Texhnolyze

''Texhnolyze'' (stylized as ''TEXHNOLYZE'') is a Japanese experimental anime television series animated by Madhouse and directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki, with screenplay by Chiaki J. Konaka, with original character design by Yoshitoshi ABe and produced by Yasuyuki Ueda. It was broadcast on Fuji Television and its affiliates from April to September 2003.

The story takes place in the vibrant yet dilapidated underground city of Lux. Denizens of Lux have come to call it "The City" and treat it as a sentient force. It focuses on Ichise, a stoic prize fighter who loses a leg and an arm to satisfy an enraged promoter; Onishi, a young but level-headed executive who has many enemies; and Ran, a little girl who has a very important gift that affects the entire city. As they struggle to accept the challenges that they are dealt, they bear witness to major events that determine the survival and fate of the city.

Plot

''Texhnolyze'' takes place in the city of Lux, a man-made underground city that has crumbled after years of neglect and lack of repairs. Citizens of Lux have come to refer to their home as simply "The City" and treat it as though it has a mind and will of its own. Three major factions battle to control Lux: Organo, a group of "professionals" who collaborate with the criminal underworld that controls Texhnolyze (prosthetics); the Salvation Union, a populist group that seeks to disrupt Organo's business; and Racan, a collection of young individuals with Texhnolyzes that use their abilities for personal gain.

Ichise was once an orphan who has made a place for himself in Lux as a prize fighter. One day, a fight promoter grows angry with him and the altercation that follows results in Ichise losing an arm and a leg. Before death can take him, Ichise is found by the scientist Eriko Kamata, who uses him as a test subject for her newly designed Texhnolyze. With these powerful new limbs at his disposal, Ichise begins to work for Oonishi, the leader of Organo. He soon meets a mysterious young girl, Ran, who has the power to see possible futures. Together, they soon realize that Lux is on the brink of war and collapse, and that they may be the only ones who can save The city. Texhnolyze takes the audience into an Wellsian dystopia in which hope is scarce and evil is unbound.

Characters

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:Ichise is a street fighter of very few words who participates in underground fight clubs for money. He is tough, cool and violent. Throughout the series, he was saved from the amputation of an arm and a leg by Doc and Onishi, he adopted his texhnolyzed arm and leg, changed his attitude and commit his life helping out Onishi and Organo.
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:Ran is a seer from Gabe. She sells Orchids carrying a white fox mask whenever she travels. Ran has gifted foresight, which grants her insight into Lux's one possible outcome of the future. Unfortunately, this ability pains her since she often sees bad future which she's unable to change. She has a profound interest in Ichise and helped him throughout the series. She also helped Onishi as "the voice of the city".
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:Doc is a researcher on Texhnolyzation from the Class. She develops Texhnolyzation which works naturally for human instead of worshiping functionality and power. In the beginning of the series, she lives and continues her research in Lux. With the help from Onishi, she found Ichise suffering from the amputation of an arm and a leg and installs prosthetic arm and leg of her own design for him.
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:Onishi is the head of Organo, the only person in Lux who can hear "the voice of the city". He is a strong, righteous and capable man, he is almost unbeatable with his sword. He unified organizations and formed Organo with the help of "the voice of the city". He commits his life to bring order and liberty to the city.
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:Shinji is the leader of Racan. He often gets involved in the city's gang wars. He enjoys freedom and wishes he could be enlightened by the Class. He has a texhnolyzed index finger on his right hand.
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:Yoshii is a visitor from the surface world. He is seen carrying a bag with him containing an assortment of valued items. Almost half his body has been texhnolyzed. He is adventurous and purposeful. During his journey, he discovers necessities for life in Lux and decides to make changes for the city.

;Shapes
:Shapes are people who have been completely texhnolyzed. They have had most of their bodies replaced with cyborg components, leaving only their heads intact and connected to an organic life support pod. The Shapes quickly grow into an army which threatens to conquer Lux once and for all.

Release

''Texhnolyze'' aired for twenty episodes on Fuji Television from April 16 to September 24, 2003. Two un-aired episodes were included in the DVD release. Geneon USA's English dub of the series aired in the United States on STARZ!/Encore's Action channel in 2006, then aired again on Funimation Channel and Funimation Channel on Demand when Funimation licensed the series from Geneon Entertainment. It also aired in Canada on G4techTV Canada's Anime Current block in the mid-2000s. Japanese visual kei singer Gackt's song ''Tsuki no Uta'' was selected as its ending theme.

Episode list

Notes

References

Further reading

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External links

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{{Madhouse

2003 anime television series debuts
Anime with original screenplays
Cyberpunk anime and manga
Existentialist anime and manga
Funimation
Geneon USA
Madhouse (company)
NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan
Psychological thriller anime and manga