Kizuna no Allele

Kizuna no Allele
絆のアリル
(Kizuna no Ariru)
Anime television series
Directed byKenichiro Komaya
Written byDeko Akao
Music byGo Sakabe
Studio
Licensed byCrunchyroll
Original networkTXN (TV Tokyo)
Original run 4 April 2023 – 21 December 2023
Episodes24
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Kizuna no Allele (Japanese: 絆のアリル, Hepburn: Kizuna no Ariru) is a Japanese anime television series from Wit Studio and Signal.MD, based on VTuber Kizuna AI. It is directed by Kenichiro Komaya, written by Deko Akao, and features character designs by Shiori Asaka and Niina Morita, and music composed by Go Sakabe. The first season aired from April to June 2023, and the second season aired from October to December 2023.

Cast and characters

PathTLive

BRT5

  • Niska (ニスカ, Nisuka) (Voiced by: Yūri Matsuoka[2])
  • Jessie (ジェシー, Jeshī) (Voiced by: Randhi[2])
  • Ellie (エリー, Erī) (Voiced by: Haruka Yoshiki[2])
  • Sarah (サラ, Sara) (Voiced by: Hina Natsume[2])
  • Halle (ハル, Haru) (Voiced by: Hinaki Yano[2])

VICONIC

  • Jua (ジュア, Jua) (Voiced by: Nozomi Nagumo[3])
  • Thea (セア, Sea) (Voiced by: Tsukino[3])

3DM8

  • Ximena (ヒメナ, Himena) (Voiced by: Ruri Arai[4])
  • Zoe (ゾーイ, Zōi) (Voiced by: Nao Furuhata[4])
  • Sofia (ソフィア, Sofia) (Voiced by: Yūna Kitahara[4])

Production

In February 2022, Kizuna AI announced at her "Hello, World 2022" concert that an anime project was in production.[5] Prior to the announcement, Kizuna Ai had already voiced cameo roles in two other anime television series, Ingress and Magical Girl Site.[5] In November 2022, the anime project was confirmed to be a television series titled Kizuna no Allele, set to air in 2023, with a visual from En Morikura, Kizuna AI's character designer.[6][7] Later that same month, the anime's plot and key visual were unveiled.[8] In December 2022, the cast and staff of the series was unveiled, as well as another key visual.[1] In February 2023, it was announced that the series would premiere on TV Tokyo and its affiliates, which aired from 4 April to 20 June 2023.[9]

The series is produced by Wit Studio and Signal.MD and directed by Kenichiro Komaya, with Deko Akao writing the scripts, Shiori Asaka and Niina Morita designing the characters and serving as chief animation directors alongside Mizuki Takahashi, and Go Sakabe composing the music.[1][10] Crunchyroll licensed the series in North America, Oceania, and selected European territories.[11]

In June 2023, it was announced that the series would have a second season,[12] which aired from 5 October to 21 December 2023.[13]

Episodes

Season 1

No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [14][15]Directed by [a]Written by [a]Storyboard by [a]Original air date
11"Another Euphoria"
Transliteration: "~Mōhitotsu no Yūforia~" (Japanese: 〜もう一つのユーフォリア〜)		Fumihiro MatsuiDeko AkaoKen'ichirō Komaya and Takahiro Kawanami4 April 2023 (2023-04-04)[16]
22"Encounter Attraction"
Transliteration: "~Deai no Inryoku~" (Japanese: 〜出会いの引力〜)		Hong PennyDeko AkaoHo Pyeon-gang11 April 2023 (2023-04-11)[17]
33"First Step Towards the Stage"
Transliteration: "~Sutēji e no Daiippo~" (Japanese: 〜ステージへの第一歩〜)		Ichio KunimotoRie KojikaKen'ichirō Komaya and Takahiro Kawanami18 April 2023 (2023-04-18)[18]
44"Andante of Confusion"
Transliteration: "~Konmei no Andante~" (Japanese: 〜混迷のアンダンテ〜)		Kyōko YamazakiGigaemon IchikawaKyōko Yamazaki25 April 2023 (2023-04-25)[19]
55"The Color of a Word"
Transliteration: "~Kotoba no Iro~" (Japanese: 〜言葉の色〜)		Fumihiro MatsuiYukari MatsumuraSatomi Nakamura2 May 2023 (2023-05-02)[20]
66"The Reason for Perfection"
Transliteration: "~Kanpeki no Riyū~" (Japanese: 〜完璧の理由〜)		Hong PennyTomomi KawaguchiHong Penny9 May 2023 (2023-05-09)[21]
77"Battlefield of Conflict"
Transliteration: "~Kattō no Batorufīrudo~" (Japanese: 〜葛藤のバトルフィールド〜)		Kentarō TanakaGigaemon IchikawaTakashi Tsuge16 May 2023 (2023-05-16)[22]
88"Teatime of Anguish"
Transliteration: "~Urei no Tītaimu~" (Japanese: 〜憂いのティータイム〜)		Mitsutoshi SatōRie KojikaTakashi Kawabata23 May 2023 (2023-05-23)[23]
99"Unpredictable Ultimate"
Transliteration: "~Yosoku Funō no Arutimetto~" (Japanese: 〜予測不能のアルティメット〜)		Shigeru UedaDeko AkaoKen'ichirō Komaya and Takahiro Kawanami30 May 2023 (2023-05-30)[24]
1010"What It Means to Be Me"
Transliteration: "~Watashirashiku no Imi~" (Japanese: 〜私らしくの意味〜)		Shigeki AwaiYukari MatsumuraSao Namiki6 June 2023 (2023-06-06)[25]
1111"True Color"
Transliteration: "~Turū Karā~" (Japanese: 〜True color〜)		Kentarō TanakaTomomi KawaguchiKen'ichirō Komaya and Takahiro Kawanami13 June 2023 (2023-06-13)[26]
1212"Stage of Fate"
Transliteration: "~Unmei no Sutēji~" (Japanese: 〜運命のステージ〜)		Kyōko YamazakiGigaemon IchikawaKyōko Yamazaki20 June 2023 (2023-06-20)[27]

Season 2

No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [14][15]Directed by [a]Written by [a]Storyboard by [a]Original air date
131"～Prelude to Harsh Battle～"
Transliteration: "～Gekisen no Pureryūdo～" (Japanese: ～激戦のプレリュード～)		Fumihiro Matsui, Kazuya MihashiGigaemon IchikawaTakashi Tsuge5 October 2023 (2023-10-05)[13]
142"～Departure of Resolution～"
Transliteration: "～Ketsui no Fdepāchā～" (Japanese: ～決意のデパーチャー～)		Ryutaro AwabeMinako KawabeHong Penny12 October 2023 (2023-10-12)[28]
153"～A Seil Just For Me～"
Transliteration: "～Watashi Dake no Zairu～" (Japanese: ～わたしだけのザイル～)		Kazuho SonomotoChiaki NishinakaDaisuke Shimamura19 October 2023 (2023-10-19)[29]
164"～Answer～"
Transliteration: "～Answer～" (Japanese: ～Answer～)		Hina NakahataTomomi KawaguchiAtsushi Otsuki26 October 2023 (2023-10-26)[30]
175"～One-Sided Rivalry～"
Transliteration: "～Kataomoi no Raibaru～" (Japanese: ～片思いのライバル～)		Kentaro TanakaYukari MatsumuraAtsushi Otsuki2 November 2023 (2023-11-02)[31]
186"～New Feelings～"
Transliteration: "～Hajimete no Kanjō～" (Japanese: ～初めての感情～)		Hong PennyRie KojikaHong Penny9 November 2023 (2023-11-09)[32]
197"～Everyone's Solitude～"
Transliteration: "～Sorezore no Sorichūdo～" (Japanese: ～それぞれのソリチュード～)		Fumihiro Matsui and Kazuya MibashiGigaemon IchikawaDaisuke Shimamura16 November 2023 (2023-11-16)[33]
208"～Where Flapping Wings Fly～"
Transliteration: "～Habataki no Yukue～" (Japanese: ～羽ばたきの行方～)		Hina NakahataDeko AkaoMoe Kato23 November 2023 (2023-11-23)[34]
219"～Shoes of Friendship～"
Transliteration: "～Yūjō no Shūzu～" (Japanese: ～友情のシューズ～)		Kentaro TanakaChiaki NishinakaTakashi Tsuge30 November 2023 (2023-11-30)[35]
2210"～We, the Unknown～"
Transliteration: "～Michisū no Watashitachi～" (Japanese: ～未知数の私たち～)		Ryutaro AwabeMinako KawabeRyutaro Awabe7 December 2023 (2023-12-07)[36]
2311"～Time Limit of Despair～"
Transliteration: "～Zetsubō no Ttaimurimitto～" (Japanese: ～絶望のタイムリミット～)		Ken'ichiro KomayaGigaemon IchikawaSatomi Nakamura and Takashi Tsuge14 December 2023 (2023-12-14)
2412"～Connection of Hope～"
Transliteration: "～Kibō no Konekushon～" (Japanese: ～希望のコネクション～)		UnknownUnknownTBA21 December 2023 (2023-12-21)[37]

Reception

For the most part, critics had a negative reaction to the series. Steve Jones and Nicholas Dupree of Anime News Network were critical, wondering why the anime was created, calling it a "strange duck" with questionable creative choices, called the musical numbers subpar, said that it was not "technically an idol anime," criticized the "mythologizing and near-deification" of Kizuna Ai, said the finished product of the anime looked like it had "been handled by boardrooms full of ill-fitting suits" or extolling the "virtues of AI art."[38] In another article on the same site, Jones described the series as "one of the most nakedly cynical and corporation-poisoned anime projects" he had ever seen, even as a fan of VTubers, and suggested people "stay away from this slop."[39] ANN's Spring 2023 anime preview guide was similarly critical. Reviewer Richard Eisenbeis said he was not interested in the series, and the depiction of a world where "live-streaming and idol culture collide" was not enough to offset the other issues of the series and James Beckett said he would be "happy to remain ignorant and devote my time this season to searching for greener, less uncanny pastures" rather than watching the series. Dupree had similar thoughts but said the series looked "fine" and there was a "certain charm to the 3D segments." Rebecca Silverman described the series as better than Alice Gear Aegis Expansion and appreciated the choreography of Miracle, but called the series "plainly a showcase for virtual idols."[40]

Anime Feminist was also critical, calling it a "dull, calculated cash-in" which did not capture VTuber culture, passed on the series after it "started shilling" for NFTs in a segment following episode 3, and questioned if it is a "forced meme or not."[41][42][43] Reviewer Chiaki Hirai, examining the show's first episode, criticized Miracle's character and stated that while the show had "nothing problematic" at that point, it was, for her, an embodiment of everything she found "tiresome about the artificiality of pop entertainment in Japan," and recommended people watch My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 instead.[44]

Claire of Beneath the Tangles argued that the plot of the first episode is incoherent, has static characters and an empty world, is less compelling than Selection Project, and they were passing on the series.[45] Comingsoon.net said that the second season promised to have an "engaging storyline enriched with...depth and intrigue."[46]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Information is taken from the ending credits of each episode.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Hodgkins, Crystalyn (2 December 2022). "Kizuna Ai's Kizuna no Allele Anime Reveals Cast, Staff, Visuals, 1st Promo Video". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e Hodgkins, Crystalyn (9 December 2022). "Kizuna Ai's Kizuna no Allele Anime Reveals Cast for BRT5 Group". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (16 December 2022). "Kizuna Ai's Kizuna no Allele Anime Reveals Cast for VICONIC Group". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Hodgkins, Crystalyn (23 December 2023). "Kizuna Ai's Kizuna no Allele Anime Reveals Cast for 3DM8 Group". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  5. ^ a b Loo, Egan (26 February 2022). "VTuber Kizuna Ai Gets Anime Project & AI Spinoff". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  6. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (11 November 2022). "Kizuna Ai Anime Reveals Kizuna no Allele Title, 2023 TV Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  7. ^ Senzatimore, Renee (22 November 2022). "Virtual YouTuber Kizuna Ai Is Launching an Anime Series In 2023". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  8. ^ Cayanan, Joanna (16 November 2022). "Kizuna Ai's Kizuna no Allele TV Anime Reveals Story, Key Visual". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  9. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (24 February 2023). "Kizuna no Allele Anime Reveals 2nd Promo Video, April 3 Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 13 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  10. ^ Dempsey, Liam (10 March 2023). "A Miracle is Born in Kizuna no Allele TV Anime Character Trailer". Crunchyroll News. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
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  20. ^ 絆のアリル 第5話 絆のアリル「言葉の色」(アニメ). WEBザテレビジョン (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
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  22. ^ 絆のアリル「葛藤のバトルフィールド」(テレビ東京、2023/5/15 25:30 OA)の番組情報ページ (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  23. ^ 絆のアリル「憂いのティータイム」(テレビ東京、2023/5/22 26:00 OA)の番組情報ページ (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  24. ^ 絆のアリル「予測不能のアルティメット」(テレビ東京、2023/5/29 25:30 OA)の番組情報ページ (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  25. ^ 絆のアリル「私らしくの意味」(テレビ東京、2023/6/5 25:30 OA)の番組情報ページ (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  26. ^ 絆のアリル「True color」(テレビ東京、2023/6/12 25:30 OA)の番組情報ページ (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  27. ^ 絆のアリル 「運命のステージ」(テレビ東京、2023/6/19 25:30 OA)の番組情報ページ (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
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  29. ^ 絆のアリル「激戦のプレリュード」(テレビ東京、2023/10/18 24:00 OA)の番組情報ページ (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  30. ^ 絆のアリル「激戦のプレリュード」(テレビ東京、2023/10/25 24:00 OA)の番組情報ページ (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
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  40. ^ Eisenbeis, Richard; Beckett, James; Dupree, Nicholas; Silverman, Rebecca (3 April 2023). "The Spring 2023 Anime Preview Guide: Kizuna no Allele". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  41. ^ "Weekly Round-Up, 29 March – 4 April 2023: Feminist Scholar Ueno Chizuko, Good Smile's Right-Wing Connections, and Disability in Sports Manga". Anime Feminist. 5 April 2023. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
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  45. ^ Claire (3 April 2023). "First Impression: Kizuna no Allele". Beneath the Tangles. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  46. ^ Bhatia, Harshika (10 November 2023). "Kizuna no Allele Season 2 Episode 7 Release Date & Time on Crunchyroll". Comingsoon.net. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.