Monster Strike (Japanese: モンスターストライク, Hepburn: Monsutā Sutoraiku) is an anime series based on the role-playingphysics game of the same name developed by Mixi for iOS and Android platforms. An anime film adaptation titled Monster Strike The Movie was released on December 10, 2016. A second anime film, titled Monster Strike The Movie: Sora no Kanata, was released on October 5, 2018 in Japan. A third film Monster Strike the Movie: Lucifer - Zetsubō no Yoake was slated to be released in June 2020, but was delayed to November 6, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][3]
The series' ending theme is a cover of Queen's "We Will Rock You" performed by Japanese vocalist Gloria.[4] After a break, the ending theme switched to several songs by White Ash: "Strike", "Knock On Doors In You", "Mad T.Party (1865-2016)", and "Drop", all of which are from the band's August 17, 2016, EP Quest, including "Monster", a song composed for the MS Grand Prix 2016 Championship.[5]
A second season of Monster Strike has been announced and premiered on April 1, 2017.[6] The plot of the second season revolves around Ren, Aoi, Akira, Minami, and a new American transfer student named Mana dealing with problems caused by monsters manifesting in real life outside of the Monster Strike game. The season was split into two parts, with Monster Strike The Animation: The Fading Cosmos premiering on October 7, 2017.[7]
The Monster Strike anime got its first spin-off on May 3, 2017 with the A Rhapsody Called Lucy -The Very First Song- OVA episode. This lead into the MSonic! D'Artagnyan's Rise to Fame special mini-series that premiered on June 14, 2017. Both A Rhapsody Called Lucy and MSonic! are set in a separate continuity from the main Monster Strike anime.[8][9]
Plot
Ren Homura, a middle school student who moves back to his hometown with his mother and sister, but he apparently cannot remember much of his life there. After having to get his cellphone repaired, he finds that the repairman installed Monster Strike onto it, and he later is attacked by a man who forces him into a real life game of Monster Strike, summoning a monster from within the game to attack Ren. Ren manages to summon a monster of his own, the diminutive dragon Oragon, and with help from his classmate Aoi Mizusawa, as well as an alter ego awoken by his own missing memories, Ren defeats the man's monster, seemingly freeing him from the control of an evil entity. This brings Ren into the world of the town's Monster Strike Stadium leagues, where people play Monster Strike in what appears to be real life but are advanced holograms, as well as Aoi's desire to reunite her friends Akira Kagetsuki and Minami Wakaba into becoming a team of Monster Strike players. However, Akira will not play on a team because Ren is nothing like their former fourth member Haruma, and the air-headed Minami has become possessed by the same evil presence that forced other people to attack Ren and Aoi.
The protagonist. He cannot seem to remember anything about his life in his old town, but when his memories temporarily resurface he becomes an ace Monster Strike player. His signature monsters are Oragon, Fenrir X the Monsterwolf (炎邪狼フェンリルX, Enjarō Fenriru Ekkusu) and Ryoma the Visionary (維新の奇跡 坂本龍馬, Ishin no Kiseki Sakamoto Ryōma, voiced by Taishi Murata) who Transcends into Hero of the Restoration, Ryoma (維新回天の英傑 坂本龍馬, Ishin Kaiten no Eiketsu Sakamoto Ryōma).
Ren's classmate. After helping Ren out in his first real world Monster Strike battle, she begins to plan him joining her old Monster Strike team, having already given him a special ring that allows him to properly control the apparently real monsters. Her signature monsters are Fox Metal the Legend (狐穴のフォックスメタル, Koketsu no Fokkusu Metaru, voiced by Itaru Yamamoto) and Napoleon the Valiant (英雄 ナポレオン, Eiyū Naporeon, voiced by Eri Suzuki).
Another of Ren's classmates, and one of Aoi's now former teammates at playing Monster Strike competitively. He is a perfectionist who cannot see Ren as replacing their former fourth teammate Haruma. His signature monster is Kamui (神威), and he also has John Manjiro (ジョン万次郎, Jon Manjirō, voiced by Daiki Hamano).
Another of Ren's classmates and one of Aoi's former Monster Strike teammates. She is very airheaded, and is an otaku who often mimics and references popular anime and manga. When she is introduced, she is under the control of the mysterious entity possessing people to lead to real life Monster Strike matches. Her signature monster is Dead Rabbits, Ltd. (デッドラビッツLtd., Deddo Rabittsu Rimiteddo, voiced by Chinami Hashimoto and Yuna Yoshino) and she also has Al-mi'raj (アルミラージ, Arumirāji).
A monster that Ren summons from his phone after Monster Strike is installed and he is facing off against a man possessed by the evil entity. Oragon claims to be the Prince of the Monster World who has come to the human world to become stronger, but most people believe he is simply a creation of the game.
Haruma was previously the fourth member of Aoi, Minami, and Akira's Monster Strike team until he moved out of Kaminohara for reasons they cannot remember. After Ren defeats Doom, it is hinted that Haruma is somehow responsible for his lost memories, as well as the memories of the others. They track Haruma down in Shibuya, only to be easily defeated in Monster Strike, resulting in his demand that they become the top players in Kaminohara before speaking to him, again. After they succeed, he still refuses, and it is revealed that he is being controlled by Memento Mori, the Spirit of War (木の闘神 メメント・モリ, Ki no Tōshin Memento Mori, voiced by Sayaka Ohara), one of the War Gods posing as his allegedly dead mother, so they seek to free him from her control. His signature monster is Underworld Rebel Lucy (反逆の堕天使 ルシファー, Hangyaku no Datenshi Rushifā, voiced by Yōko Hikasa).
A student from another homeroom in Ren and Aoi's middle school who appears to inform them about Minami's odd behavior. He seems to be aware of the mysterious figures leading people to be possessed. His signature monster is Loki, God of Mischief (狡知の神 ロキ, Kōchi no Kami Roki, voiced by Junichi Yanagita). He is secretly the number 1 player in all of Kaminohara, and is possessed by the War God Nirvana, Inferno of War (炎の闘神ニルヴァーナ, Honō no Tōshin Niruvāna, voiced by Takehito Koyasu).
Kaminohara Middle School's student council president. She is the 4th ranked MS player in the area and challenges the recently-formed MS Club members to determine the fate of their club. Her monster is Cherry Spirit Sakura (花ノ国の精 桜, Hana-no-Kuni no Sei Sakura, voiced by Ikumi Hayama).
A jock at Kaminohara Middle School who is turned on by being put down by women. He is the 3rd ranked MS player in Kaminohara and attacks the group in the local history museum's Roman art wing, battling them with Dark Usurper Zeus (天邪神ダークゼウス, Tenjashin Dāku Zeusu, voiced by Rikiya Koyama).
A student at Kaminohara Middle School who is obsessed with Minami's family cafe. She even goes so far as to take a part time job at a rival chain store and provide bad service to get people to go to the Wakaba family store. She is the 2nd ranked MS player and uses Melodious Snow Bow (森の歌姫 白雪姫リボン, Mori no Utahime Shirayukihime Ribon, voiced by Yurika Kubo).
One of Haruma's new MS teammates. She is dressed in Harajuku fashion. She uses the monster Alice, Queen of Wonderland (不思議の国の女王アリス, Fushiginokuni no Joō Arisu, voiced by Haruka Watanabe).
One of Haruma's new teammates. She claims to have psychic powers that allow her to accurately predict the outcomes of her MS matches and often gets nosebleeds. Her monster is Himiko, Ruler of Yamatai (邪馬台国女王 卑弥呼, Yamataikoku Joō Himiko, voiced by Kaori Nazuka) who slide Evolves into Himiko, Queen of Wa (倭国の女王 卑弥呼, Wakoku no Joō Himiko).
Haruma's other MS teammate. He likes to show off his muscles, and believes a well-developed upper body is key to victory. His monster is Romeo Possessed (デモンズ・ロミオ, Demonzu Romio, voiced by Ryouta Takeuchi).
Genma, otherwise known as "K", is the first champion of Kaminohara's MS Colosseum. He lures Ren and his friends to the colosseum to battle Izanami the Inviter (黄泉津大神 イザナミ, Yomotsu Ōkami Izanami, voiced by Asami Seto), who transforms into the corrupted Izanami Zero (イザナミ零, Izanami Zero). Genma is also possessed by one of the War Gods, Doom, the Tide of War (水の闘神ドゥーム, Mizu no Tōshin Dūmu, voiced by Kenta Miyake).
Minami's father. He runs the family café with Minami after. He dresses like a soldier but his personality far from tough and imposing as his appearance would suggest.
A mysterious young woman Ren and his friends encounter on their trip to Okinawa. She is actually a monster who has been captured by the American military during their tests on weaponizing Monster Strike.
A lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. She is Dolph's friend's daughter who shows Ren, Aoi, Minami, and Akira around Okinawa. She is secretly trying to free Lyra Kiskill from her superiors in the Navy.
Colonel James Styles (ジェイムズ・スタイルズ大佐, Jeimuzu Sutairuzu Taisa)
An American military officer working with the company NADTDcom to find a way to control Monster Strike monsters for the American military's gain. He uses a powerful monster named Oceanus.
Episodes
Season 1 (2015-16)
No.
Title
Original air date
1
"The First Strike!" "Kore ga Hajime no Sutoraiku!" (これが始めのストライク！)
October 10, 2015 (2015-10-10)
Ren returns to the town of his childhood, Kaminohara.
Strangely, Ren is unable to recall any memories of the town.
Meanwhile, his smartphone installs a mysterious game called Monster Strike — heralding the start of a desperate battle!
2
"Slingshot Away! Call Me Oragon!" "Yubi de Hippare! Oragon!" (指でヒッパレ！オラゴン！)
October 10, 2015 (2015-10-10)
Ren is forced into a heated battle with the bestial Fenrir X.
Unable to control his companion Oragon and on the verge of defeat, a girl appears before Ren. Who could she be?
3
"Aoi Mizusawa's Secret" "Mizusawa Aoi" (水澤葵)
October 17, 2015 (2015-10-17)
Almost every junior high student in Kaminohara plays Monster Strike.
After a brief meeting, Aoi invites Ren to a special place—one where MS players gather.
4
"A Night at the Colloseum" "Mayonaka no Monsuto Koroshiamu" (真夜中のモンストコロシアム)
October 24, 2015 (2015-10-24)
5
"Mall Brawl" "Shoppingu Mōru no Kettō!" (ショッピングモールの決闘！)
special episode: Minami's father, a former mercenary, is invited to an American naval party. Ren and the gang end up heading to Okinawa with him for summer break. On a sandy beach, Ren meets a mysterious girl."Help me..." The girl leaves Ren with those words as she disappears.Ren is drawn to the girl and the meaning of those words. He makes it his mission to save her, and uncover the truth. Who is the girl? Why did she ask Ren for help? The girl's true identity slowly unveils...
36
"The Imprisoned Lily" "Higanbana no Rōgoku" (彼岸花の牢獄)
August 20, 2016 (2016-08-20)
37
"In Darkness, Ryoma" "Kuro no Sakamoto Ryōma" (黒の坂本龍馬)
August 27, 2016 (2016-08-27)
38
"The Truth of K" "Kei no Shinjitsu" (Kの真実)
September 3, 2016 (2016-09-03)
39
"Akira and Haruma" "Akira to Haruma" (明と春馬)
September 10, 2016 (2016-09-10)
40
"Gather in Kaminohara! - You need help? I'm there! -" "Kessei! Ribon shin'eitai?" (結成！リボン親衛隊？)
September 17, 2016 (2016-09-17)
41
"Off the Charts Performanc" "XFLAG PARK"
September 24, 2016 (2016-09-24)
42
"The Sun Sets On Orochi" "Yakumotatsu Ōma no Yoru" (八雲立つ 逢魔の夜)
October 1, 2016 (2016-10-01)
43
"An Offering To Orochi- Dance Until You Break!" "Yakumo no Ouma no Yoru" (八岐ノ森の贄比女)
October 8, 2016 (2016-10-08)
44
"An End to the Past"
October 15, 2016 (2016-10-15)
45
"World Ender Babel"
October 22, 2016 (2016-10-22)
46
"The Descent of Angels"
October 29, 2016 (2016-10-29)
47
"Ziggurat of Chaos"
November 5, 2016 (2016-11-05)
48
"Oraternative Memories"
November 13, 2016 (2016-11-13)
A petrifying attack hits Oragon as he makes a stand. Oragon, on his last dregs of strength, begins to glow. A light flashes,
parting to reveal the depths of Oragon's memories...
49
"Karma, Light of War"
November 19, 2016 (2016-11-19)
Karma, the Light of War appears.
Ren and friends battle to reclaim their memories, but there's something about Karma's arms...
50
"Of Light and Flame"
November 26, 2016 (2016-11-26)
The party is increasingly weakened by Karma's debuffs, but Akira realizes a path to victory and dashes forward with Kamui.
51
"Strike Shot! An End and New Beginnings"
December 3, 2016 (2016-12-03)
52
Ren is thrown into despair as he is confronted with an amnesiac Aoi, Minami, and Akira, but then a familiar voice comes from his smartphone.
Monster Strike 2 (2017)
No. overall
No in season
Title
Original air date
51.5
0
"The Long-Awaited Utopia" Transliteration: "Zen'Yasai Supesharu `Katsubō no Hate no Risōkyō" (Japanese: 渇望の果ての理想郷」転校生は超絶級？)
March 26, 2017 (2017-03-26)
A recap of the first season.
52
1
"The Transfer Student Is Impossible-Level" Transliteration: "Tenkōsei wa chōzetsu-kyū?" (Japanese: 転校生は超絶級？)
April 1, 2017 (2017-04-01)
There are still monsters about, and the gang is spending their days fighting them. They go to school during the day, and when they're not at school, they protect the city from monsters. But their peaceful routine is interrupted by the arrival of Mana Livingstone: a transfer student from America who's got the craziest ideas about Japan!
53
2
"The Karmic Fist Of Wrath" Transliteration: "Edo ni todoroku fundo no gō ken" (Japanese: 穢土に轟く忿怒の業拳)
April 8, 2017 (2017-04-08)
Ren agrees to take Mana around to see the town, but she's anxious about and uncomfortable around Monster Strike. When Ren gives her a MS ring, however, she gladly accepts it, thinking it's an engagement ring. When she realizes her mistake, she runs off in shame... and that's when a monster makes it move.
Mana and Walpurgis save the day at the last minute by defeating Fudou Myouou. Mana is now a full-fledged member of the team. But who is Walpurgis, and what does she want?
55
4
"Chicken Skewers Manliness and the Voyager"
April 22, 2017 (2017-04-22)
Maya has another crazy idea in her head: she wants to see Ren's "manliness". Ren takes her to a place that sells chicken skewers, where he meet the very manly Sinbad. But their manly meal is interrupted when Azazel comes to collect on Sinbad's debts, and he doesn't care how what happens to the people around him!
56
5
"Seventh Galaxy Explosion"
April 29, 2017 (2017-04-29)
57
6
"Holy Healing Hot Springs"
May 6, 2017 (2017-05-06)
58
7
"The Beautiful Angel's Steamy Case File"
May 13, 2017 (2017-05-13)
59
8
"CEO Madarame"
May 20, 2017 (2017-05-20)
60
9
"A World with No Fighting"
May 27, 2017 (2017-05-27)
61
10
"The Singularity of All Creation"
June 3, 2017 (2017-06-03)
62
11
"Even the Fortune Teller Is Baffled! Where's the Energy Point"
June 10, 2017 (2017-06-10)
63
12
"The King of Terror"
June 17, 2017 (2017-06-17)
65
13
"The Great Seer Nostradamus"
June 24, 2017 (2017-06-24)
66
14
"The Eternal Endless Cycle"
July 1, 2017 (2017-07-01)
67
15
"Each of Their Feelings"
July 8, 2017 (2017-07-08)
68
16
"Robin Hood (Evolution)"
July 15, 2017 (2017-07-15)
69
17
"The Moon's Eternal Dreamer"
July 22, 2017 (2017-07-22)
70
18
"Tsukuyomi VS Tsukuyomi: Zero"
July 29, 2017 (2017-07-29)
71
19
"The Lady Pirate Alwida's Arduous Battle"
August 5, 2017 (2017-08-05)
72
20
"Admiral Navis the God Killer"
August 12, 2017 (2017-08-12)
73
21
"The Scheming of Blackbeard Teach"
August 19, 2017 (2017-08-19)
74
22
"The Truth of Mazu"
August 26, 2017 (2017-08-26)
75
23
"The Last Guardian" Transliteration: "Saigo no ban'nin" (Japanese: 最後の番)
September 2, 2017 (2017-09-02)
Monster Strike 3 (2018-19)
No. overall
No in season
Title
Original air date
76
24
"Beginning of the End" Transliteration: "Owarinohajimari" (Japanese: 終わりの始まり)
A second anime film adaptation titled Monster Strike The Movie: Sora no Kanata was released on October 5, 2018. Studio Orange animated the film.[12]
Monster Strike the Movie: Lucifer - Zetsubō no Yoake
A third anime film adaptation title Monster Strike the Movie: Lucifer - Zetsubō no Yoake was slated to be released in June 2020, but was pushed to November 6, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
Reception
On YouTube, the anime series had been watched 100million times by August 2016, and over 200million times as of June 2017.[13]
Monster Strike The Movie grossed ¥740 million ($6.8 million) at the Japanese box office.[14] The second film, Sora no Kanata, has grossed ¥364,672,100 yen ($3.26 million) in Japan as of October 16, 2018.[15] Both films have grossed a combined ¥1,104,672,100 ($10.06 million) at the Japanese box office as of October 16, 2018.
^The official Monster Strike YouTube channel credits Kazuya Ichikawa for direction in the episode's description, however, the ending credits give the Director (監督) credit to Toshiya Niidome (新留俊哉).
