''Human Crossing'', originally titled , is a Japanese
manga
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
written by
Masao Yajima
Masao (written: 正雄, 正夫, 正生, 正男, 正郎, 雅雄, 雅央, 雅夫, 雅勇, 雅男, 昌雄, 昌夫, 昌男, 昌朗, 昌郎, 昌大, 政雄, 政夫, 政男, 政於, 征夫, 優夫, 聖雄, 利生, 将雄, 将夫 or 眞男) is a masculine ...
and illustrated by
Kenshi Hirokane
is a Japanese manga artist from Iwakuni, Yamaguchi. He graduated from Waseda University with a degree in law, then worked for Matsushita Electric for four years, before making his manga debut in 1974 with ''Kaze Kaoru''."Manga Snapshot: Big Co ...
. The manga is about a series of unrelated stories of people's life and their lessons in life. ''Human Crossing'' received the 1985
Shogakukan Manga Award
The is one of Japan's major manga awards, and is sponsored by Shogakukan, Shogakukan Publishing. It has been awarded annually for serialized manga and features candidates from a number of publishers. It is the oldest manga award in Japan, being ...
for the General category.
Manga
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, comics (manga), non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.
Shogakukan founded Shueisha, which also founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hit ...
published ''Human Crossing'' in 27 ''
tankōbon
is the Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or cultur ...
'' between October 1, 1981 and March 1, 1991.
The series was republished into 19 ''
bunkoban'' between November 17, 1994 and June 15, 1996.
Anime
The series was adapted into a 13-episode
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
in 2003 by
A.C.G.T
is a Japanese animation studio established on December 19, 2000, by former Triangle Staff members in Suginami, Tokyo. It has been involved in the development of many series, predominantly contributing to other studios and adapting works based o ...
and produced by
OB Planning. Directed by Issei Kume, it was broadcast on
TV Tokyo
JOTX-DTV (channel 7), branded as and known colloquially as , is a television station headquartered in the Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, owned and operated by the subsidiary of listed certified b ...
between April 5, 2003 and June 28, 2003. It was licensed by
Geneon
(abbreviated as NBCUEJ) is a Japanese music, anime, and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Tokyo, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Minato, Tokyo. It is primarily involved in the production and distributi ...
in 2004. Each episode is a separate story of little relevance to each other. The anime is released in France by Kaze, and in Taiwan by
Muse Communication
Muse Communication Co., Ltd. (also known simply as Muse) is a Taiwanese distributor and licensor that specializes in the distribution of anime. Based in Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City, the company also distributes Asian and European films i ...
.
The anime uses two pieces of
theme song
Theme music is a musical composition that is often written specifically for radio programming, television shows, video games, or films and is usually played during the title sequence, opening credits, closing credits, and in some instances at so ...
. "REVENGE ~Asu e no Chigai~" by
Nana Katase
Nana, Nanna, Na Na or NANA may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name
* Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname
* Nana (c ...
is the opening theme, while "Believing" by
Aki Asahina is the ending theme.
Geneon
(abbreviated as NBCUEJ) is a Japanese music, anime, and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Tokyo, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Minato, Tokyo. It is primarily involved in the production and distributi ...
released a set of four DVDs for ''Human Crossing''. They released the first DVD, ''Human Crossing - The 25th Hour'' on February 8, 2005, the second DVD, ''Human Crossing, Vol. 2: The Cicadas of Winter'' on April 26, 2005, the third DVD, ''Human Crossing, Vol. 3: Message in White'' on June 28, 2005, and the fourth and final DVD, ''Human Crossing, Vol. 4: Instructor's Rain'' on August 30, 2005. On March 13, 2007,
Geneon
(abbreviated as NBCUEJ) is a Japanese music, anime, and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Tokyo, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Minato, Tokyo. It is primarily involved in the production and distributi ...
released ''Human Crossing: Complete Brick Pack'', which contains all four DVDs of the anime.
Maiden Japan
''Maiden Japan'', released as ''Heavy Metal Army'' in Japan, is a live EP by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The title is a pun of Deep Purple's live album '' Made in Japan''.
Release
There are at least two different versions of ...
has now licensed the anime series.
Episode listing
Albums
Avex trax released a soundtrack CD on ''Human Crossing'' anime's ending theme called, ''Human Scramble - Believing'', on June 4, 2003. The CD uses
Bobby Caldwell
Robert Hunter Caldwell (born August 15, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He released several albums spanning R&B, soul, jazz and adult contemporary. He is known for his soulful and versatile vocals. Caldwell released the ...
,
Marsga Randcliffe and
Debra Shane
Debra is a feminine given name.
Debra may refer to:
People
* Debra Adelaide (born 1958), Australian writer
* Debra Allbery (born 1957), American poet
* Debra R. Anderson (1949-2022), American politician
* Debra Austin (born 1955), American bal ...
lyrics. It was sung by
Aki Asahina. On July 16, 2003,
Hiboom released a soundtrack CD for ''Human Scramble'', containing the opening and ending themes of the anime. On January 7, 2005,
Universal Music
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, Dutch law. UMG's cor ...
released a CD for ''Human Scramble'', which was sung by
Shinji Tanimura
is a Japanese singer-songwriter.
Career
Tanimura set up the musical group Alice together with Takao Horiuchi in 1971 and released his first extended play musical album in the following year. Alice produced its first album two years later. Du ...
. On March 11, 2009,
Universal Music
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, Dutch law. UMG's cor ...
created a SHM-CD version of
Shinji Tanimura
is a Japanese singer-songwriter.
Career
Tanimura set up the musical group Alice together with Takao Horiuchi in 1971 and released his first extended play musical album in the following year. Alice produced its first album two years later. Du ...
's 10-part album, which includes "Ningen Kosaten - Human Scramble".
Reception
Anime News Network
Anime News Network (ANN) is a news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, video games, Japanese popular music and other related cultures within North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. The website offers reviews and oth ...
's Theron Martin criticizes “The 25th Hour” episode, "which comes off as preachy, improbable, and forced" but he also commends the “Direction" episode for its "poignancy and emotional appeal" at the end.
Anime News Network
Anime News Network (ANN) is a news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, video games, Japanese popular music and other related cultures within North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. The website offers reviews and oth ...
's Carlo Santos criticizes the second DVD of ''Human Crossing'' because of its animation, labeling it "stiff" and "choppy". Mania.com's Jennifer Rocks comments on the "stand-alone" nature of each episode more saying that it might be more rewarding if the anime is "viewed as a cultural study, rather than as pure entertainment".
DVD Talk
DVD Talk is a home video news and review website launched in 1999 by Geoffrey Kleinman.
History
Kleinman founded the site in January 1999 in Beaverton, Oregon. Besides news and reviews, it features information on hidden DVD features known as ...
's Don Houston commends the anime on its "background detail" and writes that many of the episodes have a "universal appeal".
References
External links
Official Kaze ''Human Scramble'' website
*
{{A.C.G.T
2003 anime television series debuts
Geneon USA
Maiden Japan
Seinen manga
Shogakukan manga
TV Tokyo original programming
Winners of the Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga