Maken-ki! explained

Maken-ki!
Ja Kanji:マケン姫っ!
Genre:Action, harem[1]
Type:manga
Author:Hiromitsu Takeda
Publisher:Fujimi Shobo
Demographic:Shōnen
First:April 20, 2007
Last:March 9, 2020
Volumes:24
Type:tv series
Director:Koichi Ohata
Producer:Naoshi Imamoto
Yoshiyuki Matsuzaki
Music:Cheru Watanabe
Studio:AIC Spirits
Licensee:Crunchyroll
Network:AT-X
First:October 5, 2011
Last:December 21, 2011
Episodes:12
Type:ova
Maken-Ki! OVA
Director:Koichi Ohata (OVA 1)
Hiraku Kaneko (OVA 2)
Producer:Naoshi Imamoto
Yoshiyuki Matsuzaki (OVA 1)
Takumi Kusakabe (OVA 2)
Music:Cheru Watanabe
Studio:AIC Spirits (OVA 1)
Xebec (OVA 2)
Licensee:Crunchyroll
First:March 1, 2012
Last:September 20, 2013
Runtime:24 minutes
Episodes:2
Type:tv series
Maken-Ki! Two
Director:Hiraku Kaneko
Producer:Naoshi Imamoto
Takumi Kusakabe
Music:Cheru Watanabe
Studio:Xebec
Licensee:Crunchyroll
Network:Tokyo MX, tvk, Sun TV, TVQ, CTC, TV Saitama, Gifuhōsō, Mie TV, BS11, AT-X
First:January 16, 2014
Last:March 20, 2014
Episodes:10

is a Japanese manga series by Hiromitsu Takeda. It was published by Fujimi Shobo's magazine Dragon Age Pure, and later Monthly Dragon Age, after the former magazine ceased publishing. It has been adapted into an anime series by AIC that aired on Tokyo MX in the fall of 2011. It is licensed in North America by Crunchyroll (also known as Funimation until 2022) under the title Maken-ki! Battling Venus. Two OVA episodes animated by AIC and Xebec were released at February 29, 2012 and September 25, 2013. They were bundled with the eighth and eleventh volumes of the manga respectively. A second season, titled, was animated by Xebec and aired in 2014.

Plot

Takeru Ooyama has enrolled at Tenbi Academy, a private prep high school that converted from all-girls to co-ed. Hoping to have a life full of ogling pretty girls, he reunites with childhood friend Haruko Amaya, who shows him around school. However, he learns that the school is for students who possess magical and spiritual energies called Elements and who wield crafted weapons known as Makens. The students engage in school sanctioned combat matches that showcase their powers. While his own ability and Maken is not apparent at first, Takeru soon finds himself surrounded by girls, including Inaho Kushiya, an attractive girl who says she's his fiancée, and Kodama Himegami, a popular blonde who says she wants to kill him. He joins the, which is part of the student council's Leadership Committee called the, also known as Maken-ki.

Characters

Main characters

The main protagonist of the series, Takeru is a first-year high schooler who enrolls at Tenbi Academy after having attended an all-boys middle school. His childhood friend and fellow disciple, Haruko Amaya, also attends the school as does Inaho Kushiya, who claims that she is his fiancée. He ends up sharing his room with the two girls, as well as Kodama Himegami.

Several years before the story, when Takeru was nine and three-quarters, his family dojo was challenged by Tesshin Kushiya. His mother, Atsuma, was killed by Tesshin before his eyes. This incident caused him to hold a deep resentment for his father and uncle due to neither of them being there to protect them. As a result, he tends to take the girl's side whenever one gets into a fight with a guy; indicating he has intense white knight syndrome. His abilities originally manifest under extreme stress, as in the case where he protected Azuki. When he defended Kodama, he used "Blood Pointer", which was later described as "absorbing Element from the people around him through his mouth". Following the battle with the Venus Unit, Takeru undergoes extra training with Minori Rokujou in order to both increase and gain better control of his powers. He later learns that he is blood related to Kodama's brother.

Takeru was one of the three students that Gen's Element Detector, Keronbo, could not initially identify, but (a month later) he was given his Maken, "Overblow", which causes his target's Maken to overflow with Element and be rendered useless "like a car engine that blows out". However, if the opponent has an evolved Maken and can perfectly control/contain the surge, it can have the opposite effect and thereby empower the opponent.

A second-year student who is the student council vice president, and the head of one of the dorms. She is a childhood friend of Takeru Ooyama, whom she trained with at his family's dojo, and for whom she harbors romantic feelings for although she is unwilling to admit it. After learning that Kodama and Inaho are moving into Takeru's room, she decides to move in as well. She is very jealous of the attention Takeru gives the other girls and tends to beat him almost by reflex whenever he does anything even remotely perverted. Haruko is well-endowed and Kodama considers her to be the strongest maiden at Tenbi Academy. Haruko's Maken,, is a sword that is suspected to be one of the original Eight Legendary Maken. Murakumo cannot be unsheathed unless Haruko has strong feelings and fights an opponent with comparable power. Haruko unleashed a little of Murakumo's power when she fought a student named Kumi Amio. In her battle with Demitra Midia, she unsheathed it to reveal a blade surrounded with light. Not only are Haruko's attack big enough to destroy barriers, but they are controlled enough that she can spare the life of someone in the sword's path.
A petite, blonde-haired second-year student who is part of the of Maken-ki, which officiates the duels at school. Her Maken, "Yasakani", allows her to command three shikigami named Kaguzuchi, Ikajichi and Nojichi, a trio of doll-sized familiars who follow her around and call her "ojou-sama" (literally "my lady" or "miss" in English) and who can lift people up as well as project fire (Kaguzuchi), lightning (Ikajichi) or wood (Nojichi) attacks. She regularly steps on the boys for their annoying and lecherous antics. She initially sees Takeru as a potential enemy who stole her first kiss, but rooms with him after noticing that he bears a special mark on his chest, and has a scent very similar to her brother's. She develops feelings for Takeru, although not like the other girls as when she was asked whom she likes, she responded that she loved someone long ago. Her hobbies include shopping, especially for lingerie and rare stuffed animals. When on night patrol, she was attracted to a rare King Penguin stuffed animal, and was captured by the Finnian twins of Venus.[2] She later shows a fear of ghosts and spirits outside her own magic; in one instance, she's frightened by a ghost story that Haruto Kirishima admits he'd embellished.

Kodama later reveals that she has extraordinary abilities. In the battle with Venus, Kodama uses her Maken to summon larger spirits that are as powerful as the Legendary Eight Maken, and are comparable in strength to Martha Minerva or Minori Rokujou. The Kamigari are highly interested in her as a key to unleashing the power in Amanohara. The Venus Unit kidnaps her and, later on, Ouken has the Kamigari try to capture her on the summer training island. It is revealed that Kodama is the daughter of Yatsune, the former Yamata no Orochi, and that her servants are actually Yatsune's incarnations; each of which had been able to manifest one of the original Eight Maken. Kodama inherited her mother's powers but was sealed away on top on Mount Amanohara. Many years later, after her seal was weakened by Minori, Kodama used her Element to manifest an incarnation of herself. She later realizes that Takeru Ooyama is a descendant of her brother.

The self-proclaimed fiancée of Takeru Ooyama. She feels strongly for Takeru, and although he does not remember her much, she has decided to wait until he fully does. She holds Takeru's father in high regard. Upon revealing this, Takeru gets upset and ignores her, which causes her to cry. Takeru later apologizes to her after Kengo confronts him. However, in the anime, she cries after Takeru tells her that he cannot remember a childhood promise. At first, Inaho was one of the three students that the Element detector, Keronbo, could not measure. However, she manifests her Maken when she saves Takeru and a cat from a falling boulder. She names the cat Monji and usually wears him on her head. Her Maken, "Kamudo", is a gauntlet that greatly increases her strength and speed. She is the star of the bonus four panel series of Maken-ki comics where she is presented in super deformed mode.

Students

Staff

Venus

Venus is a mercenary unit that joins Tenbi Academy with the mission to search for the person who is trying to revive Yamata no Orochi. It is headed by Akaya Kodai, a former member of Maken-ki, and consists mainly of high school aged girls. It is later revealed that Venus has ties to Kamigari, and thus serve as the antagonists for a storyline where they plant barrier stones throughout Tenbi Academy, capture Kodama under the pretense that she trespassed into the Amanohara, and challenge Maken-ki to rescue her. The Venus unit uses Jingu, which are equipment used by the gods of their Western homelands; they are comparable to the Maken weapons used by the gods of the East.

Kamigari

The Kamigari are a secret organization that works with the government by using the Elements and Maken. They originally gathered young people who possess special abilities to their organization, usually against their will. Those who opposed had their memories wiped. This continued until the government created Tenbi Academy to train the students. As a result, they partner with Tenbi Academy in selecting students to join their organization. After Venus leaves Tenbi Academy, they continue their experiments by possessing people and growing monsters to attack the Maken-ki members during their summer training activities. Ouken later decides to go after unlocking the secrets of Amanohara.

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Hiromitsu Takeda. It was published by Fujimi Shobo's magazine Dragon Age Pure, and later Monthly Dragon Age, after the former magazine ceased publishing.

Volumes

Anime

An anime adaptation was announced on Monthly Dragon Ages official website in December 2010.[5] In April 2011, Monthly Dragon Age confirmed that the anime series would air on television.[6] Produced by AIC under the direction of Kōichi Ōhata with Yōsuke Kuroda as script supervisor and music by Cher Watanabe, the anime series began its first broadcast run on October 5, 2011. A second season, titled Maken-ki! Two, was animated by Xebec and aired in 2014.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] The first season adapts the first four volumes of the manga, while the second season features completely original, self-contained story arcs.

The anime series is licensed by Funimation Entertainment (now known as Crunchyroll) in North America.[13] A cast announcement was made on August 30, 2013, and the complete first season was released on home video on November 12. The series became available on the FunimationNOW video streaming service, and from March 2022, it became available on the Crunchyroll streaming service, after AT&T divested Crunchyroll to Sony Pictures Television in August 2021.[14]

Doki Doki! Maken-ki! Himitsu no Kunren

The series released a six-episode special from December 21, 2011, to May 25, 2012, to Blu-ray only, each lasting ten minutes long titled . The episodes feature a "personal fitness program" with the main female characters of the series. Secret training exercises include: sit-ups, squats, kendo, push-ups and hamstring stretches with Haruko Amaya; push-ups, glute raises, bridges, squats, and hip abduction and adduction with Inaho Kushiya; front lunges, leg raises, arm-leg cross raises, kneeling sit-ups and cross-legged stretches with Kodama Himegami; leg lifts while doing a plank, handstand push-ups against a wall, high kicks, squatting with a bear as a weight and leg raise stretches with Azuki Shinatsu; push-ups, squats, knee elbow lifts, reverse wrestler bridges and leg raise stretches with Syria Ootsuka; and thigh stretches lying down, shoulder and chest stretches lying down and standing up, sustained push-ups and glute raise stretches with Aki Nijou.

Maken-ki! Two Specials

Following the second season, the series released a five-episode special from March 28, 2014, to July 25, 2014, to Blu-ray/DVD only alongside pillowcases,[21] [11] each lasting five minutes long titled . The episodes feature "never-before-seen footage" including: Haruko Amaya continuously fantasizing about Takeru Ooyama during her morning routine; Monji temporarily giving Inaho Kushiya a cat tail and cat ears during playtime; an unknown student fantasizing about Aki Nijou while in the school infirmary; Kodama Himegami trying on different outfits with Rudolf secretly watching; and Kimi Satō desiring a bigger bust size.

Reception

Andy Hanley of UK Anime Network, in reviewing the first five episodes, found little originality in the anime series, which he called: "a cavalcade of tired old tropes and plot devices, from a visit to a hot springs to a 'date' where the couple are spied on by jealous friends, extending all the way out to the show's various characters and beyond."[22]

References

Manga

Maken-ki manga volumes by Hiromitsu Takeda. Original Japanese version published by Kadokawa Shoten.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maken-ki! – Complete Series (a J!-ENT Anime Blu-ray Disc Review). J!-ENT. Dennis. Amith. 2013-10-29.
  2. Kodama forgives the Finnian twins when they offer her the stuffed animal.
  3. In the anime, however, Takeru's interference leads to Azuki losing her panties, causing her further embarrassment.
  4. In the anime's first season, Syria remains a girl; she falls in love with Takeru when he shows a cool-looking stance to protect Haruko, during the volleyball match between Venus and Maken-ki. Takeru jumps in and accidentally lands on Syria instead of Haruko, much to Kodama's annoyance because of Syria's chest.
  5. Web site: Maken-Ki! Manga Has Anime Project in the Works . Anime News Network . December 1, 2010 . September 7, 2011.
  6. Web site: Maken-Ki! Action Romantic Comedy Anime to Air on TV . Anime News Network . April 30, 2011 . September 7, 2011.
  7. Web site: FUNimation Announces "Maken-Ki! Two" Simulcast . . December 26, 2013 . December 26, 2019.
  8. Web site: Funimation to Stream Maken-Ki! Two Anime . . December 26, 2013 . December 26, 2019.
  9. Web site: Maken-Ki! Two TV Anime Slated for Winter. 2013-06-21. 2013-06-23. Anime News Network.
  10. Web site: FUNimation Subtitles 'Maken-Ki! Two' Anime Promo . The Fandom Post . January 15, 2014 . January 15, 2020.
  11. Web site: FUNimation Adds 'Maken-Ki! Two' Subtitled Anime Opening, Removes Ending . The Fandom Post . January 16, 2014 . January 16, 2020.
  12. Web site: FUNimation Subtitles 'Maken-Ki! Two' Anime Ending Sequence . The Fandom Post . January 17, 2014 . January 17, 2020.
  13. Web site: Funi Adds Seikishi, Yamato: R, One Piece: Strong World, Fairy Tail Film, Akira. Anime News Network. 28 July 2012.
  14. Web site: UPDATE: Funimation Titles Now Available on Crunchyroll (3/16). Crunchyroll. March 1, 2022. March 21, 2022.
  15. Web site: Maken-ki! Battling Venus - Episodes . December 29, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120110165034/http://www.funimation.com/maken-ki-battling-venus/episodes . January 10, 2012 . dead. – list of English episode titles
  16. Web site: ja:マケン姫っ! | アニメ公式サイト . http://maken-ki.com/schedule/index_3.php . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20120502195539/http://maken-ki.com/schedule/index_3.php . May 2, 2012 . dead.
  17. Web site: http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/14699 . ja:作品情報(シリーズ)–マケン姫っ! . Work information (series) – Maken-ki! . . Media Arts Database . August 10, 2015 . Japan . ja . March 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060213/http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/14699 . dead.
  18. Web site: Watch Maken-ki! Anime Episodes – Season 2 guide . Funimation . 2014-04-10.
  19. Web site: TOKYO MX * アニメ「マケン姫っ!通」 . TOKYO MX Anime Maken-ki! Two . . ja . 2014-04-10.
  20. Web site: http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/18487 . ja:作品情報(シリーズ)–マケン姫っ! 通 . Work information (series) – Maken-ki! 2 . . Media Arts Database . August 10, 2015 . Japan . ja . March 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060128/http://mediaarts-db.jp/an/anime_series/18487 . dead.
  21. Web site: Kadokawa Showcases 'Maken-Ki! Two' Anime DVD/BD Releases With Pillowcases. The Fandom Post. January 16, 2014. January 16, 2020.
  22. Web site: Hanley. Andy. UK Anime Network Anime Review – Maken-ki! – Eps. 1–5. Uk-anime.net. 2011-11-17. 2013-04-21.