Boogiepop phantom

The series consists of 12 series, the story is told on behalf of various characters. The plot is non-linear. Each series is dedicated to different characters involved in the main events. Many scenes are shown twice from different angles. Three time periods are described - the past five years ago, when a maniac was operating in the city; events around a strange pillar of light that appeared a month ago; and the present, in which the effects of the mysterious appearance of this pillar are observed.

5 years ago, Nagi Kirima ( 霧 間 凪 ) was in the hospital. Her body evolved, but in fact she was dying. Simpei Kuroda, a member of Tova’s organization, made friends with her and stole a medicine from her organization that saved her life, but when he escaped from the hospital he was mortally wounded. Toka Miyashita ( Jap. 宮 下 藤 обыч ) , an ordinary schoolgirl, ran into him when he was dying, which aroused her second personality - “Bugipopa” ( Jap. ブ ギ ー ポ ッ プ ) . Dr. Kisugi watched Nagi's amazing cure and, finding the cure, began to test. It turned out that it awakens supernatural abilities in people. Kisugi began to test the medicine on her patients, which led to a deterioration in their condition. Nagi investigates strange deaths and finds out that Kisugi is a serial killer . Together with Bugipop she copes with it.

A month ago, Manticore ^[2] , an imperfect clone of Echo, an alien captured by the organization 5 years ago, escapes from the Tova organization’s laboratory. Manticore kills Minako Yurihara, intending to take her form and take her place, but she is calculated by Masami Saotome. Together they take on the development of the Type C drug, which subjugates people. At the same time, they begin to kill schoolchildren so that Manticore can absorb them. Echo, chasing Manticore, himself escapes from the laboratory and meets Nagi Kirima, investigating the disappearance of schoolchildren. Mantikora and Masami trap Nagi and Echo, kill the girl and injure the alien, but the intruder Bugipop keeps them. Meanwhile, Echo turns into a pillar of light piercing the heavens, killing Mantikora, while Masami dies, flying into a column of light. Before leaving the planet, Echo resurrects Nagi.

Now, a month later, when the anime events begin, the consequences of what happened are observed in the city. The hologram of what happened is constantly being played in the streets, mixing reality and the past, which leads to the evolution of citizens. The series tells about what happens to those who are experiencing this evolution, how it affects their lives and how they disappear after meeting with the Bugipop phantom ( Jap. ブ ギ ー ポ ッ プ ・ フ ァ ン ト ム ) . The phantom explains that in reality he hides them under the city in order to protect, and although their bodies no longer function, they follow the city and sleep until the rest of humanity reaches the same stage of evolution as they do.

Series List

The predominant color in the anime color palette is brown, the sunset sky gives the frames the effect of photos in sepia tone . ^[3] Even if bright colors such as grass greens or red clothes should appear in the frame, their shade is drowned out. ^[3] Most events take place at night in narrow alleys, parks, and yards of an unnamed city, but even daytime scenes are colorless and weakened with soft lines. ^[3] Because of this, flashes of light appearing are more lively and leave a strong impression. ^[3] These colors appear only in the last series, the events of which unfold in Tokyo . ^[3]

The design of adult characters is more detailed, while adolescents who play most of the roles in the plot are depicted simpler and to some extent easily interchangeable. ^[3] Only Nagy Kirima stands out among them, the heroine who finds herself getting involved in most events, has more features in her face, as if experience and a clear position make her grow up. ^[3]

CD 1

Cd 2

Sound engineer Boogiepop Phantom became Yota Tsuruoka. The soundtrack of the series includes many artists and genres: from Gregorian singing to electronica . ^[6] Electronic sound perfectly emphasizes the strange atmosphere of what is happening, without slipping into a cliche, and perfectly selected original sound effects only enhance the effect. ^[3]

The initial theme of the anime, the Evening Shower ( 夕 立 ち Judati ) , also used as the final composition in the feature film , the prequel Boogiepop and Others , was written and performed by Sikao Suga . Kyoko created and performed the final track of the Future Century Secret Club ( 未来 世紀 ㊙ ク ラ ブ Mirai Seiki Maruhi Kurabu ) .

The soundtrack was re-released by AnimeTrax and released by The Right Stuf International in the United States on two CDs on April 30, 2002. ^[7] Both the opening and closing songs were not included, but they were published on the albums of the respective artists. The Evening Shower was released on September 8, 1999, before the show, as part of Sweet Sikao Sugi's album ^{[8] [9]} , while Future Century Secret Club was released as a single on February 9, 2000 ^[10] , and on November 8 of the same years as part of the album Under The Silk Tree ^[11] .

An excerpt from Wagner’s opera Nuremberg Mastersingers (version of Bugipop) ^[12] also sounds. As a bonus track, he was released on another album inspired by Boogiepop and Others ^{[13] [14]} .

Anime first appeared in Japan from VAP in 2000 on VHS , LD and 6 DVD , with the title "Evolution", 2 episodes per disc ^{[15] [16]} . The format is 1.33: 1 (4: 3), the standard is 480i , the system is NTSC , the codec is MPEG-2 , the sound is stereo 2.0. In 2001, Right Stuf International acquired the license in the United States and Great Britain ^[17] . A rating of 15. The circulation was published in 2001-2002 (regular edition on 4 discs), in 2003 a collection DVD set plus a soundtrack was released, in 2006 - 5 Thinpak Collection discs, including a feature film ^{[18] [19]} . Demand has not faded. On June 5, 2012, a reprint of ^{[20] [21] appeared} . Additional materials include director and producer comments for each episode, a gallery of drawings, character information, video clips, Japanese promo trailers , as well as opening and ending music.

The ratio of 4: 3 fits into the artistic plan, which seeks to make what is happening look like a foggy nightmare in a tunnel. Nothing is obscure, and the characters revolve around it as if trying to look at the sunlight after being trapped for several hours in a dark room. For such a series there should be a strong contrast, but it is not. Black stripes appear regularly due to the dark background. Ugly macroblocks (square fragments of the image 16x16 pixels in size) are more common, although this is not so obvious during a brighter video sequence. DVD quality is poor. Image restoration was not carried out, because you need to work with the original film. The Dolby Digital 5.1 English track does not enhance the atmosphere, so it is better to listen in stereo 2.0, which sounds more natural. To enjoy the series as it is, you should choose the original Japanese voice acting ^[22] .

In 2019, Boogiepop Phantom released Nozomi Entertainment on Blu-ray ^{[23] [24]} .

The series bears a strong resemblance to Experiments Lane , primarily due to the similarity of visual style, which is explained by the fact that Shigeyuki Suga, the key animator of Experiments, was responsible for the character design. ^[25] But at the same time, the series are also similar to the setting of the modern Japanese city dominated by invisible and incomprehensible forces. ^[25] In Lane, these forces were technogenic in nature, whereas in Boogiepop Phantom they were more connected with the horror classics, ghost stories, vampires, brutal killers, secret organizations, and the "angels of death." ^[3] In addition, the tone of the series reminds him of contemporary Japanese horror films such as The Bell and The Spiral . Conspiracies and secret societies, especially in the first part of the anime, bear a clear imprint of The X-Files . ^[3] In general, the narrative is one of the most abstract found in the anime, so much so that the “ Lane Experiments ” and “ Evangelion ” seem like an open book against its background. ^[26]

Anime examines the psychological state of modern Japanese youth through a series of intricate paranormal events that dramatically change their lives. ^[27] Brown Camp in Anime Classics ZETTAI! 100 Must-See Japanese Animation Masterpieces notes that instead of telling an anime story, it largely criticizes Japanese society and the pressure it exerts on children, forcing them to follow the “right” path in life. “Evolved” children and the secret organization hunting for them in such a situation become a metaphor for the suppression of any manifestations of personality, in which the anime is parallel to the release of the movie “ Battle Royale ” in parallel with the same year. ^[26] Many moments are recounted with the help of symbolic images. ^{[26] The} mistakes of parents, both completely throwing children and setting them up to strict adherence to the rules of the system, also become a recurring theme. ^[26] Other adult images are also featured by overwhelming young characters. ^[28] This topic leads to a conflict in episode 10, where Pum Pum, having merged with the image of the Hameln Pied Piper , lures children to play forever in an abandoned amusement park, remaining in a happy children's world. He is opposed by Nagi and Bugipop from the position that you need to grow up and move forward. ^[29]

Clements and McCarthy wrote in an encyclopedia that director Takashi Watanabe and screenwriter Sadayuki Murai masterfully combined urban legends in the spirit of "The Ring", Perfect Blue and Agent Paranoia , as well as elements of American stalk and slash horror with the lives of teenagers. Children are given the opportunity to never grow up, as in the tale " Peter and Wendy ", although their minds are busy with adult problems. At the most superficial level, this may seem like another story about the destruction of ghosts in modern Tokyo, but Boogiepop Phantom shows a glimpse of originality in the established genre ^[30] .

In the IGN review , anime is presented as a “celebration for the mind, ears and eyes." Boogiepop Phantom effectively creates an atmosphere of Lynch's surreal horror, a bleak first-person perspective. Most of the series talks about strange phenomena and supernatural events, but not in the usual way. This is not another world stuck in fantasy or “ Mob Psycho 100 ” - on the contrary, it is more focused on the inevitable fear and disappointment from powerlessness. It’s as if Black Mirror already had an anime film adaptation. The stories of Phantom revolve around teenagers and young people who feel that they have been offended by society or people close to them, faced with misunderstanding, unthinkable loss and plunged into apathy . Bugipop often saves, but recalls that the real horror of life is not cynicism or alienation, but people's own mind, the cell where they willingly put themselves. Главный герой является призывом к действию — быть сознательными, чуткими и сильными против одиночества, что может исказить повседневное восприятие ^[31] .

Сайт THEM Anime назвал сериал «мрачным, удивительным, сюрреалистичным, как „ Нуар “ без сексуальной привлекательности, явного юмора и медленных повторов ». Вероятно, это самый сложный синопсис за всю историю аниме. Отдельные части головоломки формируют целую картину. Каждый эпизод оригинален, хотя они взаимосвязаны. События воспроизводятся в обратном порядке, что может показаться довольно запутанным, случайным и причудливым, но так и рассчитано, чтобы было максимальное воздействие на аудиторию. Весьма интересно по ходу сюжета находить подсказки и отгадывать загадки. Уникальный визуальный стиль, подобно «Экспериментам Лэйн» и Vampire Princess Miyu , обеспечивает вместе со звуком и музыкой нужную атмосферу: всё до последней серии окрашено в более тёмные, туманные тона. Madhouse , которая также выпустила « Ди: Жажда крови », действительно проделала потрясающую работу ^[32] .

• Brian Camp. Boogiepop Phantom // Anime Classics ZETTAI! 100 Must-See Japanese Animation Masterpieces / Brian Camp, Julie Davis. - Berkeley, California: Stone Bridge Press, 2007 .-- P. 60-65. - 408 p. - ISBN 978-1-933330-22-8 .
• Clements J. , McCarthy H. The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917 . - Revised and Expanded Edition. - Berkeley, CA: Stone Bridge Press , 2006. - P. 70-71. - ISBN 978-1-933330-10-5 .
• Stuckmann C. Anime Impact: The Movies and Shows that Changed the World of Japanese Animation. - Mango, 2018 .-- 350 p. - ISBN 978-1633537323

• Boogiepop Phantom (2000) - The Movie Database

• Anime «Boogiepop the Phantom» (Eng.) In the encyclopedia site Anime News Network
• Anime «Boogiepop the Phantom» (Eng.) In the base data AniDB