X
X logo
エックス (Ekkusu)
Genre	Urban fantasy
Manga
Author	Clamp
Publisher	Kadokawa Shoten
Demographic	Shōjo
Serialized in	Monthly Asuka
Original run	May 24, 1992 – (on hiatus)
Volumes	18
Animated film
Director	Rintaro
Studio	Madhouse
Licensor	Manga Entertainment
Released	August 3, 1996 March 10, 2000 May 19, 2000
Runtime	100 minutes
TV anime
Director	Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Studio	Madhouse
Network	Animax, WOWOW
Original run	October 3, 2001 – March 27, 2002
Episodes	24

X (エックス, Ekkusu^?) is a manga series created by Clamp, a creative team made up by Satsuki Igarashi, Ageha Ohkawa, Tsubaki Nekoi, and Mokona. Urban fantasy is a subset of Contemporary fantasy, consisting of magical novels and stories set in contemporary real-world urban settings--as opposed to 'traditional' ˈmɑŋgə is the Japanese word for Comics (sometimes called komikku コミック and print Cartoons In their modern form manga date from shortly is a Japanese Mangaka group The group's Manga series are often made into Anime after release ( is a well-known Japanese Publisher, based in Tokyo. Kadokawa has published many Manga titles as well as magazines such as Newtype is a Japanese word originally derived from a Chinese expression written with the same characters is a monthly Japanese Shōjo Manga magazine published by Kadokawa Shoten, aimed at teenage girls Events 1218 - The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 - Magnus Ladulås is crowned Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series though the Manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series is the pseudonym of, a respected and well-known director of Anime. is a Japanese animation studio founded in the early 1970s by ex– Mushi Pro animators including Masao Maruyama, Osamu Dezaki, Rintaro, and This article is about Manga Entertainment the anime distributor Events 8 - Roman Empire General Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic (anime in Japanese, is a critically acclaimed writer / director of Japanese Animation. is a Japanese animation studio founded in the early 1970s by ex– Mushi Pro animators including Masao Maruyama, Osamu Dezaki, Rintaro, and See also Animax Mobile TV is a Japanese Anime Satellite television network dedicated to broadcasting anime programming WOWOW was the first private satellite broadcasting and pay TV station in Japan. Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ˈmɑŋgə is the Japanese word for Comics (sometimes called komikku コミック and print Cartoons In their modern form manga date from shortly is a Japanese Mangaka group The group's Manga series are often made into Anime after release is the Japanese word for a comic artist or Cartoonist. Outside of Japan, Manga usually refers to a Japanese Comic book and mangaka is a member of the all-female Manga -creating team Clamp. Her duties in the team are Ageha Ohkawa 's sounding board and the character designer of Chobits is a member of the all-female Manga -creating team Clamp. She is the director of the team and is primarily responsible for writing the stories and scripts for Clamp's various is a member of the all-female Manga -creating team Clamp. She is the co-director and her duties in the team include applying screentones and correcting manga illustrations is the pen name of the lead artist colorist and composition designer of the all-female Manga -creating team Clamp.

X is Clamp's foray into apocalyptic fiction. It combines elements from various end of the world scenarios, both secular and religious, with its own mythos. This is about the future of civilization humans and the earth ^[1] The story takes place at the end of days, in the year 1999. The series follows Kamui Shirō, a young esper who returns home to Tokyo after a six-year absence to face his destiny as the one who will determine humanity's fate. An esper refers to an individual capable of Telepathy and other similar Paranormal abilities officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. The series is intended for a female audience, so X is drawn in the ornate style characteristic of shōjo manga but with the emphasis on moral conflict and gruesome violence expected of seinen works. is a Japanese word originally derived from a Chinese expression written with the same characters The story is influenced by the works of Go Nagai and Kyokutei Bakin. is a Japanese manga creator and an important innovator of several genres within Anime and Manga. was a late Edo period Gesaku author best known for works such as Nansō Satomi Hakkenden and Chinsetsu ^[2][3]

The unfinished series spans 18 collected volumes and five uncollected chapters. is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series though the Manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series The manga was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Asuka from May 1992, until the magazine's editors showed concern with the increasingly violent stories and stopped publishing it on March 2003. ( is a well-known Japanese Publisher, based in Tokyo. Kadokawa has published many Manga titles as well as magazines such as Newtype is a monthly Japanese Shōjo Manga magazine published by Kadokawa Shoten, aimed at teenage girls X has since been translated into English, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Polish and Spanish and adapted into a series of audio dramas, an animated feature film and television series. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Brazilian Portuguese ( Language code pt-BR Portuguese: português brasileiro or português do Brasil) is a group of Portuguese French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Indonesian or Bahasa Indonesia, based on the Riau version of Malay language, was declared the official language with the declaration of Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. This article is mainly about the spoken Korean language See Hangul for details on the native Korean writing system Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland. Radio drama is a form of audio storytelling broadcast on radio. The bouncing ball animation (below consists of these 6 frames

Plot

The events takes place in 1999. The end of the world is fast approaching as superhuman individuals gather and take sides in the city of Tokyo, the battle site of Armageddon. A superhuman is an entity with intelligence or abilities exceeding normal human standards A megalopolis (or megapolis) is defined as an extensive Metropolitan area or a long chain of roughly continuous metropolitan areas officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. In Christian mythology Armageddon ( Greek Αρμαγεδδων; also spelled Har-Magedon in some modern English translations also known as The key player in this day of reckoning is Kamui Shirō, a young man who returns home to Tokyo after a six-year absence to protect those dearest to him, Kotori and Fūma Monou, and fulfill his mother's dying wish.

Unbeknownst to the three friends, Kamui and Fūma are destined to fight each other during the end of the world. The first half of the series focuses on the gathering of the soldiers in the final battle and culminates with Kotori's death at the hands of her brother Fūma, sealing Kamui's choice as the protector of mankind and Fūma's place as his foil. The second half follows Kamui as he grows into his role as savior while the world moves along toward its inevitable destruction.

The story is Kamui's heroic journey, where the narrative places an emphasis on his choices and how they affect the world around him as he attempts to reconcile his dual destinies. ^[4][5]

Characters

Main article: Characters of X (manga)

The protagonists of X. This article describes the Fictional characters of the X Manga series

Kamui Shirō is the series protagonist, a powerful esper believed to be the one who holds the key to the fate of the world. An esper refers to an individual capable of Telepathy and other similar Paranormal abilities He never knew his father and was raised only by his mother, Tōru of the Magami Clan. Kotori and Fūma Monou are the children of the Togakushi Shrine. They were raised by their father Kyōgo after their mother Saya died under mysterious circumstances. The siblings' friendship with Kamui stems from a promise the three made as children: to always protect one another. ^[6][7]

Following Kamui's arrival the Dragons of Heaven and the Dragons of Earth, the two factions in final battle for humanity's future, vie for the young man's allegiance, convinced his power will assure their victory.

Dragons of Heaven

The Dragons of Heaven (天の龍, Ten no Ryū^?) are the first to contact Kamui. This article describes the Fictional characters of the X Manga series They are picked from various schools of religious thought in Japan, including the Shingon Buddhists of Mount Kōya and the Onmyōji. The primary religions in Japan are Buddhism and Shintō (神道 " the way of the gods " Shingon Buddhism (眞言 真言 " true words " is a major school of Japanese Buddhism, and is the other branch of Vajrayana Buddhism Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices This article is about the mountain in Japan For the historical Haida chief in the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia see Koyah. is a traditional Japanese Esoteric cosmology, a mixture of Natural science and Occultism. Also known as the Seven Seals (七つの封印, Nanatsu no Fūin^?), the Dragons of Heaven are guided by Hinoto, dreamgazer for the Legislature of Japan. In Religion, a prophet (or prophetess) is a person who has encountered the Supernatural or the divine and serves as an intermediary The is Japan's Bicameral Legislature. It is composed of a Lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an Upper house, called The Seals are the protectors of the kekkai (結界, kekkai^?), spiritual barriers that hold the fabric of nature together. As long as the kekkai survive, Judgment Day is postponed. In Christian eschatology, the Last Judgment or Day of the Lord is the judgment by God of every human who ever lived ^[6][8]

Dragons of Earth

The Dragons of Earth (地の龍, Chi no Ryū^?) are the counterpart to the Seven Seals in the X universe. This article describes the Fictional characters of the X Manga series Collectively, they are regarded as the Seven Angels (七の御使, Shichi no Mitsukai^?), messengers of destruction. Their mission is to unleash death and famine so the Earth can be cured of the plague of humanity. The Gaia hypothesis is an ecological Hypothesis proposing that the Biosphere and the physical components of the Earth ( Atmosphere The Angels are free agents with no sense of camaraderie who were assembled by Hinoto's sister Kanoe, secretary to the Governor of Tokyo. This page refers to a common cliché in fiction For the 1980s Rock band see Mötley Crüe. The, also referred to as Tokyo City Hall or Tochō (都庁 for short houses the headquarters of the Tokyo local government; this comprises not only the 23 wards ^[6][8]

Publication

X started serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Asuka on May 1992. ( is a well-known Japanese Publisher, based in Tokyo. Kadokawa has published many Manga titles as well as magazines such as Newtype Publishing the series proved troublesome on account of its subject matter. As the series portrays earthquakes as a sign of the end times, the motif became a point of contention after the Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995. The Great Hanshin Earthquake, or Kobe earthquake as it is more commonly known outside of Japan, was an Earthquake in Japan that occurred on Tuesday Following letters from concerned readers, the manga was temporarily pulled from Kadokawa's magazine. After the murder of eleven year old Jun Hase on 1997, the attention shifted to X's gruesome imagery and the series was pulled once again. ^[9][10]

Serialization stopped on March 2003. ^[9] The editors of Monthly Asuka were concerned with the increasingly violent stories and, rather than censoring themselves, the artists opted for a hiatus. Columnist John Oppliger, however, is of the persuasion the members of Clamp do not have a clear ending in mind and, contractual obligations notwithstanding, the rumored dispute should not impede publishing the remaining chapters. AnimeNation is a well-known Retailer of Anime, Manga, and other products of Japanese culture founded in 1995 and located in Tampa ^[11]

The series is divided into seven story arcs:^[12] "The Beginning" (嚆矢, Kōshi^?), "The Seven Stars" (七曜, Shichiyō^?), "The Holy Sword" (神剣, Shinken^?), "Kamui" (神威, "Kamui"^?), "The Dreamgazer" (夢見, Yumemi^?), "Kekkai" (結界, "Kekkai"^?) and "The End" (終末, Shūmatsu^?), starting in volume seventeen. A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as Television, Comic books Comic strips Kabura-ya (鏑矢 also called kōshi (嚆矢 were Japanese arrows which whistled when fired and were used in ritual archery exchanges prior to formal medieval In Astronomy, the naked-eye planets are the five Planets of our Solar system that can be discerned with the Naked eye without much difficulty literally meaning " real sword " is a Japanese term used to describe a Japanese sword that is sharp and used for real cutting or combat as opposed Kamui or Kamuy is the Ainu word for a spiritual or divine being in Ainu mythology Kamui or Kamuy is the Ainu word for a spiritual or divine being in Ainu mythology In Japanese folklore, a kekkai (血塊 lit blood lump is a Blood Homunculus created during a childbirth that is not sanctified In Japanese folklore, a kekkai (血塊 lit blood lump is a Blood Homunculus created during a childbirth that is not sanctified Volumes five through seventeen of the Japanese release include short stories detailing the individual backgrounds of the Dragons of Heaven and Earth.

On September 26, 2006, Kadokawa Shoten published Clamp Newtype Platinum, a special Clamp edition of Newtype Magazine. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. is a popular monthly Magazine publication originating from Japan, covering Anime and Manga (and to a lesser extent Tokusatsu, Japanese The issue includes the "X 18. 5" supplement, a re-print of five previously uncollected chapters. The series is expected to reach twenty-one volumes upon completion. ^[10]

The North American version of the manga, retitled X/1999, was serialized in Viz Media's Animerica Extra and released in graphic novel form under the Shōjo imprint. Viz Media LLC, headquartered in San Francisco California, is an Anime, Manga and Japanese Entertainment company founded in 1986 Animerica Extra was a monthly Shōjo Manga Magazine that was published in North America by Viz LCC (now VIZ Media) from A In the Publishing Industry, an imprint can refer to two different things It can mean a Brand name under which a work is published Chuang Yi handles distribution of the English language version in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Chuang Yi Publishing Pte Ltd ( Simplified Chinese: 创艺 Pinyin: Chuàngyì, meaning "creative arts" is a publishing company based in Singapore For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The series has also been translated into Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Polish and Spanish. Brazilian Portuguese ( Language code pt-BR Portuguese: português brasileiro or português do Brasil) is a group of Portuguese French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Indonesian or Bahasa Indonesia, based on the Riau version of Malay language, was declared the official language with the declaration of Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. This article is mainly about the spoken Korean language See Hangul for details on the native Korean writing system Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland.

Adaptations

X has proven popular enough to be animated as a feature film in 1996 and a television series five years later, both by Madhouse Studios. is a Japanese animation studio founded in the early 1970s by ex– Mushi Pro animators including Masao Maruyama, Osamu Dezaki, Rintaro, and Although the manga remains unfinished, each adaptation provides a distinct conclusion to the story.

Feature film

The X feature film, directed by Rintaro (Captain Herlock, Doomed Megalopolis) and co-scripted by Nanase Ohkawa, premiered August 3, 1996 in Japan. is the pseudonym of, a respected and well-known director of Anime. (known as Albator in the French version is a fictional character created by Manga artist Leiji Matsumoto. is an Anime rendition of the Japanese literary epic Teito Monogatari ( Hiroshi Aramata) Events 8 - Roman Empire General Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) The supernatural thriller focuses on the roles Kamui, Kotori, and Fūma play in the Apocalypse,^[13] reducing the Dragons of Heaven and Earth to peripheral characters. Horror films are Movies that strive to elicit Fear, Horror and terror responses from viewers The thriller is a broad Genre of Literature, Film, Gaming and Television. Even though the abbreviated story fails to place the characters' action in the proper context, the film is praised for its dreamlike atmosphere,^[14] powerful imagery and visually engaging action sequences. ^[15] The film is considered a technical masterpiece, but it lacks plot and character development. ^[16] The film was given a limited release in the United States in early 2000 and released to DVD on September 25, 2001. Limited release is a term in the American Motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing in a select few theaters across the country (typically in cities The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. X: The Destiny War, a comic book based on the feature film, was released on September 30, 1996 (Kadokawa Shoten: ISBN 4-04-852714-2). are a variant of Japanese Manga which are available in manga style books and digitally as E-books occasionally called e-manga Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) ( is a well-known Japanese Publisher, based in Tokyo. Kadokawa has published many Manga titles as well as magazines such as Newtype

TV series

The X TV series directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Ninja Scroll, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust) was announced on October 18, 2000. is a critically acclaimed writer / director of Japanese Animation. is a Japanese action thriller Anime, set in feudal Japan, by critically acclaimed director / Writer Yoshiaki Kawajiri Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust (バンパイアハンターD is a 2000 Japanese Anime film written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ^[17] In anticipation to the series premiere, X: An Omen (エックス - 前兆, Ekkusu - Yochō^?) was released direct-to-DVD on August 25, 2001. abbreviated (and sometimes as OAV) is a term originating from Japanese animation ( Anime) for animated films and series which are made specially to be Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Written and directed by Kawajiri, "An Omen" tells the story of the upcoming battles through the prophecies of Kakyō Kuzuki, dreamgazer for the Dragon of Earth, and acts as primer for viewers not familiar with Clamp's manga. ^[18] The series premiered October 3, 2001 on WOWOW satellite television. Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. WOWOW was the first private satellite broadcasting and pay TV station in Japan.

The television series is considered a better adaptation than the feature film. ^[19][20][21] The 2001 incarnation makes use of its longer running time and episode format to explore the original mythos and works the characters' back-stories into the narrative through the use of flashbacks. In history film television and other media a flashback (also called analepsis) is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current ^[18]

X finished its run on March 27, 2002, totaling twenty-four episodes. Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Two days later, Pioneer Entertainment claimed ownership of the series for distribution in North America. ^[22] On July 11, 2006, Geneon released the X TV Series Remix, a box set with re-encoded video and audio, including 5.1 surround sound for both the Japanese and English tracks. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. 51, Multichannel audio, Multichannel music Surround 3D Surround 5 The series has been broadcast in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Latin America. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.

Design

Clamp's X appears to defy the conventions of "boys' manga" and "girls' manga". is a Japanese word literally meaning few years which can have the following meanings Shōnen a typical Boy, from elementary school through junior high is a Japanese word originally derived from a Chinese expression written with the same characters ^[3] Intended for a female audience, the series is drawn in the ornate style characteristic of shōjo manga; but the emphasis on moral conflict and gruesome violence expected of seinen works attracts male readers as well. ^[19] The story develops the group's ideas on Man's responsibility to itself,^[5] its family and the planet; and is influenced by the works of Go Nagai and Kyokutei Bakin. is a Japanese manga creator and an important innovator of several genres within Anime and Manga. was a late Edo period Gesaku author best known for works such as Nansō Satomi Hakkenden and Chinsetsu ^[2]

Development

After the success of Tokyo Babylon and Clamp School Detectives, the members of Clamp were approached by their editor at Monthly Asuka to script a longer series. is a Manga series created by Clamp, a creative team made up by Satsuki Igarashi, Ageha Ohkawa, Tsubaki Nekoi, and Mokona is a Manga series by Clamp, which was adapted into a 26-episode Anime series produced by Bandai Visual and Pierrot. is a monthly Japanese Shōjo Manga magazine published by Kadokawa Shoten, aimed at teenage girls ^[23] Nanase Ohkawa, the group's head writer, seized the opportunity to script her long-in-development "end of the world" epic. is a member of the all-female Manga -creating team Clamp. She is the director of the team and is primarily responsible for writing the stories and scripts for Clamp's various Conceived while she was still in middle school, Ohkawa's original story focused on a group of warriors fighting a losing battle in the name of "justice". Secondary Education in Japan is split into Middle schools (中学校 chūgakkō) which cover the seventh through ninth years and High schools (高等学校 JUSTICE is a Human rights and law reform organisation based in the United Kingdom. While the idea never materialized, many aspects were carried over into Clamp's manga, including the lead characters of Kamui and Fūma. ^[5]

The writer cites Go Nagai's Devilman as a stylistic and thematic influence. is the title of a popular Manga and Anime created by Go Nagai, as well as the name of the main character of the manga and anime ^[5] Beyond his penchant for drawing extreme violence, Nagai's writing involves themes like the nature of good and evil. In Religion, Ethics, and Philosophy, the phrase good and evil refers to the location of objects desires and Behaviors on a two-way The rest of the cast includes characters from the group's entire canon, including unpublished works, effectively creating a whole world inhabited by their creations. A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with unique background elements such as an imaginary history or geography and possibly fantasy or science ^[24] The ensemble cast, inspired on Kyokutei Bakin's Nansō Satomi Hakkenden,^[23] includes Subaru Sumeragi and Seishirō Sakurazuka from Tokyo Babylon and the main characters of Clamp School Detectives. An ensemble cast is a cast in which the principal performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance in a dramatic production Nansō Satomi Hakkenden (南總里見八犬傳 or using simplified Kanji, 南総里見八犬伝 is a Japanese 106 volume epic Novel by is a Fictional character created by Clamp. He is the protagonist of Tokyo Babylon and one of the Dragons of Heaven in X is a Fictional character created by Clamp in their 1990 Manga Tokyo Babylon. is a Manga series created by Clamp, a creative team made up by Satsuki Igarashi, Ageha Ohkawa, Tsubaki Nekoi, and Mokona is a Manga series by Clamp, which was adapted into a 26-episode Anime series produced by Bandai Visual and Pierrot.

The title of "X" was chosen because it has no fixed meaning. In mathematics, it is a common variable. A variable (ˈvɛərɪəbl is an Attribute of a physical or an abstract System which may change its Value while it is under Observation. Beyond mathematics, "X" is a generic placeholder whose value is secret or unknown. "X" is also a cruciform, an allusion to Christian mythology, and the representation of death and rebirth in Kabbalah. For the resurrection device/parasite at the Hyperion Cantos see Cruciform (Hyperion Cantos. Christian mythology ( μῦθος (mythos in Greek is the body of traditional Narratives associated with Christianity. Kabbalah (קַבָּלָה lit "receiving" is a discipline and school of thought discussing the mystical aspect of Judaism. ^[1][23]

Influences

"And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. " (Rev. 12:3 KJV)

X is Clamp's take on the apocalyptic fiction genre. The Book of Revelation, also called Revelation to John, Apocalypse of John ( pronounced, from the Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰωάννου The series combines elements from various end of the world scenarios and myths, including Christian eschatology,^[1] with Clamp's own modern mythology to tell the tale of the fate of the world. This is about the future of civilization humans and the earth Summary of Christian eschatological differencesIn Christian theology, Christian eschatology is the study of its religious Beliefs concerning all Future and This article describes the Fictional setting of the Manga series X. The X mythos is inspired on the Apocalypse of John,^[25] with Tokyo standing as a modern-day Babylon. The Book of Revelation, also called Revelation to John, Apocalypse of John ( pronounced, from the Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰωάννου Babylon occurs in the Christian New Testament both with a literal and a figurative meaning Like the biblical city,^[26] Clamp's Tokyo is "the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird" (Rev. 18:2 KJV) and slated for destruction. The Book of Revelation, also called Revelation to John, Apocalypse of John ( pronounced, from the Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰωάννου ^[4]

Kamui is established as a Christ figure. A Christ figure is a Literary technique that authors use to draw Allusions between their characters and the biblical Jesus Christ. ^[27][28] He is the one prophesied to return to Tokyo and the one who will determine humanity's fate. In Christianity, the Second Coming is the anticipated return of Jesus Christ from Heaven to earth an event that will fulfill aspects of Messianic The construction of Kamui as a messiah is reinforced by his miraculous birth and given name. This article is about the concept of a Messiah in religion notably in the Christian Islamic and Jewish traditions The motive of a hero’s miraculous birth is quite common for the world Folklore, especially for fairy-tales "Kamui", like "Christ", doubles as a title that alludes to the character's divine nature. Kamui or Kamuy is the Ainu word for a spiritual or divine being in Ainu mythology Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " ^[4][8] Apocalyptic allusions abound with respect to nomenclature. ^[1] The Dragons of Heaven take their moniker from the seven seals introduced in Chapter 5 of the Book of Revelation, while the antagonistic Angels allude to the seven celestial beings ordered to "go [their] ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth" (Rev. The seven seals is a concept of Christian eschatology, found in the Book of Revelation in the Christian Bible, which states that when the world reaches The Book of Revelation, also called Revelation to John, Apocalypse of John ( pronounced, from the Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰωάννου The Book of Revelation, also called Revelation to John, Apocalypse of John ( pronounced, from the Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰωάννου 16:1 KJV). ^[29] On the side of the Angels is Beast (獣, kemono^?, pronounced "bīsuto"), a sentient supercomputer branded with the number 666. The Number of the Beast is a concept from the Book of Revelation of the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

Other apocalyptic standards, such as earthquakes, are employed but the apocalypse of Clamp's manga trades the religious element for an environmental theme. Inspired by the Gaia theory, the idea that the Earth itself is one living organism, Ohkawa crafts an end brought on by humanity's abuse of the planet. The Gaia hypothesis is an ecological Hypothesis proposing that the Biosphere and the physical components of the Earth ( Atmosphere ^[2] The story reflects environmental concerns in its depiction of Judgment Day. In Christian eschatology, the Last Judgment or Day of the Lord is the judgment by God of every human who ever lived ^[5] Mankind exists in binary opposition to the Earth. In Critical theory, a binary opposition (also binary system) is a pair of theoretical opposites By the end of days, humanity has become such a nuisance that the only way to save the planet is to destroy the whole of civilization. ^[2] The Angels, human beings themselves, expect a post-judgment return to paradise. ^[30] With mankind gone, the planet can regulate itself back to health and experience a rebirth. ^[8] The Seals, however, look to preserve the status quo and entrust the future of the planet to the people. ^[5]

Themes

The conflict between the Dragons of Heaven and Earth is at the heart of the series. ^[3] The characters carry the story,^[5] and their confrontations go beyond the physical as mankind's continued existence becomes a question of ethics, ideals and biology. Ethics is a major branch of Philosophy, encompassing right conduct and good life An ideal is a Principle or value that one actively pursues as a goal. Biological imperatives are the needs of living organisms required to perpetuate their existence to survive ^[8]

Like its predecessor Tokyo Babylon,^[31] X deals with societal issues. is a Manga series created by Clamp, a creative team made up by Satsuki Igarashi, Ageha Ohkawa, Tsubaki Nekoi, and Mokona Being set in the present provides an outlet for the authors to reflect and comment on Japan's state of affairs. ^[5] But unlike Tokyo Babylon, where the characters were vocal in their concerns,^[32] topics in X go unspoken and implied. Subtext is content of a book play musical work film video game or television series which is not announced explicitly by the characters (or author but is implicit or becomes ^[23]

The story places an emphasis on familial dignity and individualism. ^[5] The Dragons of Heaven, Kamui included, were appointed from birth with the task of protecting mankind. They were raised individually with their destiny in mind and the obligation to their families prevents them from haphazardly changing sides. While it is possible for the Seals to sympathize with the Angels' ideals, ultimately, they must do what feels right for them. Their ability to summon the kekkai, and thus the status as a Dragon of Heaven, is bound to the will to fight for something or someone. ^[8]

X delves on the relationship between Man and the Earth. In an interview with Puff Magazine, Ohkawa talks of how mankind's concern for the preservation, restoration and improvement of the planet stems from a desire to perpetuate its own existence. She explains "people will save the Earth to save themselves, but who will risk themselves to save the Earth?"^[5]

Motifs

X plays out like a tragedy, where the characters are at the mercy of forces greater than themselves. This article describes the Fictional characters of the X Manga series ^[13] The series shares some motifs with apocalyptic literature, like the disclosure of future events through dreams,^[18] and establishes a dual nature to its characters and concepts. ^[5]

Two Kamuis. The recurring dream sequence represents the protagonist's struggle with himself and his destiny. A dream sequence is a technique used in Storytelling, particularly in Television and Film, to set apart a brief interlude from the main story

Ohkawa admits to being fascinated with the doctrine of dualism. ^[5] Dualism is the interdependence between opposing elements, the generalization that two opposing-complementary forces are found in all things. Dualism denotes a state of two parts The word's origin is the Latin duo, "two". She interprets it as "qualities that seem pleasant in one person but can make you hate the next. That's the dual nature we all have. "^[2] Inspired by the works of Go Nagai, Ohkawa sought to create heroes capable of wrongdoing, even evil. Kamui is the personification of this doctrine. ^[2] His name (神威, Kamui^?) carries a double connotation: "the one who represents the majesty of God", meaning the one who protects the world and carries out God's will; and "the one who hunts the majesty of God", meaning the one who kills those given God's power and destroys the world. This article describes the Fictional characters of the X Manga series ^[8] Kamui's decision to save the world as he knows it is a defining moment as it gives rise to his twin star, Fūma. Double Star is a Science fiction Novel by Robert A Heinlein, first serialized in Astounding Science Fiction Fūma undergoes a personality change to the point he is no longer recognizable to his best friend. ^[5] He takes the name of "Kamui", thus fulfilling the dual prophecy and bringing balance to the conflict. Fūma's "Kamui" persona is Kamui's other half;^[7] it represents Kamui's potential for destruction. A persona, in the word's everyday usage is a social Role or a character played by an Actor. ^[2] "Kamui" is the epitome of the evil, and good, that men do. The duality motif extends to the Dragons of Heaven and Earth,^[5] two groups of warriors, both alike in power, led to battle by opposite sisters. In Chinese philosophy, the concept of yin and yang ( is used to describe how seemingly opposing forces are bound together intertwined and interdependent in the ^[23][33] On each side is a dreamgazer (夢見, yumemi^?), a diviner who sees the future in its dreams. Oneiromancy (from the Greek Oneiroi) is a form of Divination based upon Dreams it is a system of Dream interpretation that uses dreams to

Dreams are a source of inspiration for Ohkawa,^[34] and thus became a standard motif in her writing. ^[5] In Tokyo Babylon, the protagonist's dreams reveal to him a hidden truth. In xxxHolic, the characters' dreams comprise a whole world parallel to their own. pronounced "holic" is a Seinen Manga series planned and presented by Clamp. Parallel universe or alternative reality is a self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own Dreams in X depict the future, the destruction of mankind. A dream sequence is a technique used in Storytelling, particularly in Television and Film, to set apart a brief interlude from the main story Hinoto, dreamgazer for the Dragons of Heaven, is convinced it can be changed. ^[13] Ohkawa explains it as lucid dreaming, where the individual can exert conscious control over the dream to the point it can perform impossible feats. ^[5] Kakyo of the Dragons of Earth is a dreamgazer in a permanent coma who lives in the dreamscape, always dreaming of the future and knowing there is nothing he can do about it. Dream worlds (also called dream realms or illusory realms) are a commonly used Plot device in Fictional works most notably in Science Although he hopes for a better future, he cannot get involved and is convinced all is predetermined, including Kamui's return. Fatalism is a Philosophical doctrine emphasizing the subjugation of all events or actions to fate or inevitable predetermination ^[8]

Kamui's arrival in Tokyo unwillingly sets Armageddon in motion. ^[8] Kotori's death and Fuma's turning were foretold, but subject to the young man's allegiance. Thinking of the people he loves, Kamui chooses to become a Dragon of Heaven to protect them, but ends up losing them for it. Other characters are also at the mercy of Fate. Destiny refers to a predetermined course of events It may be conceived as a predetermined future whether in general or of an individual ^[13][18] Sorata Arisugawa is destined to die for a woman; but, unlike Kamui, the warrior monk embraces his preordained future and chooses Arashi Kishū of the Dragons of Heaven as the one he'll give his life for. ^[8] Subaru Sumeragi expresses no interest in the future of the Earth, but still he and his counterpart are drawn to Tokyo on the Promised Day. is a Fictional character created by Clamp. He is the protagonist of Tokyo Babylon and one of the Dragons of Heaven in X is a Fictional character created by Clamp in their 1990 Manga Tokyo Babylon. Even with the fatalist atmosphere that persists in the series,^[2] Ohkawa is convinced individuals exert control over their destiny the same way they choose between right and wrong. ^[5]

Media

Music video

On November 21, 1993, SME Records released X² (ダブルエックス, Daburu Ekkusu^?), a short film based on Clamp's manga, set to the music of power metal band X Japan. Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) is Sony 's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is independent from the worldwide Sony BMG joint venture due to its strength in the Japanese music industry Short subject is a format description originally coined in the North American Film industry in the early period of cinema. Power metal is a style of Heavy metal music combining characteristics of traditional metal with Thrash metal or Speed metal, often within is a Japanese band founded in 1982 by Toshimitsu "Toshi" Deyama and Yoshiki Hayashi. X² features a slideshow of X artwork set to a medley of X Japan's "Silent Jealousy," "Kurenai" and "Endless Rain" and the "X" music video directed by Shigeyuki Hayashi. " Silent Jealousy " is a single released by X Japan on September 11, 1991. is a single released by X Japan on September 1, 1989. Originally featured on the band's debut Vanishing Vision, this version is based on " Endless Rain " is a single released by X Japan on December 1, 1989. is the pseudonym of, a respected and well-known director of Anime.

Audio Drama

The X Character Files (キャラクターファイル, Kyarakutā Fairu^?) were released from June 1996 to December 1996 by Victor Entertainment. is a Subsidiary of Japan Victor Company (JVC that produces and distributes music movies and other entertainment products such as Anime and television shows The seven audio dramas, scripted by Nanase Ohkawa, focus on the thoughts and motivations of the individual Dragons of Heaven and Earth. Radio drama is a form of audio storytelling broadcast on radio. The Character Files are performed by the feature film voice actors. A is a Japanese vocal actor Seiyū work in Radio, Television, and movies; they perform voice-overs for non-Japanese movies they provide narration and they No English translation is available.

Video games

X: Unmei no Sentaku (X ~運命の選択~, lit. is a 3D Fighting game. It was released for the PlayStation on August 22, 2002 by Bandai. X: Chosen Fate^?) was released for the PlayStation on August 22, 2002 by Bandai. The PlayStation (abbreviated PS, PSone, PS1, or informally as PSX) is a 32-bit fifth generation Video game console Events 392 - Arbogast has Eugenius elected Western Roman Emperor. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. is a Japanese Toy making company as well as the producer of a large number of Plastic model kits The fighting game features a Story Mode, set in the television series continuity, and a Versus Mode, which allows players to compete against each other using any of the Dragons of Heaven or Earth. A fighting game (also referred as a versus fighting game, competitive fighting game, tournament fighting game or head-to-head fighting game) The game was not released outside of Japan.

X: Card of Fate, a card battle video game for the WonderSwan Color, was released June 27, 2002. Collectible card games (CCGs also called trading card games (TCGs or customizable card games (CCGs are played using specially designed sets of cards Events 1358 - Republic of Dubrovnik is founded 1709 - Peter the Great defeats Charles XII of Sweden See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar.

References

External links

This article contains Japanese text. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of kanji or kana. Mojibake is the happenstance of incorrect unreadable characters (garbage characters shown when Computer software fails to render a text correctly according to its associated are the Chinese characters that are used in the modern Japanese logographic writing system along with Hiragana (ひらがな 平仮名 Katakana Kana is a general term for the syllabic Japanese scripts Hiragana (ひらがな and Katakana (カタカナ as well as the old system

• X (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia