVA) :A graduate of Suzuran and a construction worker. Many Suzuran students see him as a big brother figure, in particular Rindaman.

OVAs

The ending theme for episode 1 is "Totsuzen, Natsu no Arashi no Youni" by THE STREET BEATS and the ending theme for episode 2 is "Outsider" by THE STREET BEATS.

References

External links

*
ANN feature
{{Weekly Shōnen Champion 1990 manga Akita Shoten manga Knack Productions Manga adapted into films Shōnen manga Yankī anime and manga