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''X'', also known as ''X/1999'', 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 ...
series created by Clamp, a creative team made up of
Satsuki Igarashi is a member of the all-female manga-creating team Clamp. Her duties in the team are Nanase Ohkawa's sounding board, and the character designer of ''Chobits'' and line artist for '' Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle''. Like the other members of Cla ...
,
Nanase Ohkawa is a member of the all-female manga-creating team CLAMP. She is the director of the team and is primarily responsible for writing the stories and scripts for CLAMP's various works. As part of CLAMP's 15th Anniversary, each of the four members ...
,
Tsubaki Nekoi , formerly , is a member of the all-female manga-creating team Clamp. She is the co-director and her duties in the team include applying screentones and correcting manga illustrations. She was also the lead artist (a role that normally falls to ...
, and
Mokona is the pen name of the lead artist, colorist, and composition designer of the all-female manga-creating team Clamp. She was formerly known as ; she dropped her last name because it sounded too "immature". Clamp has had a huge impact on the "man ...
. It premiered in
Kadokawa Shoten , formerly , is a Japanese publisher and division of Kadokawa Future Publishing based in Tokyo, Japan. It became an internal division of Kadokawa Corporation on October 1, 2013. Kadokawa publishes manga, light novels, manga anthology magazines su ...
's ''
Monthly Asuka , formerly , is a bimonthly Japanese manga magazine published by Kadokawa Shoten, aimed at teenage girls. The magazine was established in 1985. It is released on the 24th of every odd-numbered month as of May 2021. Much like its sibling public ...
'' ''shōjo'' manga magazine in May 1992 and ran there until it went on hiatus in March 2003; it has yet to be concluded. The story takes place at the end of days in the year 1999. The series follows
Kamui Shiro , also written as Kamui Shirou, is a fictional character that was created by Clamp (manga artists), Clamp and introduced as the protagonist of the manga series ''X (manga), X''. Kamui is a young Extrasensory perception, esper who returns to his ...
, a young esper who returns home to
Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...
after a six-year absence to face his destiny as the one who will determine humanity's fate. Kadokawa Shoten collected and published the individual chapters in 18 ''
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 ...
'' volumes, with five chapters published in the book ''All about Clamp''. All but several final chapters have been published. It has been adapted into a series of
audio dramas Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine ...
. It was followed by a
1996 File:1996 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: A Centennial Olympic Park bombing, bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, set off by a radical Anti-abortion violence, anti-abortionist; The center fuel tank explodes on TWA Flight 8 ...
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 ...
feature film by
Rintaro is the pseudonym of , a well-known director of anime. He works frequently with the animation studio Madhouse (company), Madhouse (which he co-founded), though he is a freelance director not employed directly by any one studio. He began working i ...
assisted by Ohkawa in studio Madhouse. The same studio, now led by director and writer
Yoshiaki Kawajiri is a writer and director of Japanese animation. He is the creator of titles such as '' Wicked City'', ''Ninja Scroll'', and '' Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust''. Biography Kawajiri was born on November 18, 1950 and grew up in Yokohama, Kanagawa Pr ...
, made a 24-episode anime television series in 2001. Since the manga never reached its ending, the two animated adaptations have their own takes of the series' finale.
Viz Media VIZ Media LLC is an American manga publisher, anime distributor and entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1986 as VIZ LLC. In 2005, VIZ LLC and ShoPro Entertainment merged to form the current VIZ M ...
published all 18 volumes in North America, while the film and the TV series been have released on DVD by multiple distributors. The series is a foray into
apocalyptic fiction Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction in which the Earth's (or another planet's) civilization is collapsing or has collapsed. The apocalypse event may be climatic, such as runaway climate change; astr ...
; it combines elements from various end-of-the-world scenarios, both secular and religious, with its own
mythos Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrati ...
. Its themes include exploring the personality of humanity, relationships with others, and external conflicts like the impending
Armageddon According to the Book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, Armageddon (, from grc, Ἁρμαγεδών ''Harmagedōn'', Late Latin: , from Hebrew: ''Har Məgīddō'') is the prophesied location of a gathering of armies ...
. Despite its lack of an ending. it became one of Clamp's most iconic works in their early career, having sold more than 12 million copies and garnering mostly positive reviews for its large, varied cast and appealing illustrations. Despite its female target audience, it also attracted male readers because of its focus on action.


Plot

In 1999, a teenager named
Kamui Shiro , also written as Kamui Shirou, is a fictional character that was created by Clamp (manga artists), Clamp and introduced as the protagonist of the manga series ''X (manga), X''. Kamui is a young Extrasensory perception, esper who returns to his ...
returns to Tokyo after a six-year absence to fulfill his mother's dying wish of changing fate. However, he keeps his distance from two childhood friends, Kotori and Fuma Monou, whom he originally treasured as a child. The end of the world is fast approaching as
superhuman The term superhuman refers to humans or human-like beings with enhanced qualities and abilities that exceed those naturally found in humans. These qualities may be acquired through natural ability, self-actualization or technological aids. Th ...
individuals will assure their victory. The clone Nataku steals the from Fuma's family temple, with his dying father telling his son that he is Kamui's "twin star". The Dragons of Heaven are the first to contact Kamui. Hinoto, the dreamgazer for the Japanese Legislature guides them. They are the protectors of the , spiritual barriers (in the form of buildings such as the
Tokyo Tower is a communications and observation tower in the Shiba-koen district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan, built in 1958. At , it is the second- tallest structure in Japan. The structure is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower that is painted white and i ...
) that hold the fabric of nature together. As long as the ''kekkai'' survive,
Judgment Day The Last Judgment, Final Judgment, Day of Reckoning, Day of Judgment, Judgment Day, Doomsday, Day of Resurrection or The Day of the Lord (; ar, یوم القيامة, translit=Yawm al-Qiyāmah or ar, یوم الدین, translit=Yawm ad-Dīn, ...
is postponed. The Dragons of Earth are the antithesis of the Dragons of Heaven. Their mission is to destroy the ''kekkai'' and unleash earthquakes so
Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...
can be cured of the plague of humanity. They were assembled by Hinoto's sister Kanoe, secretary to the
Governor of Tokyo The is the head of government of Tokyo. In 1943, upon the unification of Tokyo City and Tokyo Prefecture, the position of Governor was created. The current title was adopted in 1947 due to the enactment of the Local Autonomy Law. Overview The ...
. Kamui is forced to choose between the two sides, he concludes he only wants to protect Kotori and Fuma, and becomes a Dragon of Heaven. At the same time, Fuma has a change of personality and becomes the "Kamui" of the Dragons of Earth as he was destined to be Kamui's opposite. Fuma murders Kotori and swears to kill Kamui. The Dragon of Heaven
Subaru Sumeragi is the fictional protagonist of Clamp's manga series ''Tokyo Babylon''. The head of the , Subaru is a young ''onmyōji'' in charge of exorcising demons and helping spirits reach the afterlife, while living with his twin sister Hokuto and love ...
helps Kamui to overcome this traumatic experience, and he decides to face reality. Just like Subaru decided to search for the Dragon of Earth, Seishiro Sakurazuka, who killed his sister Hokuto years ago, Subaru inspires Kamui to face reality and avoid another catastrophe in his life. Kamui decides he wishes to bring Fuma back to normal. Kamui joins the Dragons of Heaven in their fight against the Dragons of Earth. Across the manga, Kamui and his allies face the Dragons of Earths multiple times but cannot protect most barriers, resulting in multiple earthquakes taking down Tokyo. In a one-on-one match, Seishiro activates Hokuto's dying spell so that Subaru would be forced kill him. Fuma reveals that Seishiro's wish was leaving a mark in Subaru. Following an eye transplant from Seishiro's body, Subaru replaces the late Dragon of Earth. The Dragon of Heaven Arashi Kishu loses her maiden powers after having a sexual relationship with her ally
Sorata Arisugawa The fictional characters of the '' X'' manga series were created by manga group known as Clamp, composed of Satsuki Igarashi, Nanase Ohkawa, Mick Nekoi, and Mokona Apapa. ''X'' takes place in the year 1999 when the end of the world is fast app ...
. A dark alter ego Hinoto kidnaps her to turn her into a Dragon of Earth. As these events occur, Tokyo has nearly been destroyed and is flooded, and Kamui and Fuma wield their Sacred Swords needed to clash in the final fight of the war. Both Subaru and Fuma claim that Kamui cannot change the future unless he realizes his own wish.


Production


Development

The
manga artists A is a comic artist who writes and/or illustrates manga. As of 2006, about 3,000 professional manga artists were working in Japan. Most manga artists study at an art college or manga school or take on an apprenticeship with another artist bef ...
Clamp created ''X''. Influenced by the works of
Go Nagai , better known by the pen name , is a Japanese manga artist and a prolific author of science fiction, fantasy, horror and erotica. He made his professional debut in 1967 with ''Meakashi Polikichi'', but is best known for creating popular 1970s ...
and
Kyokutei Bakin (), a.k.a. (, 4 July 1767 – 1 December 1848), was a Japanese novelist of the Edo period. Born (), he wrote under the pen name (). Later in life he took the pen name (). Modern scholarship generally refers to him as , or just as n. He is ...
, the story develops the group's ideas on humanity's responsibility to itself, its family and the planet. After the success of ''
Tokyo Babylon , also known as ''Tokyo Babylon: A Save Tokyo City Story'', is a Japanese manga series created by mangaka group Clamp. The series follows Subaru Sumeragi, the head of the Sumeragi clan, and his sister Hokuto, as they work to protect Tokyo ...
'' and ''
Clamp School Detectives , also known as ''CLAMP Campus Detectives'', is a manga series by Clamp, which was adapted into a 26-episode anime series, produced by Bandai Visual and Studio Pierrot. The manga series was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's '' Monthly Asuka' ...
'', their editor at ''
Monthly Asuka , formerly , is a bimonthly Japanese manga magazine published by Kadokawa Shoten, aimed at teenage girls. The magazine was established in 1985. It is released on the 24th of every odd-numbered month as of May 2021. Much like its sibling public ...
'', Seiichiro Aoki, approached the members of Clamp to script a longer series. Writer
Nanase Ohkawa is a member of the all-female manga-creating team CLAMP. She is the director of the team and is primarily responsible for writing the stories and scripts for CLAMP's various works. As part of CLAMP's 15th Anniversary, each of the four members ...
, the group's head writer, seized the opportunity to script her long-in-development "end of the world" epic. Conceived while she was still in
middle school A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school. ...
, Ohkawa's original story focused on a group of warriors fighting a losing battle in the name of justice. While the idea never materialized, many aspects were carried over into Clamp's manga, including the lead characters of Kamui and Fuma. Kamui was originally written as a high-school student from
Kotori Monou The fictional characters of the ''X (manga), X'' manga series were created by manga group known as Clamp (manga artists), Clamp, composed of Satsuki Igarashi, Nanase Ohkawa, Tsubaki Nekoi, Mick Nekoi, and Mokona, Mokona Apapa. ''X'' takes place i ...
's point of view to appeal to the '' shōjo'' audience of young females. However, poor response from readers led to Clamp changing their characterizations. Ohkawa aimed to show characters from their previous works in the ''X'' resulting in multiple crossovers. The title—"X"—was chosen because it has no fixed meaning. In mathematics, it is a common
variable Variable may refer to: * Variable (computer science), a symbolic name associated with a value and whose associated value may be changed * Variable (mathematics), a symbol that represents a quantity in a mathematical expression, as used in many ...
. Beyond mathematics, "X" is a generic placeholder whose value is secret or unknown. "X" is also a
cruciform Cruciform is a term for physical manifestations resembling a common cross or Christian cross. The label can be extended to architectural shapes, biology, art, and design. Cruciform architectural plan Christian churches are commonly described ...
, an allusion to Christian mythos, and the representation of death and rebirth in
Kabbalah Kabbalah ( he, קַבָּלָה ''Qabbālā'', literally "reception, tradition") is an esoteric method, discipline and Jewish theology, school of thought in Jewish mysticism. A traditional Kabbalist is called a Mekubbal ( ''Məqūbbāl'' "rece ...
. Ohkawa cites
Go Nagai , better known by the pen name , is a Japanese manga artist and a prolific author of science fiction, fantasy, horror and erotica. He made his professional debut in 1967 with ''Meakashi Polikichi'', but is best known for creating popular 1970s ...
's ''
Devilman is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. The manga focuses on a high school student named Akira Fudo who absorbs the powers of the demon called "Amon" with help of his friend Ryo Asuka in order to battle ...
'' as a stylistic and thematic influence. Beyond his penchant for drawing extreme violence, Nagai's writing involves themes like the nature of good and evil and fear, ideas that left an impression on Clamp's writer at an early age. Like ''Devilman'', ''X'' follows two male best friends destined to fight each other at
Armageddon According to the Book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, Armageddon (, from grc, Ἁρμαγεδών ''Harmagedōn'', Late Latin: , from Hebrew: ''Har Məgīddō'') is the prophesied location of a gathering of armies ...
, a confrontation brought about by the murder of the hero's childhood sweetheart. The rest of the cast includes characters from the group's entire canon, including unpublished works, effectively creating an entire
world In its most general sense, the term "world" refers to the totality of entities, to the whole of reality or to everything that is. The nature of the world has been conceptualized differently in different fields. Some conceptions see the worl ...
inhabited by their creations. The
ensemble cast In a dramatic production, an ensemble cast is one that is composed of multiple principal actors and performers who are typically assigned roughly equal amounts of screen time.Random House: ensemble acting Linked 2013-07-17 Structure In contrast to ...
, inspired on Kyokutei Bakin's ''
Nansō Satomi Hakkenden ''Nansō Satomi Hakkenden'' ( ja, 南総里見八犬伝, label=shinjitai; ja, 南總里見八犬傳, label=kyūjitai) is a Japanese epic novel (''yomihon'') written and published over twenty-eight years (1814–42) in the Edo period, by Kyokute ...
'', includes
Subaru Sumeragi is the fictional protagonist of Clamp's manga series ''Tokyo Babylon''. The head of the , Subaru is a young ''onmyōji'' in charge of exorcising demons and helping spirits reach the afterlife, while living with his twin sister Hokuto and love ...
and Seishiro Sakurazuka from ''
Tokyo Babylon , also known as ''Tokyo Babylon: A Save Tokyo City Story'', is a Japanese manga series created by mangaka group Clamp. The series follows Subaru Sumeragi, the head of the Sumeragi clan, and his sister Hokuto, as they work to protect Tokyo ...
,'' and the main characters of ''
Clamp School Detectives , also known as ''CLAMP Campus Detectives'', is a manga series by Clamp, which was adapted into a 26-episode anime series, produced by Bandai Visual and Studio Pierrot. The manga series was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's '' Monthly Asuka' ...
''. Their first illustration of Kamui gave them a feeling of
Ashura Ashura (, , ) is a day of commemoration in Islam. It occurs annually on the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Among Shia Muslims, Ashura is observed through large demonstrations of high-scale mourning as it marks the ...
, a character from ''
RG Veda is a manga created by Clamp, consisting of ten volumes in all. It was first published in Japan in 1989 as Clamp's debut manga. The story features elements of Vedic mythology; the title itself is pronounced ''Rigveda'', the name of one of ...
'' based on his appearance in Tokyo's destroyed area. Several of the series' characters were created using the
Osamu Tezuka Osamu Tezuka (, born , ''Tezuka Osamu''; – 9 February 1989) was a Japanese manga artist, cartoonist, and animator. Born in Osaka Prefecture, his prolific output, pioneering techniques, and innovative redefinitions of genres earned him such ...
's
Star System A star system or stellar system is a small number of stars that orbit each other, bound by gravitational attraction. A large group of stars bound by gravitation is generally called a '' star cluster'' or '' galaxy'', although, broadly speak ...
technique, where old designs are incorporated in new characters, except for Kamui, who proved challenging because of his role. He was made to stand apart from other characters, and Ohkawa called his hairstyle and school uniform average. Clamp's lead artist
Mokona is the pen name of the lead artist, colorist, and composition designer of the all-female manga-creating team Clamp. She was formerly known as ; she dropped her last name because it sounded too "immature". Clamp has had a huge impact on the "man ...
believes this was influenced by the heroic character-type upon which he was based. In contrast, Kamui and Fuma were new characters whose designs were revised to fit their characters. Subaru and Seishiro reappear in Clamp's manga ''X'' because their relationship parallels that of the lead Kamui and the main antagonist Fuma. They serve as an example to Kamui and Fuma. One of ''X''s most important plot developments is the question of what these two will do, so as not end up like Subaru and Seishiro. Clamp has compared the bond between Subaru and Kamui with that of siblings. The fight sequences were inspired by the manga ''
Dragon Ball is a Japanese media franchise created by Akira Toriyama in 1984. The Dragon Ball (manga), initial manga, written and illustrated by Toriyama, was serialized in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from 1984 to 1995, with the 519 individual chapters colle ...
'', most specifically by author
Akira Toriyama is a Japanese manga artist and character designer. He first achieved mainstream recognition for his highly successful manga series ''Dr. Slump'', before going on to create ''Dragon Ball'' (his best-known work) and acting as a character design ...
's use of white backgrounds.


Influences

''X'' is Clamp's take on the
apocalyptic fiction Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction in which the Earth's (or another planet's) civilization is collapsing or has collapsed. The apocalypse event may be climatic, such as runaway climate change; astr ...
genre. The series combines elements from various end of the world scenarios and myths, including
Christian eschatology Christian eschatology, a major branch of study within Christian theology, deals with "last things". Such eschatology – the word derives from two Greek roots meaning "last" () and "study" (-) – involves the study of "end things", whether of ...
, with Clamp's own modern mythology to tell the tale of the fate of the world. The
Apocalypse of John The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament (and consequently the final book of the Christian Bible). Its title is derived from the first word of the Koine Greek text: , meaning "unveiling" or "revelation". The Book of R ...
inspires the ''X'' mythos with Tokyo standing in as a modern-day
Babylon ''Bābili(m)'' * sux, 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠 * arc, 𐡁𐡁𐡋 ''Bāḇel'' * syc, ܒܒܠ ''Bāḇel'' * grc-gre, Βαβυλών ''Babylṓn'' * he, בָּבֶל ''Bāvel'' * peo, 𐎲𐎠𐎲𐎡𐎽𐎢 ''Bābiru'' * elx, 𒀸𒁀𒉿𒇷 ''Babi ...
. Like the biblical city, Clamp's Tokyo is "the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird," ( Rev. 18:2
KJV The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version, is an English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611, by sponsorship of K ...
) and is slated for destruction. Clamp found issues with the amount of gore they aimed to portray, especially Kotori's death foreshadowed in dream scenes. This was mostly affected by the concern over themes of
violence Violence is the use of physical force so as to injure, abuse, damage, or destroy. Other definitions are also used, such as the World Health Organization's definition of violence as "the intentional use of physical force or Power (social and p ...
in video games present in the 1990s. The writers feared that toning down the violence would negatively affect the manga. Another death scene that left Clamp facing issues was when Fuma decapitates Saiki, which led to more negative responses from the readers. Ohkawa claimed the deaths were meant to be cruel, but the narrative did not fit the ''shojo'' demography (young girls). The
Kobe child murders The occurred in Suma, Kobe, Japan, on March 16 and May 27, 1997. Two victims, , aged 10, and , aged 11, were murdered by a 14-year-old boy reportedly named , under the alias . The perpetrator was arrested on June28, 1997 in connection with the ...
where Clamp received criticism for the similarities between fictional murders and real life also had an effect. Kamui is established as a
Christ figure A Christ figure, also known as a Christ-Image is a literary technique that the author uses to draw allusions between their characters and the biblical Jesus. More loosely, the Christ figure is a spiritual or prophetic character who parallels Jesus ...
. He is prophesied to
return Return may refer to: In business, economics, and finance * Return on investment (ROI), the financial gain after an expense. * Rate of return, the financial term for the profit or loss derived from an investment * Tax return, a blank document or t ...
to Tokyo and the one who will determine humanity's fate. His
miraculous birth Stories of miraculous births often include conceptions by miraculous circumstances and features such as intervention by a deity, supernatural elements, astronomical signs, hardship or, in the case of some mythologies, complex plots related t ...
and his given name reinforce the construction of Kamui as a
messiah In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; , ; , ; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of ''mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach'' ...
. " Kamui", like "
Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, names and titles), was ...
", doubles as a title that alludes to the character's divine nature. Apocalyptic allusions abound with respect to nomenclature. The Dragons of Heaven take their moniker from the
seven seals The Seven Seals of God from the Bible's Book of Revelation are the seven symbolic seals (, ''sphragida'') that secure the book or scroll that John of Patmos saw in an apocalyptic vision. The opening of the seals of the document occurs in Rev Ch ...
introduced in Chapter 5 of the
Book of Revelation The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament (and consequently the final book of the Christian Bible). Its title is derived from the first word of the Koine Greek text: , meaning "unveiling" or "revelation". The Book of R ...
, while the antagonistic Angels allude to the seven celestial beings ordered to "go
heir Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Officiall ...
ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth" ( Rev. 16:1 KJV). Other apocalyptic standards like earthquakes are employed, but the apocalypse of Clamp's manga trades the religious element for an environmental theme. Inspired by the
Gaia theory The Gaia hypothesis (), also known as the Gaia theory, Gaia paradigm, or the Gaia principle, proposes that living organisms interact with their inorganic surroundings on Earth to form a synergistic and self-regulating, complex system that helps ...
that the Earth itself is one living organism, Ohkawa crafts an endtime brought on by humanity's abuse of the planet. The constant earthquakes the Dragons of Earth cause resulted in a negative backlash from readers and editors because of similar incidents in real life. The story reflects environmental concerns in its depiction of
Judgment Day The Last Judgment, Final Judgment, Day of Reckoning, Day of Judgment, Judgment Day, Doomsday, Day of Resurrection or The Day of the Lord (; ar, یوم القيامة, translit=Yawm al-Qiyāmah or ar, یوم الدین, translit=Yawm ad-Dīn, ...
. Mankind exists in
binary opposition A binary opposition (also binary system) is a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning. Binary opposition is the system of language and/or thought by which two theoretical opposites are strictly defined and set off against one ...
to the Earth. By the end of days, humanity has become such a nuisance that the only way to save the planet is to destroy the whole of civilization. With mankind gone, the planet can regulate itself back to health and experience a rebirth. The Seals, however, look to preserve the status quo and to entrust the future of the planet to the people. ''
Teito Monogatari is an epic historical dark fantasy/science fiction work; the debut novel of natural history researcher and polymath Hiroshi Aramata. It began circulation in the literary magazine ''Monthly King Novel'' owned by Kadokawa Shoten in 1983, and w ...
'', an award-winning
historical fantasy Historical fantasy is a category of fantasy and genre of historical fiction that incorporates fantastic elements (such as magic) into a more "realistic" narrative. There is much crossover with other subgenres of fantasy; those classed as Arthur ...
novel, inspired aspects of ''X's'' mythology. CLAMP式パッチワーク漫画の作り方2


Themes

The conflict between the Dragons of Heaven and the Dragons of Earth is at the heart of the series. Like its predecessor ''
Tokyo Babylon , also known as ''Tokyo Babylon: A Save Tokyo City Story'', is a Japanese manga series created by mangaka group Clamp. The series follows Subaru Sumeragi, the head of the Sumeragi clan, and his sister Hokuto, as they work to protect Tokyo ...
'', ''X'' deals with societal issues. Being set in the present provides an outlet for the authors to reflect and comment on Japan's state of affairs. But unlike ''Tokyo Babylon'', where the characters were vocal in their concerns, topics in ''X'' go unspoken and are implied. The story places an emphasis on familial dignity and individualism. ''X'' delves into the relationship between Man and the Earth. Ohkawa talks of how mankind's concern for the preservation, restoration and improvement of the planet stems from a desire to perpetuate its own existence. She explains, "people will save the Earth to save themselves, but who will risk themselves to save the Earth"? ''X'' plays out like a
tragedy Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy ...
, where the characters are at the mercy of forces greater than themselves. The series shares some motifs with
apocalyptic literature Apocalyptic literature is a genre of prophetical writing that developed in post- Exilic Jewish culture and was popular among millennialist early Christians. '' Apocalypse'' ( grc, , }) is a Greek word meaning "revelation", "an unveiling or unf ...
, like the disclosure of future events through dreams, and establishes a dual nature to its characters and concepts. Ohkawa admits to being fascinated with the doctrine of Dualism. Dualism is the interdependence between opposing elements, the generalization that two opposing-complementary forces are found in all things. She interprets it as "qualities that seem pleasant in one person but can make you hate the next. That's the dual nature we all have." Inspired by the works of
Go Nagai , better known by the pen name , is a Japanese manga artist and a prolific author of science fiction, fantasy, horror and erotica. He made his professional debut in 1967 with ''Meakashi Polikichi'', but is best known for creating popular 1970s ...
, Ohkawa sought to create heroes capable of wrongdoing, even evil. Kamui is the personification of this doctrine. carries a double connotation: "the one who represents the majesty of God", meaning the one who protects the world and carries out God's will; and "the one who hunts the majesty of God", meaning the one who kills those given God's power and destroys the world. Kamui's decision to save the world as he knows it is a defining moment as it gives rise to his twin star, Fuma. Fuma undergoes a personality change to the point he is no longer recognizable to his best friend. He takes the name of "Kamui", thus fulfilling the dual prophecy and bringing balance to the conflict. Fuma's "Kamui"
persona A persona (plural personae or personas), depending on the context, is the public image of one's personality, the social role that one adopts, or simply a fictional Character (arts), character. The word derives from Latin, where it originally ref ...
is Kamui's other half; it represents Kamui's potential for destruction. "Kamui" is the epitome of the evil and good that men do. The duality motif extends to the Dragons of Heaven and Earth, two groups of warriors, both alike in power, led to battle by opposite sisters. Dreams are a source of inspiration for Ohkawa,. and became a standard motif in her writing.
Dreams A dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. Humans spend about two hours dreaming per night, and each dream lasts around 5 to 20 minutes, althou ...
in ''X'' depict the future, the destruction of mankind. Hinoto, dreamgazer for the Dragons of Heaven, is convinced it can be changed. Ohkawa explains it as
lucid dream A lucid dream is a type of dream in which the dreamer becomes aware that they are dreaming while dreaming. During a lucid dream, the dreamer may gain some amount of control over the dream characters, narrative, or environment; however, this is n ...
ing, where the individual can exert conscious control over the dream to the point it can perform impossible feats. Kakyo of the Dragons of Earth is a dreamgazer in a permanent coma who lives in the dreamscape, always dreaming of the future and knowing there is nothing he can do about it. Although he hopes for a better future, he cannot get involved and is convinced everything is
predetermined Determinism is a philosophical view, where all events are determined completely by previously existing causes. Deterministic theories throughout the history of philosophy have developed from diverse and sometimes overlapping motives and consi ...
, including Kamui's return. By arriving in Tokyo, Kamui unwillingly sets Armageddon in motion. Kotori's death and Fuma's turning were foretold, but subject to the young man's allegiance. Thinking of the people he loves, Kamui chooses to become a Dragon of Heaven to protect them, but ends up losing them for it. Other characters are also at the mercy of fate. Sorata Arisugawa is destined to die for a woman; but, unlike Kamui, the warrior monk embraces his preordained future and chooses Arashi Kishu of the Dragons of Heaven as the one for whom he will give his life. Subaru Sumeragi expresses no interest in the future of the Earth, still he and his counterpart, Seishiro Sakurazuka, are drawn to Tokyo on the Promised Day. Even with the fatalist atmosphere that persists in the series, Ohkawa is convinced individuals exert control over their destiny the same way they choose between right and wrong.


Media


Manga

''X'' began serialization in
Kadokawa Shoten , formerly , is a Japanese publisher and division of Kadokawa Future Publishing based in Tokyo, Japan. It became an internal division of Kadokawa Corporation on October 1, 2013. Kadokawa publishes manga, light novels, manga anthology magazines su ...
's ''
Monthly Asuka , formerly , is a bimonthly Japanese manga magazine published by Kadokawa Shoten, aimed at teenage girls. The magazine was established in 1985. It is released on the 24th of every odd-numbered month as of May 2021. Much like its sibling public ...
'' in May 1992. Publishing the series proved troublesome because of its subject matter, which depicted disasters reminiscent of real events in Japan, such as earthquakes or murders committed by juveniles. Serialization stopped in March 2003, and in March 2005 Clamp stated they were searching for a proper magazine to conclude it. The chapters were collected in eighteen ''
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 ...
'' volumes, with the first one released on 29 July 1992, and the eighteenth on 17 September 2002. On 26 September 2006, Kadokawa Shoten published ''Clamp Newtype Platinum'', a special Clamp edition of the magazine ''
Newtype is a monthly magazine publication originating from Japan, covering anime (and to a lesser extent, tokusatsu, manga, Japanese science fiction, seiyuu, and video games). It was launched by publishing company Kadokawa Shoten on March 8, 1985, with i ...
''. The issue includes the "X 18.5" supplement, a re-print of five previously uncollected chapters. The series was expected to reach twenty-one volumes upon completion. The "X 18.5" chapters were later released as part of the book ''All About Clamp'' on 22 October 2009. The North American version of the manga, retitled ''X/1999'' in its initial printing, was serialized in
Viz Media VIZ Media LLC is an American manga publisher, anime distributor and entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1986 as VIZ LLC. In 2005, VIZ LLC and ShoPro Entertainment merged to form the current VIZ M ...
's ''
Animerica Extra ''Animerica Extra'' was a monthly List of manga magazines, manga magazine published in by Viz Media. Established as a companion to the anime news and review magazine ''Animerica'', ''Animerica Extra'' primarily published English-language translat ...
'' and released under the ''Shōjo''
imprint Imprint or imprinting may refer to: Entertainment * ''Imprint'' (TV series), Canadian television series * "Imprint" (''Masters of Horror''), episode of TV show ''Masters of Horror'' * ''Imprint'' (film), a 2007 independent drama/thriller film ...
. The magazine noted that during its initial volumes, there were issues with the handling of the series as the manga went on a hiatus with its sixth volume. In July 2001, Viz Media removed the series from ''Animerica Extra'' because of licensing issues, but it later returned in its March 2003 issue. Viz Media release all eighteen volumes, ending in 2005. Beginning in 2011, Viz re-issued the series in North America as three-in-one volumes, unflipped, titled ''X''. In Australia, the series is licensed by
Madman Entertainment Madman Entertainment Pty. Ltd., also known as Madman Films, is an Australian distribution and rights management company headquartered in East Melbourne, Victoria, specialising in feature films, documentaries and television series across theatri ...
.


Music video

On 21 November 1993,
SME Records , often abbreviated as SMEJ or simply SME, and also known as Sony Music Japan for short (stylized as ''SonyMusic''), is a Japanese music arm for Sony. Founded in 1968 as CBS/Sony, SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Group Corporation and is oper ...
released , pronounced "Double-X" in English, a
short film A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...
based on Clamp's manga, set to the music of
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band
X Japan was a Japanese rock band from Chiba, formed in 1982 by drummer and pianist Yoshiki and lead vocalist Toshi. Starting as a predominantly power/speed metal band with heavy symphonic elements, they later gravitated towards a progressive soun ...
. ''X2'' features a
slideshow A slide show (slideshow) is a presentation of a series of still images ( slides) on a projection screen or electronic display device, typically in a prearranged sequence. The changes may be automatic and at regular intervals or they may be manu ...
of ''X'' artwork set to a medley of X Japan's songs: "
Silent Jealousy "Silent Jealousy" is a single released by X Japan (then named X) on September 11, 1991. Summary The song's structure is comparable to " Kurenai", opening with a calm intro, performed on a single instrument, followed by a speed metal composition ...
," " Kurenai", and "
Endless Rain "Endless Rain" is the fourth single released by Japanese heavy metal band X Japan (then named X) on December 1, 1989. It is their second single on a major record label and reached number 3 on the Oricon chart. Summary The title track is taken ...
" with the " X" music video directed by
Shigeyuki Hayashi is the pseudonym of , a well-known director of anime. He works frequently with the animation studio Madhouse (which he co-founded), though he is a freelance director not employed directly by any one studio. He began working in the animation ind ...
.


Feature film

The ''X'' feature film, directed by
Rintaro is the pseudonym of , a well-known director of anime. He works frequently with the animation studio Madhouse (company), Madhouse (which he co-founded), though he is a freelance director not employed directly by any one studio. He began working i ...
and co-scripted by Nanase Ohkawa, premiered in Japan on 3 August 1996. Rintaro is not certain but believes
Kadokawa Shoten , formerly , is a Japanese publisher and division of Kadokawa Future Publishing based in Tokyo, Japan. It became an internal division of Kadokawa Corporation on October 1, 2013. Kadokawa publishes manga, light novels, manga anthology magazines su ...
's editors asked him to do the film because of his work on '' Harmageddon'', a 1983 film that employs different themes from the ''X'' manga. The
supernatural Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...
thriller focuses on the roles Kamui, Kotori, and Fuma play in the Apocalypse. The film was given a
limited release __FORCETOC__ Limited theatrical release is a film distribution strategy of releasing a new film in a few theaters across a country, typically art house theaters in major metropolitan markets. Since 1994, a limited theatrical release in the Unite ...
in the United States in early 2000 and released to DVD on 25 September 2001. ''X: The Destiny War'', a
comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...
based on the feature film, was released on 30 September 1996. The
X Japan was a Japanese rock band from Chiba, formed in 1982 by drummer and pianist Yoshiki and lead vocalist Toshi. Starting as a predominantly power/speed metal band with heavy symphonic elements, they later gravitated towards a progressive soun ...
song " Forever Love", composed by
Yoshiki Yoshiki is a masculine Japanese given name. Possible writings Yoshiki can be written using many different combinations of kanji characters. Here are some examples: *義樹, "justice, tree" *義基, "justice, foundation" *義機, "justice, opportu ...
, was chosen as the film's theme song, and was later used by the former Japanese
prime minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
Junichiro Koizumi Junichiro Koizumi (; , ''Koizumi Jun'ichirō'' ; born 8 January 1942) is a former Japanese politician who was Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2001 to 2006. He retired from politics in 2009. He is ...
in a campaign advertisement in 2001.
Victor Entertainment , also known as in Japan, is a subsidiary of JVCKenwood that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It is known as JVC Entertainment in countries where Sony Music Ent ...
released the ''X'' from June 1996 to December 1996. The seven
audio drama Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine t ...
s, scripted by Nanase Ohkawa, focus on the thoughts and motivations of the individual Dragons of Heaven and Earth. The feature film's
voice actors Voice acting is the art of performing voice-overs to present a character or provide information to an audience. Performers are called voice actors/actresses, voice artists, dubbing artists, voice talent, voice-over artists, or voice-over talent ...
perform the ''Character Files''. They were created to promote the film.


TV series

Yoshiaki Kawajiri is a writer and director of Japanese animation. He is the creator of titles such as '' Wicked City'', ''Ninja Scroll'', and '' Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust''. Biography Kawajiri was born on November 18, 1950 and grew up in Yokohama, Kanagawa Pr ...
directed the episodes from the ''X''
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, which was first announced on 18 October 2000. Kawajiri aimed to portray Kamui and Kotori as stronger than their manga counterparts. However, he still wanted to highlight their psychological weaknesses across later episodes. In anticipation of the series' premiere, was released
direct-to-DVD Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, TV series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strategy was p ...
on 25 August 2001. Written and directed by Kawajiri, ''An Omen'' tells the story of the upcoming battles through the prophecies of Kakyō Kuzuki, dreamgazer for the Dragon of Earth, and acts as a primer for viewers unfamiliar with Clamp's manga. The series premiered 3 October 2001 on WOWOW satellite television and finished on 27 March 2002, totaling twenty-four episodes. Twelve DVD volumes from the series, each containing two episodes were released in Japan from 25 February 2002 to 25 January 2003 by
Bandai Visual was a Japanese anime, film production, and distribution enterprise, established by Bandai and a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings. They focused mainly in international distribution of anime properties in North America. Most of the anime and ...
.
Naoki Satō is a Japanese composer who has provided the music for several popular anime series including the first five ''Pretty Cure'' series, '' X'', ''Eureka Seven'', ''Sword of the Stranger'', and ''Blood-C''. He graduated from the Tokyo College of Mus ...
composed the series' music; two
original soundtrack A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of ...
s were released.
Pioneer Entertainment (abbreviated as NBCUEJ) is a Japanese music, anime, and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo. It is primarily involved in the production and distribution of anime within Japan. The ...
distributed the series in North America in March 2002.
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 ...
collected the series and the OVA in eight DVD volumes released between 24 September 2002 and 25 November 2003. Two DVD box sets of the series were also released on 11 January 2005. In 2006, Geneon released the ''X TV Series Re-Mix'', on five individual DVDs released between 11 July 2006 and 14 November 2006, as well as a DVD box set on 11 July 2006. The DVDs came with re-mastered video and audio, including remastered and remixed 5.1
Dolby Digital Dolby Digital, originally synonymous with Dolby AC-3, is the name for what has now become a family of audio compression technologies developed by Dolby Laboratories. Formerly named Dolby Stereo Digital until 1995, the audio compression is lossy ...
AC3 surround sound for both the Japanese and English tracks. In September 2009,
Funimation Crunchyroll, LLC, previously known as Funimation from 1994 to 2022, is an American entertainment company owned by Japanese conglomerate Sony as a joint venture between Sony Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment Japan's Aniplex that specializes ...
announced that it had acquired the rights to the anime series and OVA. They were re-released in a DVD box set on 15 June 2010 using the original Geneon dubbing (provided by
Bang Zoom! Entertainment Bang Zoom! Entertainment is an audio post-production studio with its headquarters in Burbank, California, in Greater Los Angeles. It has worked on anime, video games, television series, feature films, and original animation projects. Their work ...
) for the English-language audio track. It is licensed by
Siren Visual This is a list of anime industry companies involved in the production or distribution of anime. Japan-based companies Animation studios There are over 500 animation studios in Japan. Below are those notable enough to have an article. * 3Hz ...
in Australia, and
MVM Films MVM Entertainment, also known as MVM and MVM Films, is a British licensor and distributor of Japanese animation. The company also sub-licenses anime titles from US anime companies such as Media Blasters, Geneon, Nozomi Entertainment, Urban Vision, ...
in the United Kingdom.


Video games

Two video games were developed: * is a
fighting game A fighting game, also known as a versus fighting game, is a video game genre, genre of video game that involves combat between two or more players. Fighting game combat often features mechanics such as Blocking (martial arts), blocking, grappli ...
developed by
Arc System Works , commonly referred to as ArcSys, is a Japanese video game developer and publisher located in Yokohama. Founded by Minoru Kidooka in 1988, the company is known for arcade 2D fighting game franchises, including ''Guilty Gear'' and ''BlazBlue'', a ...
and published by
Namco was a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company, headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo. It held several international branches, including Namco America in Santa Clara, California, Namco Europe in London, Na ...
for the
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 divisi ...
on 22 August 2002. The features a story mode, set in the television series continuity, and a versus mode, which allows players to compete against each other using any of the Dragons of Heaven or Earth. The game was not released outside Japan and it has two different endings. *''X: Card of Fate'', a card battle video game for the
WonderSwan Color The (ワンダースワン) is a handheld game console released in Japan by Bandai. It was developed by Gunpei Yokoi's company Koto Laboratory and Bandai, and was the last piece of hardware Yokoi developed before his death in 1997. Released i ...
, was released on 27 June 2002.


Reception

The manga was a commercial success in Japan, with 12 million volumes sold; while in North America it often appeared on
The New York Times Manga Best Sellers of 2012 This is a list of notable manga series that appeared in ''The New York Times Manga Best Seller'' lists in 2012. References {{DISPLAYTITLE:''The New York Times'' Manga Best Sellers of 2012 2012 in comics 2012 File:2012 Events Collage ...
and
ICv2 ''ICv2'' is an online trade magazine that covers geek culture for retailers. ''ICv2s main areas of focus are comic books, anime, gaming, and show business products. The site offers news, reviews, analysis, and sales information for retailers an ...
lists. The manga's plot and cast were praised. ''
Animerica ''Animerica'' was a monthly magazine published by Viz Media VIZ Media LLC is an American manga publisher, anime distributor and entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1986 as VIZ LLC. In 2005, VIZ ...
'' regarded it as one of Clamp's most iconic works from their early career. According to the site, "Part of the appeal of the ''X'' manga is its surreal blend of Taoist, Shinto, and even European mysticism with real-world locales and historical landmarks familiar to Japanese fans." According to ''Anime Nation'', ''X'' "appears to defy the conventions of " boys' manga" and " girls' manga" because of multiple features provided by the authors such as violence and romance that will appeal to many types of reader. ''
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 ...
'' noted that while there are no explicit homosexual relationships, the ''shōjo'' appeal might give the reader this impression when the male characters interact, something the ''shônen'' demographic might not like. ''Sequental Tart'' found Kamui's identity mysterious; he is featured as a caring child to
Kotori Monou The fictional characters of the ''X (manga), X'' manga series were created by manga group known as Clamp (manga artists), Clamp, composed of Satsuki Igarashi, Nanase Ohkawa, Tsubaki Nekoi, Mick Nekoi, and Mokona, Mokona Apapa. ''X'' takes place i ...
in a flashback, but he appears as a rude teenager when meeting her again. His fight scenes were noted to be violent in contrast to the lighthearted moments that seem to work as
comic relief Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene, or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension. Definition Comic relief usually means a releasing of emotional or other tension resulting from a comic episo ...
. As a result, the reviewer it difficult to analyze the series' first volume. ''Comic Book Bin'' said despite early issues with the way the subplots are handled, ''X'' still maintains an interesting narrative. As the manga progressed, the reviewer felt the manga became more polished and looked forward to the climax when it is written. Kamui's growing
character arc A character arc is the transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story. If a story has a character arc, the character begins as one sort of person and gradually transforms into a different sort of person in response to ch ...
was the subject of a positive mention as ''Manga News'' also enjoyed his early appearances and the formation of the Dragons of Heaven as they befriend each other. Reviewers felt Fuma Monou is one of the most brutal antagonists of Clamp's career and in ''shōjo'' in general because of this gruesome murder of Kotori and how he then causes earthquakes to destroy Tokyo. ''Anime News Network'' found that the series had many types of characters for Dragons of Heavens and Dragons of Earth that are given enough screen time in the buildup to the Holy War to interact and fight until the manga's eighth volume when the narrative takes a different route. As the second half begins, ''Anime News Network'' noted the narrative becomes progressively darker because of the number of dead characters as Clamp moves the plot towards the Armageddon; they lamented the lack of closure with all the deaths. The relationship between Kamui and Fuma has been the subject of discussion. In ''CLAMP in Context: A Critical Study of the Manga and Anime'', Dani Cavallaro says ''X'' has a complex "philosophic gravity", heavily influencing the "Gothic epic" setting involving Kamui and how the narrative uses interesting fight scenes with notable dramatic results for one fighter. Cavallaro noted Fuma's brutal actions to accomplish his goals in contrast with Kamui's calm temperament when he gradually opens up to his friends. While both take similar paths with respect to their fights in the war between the Dragons, Fuma takes his weapon using brute force while Kamui is given his by his family. Fans reading the series have wondered whether Clamp was hinting at a romantic relationship between Kamui and Fuma. ''Sequental Art'' commented on homoerotic tones during a few scenes. In response, in the book ''Understanding Manga and Anime'' writer Robin E. Brenner claims Clamp had no intention of suggesting a romantc relationship between the two as he compared them with the more explicit relationship Subaru had with Seishiro. ''Manga News'' noted the pair had one of the most anticipated fights in the series because of the long history they have in ''Tokyo Babylon'' and called their final duel tragic. In '' Manga: The Complete Guide'', Jason Thompson wrote "even without a proper ending, the series has a lot going for it", and felt the major storytelling centering around destiny was appealing despite not finding it Clamp's best strength. Clamp's illustrations such as the dream sequences, Seishiro's horror-based spells, and the outstanding designs of Kamui and Hinoto were also the subject of praise. ''The Fandom Post'' also enjoyed the artwork, mostly praising the way action sequences are drawn ''Manga News'' found the early artwork typical of Clamp's works involving ''RG Veda'' and ''Tokyo Babylon'' but with a different style than ''
Angelic Layer is a Japanese manga series created by Clamp (manga artists), Clamp. The manga was published in Japan by Kadokawa Shoten, and in English originally by Tokyopop, but has since been re-licensed by Dark Horse Comics. It was the group's first wor ...
'' and ''
Cardcaptor Sakura , abbreviated as ''CCS'', is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by the manga group Clamp. Serialized monthly in the ''shōjo'' manga magazine ''Nakayoshi'' from May 1996 to June 2000, it was also published in 12 ''tankōbon'' ...
'' as it features mostly androgynous characters. ''Comic Book Bin'' praised the handling of the fight scenes by the artists especially the backgrounds, which "depict energy and magic unleashed in a fast and furious display". Because of the manga's long serialization, critics noted that the artwork evolved, making it as appealing as later Clamp works like '' Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle'' and ''Angelic Layer''. However, ''Anime News Network'' felt the violent imagery portrayed by Clamp throughout earthquakes and murder scenes in ''X'' was too disturbing for the ''Monthly Asuka'' demographic and cancelled it. Although the manga returned following its controversial cancellation, the planned ending was even more gruesome causing its cancellation again. Thompson simply regarded the art as "absolutely gorgeous".


References


External links

* at
Viz Media VIZ Media LLC is an American manga publisher, anime distributor and entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1986 as VIZ LLC. In 2005, VIZ LLC and ShoPro Entertainment merged to form the current VIZ M ...
* {{good article X 1999 1992 manga 1996 anime films 2001 anime OVAs 2001 anime television series debuts Action anime and manga Apocalyptic anime and manga Crossover anime and manga Dark fantasy anime and manga Environmental fiction books Fiction set in 1999 Kadokawa Dwango franchises Kadokawa Shoten manga Shōjo manga Supernatural thriller anime and manga Tarot in fiction Viz Media manga Works by Clamp (manga artists) Madman Entertainment manga