The Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited

The Millionaire Detective - Balance: Unlimited (富豪刑事 Balance:UNLIMITED) is a Japanese anime television series produced by CloverWorks,[2] directed by Tomohiko Itō and inspired by the novel The Millionaire Detective written by Yasutaka Tsutsui.[3]

It premiered on April 9, 2020, on Fuji TV's Noitamina anime programming block, but postponed programming after the second episode due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The series restarted its broadcasting from July 16 to September 24, 2020.

Plot

Daisuke Kambe, a detective with extreme personal wealth, is assigned to the Modern Crime Prevention Headquarters. Officers who have caused problems for the Metropolitan Police Department are sent to this place. Daisuke is partnered with Haru Katou, who is repulsed by Daisuke's bribery. Challenging mysteries unfold in front of the two detectives, who must work together to solve them.

Characters

  • Daisuke Kambe (神戸大助)
  • The current head of the eminently wealthy and influential Kambe family. As a police officer, he uses his fabulous wealth and a collection of cutting-edge gadgets to solve crimes pragmatically, often resorting to outright bribery as his preferred investigative method. Furthermore, Daisuke is a skilled fighter with a surprisingly steel nerve, which is unfazed even in the face of dangers. He is currently a member of the Modern Crimes Prevention Task Force and frequently works with detective Haru Kato, who is frequently annoyed by Daisuke's habits of solving things with money. An artificial intelligence butler, HEUSC, usually assists Daisuke. The state-of-the-art aide commonly assists him in transferring money and hacking into other devices.
  • Haru Katō (加藤春)
  • A young detective on the same task force as Kambe Daisuke, though he was previously a Division 1 detective but was forcibly transferred out after an incident embarrassing to the police. He is passionate about his job but has a quick temper, especially around Kambe or when innocent people are in danger. In particular, he is annoyed by Kambe's attitude that money can solve any problem.
  • Yukihiro Kiyomizu (清水幸宏)
  • The ranking officer of the Modern Crimes Prevention Task Force, Kambe, and Kato's boss. He is very laid-back and quite cheerful and places a great deal of trust in his subordinates. He is usually found at his desk, enjoying his hobby of building plastic models.
  • Chо̄suke Nakamoto (仲本長介)
  • The oldest member of the task force and a veteran detective, formerly of the Investigative Division. Kato is highly respectful of Nakamoto's abilities and experience. He comes across as very sympathetic and uses this to manipulate confessions out of criminals. He is a lifelong chain-smoker.
  • Shinnosuke Kamei (亀井新之助)
  • Another member of the task force works only when he wants to and does not particularly enjoy his job. His main goal is to impress Motoyama from Security Division, on whom he has a substantial crush. The very mention of her name has a visible effect on his level of enthusiasm.
  • Mahoro Saeki (佐伯まほろ)
  • The only woman on the task force with an addiction to sweets and snacks. She is normally found at headquarters, either drinking cups of tea or checking for new jobs around the office.
  • Teppei Yumoto (湯本鉄平)
  • Another member of the task force. He loves gambling with a preference for horse and boat racing.
  • Katsuhiro Takei (武井克弘)
  • The current chief of Division 1, Kato's former boss. He prefers to take charge of himself; as such, all his subordinates place a great deal of trust in him. Despite no longer being Kato's boss, he still cares about him.
  • Ryо̄ Hoshino (星野涼)
  • A detective from Division 1. He takes his job very seriously. It is implied he was Kato's partner in the past, but they now appear to have a strained relationship.
  • Suzue Kambe (神戸鈴江)
  • A genius mechanic and Daisuke Kambe's relative. She uses her innocent appearance to her advantage, enabling her to perform undercover work. She and Kambe live together in the family mansion and have a good relationship. Despite the dangers of her work, Kambe never stops her as he knows she is competent. While working together, she and Kambe are a highly effective team.
  • HEUSC (ヒュスク)
  • Described as Kambe's butler who only communicates through Kambe's earpiece and the computer screen in his sunglasses. HEUSC is an advanced Artificial intelligence program that instantly responds to Kambe's requests and can seemingly manipulate other computer systems at will.

Production and release

On January 20, 2020, Noitamina announced that a new anime television series directed by Tomohiko Itō was in production.[8] The series is animated by CloverWorks, with Taku Kishimoto handing series composition, Keigo Sasaki designing the characters, and Yugo Kanno composing the series' music. The opening theme titled "Navigator" is performed by SixTones while Okamoto's performs the series' ending theme song "Welcome My Friend".[9][6] The series premiered its first two episodes on April 9, 2020, and April 16, 2020, respectively, but had to delay later episodes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] The series restarted its broadcasting on July 16, 2020, and ended on September 24, 2020.[11][12]

Aniplex of America licensed the series, and streamed the series internationally outside Asia on FunimationNow, AnimeLab, and Wakanim.[13] In Southeast Asia and South Asia, the series is licensed by Medialink and released on Ani-One YouTube channel, and iQIYI in Southeast Asia.

Episodes

References

  1. The Millionaire Detective balance:unlimited Fuji Creative Corporation, February 20, 2020, retrieved February 20, 2020^
  2. Millionaire Detective's Haru & Daisuke Clash over Crime-Solving Methods 16 July 2020^
  3. ANIME NEWS: 'Millionaire Detective' series starts in April; teaser unveiled | the Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis^
  4. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Author Yasutaka Tsutsui's Fugō Keiji Detective Novel Gets TV Anime Anime News Network, January 23, 2020, retrieved January 23, 2020^
  5. Nicholas Friedman. The Millionaire Detective - Balance: Unlimited Dub Cast Revealed Funimation, September 2, 2020, retrieved September 2, 2020^
  6. Fugō Keiji Balance: Unlimited Anime Reveals Promo Video, Cast, April 9 Premiere Anime News Network, March 19, 2020, retrieved March 19, 2020^
  7. Michelle Rojas. You can hear me as Suzue Kambe in #MillionaireDetective! She's Lucius Fox meets Universal Century and I love her! September 17, 2020, retrieved September 18, 2020^
  8. Sword Art Online, ERASED's Tomohiko Ito Directs April Anime for Noitamina Block Anime News Network, January 20, 2020, retrieved January 20, 2020^
  9. SixTONES Performs The Millionaire Detective Anime's Opening Song Anime News Network, retrieved 17 April 2020^
  10. Alex Mateo. The Millionaire Detective Anime Delayed Due to Coronavirus Disease COVID-19 Anime News Network, April 16, 2020, retrieved April 18, 2020^
  11. 【公式】富豪刑事 Balance:UNLIMITED. 【放送日程のお知らせ】 3話以降の放送を延期する旨先日発表させて頂きました 「富豪刑事 Balance:UNLIMITED」につき、 今後の放送予定が決定致しました. 2020年7月16日(木)~ フジテレビ"ノイタミナ"枠にて放送開始予定 (※第1話より毎週放送) →https://fugoukeiji-bul.com/onair/ #富豪刑事BULpic.twitter.com/QGNe7Rrmqg @fugoukeiji_bul, 2020-04-22, retrieved 2020-04-23^
  12. The Millionaire Detective Anime Resumes on July 30 After COVID-19 Delay 7 June 2023^
  13. Aniplex USA. 📢 SPRING SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT 📢 ❣️ "Kaguya-sama: Love Is War?" begins streaming April 11th! 🔎 "The Millionaire Detective - Balance: Unlimited" begins streaming on April 9th! Fans will be able to watch both shows only on @FUNimation! March 27, 2020, retrieved April 10, 2020^
  14. STORY fugoukeiji-bul.com, retrieved April 9, 2020^
  15. The Millionaire Detective Anime Resumes on July 30 After COVID-19 Delay 7 June 2023^