Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure

Title explanation

The title refers to the fact that the story takes place in two parallel universes, a concept loosely based on multiverse theory.

Plot

22 years ago, a huge alien artifact is found on a construction site by a worker named Yotsuga. The foreman orders that the artifact be broken apart to avoid delays. As Yotsuga walks towards the dumpsters to dispose of a small piece of the artifact, the world splits into two. In one world, Yotsuga tosses away the piece and the artifact is destroyed. In the other world, Yotsuga keeps the artifact, leading to the discovery of extraterrestrial technology that changes history.

In the present, Kazuki Yotsuga is a high school student who is shunned by other students as an otaku; his web site describes battles between giant robots that only he can see, but it is mostly as a result of him being occasionally seen by the other students reacting to their "presence". One day, the most popular girl in school, Mitsuki Sanada, approaches him to tell him that she likes his stories. This is only a ruse; she lures him to her father, Dr. Ken Sanada, who wishes to study Kazuki for his research on parallel worlds.

After being thrown into the other possible world by Dr. Sanada's devices, Kazuki finds himself still in Dr. Sanada's basement, but everything is covered with cobwebs. Kazuki goes home, but his parents no longer recognize him. He is found by Mitsuki, who has followed him. Along with a military escort, she takes him to the Earth Defense Force HQ, a paramilitary operation led by this world's Dr. Sanada. He soon employs him as a giant robot pilot.

Over the course of the series, Kazuki manages to attract several very different women without even trying, and he becomes a hero. He is later taken prisoner by Dr. Sanada's arch-rival Dr. Rara, the father of this world's Mitsuki. Mitsuki Rara eventually defects and is put with Kazuki and her counterpart. Later on, a new type of robot made from the artifact is deployed later on that can cause objects and people to be shifted between the alternate worlds. During the battle against it, Kazuki and Mitsuki Sanada are sent back to their original world, and they discover their world's Dr. Sanada covered up their disappearance by claiming that they had eloped. As it turns out, the frequent travel between worlds is taking a toll on the universe itself as the barriers separating them begin to break down; this will eventually lead to both worlds vanishing. A decision must be made; since Kazuki and the alien technology are exclusive to each world, one must be eliminated to halt the destruction. The robots are destroyed, and the worlds combine into one, an expression of Kazuki's wish for all his (girl)friends to continue to stay together with him.

The Tenchi Muyo! GXP novels, written by creator of both DUAL! and Tenchi Muyo!, Masaki Kajishima, confirmed that DUAL! is in fact set in the distant past of the Tenchi Muyo! universe.

Characters

Kazuki Yotsuga (四加一樹, Yotsuga Kazuki)

Voiced by: Takayuki Yamaguchi (Japanese); Jeremiah Freedman (English)Kazuki is the main character and stereotypical Harem anime protagonist of the series: a shy, quiet and awkward everyman, who possesses incredible fighting power and illogical charisma. As such, he attracts a bevy of beautiful women. Kazuki is regarded as a pariah by his classmates because he periodically has visions of giant robots battling in the city. After being accidentally sent to the parallel world by Ken and Mitsuki Sanada, Kazuki discovers that he is the only male that can control the mechas. Because of his unbelievable piloting skill, he is commissioned to the Earth Defense Force, or simply the EDF, and becomes the new pilot of the white Core Robot. His cover story at school is that he's Mitsuki's little brother, which gives Kazuki quite a bit of trouble.Curiously, there is no alternative version of Kazuki Yotsuga in this world. Later in the series, Kazuki subconsciously awakens one of the original alien mechas, a robot named Zinv. It is revealed that Zinv is Kazuki's counterpart in the parallel world.When Zinv is destroyed, Kazuki's desire for the group to stay together results in the creation of a third possible world, where elements from the parallel universes are combined.The three main characters are similar to the three protagonists of the Neon Genesis Evangelion series, Kazuki is similar to Shinji Ikari, only in appearance.

Mitsuki Sanada (真田三月, Sanada Mitsuki)

Voiced by: Rie Tanaka (Japanese); Georgette Rose (English)Mitsuki is the most admired girl in Kazuki's school; young men constantly send her gifts and cards, and Kazuki is nearly lynched for speaking to her. She lures Kazuki to her house for her father's experiments, but is sent to the parallel world along with him. She is the daughter of both Ken Sanada and Ayuko Sanada in this world; however, she's no way related to the Ken Sanada from the parallel world.Mitsuki is also an exceptional robot pilot, and joins the EDF to end the war, hoping research to send her home can begin afterwards. Unfortunately, Mitsuki is hotheaded and easily manipulated, and is captured by the Rara Army towards the end of the series and coerced into piloting the complete version of HIMC.She clearly has an attraction to Kazuki, but covers it up by treating him abrasively. When Kazuki is lost behind enemy lines, Mitsuki is affected most of all.The three main characters are very similar to the three protagonists of the Neon Genesis Evangelion series, with Mitsuki being very similar to Asuka Langley Soryu.

D (ディー, Dī)

Voiced by: Ai Uchikawa (Japanese); Katie Ashley (English)D is a bioroid, an artificially constructed biological/mechanical being first introduced in the Tenchi Muyo! universe. The war between the Earth Defense Force and the Rara Army began when D and at least two mechas were discovered in an artifact of unknown origin. Her original body was damaged, so a bioroid was built to contain her essence (represented by a glowing orb in place of an eye) while her body healed.D appears to be as inhuman as the robot she pilots, speaking mechanically and asking many questions about human emotions and behavior. The only one to break through her stony exterior is Kazuki, to the shock of Commander Sanada. D frequently has visions of a horrible creature attacking, and is deathly afraid of HIMC.She develops a strong attachment to Kazuki, culminating in her decision to return to her real body at the climax of the series in order to save him, at which she came to the realization that she was In-Love with Kazuki, a new feeling she hadn't experienced or understood before. It is then revealed that D stole Zinv and fled her world to escape HIMC and Kumu, who claimed the lives of her friends.As a robot pilot, D is subpar, often requiring rescue by Kazuki and Mitsuki. However, she redeems herself by removing the limiter placed upon Zinv, allowing its true power to manifest itself.When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, D becomes Dee Sanada, taking on the animated personality of a young girl.There is also an apparent resemblance between D and Tenchi Muyo! GXP character Neju NA Melmas, leading some to believe that she and D may belong to the same race. The character of D also resembles the character Doll from Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar.The three main characters are very similar to the three protagonists of the Neon Genesis Evangelion series, with D being very similar to Rei Ayanami.

Yayoi Schwael (弥生·シュバエル, Yayoi Shubaeru)

Voiced by: Chie NakamuraYayoi is the original pilot of the white Core Robot, which Kazuki named "Hartzenen". After suffering a serious head injury in battle, Yayoi experienced a feedback loop, effectively cutting off her connection to robots and ending her career as a pilot. Kazuki climbed into Hartzenen and took control, saving Yayoi's life. She refers to Kazuki as "her prince", and falls in love with him.Yayoi goes to great lengths to spend time with Kazuki, signing up to be his combat instructor and school homeroom teacher, and even moving in next door to the Sanada home and building a passageway and door into Kazuki's room (immediately boarded up by Mitsuki). Her grandmother once tried to arrange a marriage for Yayoi to another man (due in part to Mitsuki Sanada's meddling), but her affection for Kazuki was too deep for her to even pay attention to the would-be suitor.When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Yayoi is Kazuki's homeroom teacher, still living next door and usually entering the Sanada house through Kazuki's window (as a short cut), to Mitsuki (Sanada)'s annoyance.

Mitsuki Rara (羅螺みつき, Rara Mitsuki)

Voiced by: Megumi Toyoguchi (Japanese); Wendee Lee (English)The Earth Defense Force knows her as "Miss Ra", the Rara Army's spokeswoman/mascot, but when Kazuki is injured and trapped behind enemy lines, it is revealed that she is Mitsuki Sanada's counterpart in the parallel world, the daughter of Hiroshi Rara and Ayuko Rara.Mitsuki Rara could very well be Mitsuki Sanada's direct opposite. She's quiet, easily embarrassed and gentle; she personally nurses Kazuki back to health. However, she places herself in a trance to play Miss Ra, becoming a ruthless warrior. When she finds out that Kazuki is an enemy pilot, she launches him away in an escape pod, remembering the time he could have killed Miss Ra, but saved her instead.Mitsuki is later brainwashed into piloting HIMC, one of the most powerful robots created. After Kazuki saves her, she resists returning home, eventually becoming a Core Robot pilot for the EDF. She comes the closest to capturing Kazuki's heart; the two almost go out on a date, which is unfortunately cancelled by U.N. officers intent on sending her home.When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Mitsuki lives with her parents right next door to the Sanada home, but has a habit of sneaking in Kazuki's window via sleepwalking and spending most of her time in the Sanada home.

Ken Sanada (真田賢, Sanada Ken)

Voiced by: Ryūsuke Ōbayashi (Japanese); Kirk Thornton (English)Ken has A and B versions: the eccentric scientist from our world, and the parallel world's commander of the Earth Defense Force. Ken is Mitsuki's father in this world, but is childless in the other world; naturally, he's quite confused when our world's Mitsuki calls him "Dad".Both Kens share a love for instant ramen, a slightly off-color sense of humor, and an understanding that Kazuki is special. Despite appearing to goof off on the job (antagonizing Rara and Akane never gets old), Commander Sanada takes it quite seriously. When the U.N. turns against the EDF, his subordinates remain loyal to him, proving his worth as a leader.When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Ken Sanada returns to being a scientist as well as being married to Akane Yamano. In the new world, Mitsuki Sanada is his daughter and Dee Sanada is his adopted daughter. His relation to Kazuki is cause for question. Kazuki calls him "Uncle" but it is debated among fans whether they are actually related in the new world.

Akane Yamano (山野茜, Yamano Akane)

Voiced by: Yōko Kobayashi (Japanese); Barbara Goodson (English)The Earth Defense Force's United Nations advisor. Despite Akane's tendency to work "by the book", Ken and the young pilots often convince her to defy her orders, such as Rara's demand for the EDF to repatriate his daughter. When the EDF is outlawed, she resigns her post and flees with Ken Sanada and the others.When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Akane becomes Ken's wife, as well as (unfortunately) Ayuko Rara's junior (as Ayuko was married to Ken previously), enabling Ayuko to insist on Akane's calling her "big sister".

Hiroshi Rara (羅螺博士, Rara Hiroshi)

Voiced by: Kenichi Ogata (Japanese); G. Gordon Baer (English)In our world, Rara is a Nobel Prize-winning scientist (previously in competition with Ken Sanada for that honor). In the parallel world, he's become something of a megalomaniac. It was he who began the war in the first place, transforming himself into a messiah-like figure ("You fools have no fear of God!", "the divine power of the Rara Army").In the bizarre scene where Kazuki actually has dinner with the Rara family, the General reveals a softer side of himself; he believes that the war is about keeping the alien technology out of the wrong hands. However, it quickly becomes clear that Rara is simply a figurehead, with his wife wielding the real power. He redeems himself, however, when Kazuki attacks their base, and gets everyone out before it gets destroyed.When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Rara and his wife move in next door to the Sanadas, hoping to corral Kazuki into revealing the secret of his connection to Zinv.

Ayuko Rara (羅螺鮎子, Rara Ayuko)

Voiced by: Mika Doi (Japanese); Diva West (English)Ayuko was both Rara and Sanada's wife in the two worlds, and is the mother of both Mitsukis. In the parallel world, she manipulates events while behind the scenes, posing as Rara's submissive wife. In reality, she controls the Rara Army along with the mysterious alien named Kumu. She exploits Mitsuki Sanada's love of Kazuki to convince Mitsuki to turn against the EDF. Ultimately, both Ayuko and HIMC are defeated by Kazuki and Zinv.When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Ayuko attempts to "arrange" Kazuki's marriage to her daughter, with humorous results.

Alice Shalom (アリス·シャローム, Arisu Sharōmu) (Voiced by: Ryōka Yuzuki (Japanese); Lenore Zann (English))

Mena Fitzgerald (ミーナ·フィッツジェラルド, Mīna Fīttsujerarudo) (Voiced by: Ai Uchikawa)

Ryla Phoenix (ライラ·フェニックス, Raira Fenikkusu) (Voiced by: Yūko Katō)

Mitsuki Rara's best friends. While initially teasing Mitsuki for her attraction to Kazuki, they help him escape the Rara base when his identity is revealed. Later, they give Kazuki her diary after a battle, letting him know Mitsuki's still thinking about him. The three later join Mitsuki Rara as pilots for the EDF.When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Alice, Mena and Ryla return to working for the Raras.

Kaoru Hayase (早瀬薫, Hayase Kaoru)

Voiced by: Nao Takamori (Japanese); Anne Sherman (English)A scientist in the employ of the Rara Army. She opposes the plan to force Mitsuki Rara to pilot HIMC, and warns her of her mother's machinations. Hayase later joins the Earth Defense Force and works alongside Ken Sanada.

Kumu

An Alien being encased in a shrine in Rara's Garden, where it advises Ayouko Rara in the army's dealings with the Earth Defense Force late in the series. After the world merge, it is represented as a small female dog gifted to the Sanada's that has a penchant for biting Kazuki.

Music

Opening Theme:

"DUAL!": Act. 02 – 13

Ending Theme:

"Real": Act. 01 – 12

"DUAL! (Mitsuki duet version)": Act. 14

Glossary

Core Robots

Three multicolored bipedal machines reverse engineered from Zinv. Because they are man-made, the Core Robots are inferior to the originals in every way.The Core Robots are used by the Earth Defense Force; Yayoi Schwael (replaced by Kazuki Yotsuga, and later by Mitsuki Rara) pilots the white Unit 1 (nicknamed "Hartzenen/Halcynen" by Kazuki), Mitsuki Sanada controls the red Unit 2, and D (briefly replaced by Alice, Mena, and Ryla) pilots the blue Unit 3.

Earth Defense Force

A United Nations-sponsored military organization under the command of Ken Sanada dedicated to foiling the Rara Army's plans for world domination. The EDF employs many soldiers, but relies solely upon the three Core Robots in battle.Combat between the two armies is quite different from normal warfare; Rara informs the public where and when an attack will take place, and the combat zone is evacuated. At any time, either side can submit a "callsign", indicating their surrender. Because of these measures, there have been no casualties in the war.

HIMC (pronounced Himiko)

Zinv's opposite, HIMC carved a swath of ruin across D's world before she escaped. It seems as though only people with negative emotions in their hearts can control HIMC, as evidenced by its initial rejection of Mitsuki Rara, and its violent reaction to Mitsuki Sanada's jealousy. HIMC has some connection to the alien lifeform Kumu.HIMC is completely and totally destroyed at the hands of Zinv, compressed down to nothing to prevent it from regenerating.

Kumu

The alien that advises Ayuko Rara. It has some relationship to D, and hates men with a passion. Kumu resembles a floating, glowing bell and garland.When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Kumu is the name of a puppy that is given to the Sanada family by Ayuko Rara in the hopes of finding out information about Zinv. The name fits: while it loves the girls in the house, Kazuki gets a severe bite whenever he comes near.

Life Sympathy

A term for the power of a pilot's will to exert control over robots. High Life Sympathy levels can enable a robot to move faster and inflict more damage with melee attacks. For reasons revealed at the end of the series, the robots on Earth only respond to female Life Sympathy, though Kazuki is somehow exempt.Because of his overwhelming negative Life Sympathy, Kazuki's robot is capable of feats beyond most other models.

Rara Army

Formed by Hiroshi Rara, it intends to unite the world under its banner. Like the EDF, it uses robots in battle rather than conventional weapons, but its machines are exotic and beastly, differing from its rival's humanoid robots. Rara's robots are also remotely operated, unlike the Earth Defense Force's cockpit-equipped models.Rara prefers to operate outlandishly, broadcasting attack trailers and boasting of his army's God-given power (often through his mascot, Miss Ra). However, despite General Rara's highly visible status within the organization, another person wields the real authority.

The Original

A mech under the control of the Rara army, it has the power to control the atmosphere as well as some electromagnetic capabilities. It captures Kazuki along with Hartzenen and brings them to Rara's base where it falls off a large cliff, supposedly destroying it beyond repair.The Original and Zinv are the only mechs confirmed to be found in The Artifact.

Zinv (pronounced Jinbu)

An incredibly powerful robot found with D. It sat dormant in the EDF's headquarters for years until Kazuki awakened it during Rara's assault.Zinv has many unique abilities revolving around the manipulation of gravimetric forces, including gravitational projectiles, super speed, and crushing enemy mecha. Zinv also comes equipped with a nano-repair system that can fix any damage inflicted. Zinv only responds to Kazuki's Life Sympathy, and sometimes activates itself when Kazuki is not aboard.Zinv defeats the lesser version of HIMC quite easily, but HIMC's final form takes the upper hand. When D removes the limiter preventing males from piloting it (Kazuki skirts this by being Zinv), Zinv instantly repairs itself and generates Light Hawk Wings. With this newfound power, Kazuki decimates HIMC and creates a black hole, reducing the Rara fortress to nothing.With the two worlds dangerously close to oblivion, Zinv and Kazuki agree to destroy Zinv, ensuring that both worlds will live on. However, Zinv survives the explosion that consumes it, regenerating at the bottom of the ocean and returning to Kazuki in the third universe.Followers of Tenchi Muyo! will recognize the Light Hawk Wings, as well as the Zinv look-alike in the anime Tenchi Muyo! GXP. The Tenchi Muyo! GXP novels confirmed that they are in fact the very same robot, and not alternate universe versions of each other as previously thought.

Future of Dual!

Since 2001, there has been fan speculation about a Dual! sequel in the works, but according to AIC Anime's English website there are currently no plans to release such a sequel.

Connections to Tenchi Muyo! Universe

It has been confirmed by the creator of Tenchi Muyo! and Dual! that the two series are related, and in fact occur in the same universe. A mecha, confirmed in the Tenchi Muyo! GXP novels to be Zinv, is found during an episode of Tenchi Muyo! GXP which runs parallel with the Tenchi OVA Series. Miki Steinbeck, the future reincarnation of Mitsuki Sanada and Ken Manada (Ken Sanada) appear in the Tenchi GXP novels. Seina Yamada is also confirmed to be the future reincarnation of Kazuki Yotsuga. In fact, Dual! is so consistently relevant to the GXP novels they can be viewed as a distant sequel.

The Great Prehistoric Civilization that seeded the galaxy mentioned in the Shin Tenchi Muyo! novels is revealed in the Tenchi Muyo! GXP novels to be the space-faring civilization begun by the characters at the end of Dual!. The similarity between Dual!'s Earth and Tenchi Muyo!'s Earth is written about, and D's Astral Body, which Seina finds haunting the ancient Zinv, goes on to even list food they shared in common, like spaghetti.

By the end of GXP's 14th novel, Mitsuki and Mitsuki Rara's reincarnations gain psuedo-cabbit bodies that were cloned from GXP's Fuku, as does D who haunted the Zinv and was technically never reincarnated, but winds up a psuedo-cabbit nonetheless. Fuku from Tenchi Muyo! GXP is even revealed to be the reincarnation of Yayoi; although she was a repentant mass murderer named Widow before her Astral Body (soul) was used to create Fuku. By the time of the novel series Paradise War, by Masaki Kajishima as well, the protagonists of Dual! are all reunited as the four cabbits follow Seina Yamada around Banjo Island.

Sasami and several other Tenchi Muyo! characters are featured in inserts found in the Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure laser disks.

Mitsuki Sanada resembles Kiriko Masaki

Yayoi Schwael resembles Amane Kaunaq

Mitsuki Rara resembles Ryoko Balta

D resembles Neju Na Melmas

Akane Yamano resembles Airi Masaki

Ayuko Rara resembles Seto Kamiki Jurai

Zinv is the Idol mecha piloted by Seina Yamada

Other appearances

Kiyone Makibi, Ramia, and Misao Amano appear in a brief easter egg cameo in the series' OVA special ("Final Frontier", also known as episode 14), and there is much speculation concerning the ancient civilization that the character "D" is from.

Other Similarities

Several elements in Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure (1999) are very similar to Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995):

The main character changes the world in the last episode to merge two conflicting worlds and to make them both more to his own liking.

The end result of merging of both worlds in Dual! is extremely similar to a "hypothetical" outcome displayed to the main character of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

The rifle guns that the Sanada-style robots use look and act like the rifles of Evangelion.

The Sanada-style robots can be compared to Evangelion robots, with similar shoulders, hand-to-hand combat styles, and one male pilot with two female pilots on the team.

The color scheme of the robot of the confident and somewhat hot-headed female pilot in Dual! is very similar to the color of the robot of the female pilot Asuka Langly Soryu in Evangelion.

The color scheme of the robot of the reserved female pilot in Dual! is very similar to the color of the robot of the reserved female pilot, Rei Ayanami, in Evangelion.

The Rara-style robots start out as nonhumanoid in the first battles and change their type each battle in size and power, similar to the Angels.

The main character has a mysterious female friend that is usually quite reserved, until she meets the protagonist, which amazes everyone else. And they both have non-human origins.

The main character has a female teacher that dotes on him.