Angel (manga) explained

Angel
Type:manga
Author:U-Jin
Publisher:Shogakukan
Cybele Publishing[1]
Demographic:Seinen[2]
Magazine:Weekly Young Sunday
First:1988
Last:1993
Volumes:7 [3]
Type:ova
Studio:Humming Bird
Released:October 25, 1990
Runtime:45 minutes
Publisher:Cocktail Soft
Genre:Simulation
Platforms:NEC PC-9801
Released:October 1, 1993
Type:ova
Shin Angel
Director:Kaoru Tooyoka (eps 1, 2, 3, 4)
Producer:Kotaro Ran
Saburo Omiya (eps 3, 4)
Osamu Echuu (ep 2)
Osamu Koshinaka (ep 3)
Music:Keisaku Irie
Studio:Pink Pineapple
Triple X
First:October 21, 1994
Last:November 22, 1995
Runtime:29–46 minutes
Episodes:5
Type:live film
Angel: Ichiban Saisho wa Anata ni A.Ge.Ru
Studio:dez
Released:February 14, 1997
Runtime:66 minutes
Type:live film
Angel: Shotai Fumei no Joo-sama!? (Hen)
Studio:dez
Released:April 4, 1997
Runtime:70 minutes
Type:manga
Angel: the women whom delivery host Kosuke Atami healed
Author:U-Jin
Publisher:Nihon Bungeisha
Demographic:Seinen
Magazine:Weekly Manga Goraku
First:2006
Last:2008
Volumes:5
Type:manga
Angel season 2: the women whom delivery host Kosuke Atami healed
Author:U-Jin
Publisher:Nihon Bungeisha
Demographic:Seinen
Magazine:Weekly Manga Goraku
First:2008
Last:2010
Volumes:5

Angel is a hentai manga series written and illustrated by U-Jin. The original manga series met with controversy in 1990–1991 in Japan and was retired from its magazine serialization. It was adapted into an OVA of the same name and a sequel called Angel: the women whom delivery host Kosuke Atami healed. The manga was also succeeded by a manga called Angel: the women whom delivery host Kosuke Atami healed, and succeeded again by another manga called Angel: the women whom delivery host Kosuke Atami healed season 2.

Original manga publication

Angel, also known as Angel: Highschool Sexual Bad Boys & Girls Story (prior to the Japanese controversy), Angel: Delight Slight Light Kiss Story (after it resumed serialization but before its complete ban) and currently Angel: Sexual boys and girls highschool story (in order to differentiate it from the sequels), started its publication in the magazine Weekly Young Sunday published by Shogakukan. Because of the controversy, its serialization was interrupted in 1991 and only three volumes were published by Shogakukan. It was later fully reprinted by Cybele Publishing (also known as Cybele Shuppan), which also included two new volumes for a total of 7 volumes, although Cybele volumes had in fact less pages than Shogakukan volumes. In the cover of the Cybele volumes, the legend "We came back!" can be read above the title, in reference to the incident that provoked its temporal ban. The manga was published in Taiwan by company Li-Yi, in France by Tonkam and in Spain by Norma Editorial in Cybele's edition.

Volumes

Japanese release date Vol. ISBN
1
2
3
Japanese release date Vol. ISBN
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Japanese release date Vol. ISBN
1
2
3
4
5
6
Japanese release date Vol. ISBN
1
2
3
4
5

Along with this volumes, there is another collection which combines Angel with Konai Shasei, another manga by U-Jin. The collection is simply called . Instead of a regular numbering, each volume has a different subtitle.

Japanese release date Vol. ISBN
Densha Bishōjo Hen
Gakuen Bishōjo Hen
Hokago Bishōjo Hen
Koisuru Bishōjo Hen
Imouto Kei Bishōjo Hen
Junkoi Bishōjo Hen
Shiroi Bishōjo Hen

The series is also available in ebook format by eBookJapan.[4]

Media

OVAs

Angel

The first OVA, a single episode anime titled Angel, was released on VHS and LaserDisc on by Pioneer LDC's brand Humming Bird.[5] [6] It was later re-released by Tairiku Shobo.[7] A DVD of the anime was released in by Happinet Pictures (a division of Namco Bandai) through their Green Bunny label with standard number GBBH-1896.[8]

New Angel

The second OVA consisted of five episodes., was originally released from to . It was produced by Pink Pineapple and Triple X.

In the US, the OVA has been released by SoftCel Pictures. It was originally released in VHS format in 1995, 1996 and 1998 and it was released in both uncut and edited versions for the first four episodes.[9] [10] It was also released in DVD format by the same company in two volumes, the first released in and the second in .

Shin Angel was also released in France, in VHS by Katsumi vidéo and in DVD by Anime Erotik,[11] and also in Spain in VHS and DVD by Manga Films[12] (although only the first 4 episodes were released by Manga Films)[13] and on TV by Arait Multimedia.

Video games

A video game for the NEC PC-9801 based on Angel and with the same title was released in by the Japanese company Cocktail Soft.[14] [15]

Live-action films

Two adult live-action films based on the manga were produced. The first one,, was released in and the second one,, was released in . Both films have the participation of Japanese Adult Video actresses Yui Kawana and Mizuki Kanno and were released by the company dez.[16] [17]

Both films were released in the US by Kitty Media in DVD format in as a single release called Angel Collection.[18] [19]

Manga sequels

In 2006, a sequel of the original manga started in the magazine Weekly Manga Goraku published by Nihon Bungeisha, titled Angel: the women whom delivery host Kosuke Atami healed, also known as and more commonly simply as Angel. Also created by U-Jin, this manga follows the new adventures of Kosuke Atami, now a divorced 34-year-old man who works as a host and helps people in a similar way as he did as a highschooler.

Following the previous sequel, in 2008, also in Nihon Bungeisha's Weekly Manga Goraku, the manga titled Angel season 2: the women whom delivery host Kosuke Atami healed, more commonly known as Angel season 2, was released. Also done by U-Jin, the manga follows the same premise as the previous manga series.

Reception

Criticism and controversy in Japan

The manga depicted high schoolers in several sexual situations. In the aftermath of the Saitama serial kidnapping murders of young girls, a moral panic against otaku was prevalent[20] and several manga were singled out for their contents, among them Angel. PTAs managed to force the suspension of the manga for a while[21] and volume 3 became the last by Shogakukan[22] and the tankōbon became banned. The problem centered in housewives who believed that Angel was too sexually explicit for a seinen publication and that the manga had become pretty popular.[23] The incident with Angel eventually lead to the creation of the .[24]

While the manga was still being serialized in the magazine, U-Jin included a "message from the author" chapter as a form of protest. When it temporary resumed serialization, the sexual content was reduced and the subtitle changed to Delight Slight Light Kiss Story, until it was finally banned.

Eventually, publication resumed years later with Cybele Publishing, which re-published Angel since the beginning to eventually publish the complete manga, now labeled as .

Youth controversy in France

Upon the release of the third volume in France, Angel was banned from exhibition in stores. The argument of anti-manga people, relayed by the press at the time, was that the manga is dangerous for youth because of eroticism and violence it diffuses. Tonkam, however, for which Angel was the first erotic manga, finished the translation of the 7 volumes.

New Angel

Stig Høgset, writing for THEM Anime Reviews, found New Angel technically good, as the art and animation were good, but felt the story was "boring and stupid".[25] Chris Beveridge noted that the episodes were not scripted by U-Jin, thus lacking some of his distinctive style,[26] and feels that it is an example of a hentai series which merely "spices up" a "regular" anime series.[27] Bamboo Dong, writing for Anime News Network, felt that the writing of the series made it "fun to watch", with humour and interesting backgrounds for the female characters, and noted that the sex scenes are "pretty graphic".[28] Bamboo Dong felt the transition between non-sex scenes and sex scenes was not smooth in the second volume.[29]

Notes

  1. While the manga started publishing in 1988, it was interrupted in 1991 after several controversies. As such, Shogakukan edition is incomplete and the manga was completed in tankōbon only.
  2. While the manga was originally published in a seinen magazine, it was later considered a hentai manga.
  3. Shogakukan version had only three volumes, but the complete version by Cybele had a total of 7, although with a different length than the other previous volumes
  4. Web site: Angel . 2009-09-10 . eBOOK Initiative Japan Co. Ltd. . Japan . ja .
  5. Web site: 遊人 ANGEL-エンジェル- . 2009-09-10 . JBOOKS Corporation . Japan . ja . 2011-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110204004940/http://www.jbook.co.jp/p/p.aspx/1829021/s . dead .
  6. Web site: 遊人のANGELシリーズ 『エンジェル』 [アニメ版] ]. 2009-09-10 . Adult Video Shop SELECTION.net . Japan . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20110722081825/http://www.allmedia.jp/web/shop/detail.php?code=Az-AN-a4-HBVA-60050 . 2011-07-22 . dead .
  7. Web site: 遊人のANGELシリーズ 『エンジェル』 [アニメ版] ]. 2009-09-10 . Adult Video Shop SELECTION.net . Japan . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20110722081843/http://www.allmedia.jp/web/shop/detail.php?code=Az-AN-a4-AV-4091 . 2011-07-22 . dead .
  8. Web site: 遊人 ANGEL-エンジェル- . 2009-06-08 . Seven and Y Corp. . Japan . ja . 2022-10-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221005113051/http://www.7andy.jp/dvd/detail/-/accd/D0013133 . dead .
  9. Web site: New Angel. 2009-09-10. 1997-04-04. SoftCel Pictures. USA. https://web.archive.org/web/19970404162512/http://softcelpics.com/newang.htm. 1997-04-04.
  10. Web site: New Angel . 2009-09-10 . 2001-12-15 . SoftCel Pictures . USA . https://web.archive.org/web/20011215051348/http://softcelpics.com/catalog/newangel/newangel.html . 2001-12-15 .
  11. Web site: Shin angel (1995) . 2009-09-10 . Association AnimeKa . France . fr .
  12. Web site: New Angel . 2009-09-10 . DVDenlared.com . Spain . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090307005003/http://dvd.es/dvd/anime/new_angel-2895.html . 2009-03-07 .
  13. Web site: New Angel [TV] ]. 2009-09-10 . 2009-03-24 . Anime Licenciado en España . Anime Licenciado.com . Spain . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110707143711/http://www.animelicenciado.com/product_reviews_info.php?products_id=720&reviews_id=7 . 2011-07-07 .
  14. Web site: ANGEL エンジェル 遊人 ---ANGEL U-JIN . 2009-09-10 . emulib.com . Japan . ja .
  15. Web site: http://www.icardpark.com/carrot/garden/museum/cocktail/index.html . ja:きゃろっとガーデン - ミュージアム カクテルソフト . 2009-09-10 . Carrot Museum . F&C Co., Ltd. . Japan . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080731181353/http://www.icardpark.com/carrot/garden/museum/cocktail/index.html . 2008-07-31 .
  16. Web site: http://www.pureadult.co.jp/script/detail_h.php?id=126031871001 . ja:エンジェル 一番最初はあなたにア・ゲ・ル 他女優:川奈由依 – 菅野美寿紀 . 2009-09-10 . PureSound Corporation . Japan . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110722094456/http://www.pureadult.co.jp/script/detail_h.php?id=126031871001 . 2011-07-22 .
  17. Web site: http://www.pureadult.co.jp/script/detail_h.php?id=126031739001 . ja:エンジェル 正体不明の女王様!?【編】 (96年) 他女優:川奈由依 – 菅野美寿紀 . 2009-09-10 . PureSound Corporation . Japan . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110722094722/http://www.pureadult.co.jp/script/detail_h.php?id=126031739001 . 2011-07-22 .
  18. Web site: Angel Collection . 8 July 2008 . 2010-03-31 . Amazon.com, Inc. . USA .
  19. Web site: Angel Collection . 2010-03-31 . Kitty Media . USA . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713154019/http://www.kittymedia.com/displaytitle.cfm?upc=631595082968 . 2011-07-13 .
  20. Web site: http://adult.megaden.net/archives/55301863.html . ja:日本アダルト関連年表 . 2009-09-10 . Japan . ja .
  21. Web site: U-jin 遊人 . 2009-09-10 . Van Huffel, Peter . 2004-01-17 . Ultimate Manga Guide . Belgium .
  22. Web site: http://homepage2.nifty.com/bookbox/keikoku.htm . ja:警告を受けた雑誌・コミック+本のコレクション . 2009-09-10 . Japan . ja . https://archive.today/20130111073857/http://homepage2.nifty.com/bookbox/keikoku.htm . 2013-01-11 . dead .
  23. Web site: http://kirarabunko.cool.ne.jp/www/yomimon/jikenbo.html . ja:漫画の事件簿 . 2009-09-10 . Japan . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20090505075208/http://kirarabunko.cool.ne.jp/www/yomimon/jikenbo.html . 2009-05-05 . dead .
  24. Web site: ジャパンポップに覆われた世界 Jコミック・ジャパニメの体制内化と世界戦略 . 2009-09-10 . Japan . ja .
  25. Web site: THEM Anime Reviews 4.0 - New Angel . T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews . 2012-03-22 .
  26. Web site: Beveridge . Chris . New Angel Vol. #1 . Mania.com . . 2003-06-01 . 2012-03-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120322061544/http://www.mania.com/new-angel-vol-1_article_75148.html . 2012-03-22 . dead .
  27. Web site: Beveridge . Chris . New Angel Vol. #2 . Mania.com . Demand Media . 2003-08-03 . 2012-03-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120322061640/http://www.mania.com/new-angel-vol-2_article_75280.html . 2012-03-22 . dead .
  28. Web site: Dong . Bamboo . All Shiny and New - Shelf Life . Anime News Network . 2003-05-15 . 2012-03-22 .
  29. Web site: Dong . Bamboo . Too Dark for Me to See - Shelf Life . Anime News Network . 2003-06-22 . 2012-03-22 .

External links