Busou Shinki (anime)

Updated on Jan 19, 2024

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Genre Mecha, Action Written by Megumi Shimizu		Directed by Masayuki Kojima Studio Kinema Citrus, TNK
Released September 7, 2011 – January 26, 2012 (OVA: March 15, 2012) Runtime 5 minutes (OVA: 43 minutes)

Busou Shinki (武装神姫, Busou Shinki) is a 12-episode mecha, action/adventure, anime television series produced by 8Bit and broadcast on TBS in Japan in 2012. This TV series is based on the Busou Shinki armored women action-figure toys manufactured by Konami Digital Entertainment. The TV series is an adaption of the previously released ONA Busou Shinki: Moon Angel. Sentai Filmworks licensed the TV series for distribution in North America in 2012.

Anime Busou Shinki characters

The anime series' Busou Shinki characters are animated versions of the Busou Shinki toys. In the anime, the shinki characters are as small, and have the same features, of young adult women in body armor, as the toys. The shinki characters also have visible mechanical limb articulation and have screw holes in the front of their shoulders, like the action figures. The shinki characters are depicted as autonomous gynoid robots that reveal their electronic and mechanical interior workings if their body armor is broken through. Although the shinki are robots, they reveal a rich range of emotional responses; from loyalty and love to rage and even insanity.

Busou Shinki Moon Angel (ONA)

Busou Shinki: Moon Angel (武装神姫: Moon Angel, Busou Shinki: Moon Angel) is a promotional original net animation (ONA) anime episode produced by Kinema Citrus and TNK. The release of the first installment of the ONA episode was to coincide with release of the second PSP video game, 'Busou Shinki Battle Masters Mk. 2 and new editions of the associated action figures. The video game was released on September 22, 2011, after a delay of several weeks. The ONA was released online in ten downloadable installments, of approximately 5 minutes in length, one installment a week, beginning September 7, 2011. Konami began streaming the ONA episodes online on YouTube in September 2011, however the videos were subsequently removed. The ten installments of the ONA were assembled into a single 43-minute OVA episode and released on Blu-ray and DVD on March 15, 2012.

The first opening theme is "Labyrinth" (ラビリンス, Rabirinsu) by MIQ, the second opening theme is "Catalysis of the Mind" (孤高のカタルシス, Kokou no Katarushisu) by Nana Mitani and the ending theme is "Kayowaki Juujika no Ai" (か弱き十字架の愛) by Kei.

ONA plot summary

Tsubasa is a young boy who dreams of becoming a Shinki master. Shinki are small robot girls which can talk, fight, and fly. On a full moon night, Tsubasa finds a damaged Shinki model and takes it home. After repairing it, he gives her the name of Kaguya. They live a happy life until the former owner of Kaguya finds her.

ONA characters

Shinki

Arnval Type 01/Kaguya has long blond hair in back, blue eyes, and a medium build. She wears white armor and helmet with a gold "V" and a horn on the forehead. Tsubasa names her Kaguya when he first revives her. She appears to be a happy young woman. She is a very powerful fighter but this ability is not fully under her control. Voiced by: Kana Asumi

Strarf Type 02 has short light blue hair with long side drops, dark orange eyes, short athletic build. She wears dark gray armor. She is a grim and determined young woman, dedicated to her master and to her tasks. She is a new type 02 shinki model, a more powerful fighter, equipped with a variety of new, more powerful contact and projectile weapons. Voiced by: Minori Chihara

Athena is larger than human sized with long blond hair and fluorescent green eyes. She wears white armor with a gray torso. She is identified by the institute workers as incomplete and a very dangerous weapon with military grade armor. She never appears to be more than an aggressive and emotionless robot. She is equipped with the most powerful weapons, capable of great destruction. Voiced by: Marina Inoue

Humans

Tsubasa is a lonely ten-year-old boy that dreams of being a shinki master. Is quite dedicated to his new found shinki and protects her. Voiced by: Marina Inoue

Ken is the proprietor of the KEN Hobby Shop, an expert on shinki and ex-employee of the institute. He is friendly and becomes Tsubasa's ally and protector. Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita

Busou Shinki (TV)

The 12-episode anime television series Busou Shinki (武装神姫, Busou Shinki), adapted from the ONA, was produced by 8-Bit and broadcast on TBS in Japan beginning October 4, 2012. The TV series was subsequently released in Japan on a series of seven Blu-ray discs, beginning with volume 1, December 26, 2012 and ending with volume 7, released June 26, 2013, with each volume containing one or two episodes. The anime TV series was licensed for distribution in North America by Sentai Filmworks in 2012. The Anime Network began an online posting of the series beginning on October 20, 2012 with an episode daily for the first three episodes and then continuing with one new episode weekly. The 12-episode TV series is posted on the AN site. The TV series is scheduled for release on DVD, in Japanese language with English subtitles, June 17, 2014.

The opening theme, "Install x Dream", is sung by the actresses that voice the four main characters; Kana Asumi (Ann), Kaori Mizuhashi (Aines), Megumi Nakajima (Lene) and Minori Chihara (Hina). The ending theme is "The Sun's Sign" (太陽のサイン, Taiyō no Sain) by Azusa.

TV series plot summary

High school freshman Rihito, who just came back from abroad, started a new life in Japan with his four Busou Shinki, female action figures with weapons. Some guys wait their entire lives to meet the girl of their dreams, but Rihito already lives with four dream girls who are eager to please him. That’s because they’re shinki: 6-inch high, customizable gynoids. Despite their tiny size, these ladies have full-sized intelligence and emotions, and are fully armed. They attempt to maintain and protect Rihito's household from criminals, hijackers, obnoxious neighbors and dangerous enemy shinki. His shinki harem also presents some danger to him as they are strong fighters with powerful weapons but are not fully under control.

TV series characters

Rihito's Shinki

Ann is an ″Arnval″ model shinki. She has long blond hair, light blue eyes, white armor, continuously wears headphones, and is of medium build. She was Rihito's first shinki and appears to be his favorite, to the dismay of the others. Voiced by: Kana Asumi

Ines is an "Altines" model shinki. She has shorter violet hair gathered at both sides, amber eyes and black armor with an orange stripe across her chest. She has a slight build and is somewhat sensitive about it. Voiced by: Kaori Mizuhashi

Hina is a ″Strarf″ model shinki. She has light blue-gray hair with long side drops. She has dark amber eyes. She has black armor with a white torso and has a thin athletic build. She is the newest addition to the collection. She is taciturn, grim and mostly dedicated to fighting. She insists that the other shinki address her as "Strarf" and only the Master can address her as "Hina". She takes pride in her swordsmanship skills. Voiced by: Minori Chihara

Lene is an "Altlene" model shinki. She has long blond hair, blue eyes, white armor with a blue breastplate. She the most full-figured of the group and is a talented seamstress. She is calm with a pleasant deposition and tries to resolve conflicts without violence. Voiced by: Megumi Nakajima

Humans

Rihito is the master to the shinki models. He and his group have recently returned to Japan where he is starting high school. Has a tendency of waking up late.

References

Busou Shinki (anime) Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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