Japanese collectible card game, launched by Tomy in 2014
WIXOSS
Promotional image for the selector infected WIXOSS anime series, featuring Ruko (front), Tama (on card), Chiyori, Hitoe, Yuzuki, Akira, and Iona (back, left to right).
WIXOSS[a] is a Japanese multimedia franchise produced as a collaboration between Takara Tomy, J.C.Staff, and Warner Bros. Entertainment Japan. The franchise revolves around the eponymous trading card game and follows girls known as Selectors who battle against each other in order to have their wishes granted. The trading card game is developed by Hobby Japan and published by Takara Tomy and was released in Japan in April 2014 and in English in November 2021. The lead designer is Shouta Yasooka.[6]
An anime television series by J.C.Staff, titled selector infected WIXOSS, aired in Japan between April and June 2014, with a second season, selector spread WIXOSS, airing between October and December 2014. A compilation film, titled selector destructed WIXOSS, was released on February 13, 2016. A sequel anime television series, titled Lostorage incited WIXOSS, aired from October to December 2016, with its second season, Lostorage conflated WIXOSS, airing from April to June 2018. Another anime television series, titled WIXOSS Diva(A)Live, aired from January to March 2021. Several manga spin-offs, a novelisation, and a smartphone app have also been produced.
WIXOSS is a trading card game in which players battle against each other with fighters known as LRIGs (ルリグ, Rurigu, "girl" spelled backwards), using cards to support them. Certain LRIGs are able to communicate with their owners, and the girls chosen to wield them are known as "Selectors" (セレクター, Serekutā). Selectors are given the chance to have any wish granted by winning battles against other Selectors, but should they lose three times, their wish will be reversed into a curse instead.
The main selector anime series follows a girl named Ruko Kominato, who becomes a Selector after receiving an LRIG that she names Tama. As she and various other Selectors battle it out for the sake of their wish, Ruko finds herself drawn into the dark, sinister world of WIXOSS, discovering that, win or lose, there is always a price to pay.[7]
In the Lostorage, set following the events of selector, Suzuko Homura, a girl who had just returned to her hometown, finds herself drawn into new kind of Selector battle alongside her LRIG Riru. In these battles, which now include male Selectors, players must wager coins representing their memories, and should they lose them all, they will lose all of their memories and effectively disappear.
In WIXOSS Diva(A)Live, which is set in a different universe from the previous two series, WIXOSS battles take place in a virtual world, in which players become Divas and battle in teams of three against other Divas. Hirana Asu forms the team No Limit alongside Rei Sakigake and Akino Onko and aspires to rise to the ranks of Top Diva.
selector infected WIXOSS, produced by J.C.Staff, is directed by Takuya Satō and written by Mari Okada, with character designs by Kyuta Sakai and music by Maiko Iuchi of I've Sound. The first season aired on MBS between April 3 and June 19, 2014, and was simulcast by Funimation in North America[8] and Crunchyroll in other territories outside Japan.[9] The opening theme is "killy killy JOKER" by Kanon Wakeshima[10] and the ending theme is "realize -Yume no Matsu Basho-" (realize -夢の待つ場所-, realize -Where Our Dreams Are Waiting-) by Cyua. A second season, title selector spread WIXOSS aired between October 4 and December 20, 2014. The opening theme is "world's end, girl's rondo" by Wakeshima, whilst the ending theme is "Undo -Ashita e no Kioku-" (Undo -明日への記憶-, Undo -A Memory For Tomorrow) by Cyua. An animated film, selector destructed WIXOSS, was released in Japanese theaters by Warner Bros. Pictures on February 13, 2016.[11]
A new anime project featuring new characters, titled Lostorage incited WIXOSS, aired from October 7 to December 23, 2016, and was simulcast by Crunchyroll.[12]Katsushi Sakurabi is directing the new anime, with Michihiro Tsuchiya writing the scripts, Takamitsu Satou designing the characters, Maiko Iuchi composing the music, and J.C.Staff returning to produce the animation.[13] The opening theme is "Lostorage" by Yuka Iguchi while the ending theme is "undeletable" by Cyua. Another season, Lostorage conflated WIXOSS[14] aired from April 6 to June 22, 2018. The first episode was released as an original video animation bundled with the SP-32 Selector Collection trading card set on December 14, 2017. The opening theme is "Unlock" by Iguchi while the ending theme is "I" by Cyua.[15][16][17]
A new television series was announced on March 26, 2020, which was originally set to premiere in 2020.[18] Titled WIXOSS Diva(A)Live, it aired from January 9 to March 27, 2021.[19] Masato Matsune is directing the new anime, with Gō Tamai writing the scripts, Ui Shigure designing the characters, Maiko Iuchi composing the music, and J.C.Staff returning to produce the animation.[20]Crunchyroll licensed the series.[21]
An animated PV celebrating the original anime's 10th anniversary, titled selector loth WIXOSS, was released on YouTube on April 26, 2024.[22]
Manga
Four manga spin-off series, written by Okada, are being produced. selector infected WIXOSS -peeping analyze-, illustrated by Manatsu Suzuki, was serialized in Shueisha's Ultra Jump magazine between July 19, 2014, and May 19, 2015. selector infected WIXOSS: Maya no Oheya (selector infected WIXOSS 〜まゆのおへや〜, selector infected WIXOSS: Maya's Room), illustrated by Nini, began serialization in Ultra Jump from August 2014. selector infected WIXOSS -Re/Verse-, illustrated by Meki Meki, was serialized in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan magazine between August 25, 2014 and October 24, 2015. selector stirred WIXOSS, illustrated by Monaco Sena, began publication in Hobby Japan's WIXOSS Magazine from April 25, 2015.[23]
Trading Card Game
A card game titled "WIXOSS" by Takara Tomy has started on April 26, 2014.[24] On July 13, 2021, Takara Tomy announced that an English version of the game would begin release from November 2021, beginning with the Interlude Diva set based on the WIXOSS Diva(A)Live anime series. Interlude Diva set Released November 6, 2021. Diva Debut Decks and Glowing Diva set released December 17, 2021.[25] Changing Diva set WxDi P02 releases March 18, 2022.[26]
Other media
A novel written by Madoka Madoka and illustrated by Meiji, titled WIXOSS: Twin Wing, was released in Japan on September 30, 2015.[27] A smartphone game, selector battle with WIXOSS, was released in Japan for Android and iOS on March 31, 2015, and June 8, 2015, respectively.[28] A HTML5 game, titled WIXOSS Multiverse, was launched on the G123 game platform in 2022.[29]
Notes
^Short for "Wish Across". Phonetically read in Japanese as Wikurosu (Japanese: ウィクロス).
