Concrete Revolutio: Superhuman Phantasmagoria (コンクリート・レボルティオ ~超人幻想~) is a Japanese superhero anime television series created and written by Shō Aikawa, directed by Seiji Mizushima, produced by Bones, and featuring character designs by Yoshiyuki Ito. It began airing in Japan in October 2015. A second season debuted on 3 April 2016.
Plot
In the year Apotheosis 41 (AD 1966), Earth is currently home to superhumans and paranormal phenomena of all kinds, from aliens and magical girls to ghosts and transforming robots. However, official knowledge of these beings is officially kept under wraps by the governments of the world. The Japanese government has quietly set up the "Super Population Research Laboratory", a.k.a. the "Superhuman Bureau", to keep track of all superhuman beings in the country and eliminate them if they pose a threat to humanity. In the present, Bureau member Jiro Hitoyoshi finds himself recruiting new superhumans for the Bureau in the course of his job. However, five years later in Apotheosis 46 (AD 1971), Jiro turns into a vigilante on the run from the Bureau while the rest of its members deal with the consequences of their earlier actions.
Characters
Superhuman Bureau
- Jiro Hitoyoshi (人吉 爾朗)
- [1] (Japanese), Greg Ayres[2] (English)
- The male protagonist of the series. The point-man of the Superhuman Bureau and the only real human of the group, he is an "ally of justice" who seeks to protect all superhumans, both heroes and villains. Episode 4 reveals that he possesses the superhuman ability to produce and control crimson flames from his left arm, which tend to burn anything they come in contact with. As he tends to lose control over his powers, Jirō's left arm has white straps with red markings and three gears inside his arm, which can be unlocked to activate his power. Once the third gear is unlocked, he loses control of himself and goes berserk. Emi is the only one who can close up and seal the gears back into his arm, returning him to normal. He drives a silver-plated supercar that can transform into a quadrupedal mech named "Equus." Jirō is later revealed to be a Kaiju from another dimension, which is where his powers originate.
- Kikko Hoshino (星野 輝子),
- [1] (Japanese), Jad Saxton[2] (English)
- A magical girl with an interest in manga, especially for its fictional portrayals of magical girls. According to Ullr, Kikko is a demon from another dimension who gains power by indirectly forming a contract with those she saves. As a demon, she is a candidate to become the queen of the demon world and was sent to the human world in search of a husband. In her magical girl form, her hair turns lavender and she wears a dress, using a staff topped with a star ornament that she can also use while untransformed. In her devil realm outfit, Kikko wears a more revealing black outfit with a cape and a helmet that borders her face, and uses a weapon called "Comet Tail" that seems to come out of Ullr's star. While in her devil form, she has a ruthless personality and is more powerful. Kikko develops feelings for Jirō and is a rival to Emi for his affection.
- Emi Kino (鬼野 笑美)
- [1] (Japanese), Anastasia Muñoz[2] (English)
- A half-human half-yōkai who has lived with Jirō and had feelings for him ever since they were young. She is very protective of Jirō and once claimed to be his fiancée, seeing Kikko as a rival for his affection and hating when she gets close to him. Emi wears a white and blue outlined coat over a dark gray long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves coming up and cutting off at her knuckles, along with a cranberry pencil miniskirt and very high dark gray heel boots with golden buttons. She is the only one who can restore the locks holding Jirō's flames at bay without getting killed. Emi's powers include controlling birds and shape-shifting, as well as controlling spirit-like foxes who can follow and track people.
- Fuurouta (風郎太)
- (Japanese), Alison Viktorin[2] (English)
- A ghost with a child's body and personality who can change shape at will and phase through inorganic objects, who loves playing childish pranks on people. Jirō recommends that he join the Superhuman Bureau.
- Hyōma Yoshimura (芳村 兵馬)
- (Japanese), Christopher Bevins[2] (English)
- Usually called "Mr. Jaguar", Yoshimura is a man from the 25th century who was sent by the Time Patrol to destroy the Advocates of Free History. His powers include the ability to transform into a jaguar and stop time using his pocket watch. He is also a genius physicist and created Equus. After deciding that he could make the future better if he changed the past, he left the Time Patrol and formed IQ.
- Daishi Akita (秋田 大志)
- (Japanese); Mark Stoddard (English)
- Raito Shiba (柴 来人)
- (Japanese), Ian Sinclair[2] (English)
- A formerly-human detective who was killed during a case, after which his personality was implanted in the body of an android by an unnamed scientist. Raito is the only detective in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police who works on superhuman cases, though he finds himself stymied by the Superhuman Bureau as they cover up evidence.
- Magotake Hitoyoshi (人吉 孫竹)
- (Japanese), Jason Douglas[2] (English)
- A professor who serves as the technical expert of the Superhuman Bureau. Though his knowledge is mainly in physics and robotics, he has studied enough anthropology to deal with organic superhumans.
- Molly (モリー)
- (Japanese), Orion Pitts (English)
- A chill and clever man.
Superhumans
- Grosse Augen/Akira Shirota (グロスオーゲン/白田晃)
- (Japanese); Anthony Bowling[2] (English)
- A police officer who fused with Grosse Augen, an alien who crash-landed on Earth and shared his life with Akira to ensure his safety, while Akira used Augen's power to fight giant monsters and outer space threats. When the Superhuman Bureau sees him as a threat due to his size, Hitoyoshi was sent to kill him. However, he instead ordered Akira to give his life to Augen, allowing the alien to leave Earth while taking an unconscious S Planeterian as a substitute, allowing him to fight as a superhero once again. In Apotheosis 46, he assisted Hitoyoshi after he was on the run from the Superhuman Bureau.
- S Planeterian (S遊星人)
- (Japanese); Shawn Gann[2] (English)
- An alien invader and Grosse Augen's nemesis. After he was defeated by Augen with help from Equus, he was shrunken and rendered unconscious, allowing Akira to use his body while Augen returned to his home planet. His body has blue markings, which changed to red when being possessed by Akira.
- Tartarus Bugmen (タルタロス蟲人)
- A race of prehistoric bugs from the ancient years, who maintained their existence in the modern era and signed a contract with humanity to reside in the forest. However, after corrupt politicians ordered the deforestation of their homes, they sought vengeance until Fuurouta threw a canister of ancient virus, which successfully halted their attack but endangered their race.
- Campe (カムペ)
- (Japanese); Monica Rial[2] (English)
- The queen of the Tartarus Bugmen, who was captured by a bug salesman and offered for sale at ¥100,000 yen until Fuurouta rescued her. She is able to transform into the human form of a young girl, which later changed into an adult woman seven years later. She became interested in Fuurouta and befriended him; however, after he killed most of the Bugmen, she tried to take revenge seven years later in Apotheosis 48, though Hiyotoshi's interference halted her assaults. Despite having ceased her vengeance, she is incapable of befriending Fuurouta due to his age and appearance.
Development
Bones first unveiled the project on 1 July 2015. The series is directed by Seiji Mizushima and written by Shō Aikawa.[1] Yoshiyuki Ito provides character designs and animation direction; Noizi Ito, Hekiru Hikawa, and Ryō Hirao are in charge of character creation and concept design; and Kanetake Ebikawa, Takayuki Yanase, Toshiaki Ihara, and Hideyuki Matsumoto are in charge of SF concept design. Ken Ohtsuka is the series mechanical animation director, and Hiroki Matsumoto provides the series art design.[4][5] Masafumi Mima is the series' sound director.[6] Anime Consortium Japan co-produced the series.[7]
Media
Anime
The anime began airing on 4 October 2015, to run for two cours (half a year),[1][8] airing on Tokyo MX, Sun TV, KBS Kyoto, and BS11.[9] The series is streamed worldwide by Daisuki,[7] and in North America by Funimation.[10] Following Sony's acquisition of Crunchyroll, the series was moved to Crunchyroll.[11] The opening theme song, "Katararezu Tomo" (カタラレズトモ), is performed by ZAQ, and the closing theme song is performed by Yohske Yamamoto.[12]
The second season premiered in April 2016.[13][14]
Episodes
Season 1 (2015)
Season 2: The Last Song (2016)
Season 1 (2015)
Season 2: The Last Song (2016)
Episodes
Season 1 (2015)
Season 2: The Last Song (2016)
Season 1 (2015)
Season 2: The Last Song (2016)
Manga
A manga adaptation with art by Nylon began serialization in the September 2015 issue of Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace magazine.[4] An omnibus edition was published in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment on 27 June 2017.[16]
Reception
Nick Creamer of Anime News Network praised the show for its "rousing exploration of the nature of justice in the context of post-war Japan", but criticised the narrative for being confusing at times.[19]
External links
- at Young Ace
References
- Fullmetal Alchemist Staff Makes Superhero Anime Concrete Revolutio Anime News Network, 1 July 2015, retrieved 4 July 2015^
- The Witch Girl of Tokyo Funimation^
- Toru Ohkawa Joins Concrete Revolutio TV Anime's Cast Anime News Network, 7 August 2015, retrieved 7 August 2015^
- Concrete Revolutio Anime's 1st English-subtitled Promo Video Introduces Cast Anime News Network, 3 July 2015, retrieved 4 July 2015^
- Mikikazu Komatsu. VIDEO: 1st PV for Bones' October TV Anime "Concrete Revolutio" Crunchyroll, 4 July 2015, retrieved 4 July 2015^
- Kenichi Suzumura Joins Concrete Revolutio TV Anime's Cast Anime News Network, 3 August 2015, retrieved 3 August 2015^
- Daisuki Announces Streaming Details for Concrete Revolutio, Anime Consortium Japan to Co-produce Anime News Network, 4 July 2015, retrieved 4 July 2015^
- Scott Green. Bones Plans "Concrete Revolutio" Superhero Anime Crunchyroll, 2 July 2015, retrieved 4 July 2015^
- Concrete Revolutio's 2nd Promo Video Unveils ZAQ Song, Debut Date Anime News Network, 1 September 2015, retrieved 1 September 2015^
- Funimation to Stream Concrete Revolutio, Doamaiger-D, STARMYU Anime Anime News Network, 2 October 2015, retrieved 3 October 2015^
- UPDATE: Funimation Titles Now Available on Crunchyroll (3/16) Crunchyroll, 1 March 2022, retrieved 14 February 2024^
- ZAQ Perform Concrete Revolutio Anime's Opening Theme Song Anime News Network, 21 August 2015, retrieved 21 August 2015^
- Gurren Lagann/Kill la Kill's Nakashima to Co-Write 2nd Concrete Revolutio Series Anime News Network, 28 December 2015, retrieved 28 December 2015^
- Concrete Revolutio Gets 2nd Season in April Anime News Network, 11 December 2015, retrieved 11 December 2015^
- Terebi Anime "Konkurīto Reborutio: Chōjin Gensō" Kōshiki Saito concreterevolutio.com, retrieved 14 February 2024^
- Concrete Revolutio: The Complete Saga Seven Seas Entertainment, retrieved 15 July 2023^
- KADOKAWA Corporation Kadokawa Shoten, retrieved 15 July 2023^
- KADOKAWA Corporation Kadokawa Shoten, retrieved 15 July 2023^
- Nick Creamer. Concrete Revolutio: The Last Song Anime News Network, 23 June 2016, retrieved 9 August 2018^