Black Cat (manga)

Black Cat (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kentaro Yabuki. It was originally serialized in publisher Shueisha's [[Shōnen manga|Template:Transliteration manga]] magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from July 2000 to June 2004, with the chapters later collected into twenty Template:Transliteration (bound volumes) by Shueisha. The story centers on a man named Train Heartnet who withdrew from an elite group of assassins called the Chronos Numbers to become a bounty hunter.

The series was adapted into a twenty-four episode anime television series by studio Gonzo, which originally aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) from October 2005 to March 2006. The manga was licensed for English-language publication in North America by Viz Media and in Australasia by Madman Entertainment. Funimation Entertainment licensed the anime for an English dub and North American broadcast on their own Funimation Channel, with Madman releasing it in Australasia and MVM Films in the United Kingdom.

In Japan, the Black Cat manga sold over 12 million copies, while in North America several volumes have been featured in weekly top ten lists of best-selling manga. The anime has also been popular in both Japan and North America. Manga and anime critics had praise for Black CatTemplate:'s action, differing views on the artwork and characters, and mainly negative comments for its plot which has been criticized for having typical elements of Template:Transliteration manga (targeted at boys).

Plot

Template:See also Set in a fictional universe, Train Heartnet, once an assassin for Chronos, an organization bent on world peace that rules one third of the world's economy, is now an easygoing Sweeper (licensed bounty hunter) traveling with his partner Sven Vollfied. They meet and team up with professional thief Rinslet Walker in order to break into an arms dealer's home and obtain some data, but encounter a human bio-weapon named Eve that was created using nanotechnology. Sven and Train ultimately decide to free Eve from her owner and train her to be a Sweeper. Rinslet is kidnapped by Creed Diskenth, a former Chronos assassin that killed Train's friend Saya Minatsuki for changing Train's outlook on life and which contributed to him leaving Chronos, to persuade Train to join his group the Apostles of the Stars in order to overthrow Chronos and start a world revolution. The duel ends as a draw, with both Creed and Train injured.

The Apostles of the Stars launch their first attack on the World Summit, killing the leaders from 20 top nations, causing Chronos to declare war on them. Chronos even notify Train of a new Sweeper bounty on Creed in order to gain his help, though he resists, planning to go after him on his own terms. Chronos assassin Jenos Hazard is sent to hire Rinslet to gather information on the Apostles, however, this is really in order to use her as bait to lure Creed out of hiding and force Train to get involved, who was lured to the same area via false Sweeper intel. Jenos and the other two members of the special unit Cerebus launch an assault on Creed's lair, that results in it being turned to rubble, while Train simply rescues Rinslet and leaves. Creed then tries to kill Sven, believing he is holding Train back from joining him, but accidentally shoots Train with a nanomachine-enhanced bullet that has the unplanned effect of reverting his body to that of a child. In order to return Train to normal, Train, Sven and Eve visit nanotechnology expert Dr. Tearju, who is also Eve's creator. While there, the Apostles of the Stars attack to force Tearju to join them in order to grant Creed eternal life through nanomachines, but are defeated by a returned Train who can now fire a railgun shot thanks to the nanomachines. However, Eathes was able to copy Tearju, gaining all of her knowledge, and Train, Sven and Eve finally decide to put a stop to Creed.

They team up with a group called the Sweeper Alliance to storm the Apostles of the Stars' island, organized by Chronos assassin Lin Shaolee in disguise to act as decoys for Chronos' own attack. Separated upon arriving, Train, Sven and Eve each get involved in fights with members of the Apostles, while Chronos, who landed after them, get to Creed first. Sephiria Arks faces off against Creed, but loses. Sven, Eve and Chronos then fight bio-warrior weapons fused with nanotechnology, while Train begins his battle with Creed. Creed has obtained immortality, although he reveals to Train his only weakness; his brain cannot be repaired like the rest of his body. Train defeats Creed using one last full-powered railgun shot to destroy his Imagine Blade and Eve uses her own nanomachines to take those that give Creed immortality out of his body. Train and Sephiria allow Creed to walk away, and the survivors of the Apostles of the Stars are shown on the run or hiding.

Production

Six months before Black Cat began, Kentaro Yabuki's one-shot version titled Stray Cat was published. While it already included Sweepers and Tao, Train and Sven were Delivery Men instead.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> With Black Cat he wanted to expand on ideas he used in his previous serial Yamato Gensoki; an assassin betraying an organization, and the use of Template:Transliteration or life energy.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> His weekly schedule was four days to write the chapter and two to draw it, taking one day off.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> When the manga ended serialization, Yabuki expressed desire to make a sequel labeling this series as "Part 1". As he was not sure if there could be a sequel, he still remarked that the characters of Train Heartnet and Eve may appear in other titles he will create in the future.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Media

Manga

Template:Main Written and illustrated by Kentaro Yabuki, Black Cat was originally serialized in Shueisha in the Template:Transliteration manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Jump from July 11, 2000,Template:Efn to June 14, 2004.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its 185 chapters were collected into 20 Template:Transliteration (bound volumes) by Shueisha, released from January 6, 2001, to October 4, 2004.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The series was re-released in twelve Template:Transliteration format volumes, published from September 16, 2005, to February 17, 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Black Cat has also been published as part of the Shueisha Jump Remix series of magazine-style books. Nine volumes were released between March 24, and July 19, 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

It was licensed in English in North America by Viz Media as they first announced at the 2005 San Diego Comic-Con.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first volume released on March 7, 2006, with the final volume released on May 5, 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Madman Entertainment published Viz's English release in Australia and New Zealand,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> from September 10, 2008, to June 10, 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Anime

Template:Main A 24-episode animated adaptation of the manga was produced by Shueisha, GDH, Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), and Gonzo. It is directed by Shin Itagaki, with Shūichi Kōyama handling series composition, Yukiko Akiyama designing the characters and Taku Iwasaki composing the music.<ref name="staff">Template:Cite web</ref> The series was broadcast on TBS from October 6, 2005, to March 30, 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Episode fifteen was not broadcast by TBS, but only included in the DVD release in Japan.<ref name="dvd"/> On its airing on Animax all episodes were broadcast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The series was released across twelve Region 2 DVD volumes from December 21, 2005, to November 22, 2006, by GDH. Each volume was also published by Animate and Movic in Premium Edition which included various extras.<ref name="dvd">Template:Cite web</ref> The DVD volumes were gathered in a limited release DVD box set by Gonzo on April 23, 2008.<ref name="staff"/><ref name="dvd"/>

The anime was licensed for an English-language dubbed release by Funimation Entertainment (later Crunchyroll, LLC) in June 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The episodes were later broadcast on the Funimation Channel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The series was then released across six Region 1 DVD volumes released between December 19, 2006, and July 24, 2007.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The DVDs were gathered in a box set and released on March 18, 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On May 29, 2012, Funimation re-released the box set in a "Super Amazing Value Edition" (S.A.V.E.) edition.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Madman Entertainment distributed a box set of the series in the PAL region on September 17, 2008,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> while MVM Films released it on November 15, 2010, in the United Kingdom.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

An anime soundtrack entitled Black Cat Original Soundtrack Nikukyu was released on March 15, 2006, by EMI Music Japan.<ref name="st">Template:Cite web</ref> It contains the anime's background music that was composed by Taku Iwasaki, and the three pieces of theme music used for the series: the opening theme Template:Nihongo by Yorico, the first ending theme Template:Nihongo by Puppypet, and the second ending theme Template:Nihongo by Ryōji Matsuda.<ref name="st"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Credits from the following episodes:

• Template:Cite episode
• Template:Cite episode</ref>

Other media

Tomohito Ōsaki wrote three light novels based on the series. Simply titled Black Cat and Black Cat 2, the first two were released on March 10, and August 25, 2003.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Titled Template:Nihongo, the last one that serves as the sequel to the manga, was released in Japan on October 24, 2005.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2005, there were three drama CDs, simply titled Black Cat 1–3, released by Shueisha on February 28, July 1, and October 4, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> An internet radio program was broadcast from March 30, to September 28, 2006, by the Onsen and hosted by Takashi Kondō and Misato Fukuen, the voice of Train and Eve respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later, Frontier Works collected in into three CDs and released on October 21, November 18, and December 16, 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

There have been two video games based on the series released in Japan. Template:Nihongo was released for the PlayStation 2 on March 30, 2006, by Capcom.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Nihongo was released for the Nintendo DS on June 21, 2007, by Compile Heart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Characters of the Black Cat series have also made appearances in the games Jump Super Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Japan, various other types of merchandise were released, including action figures, plush dolls, key chains, clothing, cosplay pieces, and a trading card game by Movic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reception

Public response

Black CatTemplate:'s twenty volumes have sold over 12 million units in Japan.<ref name="gonzo">Template:Cite web</ref> Volumes from Viz's English publication of the series have also featured in best-selling manga rankings such as The New York Times<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as well as Nielsen BookScan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During 2006, Black Cat was North America's 9th best manga property, according to ICv2.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In ICv2's Top 50 Manga, Black Cat was listed as the 15th manga property from North America during the first half of 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In ICv2's Top 25 Manga Properties Q1 2009, it was the 22nd best manga property from North America during 2009's first quarter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Black Cat anime premiered in Japan with a 3.4 percent television viewership rating.<ref name="gonzo"/> In 2006, Japanese television network TV Asahi conducted a "Top 100" online web poll, and Black Cat placed 93rd.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the subsequent year, it ranked 17th in a "Top 20" poll conducted by Japanese anime magazine Animage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Navarre Corporation cited the DVD releases of Black Cat as one of the reasons for Funimation's profit increase during the last quarter of 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The anime was listed as North America's 22nd anime property in summer 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Critical response

The manga has been praised for its fast-paced action, which "epitomizes the action genre", according to Anime News Network's Carlo Santos.<ref name="santos">Template:Cite web</ref> Alexander Hoffman from Comics Village praised Yabuki for starting the story off with action rather than having a large amount of "info-dumps" for extensive character introductions.<ref name="hoffman">Template:Cite web</ref> Writing for Manga Life, Michael Aronson commended it for having a restrained pace, layout and action scenes, calling it "more western" than Japanese because of it.<ref name="aronson">Template:Cite web</ref> Holly Ellingwood of Active Anime commented that Black Cat "knows how to pack the action and the excitement to good effect, visuals and nail-biting suspense."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sheena McNeil stressed that despite its flaws the series' action "makes it all worth reading."<ref name="mcneil">Template:Cite web</ref> Ken Haley of Pop Culture Shock said that "writing and characterization-wise" it is a typical Template:Transliteration manga.<ref name="haley">Template:Cite web</ref> Santos, Hoffman and McNeil criticized its plot for being "predictable", clichéd, and "not terribly original" respectively.<ref name="santos"/><ref name="hoffman"/><ref name="mcneil"/> Leroy Douresseaux of Comic Book Bin called it "an easy going version of Bleach",<ref name="douresseaux">Template:Cite web</ref> while Hoffman found it reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop,<ref name="hoffman"/> and McNeil compared it to Dragon Ball Z.<ref name="mcneil"/>

Santos called its art "plain",<ref name="santos"/> while McNeil commented that it "is very nice" but "there's nothing wow-ing about it,"<ref name="mcneil"/> and likewise Haley considered the art enough to get "the job done", but that none of the characters are "cool or eye-catching".<ref name="haley"/> Conversely, Hoffman labeled the art "expressive",<ref name="hoffman"/> and Douresseaux deemed the character designs "imaginative."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> While Aronson and Hoffman dubbed the characters "likeable" and "memorable,"<ref name="hoffman"/><ref name="aronson"/> Douresseaux asserted Yabuki "create[d] a joyful jumble of motivations and backstabbing" for them.<ref name="douresseaux"/> On the other hand, Santos affirmed they "just don't feel real" as their motivations "aren't emotionally moving in any way; they're just plot points that give the characters motivation."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The contrast between "Train's seriousness and Sven's comedy" was appreciated by Sandra Scholes of Active Anime.<ref name="scholes">Template:Cite web</ref> Margaret Viera of the same site hailed its comedy usage as "well done and perfectly placed within the storyline."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its mixture of genres was appreciated by Scholes,<ref name=scholes/> as well as by IGN's Jeff Harris who said "it never appears too overdone."<ref name="harris">Template:Cite web</ref> Ross Liversidge of UK Anime Network, however, commented that this makes it "a little hard to discern what the series is aiming for."<ref name="liversidge">Template:Cite web</ref> While Stig Høgset, writing for THEM Anime Reviews, said the supernatural powers are "kept at a fairly realistic level",<ref name="hogset">Template:Cite web</ref> Liversidge felt the anime's ending was "just slightly too fantastical to be taken seriously."<ref name="liversidge"/> Høgset and Harris praised the show's imagery,<ref name="harris"/><ref name="hogset"/> with the latter claiming that it has a "story that in many ways improves on the original manga and fixes some of its problems."<ref name="harris"/>

External links

• Black Cat official site Template:In lang
• TBS's Black Cat anime official site Template:In lang
• Funimation's Official Black Cat site
• Template:Anime News Network