is a Japanese
light novel
A light novel (, Hepburn: ''raito noberu'') is a style of young adult novel primarily targeting high school and middle school students. The term "light novel" is a ''wasei-eigo'', or a Japanese term formed from words in the English languag ...
and
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 ...
series, written by
Satoru Akahori
is a Japanese scriptwriter, novelist and manga author. He is best known for the ''Saber Marionette'', ''Sakura Wars'' and ''Sorcerer Hunters'' series, which comes in anime, novel and manga forms.
Works
*''Akahori Gedou Hour Rabuge'': Series Com ...
and illustrated by
Ray Omishi. Akahori and Omishi also published ''Sorcerer Hunters Special'', a one-volume story set sometime after the series' conclusion.
In the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
the manga was serialized in ''
MixxZine
''Tokyopop magazine'', originally named ''MixxZine'', was a manga anthology published in North America by Tokyopop.
History
''MixxZine'' at the start published five manga series, two of which were shōjo (geared towards young or teenaged girl ...
'', replacing ''
Ice Blade
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsutomu Takahashi. It was serialized in Kodansha's ''seinen'' manga magazine ''Monthly Afternoon'' from 1992 to 1999, with its chapters collected in nineteen ''tankōbon'' volumes. The ...
'', which had ended.
Story
''Sorcerer Hunters'' is set on the Spooner Continent, where the populace is divided into two groups: the ordinary people, called the Parsoners, and the
magic
Magic or Magick most commonly refers to:
* Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces
* Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic
* Magical thinking, the belief that unrela ...
users, the Sorcerers. Marked by the triangles on their foreheads, many Sorcerers dominate, exploit, torment, murder, and enslave the Parsoners of the Spooner Continent.
The Sorcerer Hunters are a group of warriors who protect humans from the Sorcerers. They are under the command of a holy woman who goes by the name of "Big Mama", the head of the popular Stella Church, who seeks to protect Parsoners from the gifted Sorcerers who have chosen to abuse their powers.
The plot focuses on the adventures of a small family group of Sorcerer Hunters, including the Glace Brothers (Carrot and his younger brother Marron), their childhood friends, the Misu Sisters (Tira and her older sister Chocola), and Gateau Mocha.
Characters
Main
*
The primary
protagonist
A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a st ...
and the
de facto
''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with ''de jure'' ("by la ...
leader of the Sorcerer Hunters, Carrot is an apparently powerless boy who carries a
longsword
A longsword (also spelled as long sword or long-sword) is a type of European sword characterized as having a cruciform hilt with a grip for primarily two-handed use (around ), a straight double-edged blade of around , and weighing approximatel ...
, but almost never uses it due to extreme imprecision. However, he does have one ace in the hole. When he comes into contact with a Sorcerer's magic, his Aranju and
Zoanthropy
Clinical lycanthropy is a rare psychiatric syndrome that involves a delusion that the affected person can transform into, has transformed into, or is, an animal. Its name is associated with the mythical condition of lycanthropy, a supernatural ...
activate one of his 12 beast genes and transform him into a giant, out-of-control monster. It takes Tira Misu to bring him back to his normal state in the animated series; in the manga, she wears Carrot's monster form down while his brother Marron pulls the magic out of Carrot. Carrot's forms are based on the animals of the
Chinese zodiac
The Chinese zodiac is a traditional classification scheme based on the lunar calendar that assigns an animal and its reputed attributes to each year in a repeating twelve-year cycle. Originating from China, the zodiac and its variations remain ...
, and he has been known to transform twice during a fight.
Carrot is a lascivious pervert with a ravenous
libido
Libido (; colloquial: sex drive) is a person's overall sexual drive or desire for sexual activity. Libido is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Biologically, the sex hormones and associated neurotransmitters that act up ...
; he propositions nearly every woman he sees with either a date or sex. In fact, the only two women whom he does not pursue are Tira and Chocola, who really love him, and both of them take great offense to Carrot's
lust
Lust is a psychological force producing intense desire for something, or circumstance while already having a significant amount of the desired object. Lust can take any form such as the lust for sexuality (see libido), money, or power. It can ...
ful pursuits. In his defense, Carrot doesn't view himself as being unfaithful to the Misu sisters; he has a brotherly love for them rather than a romantic type, and he feels uneasy with the notion of being with Tira or Chocola romantically and thus, uses this rationale to chase after other girls. Unfortunately, this doesn't sit very well with the sisters, who think he ignores their affections. As a result, when they are not in battle with sorcerers, Carrot is often the victim of the Misu sisters' barrage of whippings as punishment for his constant infidelity (or what they perceive as infidelity) towards them, which is another reason Carrot fears both the sisters. Later in the series, he professes his love to both Tira and Chocola and even marries Tira at the end of the manga. However, even though Chocola let her sister marry him, she's still bound and determined to bear Carrot's first child.
*
Marron is Carrot's younger brother, although he appears to be older due to his height, as well as his docile, mature manner. Unlike Carrot, Marron is a gentleman. He is an expert practitioner of Eastern style magic, which does not require one to be born a Sorcerer. He can conjure the
Four Symbols
The Four Symbols (, literally meaning "four images"), are four mythological creatures appearing among the Chinese constellations along the ecliptic, and viewed as the guardians of the four cardinal directions. These four creatures are also refe ...
. Marron is also a very skilled swordsman, but he rarely uses his sword skills. He is pursued by Gateau because of his beauty. Despite being a male he's beautiful enough to catch Gateau's attention. While he seems to mostly ignore Gateau's advances, there is a running gag with his overt, suspicious affection for his older brother, more pronounced in the manga than the anime. Marron is said to be
gay
''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'.
While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 1 ...
but is really more
asexual.
Growing up, Carrot always protected Marron from other kids who bullied him on account of his rather feminine looks. Now in their teens, Marron returns the favor by taking out anyone who harms him, his friends, and especially his older brother Carrot.
Though powerful, Marron does have some weak points shown better in the manga, such as a total lack of tolerance for alcohol. He's named after the
European confection.
*
The oldest of the five Sorcerer Hunters, Gateau was not raised in the Sorcerer Hunters' village on Mt. Saint Hordic; as a result, he is one of the few to join in adulthood (in the anime, he and Éclair grew up with the Glace brothers and Misu sisters). His advantage is immense physical strength due to a lifetime of
martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; a ...
training; he is also partially immune to magic due to that strength. Gateau's parents were killed by Sacher Torte, and his younger sister Eclair was abducted at that time; shortly afterwards, he met Chocola and joined her team.
Gateau is excessively
macho
Machismo (; ; ; ) is the sense of being " manly" and self-reliant, a concept associated with "a strong sense of masculine pride: an exaggerated masculinity". Machismo is a term originating in the early 1930s and 1940s best defined as hav ...
and also
bisexual
Bisexuality is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one gender. It may also be defined to include romantic or sexual attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity, whi ...
, as shown in the manga by his statement "Beauty transcends gender." He also has a libido that nearly rivals that of Carrot, the only main character to whom Gateau has no attraction. Unlike Carrot, however, Gateau knows when to put his libido in check.
Gateau's main hobby is
exhibitionism
Exhibitionism is the act of exposing in a public or semi-public context one's intimate parts – for example, the breasts, genitals or buttocks. The practice may arise from a desire or compulsion to expose themselves in such a manner to group ...
, often stripping to a
speedo
Speedo International Limited is a distributor of swimwear and swim-related accessories based in Nottingham, England, known for its swim briefs. The company has roots in Australia but is no longer based there. Founded in Sydney in 1914 by Al ...
and posing, accompanied by a cry of "Look at meee!" There's a running gag with him openly showing attraction to Marron due to his physical beauty, only to be ignored by the younger mystic.
His first name means "
cake
Cake is a flour confection made from flour, sugar, and other ingredients, and is usually baked. In their oldest forms, cakes were modifications of bread, but cakes now cover a wide range of preparations that can be simple or elaborate, ...
" in
French.
*
Tira, along with Chocola, was raised by Carrot and Marron's father and mother, Onion and Apricot. She resembles
Little Red Riding Hood
"Little Red Riding Hood" is a European fairy tale about a young girl and a sly wolf. Its origins can be traced back to several pre-17th century European folk tales. The two best known versions were written by Charles Perrault and the Brother ...
, dressed in an oversized cloak and glasses.
She seems very meek and shy, but reveals a bolder side of her personality in combat, pulling away her cloak and revealing her whip and leather
Dominatrix
A dominatrix (; ) or femdom is a woman who takes the dominant role in BDSM activities. A dominatrix can be of any sexual orientation, but this does not necessarily limit the genders of her submissive partners. Dominatrices are known for inflic ...
gear. She is very skilled with the whip and is the one who usually beats Carrot down after he transforms, turning him back to human form in the anime.
Tira is deeply in love with Carrot, but due to her shy nature she isn't very up front until later in the manga, so her love for Carrot is an
open secret
An open secret is a concept or idea that is "officially" (''de jure'') secret or restricted in knowledge, but in practice (''de facto'') is widely known; or it refers to something that is widely known to be true but which none of the people most i ...
. Tira gets jealous when Carrot lusts after other girls, and along with her sister Chocola, she whips Carrot as punishment for his constant skirt-chasing. Tira even gets miffed when she sees Chocola incessantly flirting with Carrot.
In battle, Tira occasionally uses a
whip
A whip is a tool or weapon designed to strike humans or other animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain. They can also be used without inflicting pain, for audiovisual cues, such as in equestrianism. They are generally e ...
. She also has basic knowledge of Gaia's magic, which is derived from nature; magic she learned from Apricot Glace, though she is only able to heal with it. Her dominatrix attire in the manga and OVAs is the traditional ensemble consisting of black leather stiletto-heel boots,
bustier
A bustier (, alternatively bustiere) is a form-fitting garment for women traditionally worn as lingerie. Its primary purpose is to push up the bust by tightening against the upper midriff and forcing the breasts up while gently shaping the waist ...
s,
corset
A corset is a support garment commonly worn to hold and train the torso into a desired shape, traditionally a smaller waist or larger bottom, for aesthetic or medical purposes (either for the duration of wearing it or with a more lasting effe ...
s, and spiked dog chains. Her anime attire, however, has a more colorful style, consisting of a tight, skimpy, orange and white leotard with an emerald "tie", white gloves and heels. In the manga, her dominatrix outfit changes often—sometimes even during the same story. In the anime, she appeared in her manga outfit after being reborn.
At the end of the manga, Tira finally admits her love to Carrot and marries him.
Her name is a pun on the
Italian dessert.
*
Chocola is the sexy, straightforward, sometimes high-maintenance, short-tempered and somewhat
nymphomania
Hypersexuality is extremely frequent or suddenly increased libido. It is controversial whether it should be included as a clinical diagnosis used by mental healthcare professionals. Nymphomania and satyriasis were terms previously used for the c ...
c older sister of Tira. She is
madly in love
''Madly in Love'' ( it, Innamorato pazzo) is a 1981 Italian romantic comedy film written and directed by Castellano & Pipolo, starring Adriano Celentano and Ornella Muti.
Plot
Cristina, the princess of a fictional monarchical state named Saint T ...
with Carrot (whom she calls "Darling" although there have been few times she's called Carrot by name) and literally throws herself at him. Often, Carrot is petrified of her and flees from her advances. Still, she keeps a close bond with Tira, protecting her when it's needed and fighting in her name. She and Gateau are a separate team early in the manga, but eventually all five form a single group.
Chocola is a dominatrix like Tira, but is far more violent and savage than her sister, and is also able to turn Carrot back to normal in the anime—after beating him up even harder than Tira. Her main weapon is her
garrote
A garrote or garrote vil (a Spanish word; alternative spellings include garotte and similar variants''Oxford English Dictionary'', 11th Ed: garrotte is normal British English spelling, with single r alternate. Article title is US English spellin ...
and she is incredibly skilled with it. It is suggested that her character was inspired by
Lum from ''
Urusei Yatsura
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi. It was serialized in Shogakukan's ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' from September 1978 to February 1987. Its 366 individual chapters were published in 34 ''tankōbon'' volum ...
''.
Chocola's dominatrix attire in the manga and OVAs resembles that of a
Nazi German
Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
soldier. It consists of a leather cap (with the Nazi symbols of the
eagle
Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just ...
carrying the
swastika
The swastika (卐 or 卍) is an ancient religious and cultural symbol, predominantly in various Eurasian, as well as some African and American cultures, now also widely recognized for its appropriation by the Nazi Party and by neo-Nazis. It ...
as well as the
Gestapo Death's Head), suspenders that barely cover her ample bust, leather pants and boots (her dominatrix attire in the manga and OVAs is also reminiscent of that worn by
Charlotte Rampling
Tessa Charlotte Rampling (born 5 February 1946) is an English actress, known for her work in European arthouse films in English, French, and Italian. An icon of the Swinging Sixties, she began her career as a model.
She was cast in the role ...
in the 1974 film ''
The Night Porter
''The Night Porter'' ( it, Il portiere di notte) is a 1974 English-language Italian erotic psychological war drama film. Directed and co-written by Liliana Cavani, the film stars Dirk Bogarde and Charlotte Rampling, with Philippe Leroy, Gabriel ...
''). However, in the anime television series, her attire is more reflective of a biker: a slightly modest red leather bra top, along with similar leather pants, boots and cap (sans the Nazi symbol), with red gloves. At the end of the anime, after being reborn, Chocola appears in her manga outfit with her sister.
Even though she loves Carrot sincerely, Chocola is a very jealous girl and is quite vicious and ferocious towards Carrot when she catches him cheating on her, and whips him mercilessly (though she is most vicious to those that harm her friends, in particular Tira and Carrot). Normally, however, she is very amorous and romantic towards him, always smothering him in deep love and affection, which is the reason Carrot keeps his distance from her between the two sisters. Chocola often has
romantic/sexual dreams of her and Carrot together. These
shōjoesque fantasies usually feature Carrot as very well-groomed and debonair-looking, as well as often ending in Carrot making love to her; in which she often goes into complete
ecstasy. Oddly enough, her own image in these fantasies show her to be either meek or submissive, which is a big change from what she truly is.
At the end of the manga, Chocola allows her sister to marry Carrot, though that doesn't stop her from trying to seduce him and bearing his children.
An important part of the plot is that the five Sorcerer Hunters are
reincarnation
Reincarnation, also known as rebirth or transmigration, is the philosophical or religious concept that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death. Resurrection is a ...
s of five gods. They are:
*Carrot—Hakaishin, the god of Destruction (which explains his beast forms)
*Marron—Yaksha, the god of the East who carries a sword (explanation of Marron's rarely seen sword skills)
*Gateau—Karlman, the god of the North who resembles a god from
Norse Mythology
Norse, Nordic, or Scandinavian mythology is the body of myths belonging to the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Old Norse religion and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia, and into the Nordic folklore of the modern period ...
*Tira—Apros, the goddess of the West who's also a healer
*Chocola—Qurin, the goddess of the South who resembles the
Hindu goddess
Devī (; Sanskrit: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for 'goddess'; the masculine form is ''deva''. ''Devi'' and ''deva'' mean 'heavenly, divine, anything of excellence', and are also gender-specific terms for a deity in Hinduism.
The conce ...
Kali
Kali (; sa, काली, ), also referred to as Mahakali, Bhadrakali, and Kalika ( sa, कालिका), is a Hinduism, Hindu goddess who is considered to be the goddess of ultimate power, time, destruction and change in Shaktism. In t ...
Carrot is the reincarnation of the Destruction god Hakaishin while the other four Hunters are the reincarnations of the four gods that subdued him, which explains why it takes Tira and/or Chocola as well as even Marron to bring Carrot back to his normal human form.
*''Voiced by:''
Sumi Shimamoto
, real name , is a Japanese actress, voice actress and narrator of film and anime and video games. After graduating from the Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music, she joined Gekidan Seinenza, a theatrical acting troupe. She is currently indepen ...
(Japanese),
Sue Ulu
Sue Ulu is an American voice actress and actress who, primarily, voiced in English dubs for anime properties licensed by ADV Films during the 1990s. Her most prominent roles include Ritsuko Akagi in '' Neon Genesis Evangelion'' and Kei in ''Dirty ...
(English, TV), Kelly Manison (English, OVA)
Big Mama is an imposing being with great magical abilities. Her real name is Kanure Stella and she, alongside Sacher Torte, formed the Sorcerer Hunters, and henceforth dedicated her life to the punishment of evil Sorcerers. The highest rank of the Sorcerer Hunters, the Haz Knights, are her personal
bodyguards
A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects a person or a group of people — usually witnesses, high-ranking public officials or officers, ...
.
*
Also known as Dotta, she is Big Mama's messenger and assistant. She is one of only two survivors of the Winged People. She wears
qipao
''Cheongsam'' (, ), also known as the ''qipao'' () and sometimes referred to as the mandarin gown, is a Chinese dress worn by women which takes inspiration from the , the ethnic clothing of the Manchu people. The cheongsam is most often see ...
, and usually has her hair up in small buns.
Haz Knights
The Haz Knights are the most elite Sorcerer Hunters, with amazing powers, augmented by magical armor. Mille is the first to appear in the manga, while the others don't appear until volumes nine, ten and eleven.
*
Also known as Milphey-uy, he is a
transvestite
Transvestism is the practice of dressing in a manner traditionally associated with the opposite sex. In some cultures, transvestism is practiced for religious, traditional, or ceremonial reasons. The term is considered outdated in Western c ...
who most often acts with Carrot's group and has a thorough knowledge of
necromancy
Necromancy () is the practice of magic or black magic involving communication with the dead by summoning their spirits as apparitions or visions, or by resurrection for the purpose of divination; imparting the means to foretell future events; ...
and all kind of magic. His power comes from his Guardian Spirit, the
Phoenix
Phoenix most often refers to:
* Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore
* Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States
Phoenix may also refer to:
Mythology
Greek mythological figures
* Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...
. He is pansexual and constantly flings himself at both Onion and Carrot, which draws more ire from Tira and Chocola, and flirts with them, though he's also shown some degree of interest in Gateau and Marron.
A very youthful-looking blonde girl with a slow manner, she has the power of super speed.
He is a master of magical chemistry, using
test tubes
Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to:
* Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities
Arts and entertainment
* ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film
* ''Test'' (2014 film), ...
and flasks as powerful magic explosives, as well as for other offensive and defensive uses.
This man is another highly skilled mystic, specializing in ice.
*
A former Haz Knight who left the group to raise a family. He wields twin axes that can inflict serious damage. He married Apricot Anzu, a fellow hunter and is Carrot and Marron's father. His appearance is very similar to Carrot's, with the addition of a facial scar and a far more muscular body. After the death of Apricot, it seems he has become as much of a lecher as his oldest son, at times. Of the two he acts as if he dislikes Carrot, though adores Marron for the resemblance to his dead wife.
A former Sorcerer Hunteress who can change into her own outfit and uses a knife as well as nature magic. She was "killed" long ago by the Lord of Darkness Almond Rasseru who possessed her body. However, her soul escaped and inhabited a new one—that of a female
artificial human named Mousse. She becomes the head of the Stella Church at the end of the manga. She is Onion's wife and the Glace brothers' mother.
Supporting
;Qui Shurein
A sorcerer of noble birth who is after the Crystal Magicians, who kidnapped his Parsoner girlfriend Audrey. He becomes an ally of the Sorcerer Hunters during the Crystal Magicians' story arc, although Gateau is reluctant to trust him. After the Magicians are defeated, he proposes to Audrey and vows to aid the Hunters whenever they ask.
;Shicho
Nicknamed the "Butterfly of Death", Shicho is a
kunoichi
is a Japanese cant term for . In popular culture, it is often used for female shinobi or practitioner of ninjutsu (''ninpo''). The term was largely popularized by novelist Yamada Futaro in his novel ''Ninpō Hakkenden'' (忍法八犬伝) in 1964 ...
ally of the Soga Clan who has poison in her blood.
;Potato Chips
*
A pint-sized sorcerer with a lisp, he looks far more like his father who makes an appearance in the manga.
;Salad Chips
*
Salad Chips is Potato's short and rather young-looking mother. She is over 30 though looks no more than 12.
;Grand Pa
An elder at the village of hunters who resembles
Yoda
Yoda () is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' universe, first appearing in the 1980 film ''The Empire Strikes Back''. He is a small, green humanoid alien who is powerful with the Force and is a leading member of the Jedi Order until ...
from ''
Star Wars
''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...
'', he offers wisdom and support to Sorcerer Hunters though his true identity has a far darker twist (see below in Enemies).
Enemies
The Crystal Magicians, who turn humans into gems used for mystical purposes. They are appropriately named after
jewels
A gemstone (also called a fine gem, jewel, precious stone, or semiprecious stone) is a piece of mineral crystal which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. However, certain rocks (such as lapis lazuli, opal, a ...
.
*Sapphire Regal
The first of the Crystal Magicians to appear. He was responsible for kidnapping Qui Shurein's girlfriend Audrey and turning her into a gem. He tries to do the same to Carrot, but is killed by Gateau.
*Emerald Ren
The leader of the Crystal Magicians. Appearing initially as a mischievous young boy, he later reveals his true age and form (a centuries-old man) to the Sorcerer Hunters. He is killed by Carrot.
*Diamond Ra
The most powerful of the Crystal Magicians. He uses a magic void to draw Marron in, but is burned alive from within by Marron's phoenix spell.
*Ruby Rulan
Ra's lover. She kisses Carrot and Gateau to place them under her control. She later tries to trap Chocola into a crystal, but is impaled by Chocola's garotte.
(pronounced "Zaha")
*
A sorcerer doctor and wielder of the Plantina Energy, he was once an ally of Big Mama. He helped found the Sorcerer Hunters, but eventually left because of differences between himself and Mama. He is Chocola and Tira's adoptive father. He's named after the
Austrian dessert.
*Death Master
A powerful Necromancer. He seeks the "
Necronomicon
The ', also referred to as the ''Book of the Dead'', or under a purported original Arabic title of ', is a fictional grimoire (textbook of magic) appearing in stories by the horror writer H. P. Lovecraft and his followers. It was first menti ...
", a book that will give him absolute control over the dead. He is defeated by Carrot in his beast form and ultimately killed by Mille Feuille.
The Sorcerer Hunter Killers
*Steel Grey, who is made of liquid metal and can morph his body into a lethal weapon a la the
T-1000
The T-1000 is a fictional Character (arts), character in the Terminator (franchise), ''Terminator'' franchise. A shapeshifter, shapeshifting Android (robot), android Terminator (character concept), Terminator Assassination, assassin, the T-1000 ...
from
''T2''.
*Moss Green, a female who has similar powers to Steel Grey.
*Gia Purple
The Five Guardian Spirits, assembled by Sacher to guard the Plantina Stones. They are named after stars.
*Artail
*Ice Vega, a master of ice and cold. It was inspired by the
Batman
Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...
supervillain
Mr. Freeze
Mr. Freeze is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Dave Wood, Sheldon Moldoff and Bob Kane, and first appeared in ''Batman'' #121 in February 1959 as the ice-based criminal Mr. Ze ...
.
*Sirius of the Wind, one of the Winged People. He falls in love with Daughter and eventually surrenders to the hunters. He goes to live with Daughter and they begin trying to make a family. In the OVA, he is voiced by
Hiro Yuki in Japanese and Eric Opella in English.
*Kengyu Kiba, a living suit of
samurai
were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876. They were the well-paid retainers of the '' daimyo'' (the great feudal landholders). They h ...
armor
Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or fr ...
.
*Deneb, once Éclair Mocha, Gateu's younger sister. Sacher removed her memories, and she became Deneb of Sacher's guardian spirits. She has strength to rival her brother's and some magical abilities, she eventually regains her memory and goes to live at Mt. Saint Hordic with the Sorcerer Hunters. Her character designer admits her inspiration was
Cammy
, also referred to by her codename , is a fictional character in the ''Street Fighter'' fighting game series. She debuted in 1993 as one of the four new characters in ''Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers''. She has also been featured in ...
from ''
Street Fighter
, commonly abbreviated as ''SF'' or スト (''Suto''), is a Japanese media franchise centered on a series of fighting video and arcade games developed and published by Capcom. The first game in the series was released in 1987, followed by six ...
''. In the OVA, she is voiced by
Tomoko Ishimura
is a Japanese Seiyū, voice actress who works for 81 Produce. She was formerly credited as and .
Notable filmography
* Dante in Romeo's Blue Skies (1995)
*Rumiya (Pretty Sammy), Rumiya in Magical Girl Pretty Sammy (1995)
*Characters in El-Hazar ...
in Japanese and Kelly Cooke in English.
Lendoll Carlsburg, the sonic gunslinger from the town of Tamales who gave the hunters all they could handle.
Four Lords of Darkness, ancient demons who once terrorized the world.
*Almond Rasseru, the bodiless one who possessed Carrot's mother. He is killed by Onion Glace.
*Gin Namba, the lover of Cashew Prize (Gran Pa), she chose to reform to stay with him.
*Cashew Prize, the most ruthless of the four who reformed and became Gran Pa.
*Cool Mint, had the power to
conjure dead people.
*Charlotte Stella, Kanure's little brother who is virtually all powerful. Like Sacher Torte, he attempts to purify the world by reviving the God of Destruction within Carrot's body, but ultimately fails, and is instead killed by the deity.
Adaptations
''Sorcerer Hunters'' was later adapted into a 26-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 ...
television series by
Xebec
A xebec ( or ), also spelled zebec, was a Mediterranean sailing ship that was used mostly for trading. Xebecs had a long overhanging bowsprit and aft-set mizzen mast. The term can also refer to a small, fast vessel of the sixteenth to nineteenth ...
, which was the studio's first production, and aired 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 ...
from October 3, 1995, to March 3, 1996. It was aired in the Philippines on
ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN (an initialism of its two predecessors' names, Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network) is a Television in the Philippines, Philippine Commercial broadcasting, commercial broadcast broadcast network, network tha ...
from 1998 to 1999 and re-aired by rival
GMA Network
GMA Network (Global Media Arts or simply GMA) is a Philippine free-to-air television and radio network. It is the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network, Inc. Its first broadcast on television was on October 29, 1961. GMA Network (f ...
in 2001. In
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
, the series was licensed by
ADV Films
A.D. Vision Holdings, Inc. (known simply as ADV and also referred to as ADV Films) was an American multimedia entertainment distributor headquartered in Houston, Texas, and founded in 1992 by video game fan John Ledford and anime fans Matt Gre ...
up until the company's collapse in 2009. On May 25, 2019,
Discotek Media
Discotek Media is an American entertainment company based in Altamonte Springs, Florida, focused on distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series.
Formed in 2005, Discotek primarily focuses on licensing retro titles fr ...
licensed both the TV series and the OVA series.
The TV series was followed by a three-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 ...
, also by
Xebec
A xebec ( or ), also spelled zebec, was a Mediterranean sailing ship that was used mostly for trading. Xebecs had a long overhanging bowsprit and aft-set mizzen mast. The term can also refer to a small, fast vessel of the sixteenth to nineteenth ...
.
''Sorcerer Hunters'' has three releases in dramatic audio format in which the main roles are all performed by the same actors as in the TV series and OVA. The first set, ''Sorcerer Hunters Whip I - V'', was released on June 22, 1994. This was followed in 1995 by ''Sorcerer Hunters II, The Monthly Collection: 1st Season - 5th Season''. The third set, ''Sorcerer Hunters SP'', came out in 1996.
Video games
The series would also see
numerous videogame releases starting with the
adventure game
An adventure game is a video game genre in which the player assumes the role of a protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and/or Puzzle video game, puzzle-solving. The Video game genres, genre's focus on story allows it to draw ...
''Bakuretsu Hunter'' 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 ...
by I'Max
in April 26, 1996. Other titles based on the series include ''Bakuretsu Hunter
Mahjong
Mahjong or mah-jongg (English pronunciation: ) is a tile-based game that was developed in the 19th century in China and has spread throughout the world since the early 20th century. It is commonly played by four players (with some three-play ...
Special'' in October 25, 1996 and another adventure title ''Bakuretsu Hunter: Sorezore no Omoi...Nowānchatte'' in April 11, 1997 both by
Banpresto
(formerly Coreland Technology Inc.) was a Japanese video game developer and publisher headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. It had a branch in Hong Kong named Banpresto H.K., which was headquartered in the New Territories. Banpresto was a partly-own ...
for the
Sony PlayStation
is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divi ...
, and a
role-playing game
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...
''Bakuretsu Hunter R'' for the Sega Saturn by
King Records in August 8, 1997.
Media
TV episode list
Music
;Opening theme
*"What's Up Guys?"
:Lyrics by: Miho Matsuba
:Composition by: Sho Goshima and Toshiro Yabuki
:Arrangement by: Toshiro Yabuki
:Song by:
Shinnosuke Furumoto
is a Japanese actor and voice actor from Fuchu, Tokyo. He also performed the opening for the anime ''Sorcerer Hunters'' with Megumi Hayashibara in which he voiced the main character. He also performed an insert song for the anime '' H2'' as he ...
and
Megumi Hayashibara
is a Japanese voice actress, singer, lyricist and radio personality from Kita ward in Tokyo and is affiliated with self-founded Woodpark Office. One of the most prominent Japanese voice actresses since the 1990s, Hayashibara is best known for he ...
;Ending theme
*"MASK"
:Lyrics and composition by: Masami Okui
:Arrangement by: Toshiro Yabuki and Tsutomu Ohira
:Song by:
Masami Okui
is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Itami, Hyōgo. She began her professional musical career at age 21 as a concert backup singer. From almost the very beginning of her career, Masami has sung themes for anime television and movies. She ...
and Kasumi Matsumura
References
External links
*
{{Xebec films
1993 Japanese novels
1993 manga
1995 anime television series debuts
1996 Japanese novels
1996 Japanese television series endings
1996 anime OVAs
ADV Films
ASCII Media Works manga
Dengeki Bunko
Dengeki Comic Gao!
Discotek Media
Kadokawa Dwango franchises
Light novels
Satoru Akahori
Shōnen manga
Sword and sorcery anime and manga
Tokyopop titles
TV Tokyo original programming
Xebec (studio)