Engage Kiss Explained

Genre:Romantic comedy
Creator:Aniplex
Type:manga
Author:Itachi
Publisher:Square Enix
Magazine:Manga Up!
First:July 2, 2022
Last:March 27, 2024
Volumes:2
Type:tv series
Director:Tomoya Tanaka
Music:Yoshiaki Fujisawa
Studio:A-1 Pictures
Licensee:Aniplex of America
Network:JAITS (Tokyo MX, GYT, GTV), ANN (ABC, Mētele), BS11, AT-X
First:July 3, 2022
Last:September 25, 2022
Episodes:13
Engage Kill
Developer:Square Enix
Publisher:Square Enix
Genre:Action RPG
Platforms:Android, iOS
Portal:yes

Engage Kiss is a Japanese mixed-media project created by Aniplex. It consists of a manga series, which was serialized in Manga Up! from July 2022 to March 2024, and an anime television series produced by A-1 Pictures and written by Fumiaki Maruto, with character designs by Tsunako, which aired from July to September 2022. An action RPG mobile game follow-up and sequel was developed by Square Enix under the title Engage Kill.

Plot

Bayron City, an artificial island located in the Pacific Ocean near Japan, is troubled by the mysterious appearance of demons. To conceal their existence from the public, the city government hires PMCs that combat and neutralize demon-like monsters called "D-Hazards".

One such PMC called "I&S Office" is run by the protagonist, Shu Ogata. Differing from other PMCs, Shu's only employee is a demon girl named Kisara. Kisara has the appearance of a young girl despite being hundreds of years old, and her combat strength is highly rated. Though Shu does little work and is constantly in need of money, Kisara seems affectionate for him and toils to support him.

Despite Shu's close ties to Kisara, he frequently contacts his ex-girlfriend Ayano Yugiri for help. Ayano and Shu used to work for the same PMC called "AAA Defender Co." until their breakup and Shu's departure from AAA. Ayano claims that their relationship has ended, yet she still gives in to Shu's pleas for help.

Shu appears to be a loser whose livelihood depends on his relationships with two women. However, he has an ambitious goal: to uncover the truth behind the D-Hazard incident long ago in which his parents and sister went missing.

Characters

Engage Kiss

The protagonist who runs a small PMC, I&S Office. He is usually broke as he cannot handle finances well. He is an orphan, as the rest of his parents are presumed to be dead after an incident prior to the events of the series. He still has feelings for his first ex-girlfriend Ayano Yugiri, despite their previous break-up.
  • A young girl who goes to a high school in Bayron City. She is actually a demon girl who is hundreds of years old. She has the ability to eat the memories of people, including Shu.
  • Shu's first ex-girlfriend. Although she and Shu have broken up, she still has feelings for him. She is also Akino's daughter and a member of AAA Defender Co. She is slightly older than Shu, and they met when they were both children.
  • Shu's second ex-girlfriend, who dresses as a nun of the Seiten Church. She is actually an assassin and a part of an international organization tasked with fighting against D-Hazards.
  • Shu's younger sister. She is also a part-demon girl. Later on in the series, she is freed from an underground area where she was trapped, but ends up fighting Kisara and the others due to her powers. After she is defeated she starts living with Shu.
  • Ayano's mother and the chairman of AAA Defender Co. She was previously Shu's boss, and continues to support him even after his departure from her company.
  • A private military officer in Bayron City. Shu looked up to him as a father figure, but later on he became possessed by demons and tries to assassinate Shu.
    The deputy mayor of Bayron City and the eldest daughter of the city mayor.
  • Engage Kill

    She comes from a rich family and is the player's first employee at their PMC. Despite her calm and comoposed personality, she is a member of the Rising Sun Military Corps who possesses superhuman combat abilities. However, she has a big appetite and gets hungry easily. Since she was 11 years old, she has traveled extensively and experienced a tumultuous life of many ups and downs.
  • [1]
  • A Japanese woman who works in an administrative role at the Rising Sun Military Corps. In the past, she worked for a shady company where she had to do many repetitive tasks. This has made her unsure of herself, but she is actually skilled and can handle different accounting and everyday tasks effectively.
    She used to be employed by a PMC in North America and frequently takes charge during combat operations. Prior to joining the Rising Sun Military Corps, she was unaware of the existence of demons due to the censorships of the Bayron City authorities. She has a serious and unemotional personality, and often lacks awareness of things that are not directly related to training or fighting.
  • [2]
  • A man who collects information for the Rising Sun Military Corps. He comes from Bayron City's Old Town. In the past, he was involved in illegal activities and he has strong ties to the hidden world of the city. As part of his information-gathering work, he frequently visits various restaurants in the city, which has turned him into a connoisseur of its exquisite food.
    [2]
  • A mechanic employed by the Rising Sun Military Corps. She is of mixed American and Indian heritage. Despite often being mistaken for a child, she is actually 19 years old. She feels uneasy around others and acquired her exceptional engineering abilities by spending time alone, tinkering with and repairing machines. She is not typically talkative, but when the conversation revolves around her interests and mechanical creations, she becomes extremely chatty and speaks rapidly in a nerdy manner. She has developed an AI-powered drone called Humpty.

    Media

    Anime

    The anime was first labeled as "Project Engage", which listed Fumiaki Maruto (author of Saekano) and Tsunako (Date A Live illustrator) as the main staff.[3] [4] The details were then announced through the Aniplex booth at the AnimeJapan 2022 event. The series, titled Engage Kiss, is produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Tomoya Tanaka, with Shunsaku Yano in charge of world setting, Shinpei Wada adapting Megumi Katagiri's demon designs for animation, and Yoshiaki Fujisawa composing the music. It aired from July 3 to September 25, 2022, on Tokyo MX and other channels. The opening theme song,, is performed by Halca.[5] [6] The ending theme song,, is performed by Nanawo Akari.[7] [8] Crunchyroll licensed the series outside of Asia for an English simulcast and simuldub.[9] [10]

    Episodes

    Manga

    A manga adaptation of Engage Kiss by Itachi was serialized in Square Enix's online manga magazine Manga Up! from July 2, 2022, to March 27, 2024.[7] [11] [12]

    Game

    An action RPG mobile game developed by Square Enix titled Engage Kill was announced on April 24, 2022,[5] [13] [14] and it was released in Japan on March 1, 2023.[15] [16] [17] The game is a free-to-play RPG genre title with in-app purchases.[18] [19] [20] The game ended service on March 21, 2024.[21] [22] [23]

    See also

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: ja:ブラック企業に勤めてドローンの操縦を覚えました。困ったら万能事務員・志保にお任せを!【エンゲージ・キル:キャラ解説#7】. https://dengekionline.com/articles/172286/. Dengeki Online. ASCII Media Works. May 19, 2023. ja. March 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230305030938/https://dengekionline.com/articles/172286/. March 5, 2023. live.
    2. Web site: ja:「Engage Kill」に登場する寿 葵ら主要キャラクター3名の情報が公開に。イントロダクションも更新. https://www.4gamer.net/games/628/G062893/20220815031/. 4gamer.net. August 30, 2022. ja. August 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220815103154/https://www.4gamer.net/games/628/G062893/20220815031/. August 15, 2022. live.
    3. Web site: Hodgkins. Crystalyn. Aniplex Reveals 'Project Engage' With Saekano Writer Fumiaki Maruto, Date A Live Illustrator Tsunako. Anime News Network. March 23, 2022. March 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220323094112/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-03-23/aniplex-reveals-project-engage-with-saekano-writer-fumiaki-maruto-date-a-live-illustrator-tsunako/.183912. March 23, 2022. live.
    4. Web site: ja:丸戸史明×つなこのオリジナルアニメ「Engage Kiss」が7月から、主人公役は斉藤壮馬. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/471270. Natalie. March 26, 2022. ja. March 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220326030357/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/471270. March 26, 2022. live.
    5. Web site: Loo. Egan. Engage Kiss Comedy Anime Unveils More Cast & Staff, July 2 Debut, halca's Opening Song, Square Enix Game App in 1st Video. Anime News Network. April 24, 2022. April 24, 2022. April 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220424110228/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-04-24/engage-kiss-comedy-anime-unveils-more-cast-and-staff-july-2-debut-halca-opening-song-square-enix-/.184956. live.
    6. Web site: ja:丸戸史明×つなこのアニメ「Engage Kiss」第1弾PV、追加キャストに大久保瑠美. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/475232. Natalie. April 24, 2022. ja. April 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220424113926/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/475232. April 24, 2022. live.
    7. Web site: Loo. Egan. Engage Kiss Comedy Anime Posts 2nd Video, More Cast, Ending Theme Song. Anime News Network. June 4, 2022. June 4, 2022. June 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220604192111/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-06-04/engage-kiss-comedy-anime-posts-2nd-video-more-cast-ending-theme-song/.186326. live.
    8. Web site: ja:丸戸史明×つなこのアニメ「Engage Kiss」EDテーマ聴ける第2弾PV、追加キャスト公開. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/480333. Natalie. June 4, 2022. ja. June 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220604111633/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/480333. June 4, 2022. live.
    9. Web site: Crunchyroll Reveals Summer 2022 SimulDub Lineup, Including Classroom of the Elite II and More. Crunchyroll. June 22, 2022. June 25, 2022. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20220622160305/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2022/06/22/crunchyroll-reveals-summer-2022-simuldub-lineup-including-classroom-of-the-elite-ii-and-more. June 22, 2022. live.
    10. Web site: Mateo. Alex. Crunchyroll Announces Release Schedule for Summer 2022 Anime Season. Anime News Network. June 22, 2022. June 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220622184600/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-06-22/crunchyroll-announces-release-schedule-for-summer-2022-anime-season/.186951. June 22, 2022. live.
    11. Web site: https://engage-kiss.com/news/?id=60759. ja:「Engage Kiss」コミカライズ化!. TVアニメ「Engage Kiss」公式サイト. June 4, 2022. June 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220604112729/https://engage-kiss.com/news/?id=60759. live.
    12. edomondohonda3. Itachi. 1772952010804900076. ja:オリジナルアニメ「Engage Kiss」 コミカライズ マンガUP!で最終話、更新されてました! 最終になる単行本の告知はまた落ち着いたらさせていただきます。 バイバイ. ja. March 27, 2024. April 1, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240401093240/https://twitter.com/edomondohonda3/status/1772952010804900076. April 1, 2024. live.
    13. Web site: https://www.4gamer.net/games/628/G062893/20220422049/. ja:スクエニ新作「Engage Kill(エンゲージ・キル)」が発表――今夏の新ラブコメアニメ「Engage Kiss」のスマホゲーム. 4Gamer.net. April 24, 2022. May 12, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220424110746/https://www.4gamer.net/games/628/G062893/20220422049/. April 24, 2022. live.
    14. ja:『Engage Kill(エンゲージ・キル)』、TVアニメ『Engage Kiss』の放送を記念してAmazonギフト券が当たるキャンペーン開催. https://app.famitsu.com/20220708_1973030/. Famitsu App. Kadokawa Game Linkage. February 20, 2023. ja. February 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220708131211/https://app.famitsu.com/20220708_1973030/. July 8, 2022. live.
    15. Web site: ja:スクエニ新作アプリ『エンゲージ・キル(Engage Kill)』リリース日が決定!. https://dengekionline.com/articles/173583/. Dengeki Online. ASCII Media Works. February 20, 2023. ja. February 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230220131924/https://dengekionline.com/articles/173583/. February 20, 2023. live.
    16. Web site: https://www.4gamer.net/games/628/G062893/20230220081/. ja:「Engage Kill」3月1日に配信決定。キサラ(CV.会沢紗弥)&クロエ(CV.香里有佐)が歌う,ゲーム主題歌の情報も. 4Gamer.net. February 20, 2023. ja. February 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230220141218/https://www.4gamer.net/games/628/G062893/20230220081/. February 20, 2023. live.
    17. ja:事前登録者数30万人突破『Engage Kill(エンゲージ・キル)』正式サービス開始日は3月1日に決定!. https://app.famitsu.com/20230221_2056831/. Famitsu App. Kadokawa Game Linkage. February 20, 2023. ja. February 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230223025350/https://app.famitsu.com/20230221_2056831/. February 23, 2023. live.
    18. ja:2023年春配信決定『エンゲージ・キル』各ストアでの事前登録もスタート!PV第1弾公開記念でえらべるPayが当たるキャンペーンも. https://app.famitsu.com/20221208_2031599/. Famitsu App. Kadokawa Game Linkage. December 20, 2022. ja. December 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221208085156/https://app.famitsu.com/20221208_2031599/. December 8, 2022. live.
    19. Web site: ja:「Engage Kill」,事前登録受付をApp Store / Google Playにて開始. https://www.4gamer.net/games/628/G062893/20221208043/. 4Gamer.net. December 20, 2022. ja. December 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221208124643/https://www.4gamer.net/games/628/G062893/20221208043/. December 8, 2022. live.
    20. Web site: ja:スクエニ新作アプリ『エンゲージ・キル』App Store/Google Play事前登録開始. https://dengekionline.com/articles/162927/. Dengeki Online. Kadokawa Corporation. December 8, 2022. ja. December 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221208100311/https://dengekionline.com/articles/162927/. December 8, 2022. live.
    21. Web site: ja:『エンゲージ・キル』2024年3月21日12時にサービス終了。リリースから約1年で幕. https://dengekionline.com/articles/215735/. Dengeki Online. Kadokawa Corporation. December 27, 2023. ja. December 27, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231227111513/https://dengekionline.com/articles/215735/. December 27, 2023. live.
    22. Web site: ja:スクエニ、『Engage Kill(エンゲージ・キル)』のサービスを2024年3月21日をもって終了 サービス開始から約1年で. https://gamebiz.jp/news/379637. Gamebiz. December 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231228020443/https://gamebiz.jp/news/379637. December 28, 2023. ja. December 27, 2023. live.
    23. Web site: Pineda. Rafael. Engage Kill Smartphone Game for Engage Kiss Franchise Ends Service on March 21. Anime News Network. December 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231228021210/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-12-27/engage-kill-smartphone-game-for-engage-kiss-franchise-ends-service-on-march-21/.205998. December 28, 2023. December 27, 2023. live.