Apocalypse Zero
Encyclopedia
is a manga
series written and illustrated by Takayuki Yamaguchi
.
The manga was adapted into a two-part original video animation
in 1996.
s forged from the souls of deceased warriors. After Harara succumbs to the evil within the armor, it is up to Kakugo to defeat his sibling.
The main protagonist of the series, he received the Zero armor. Unlike Harara, Kakugo stuck to his duty to protect innocent citizens in trouble. This leads to several encounters with the monsters that inhabit the city and finally Harara, himself.
Harara Hagakure
Kakugo's older sister and the main antagonist of the series. Believing humanity responsible for the death of the environment, she has become determined to destroy all humans, with the aid of beings known as "Tactical Evils." Harara received the Kasumi armor, which she used to kill her father and defeat her brother in their first battle. After Kakugo defeats all of Harara's Tactical Evils, Harara possesses the defeated form of Eikichi in an attempt to finally destroy Kakugo. In the ensuing battle, Kakugo manages to emerge victorious over his sibling.
Tsumiko Horie
A girl at the school Kakugo attends. She falls in love with Kakugo after witnessing him destroy the city's monsters.
Kazu Shimada
A student at Kakugo's school, he falls victim to Hamuko. After having his face sucked off, he is devoured by her and later regurgitated during Hamuko's battle with Kakugo. His body is later cremated by Kakugo after the fight.
Oboro Hagakure
The father of Kakugo and Harara who was responsible for their training. Harara ended up turning on him and killed Oboro during a fight.
Hiroko Uchiyama
Shimada's girlfriend, she was killed by Hamuko right in front of him.
Ponta
One of Haoka's friends, usually seen with Ponsuke. He is attacked Dogumakuro's Flower, but saved by Kakugo.
School Principal
The head of the school in New Tokyo. He appears to care for his students, showing dismay when Shimada and Hiroko fail to arrive to class.
Ponsuke
Haoka's other friend. Generally seen with Ponta. He has a sword for protection.
Bolt
Harara's Security Chief.
Hamuko
A large monster with clown-like features and the first Tatical Evil Kakugo encounters. She enjoys killing females outright and consuming the men they were with. She also wears the face of her most recent victim over her breast. After attempting to simply subdue her, Kakugo finally kills her after disabling her powers.
Aoki
A friend of Horie. She is distinguished by the bandages she wears over her face, it is never revealed why she wears them.
Zenigata
One of the teachers at the school. Unlike the principal, he shows little remorse for the loss of students and doesn't take his job seriously, as evidenced by his consumption of alcohol.
Kagenari
Voiced by: Terrence Stone
(English)
An Executive at Harara's fortress. He is responsible for reporting the threat of Kakugo to her and advises against her actions during the final battle.
Eikichi
An elderly Tactical Evil who is sent to attack Kakugo. Though he manages to gain the upper hand against the unarmored Kakugo, he is quickly defeated once Kakugo gains his Zero armor. His body is then possessed by Harrara and perishes along with her when Kakugo defeats her.
Haoka
A feared student at the school, he resents anyone who goes after Horie. Haoka initially dislikes Kakugo, but eventually comes to respect him. He is injured by Eikichi, but appears alive at the finale.
Dogumakuro
Voiced by: Derek Stephen Prince
(English)
The second Tactical Evil encountered, Dogumakuro is a mutant rock star capable of electrocuting his opponents with his tongue. Kakugo manages to overcome this and defeats him by shattering his skull and evaporating his body.
Rai
Voiced by: Doug Stone
(English)
First appearing as the head of the school's security, Rai is actually Harara's Security adviser. He delivers fighters for Harara to kill at her fortress.
Megumi
Taking on the form of a nurse, Megumi is a Tactical Evil who attempts to seduce men before killing them. Capable of regenerating limbs, Kakugo kills her by fully dismembering her.
Chidokuro
Voiced by: Tony Pope
(English)
The general of the Tactical Evils.
series was written and illustrated by Takayuki Yamaguchi
. It was originally serialized in the Akita Shoten
magazine Weekly Shōnen Champion
from 1994 to 1996. A total of 11 tankōbon
(chapter collections) volumes were published by Akita Shoten. An English
translation of the manga was published as a graphic novel
in the US by Media Blasters
beginning on January 19, 2005. The manga was sold shrink wrap
ped, presumably due to the large amount of violence. Only six of the original 11 volumes were translated and released, as Media Blasters chose to cease publication of the series in early 2007.
OVA was co-produced by Victor Entertainment
, Tomy
and Big West Advertising
and directed by Toshihiro Hirano. It was released in Japan in two volumes from October 23, 1996 to December 18, 1996. The US license for Apocalypse Zero was acquired by Media Blasters who created a dubbed English language version of the anime translated by Takashi Sakudo and produced by the Anime Works studio. The two VHS volumes were released from June 20 to August 22, 2000. A DVD
release containing both episodes was released on August 28, 2001.
on March 21, 1997 exclusively in Japan by Tomy
. The game is a standard 3D fighting game
allowing the player to go head-to-head against the CPU or against another player. It features seven characters to choose from based on both the anime and manga, and animated cut scenes taken from the OVA.
called the Apocalypse Zero OVA "the most viscerally violent and gruesome anime" he has seen and "arguably the most grotesque anime ever made". Animerica
called Apocalypse Zero the "Best Anime Splattervision" in its "Best of the Best" awards. "When a 45-minute video features a scene where someone's face is sucked off, and that's not even the most shocking thing in the video," the magazine proclaimed, "you know you'll be getting your horror-show money's worth."
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series written and illustrated by Takayuki Yamaguchi
Takayuki Yamaguchi (manga artist)
is a Japanese manga artist. He is the creator of Apocalypse Zero and Shigurui.-Works: ; English translation Apocalypse Zero ; Adapted into a 12 episodes anime series by Madhouse...
.
The manga was adapted into a two-part original video animation
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
in 1996.
Plot
Kakugo and Harara are siblings trained to fight the monsters roaming in post-apocalyptic Tokyo. 21st century. To aid them, Kakugo and Harara were entrusted with "Fortified Armor Shells", exoskeletonExoskeleton
An exoskeleton is the external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body, in contrast to the internal skeleton of, for example, a human. In popular usage, some of the larger kinds of exoskeletons are known as "shells". Examples of exoskeleton animals include insects such as grasshoppers...
s forged from the souls of deceased warriors. After Harara succumbs to the evil within the armor, it is up to Kakugo to defeat his sibling.
Characters
Kakugo HagakureThe main protagonist of the series, he received the Zero armor. Unlike Harara, Kakugo stuck to his duty to protect innocent citizens in trouble. This leads to several encounters with the monsters that inhabit the city and finally Harara, himself.
Harara Hagakure
Kakugo's older sister and the main antagonist of the series. Believing humanity responsible for the death of the environment, she has become determined to destroy all humans, with the aid of beings known as "Tactical Evils." Harara received the Kasumi armor, which she used to kill her father and defeat her brother in their first battle. After Kakugo defeats all of Harara's Tactical Evils, Harara possesses the defeated form of Eikichi in an attempt to finally destroy Kakugo. In the ensuing battle, Kakugo manages to emerge victorious over his sibling.
Tsumiko Horie
A girl at the school Kakugo attends. She falls in love with Kakugo after witnessing him destroy the city's monsters.
Kazu Shimada
A student at Kakugo's school, he falls victim to Hamuko. After having his face sucked off, he is devoured by her and later regurgitated during Hamuko's battle with Kakugo. His body is later cremated by Kakugo after the fight.
Oboro Hagakure
The father of Kakugo and Harara who was responsible for their training. Harara ended up turning on him and killed Oboro during a fight.
Hiroko Uchiyama
Shimada's girlfriend, she was killed by Hamuko right in front of him.
Ponta
One of Haoka's friends, usually seen with Ponsuke. He is attacked Dogumakuro's Flower, but saved by Kakugo.
School Principal
The head of the school in New Tokyo. He appears to care for his students, showing dismay when Shimada and Hiroko fail to arrive to class.
Ponsuke
Haoka's other friend. Generally seen with Ponta. He has a sword for protection.
Bolt
Harara's Security Chief.
Hamuko
A large monster with clown-like features and the first Tatical Evil Kakugo encounters. She enjoys killing females outright and consuming the men they were with. She also wears the face of her most recent victim over her breast. After attempting to simply subdue her, Kakugo finally kills her after disabling her powers.
Aoki
A friend of Horie. She is distinguished by the bandages she wears over her face, it is never revealed why she wears them.
Zenigata
One of the teachers at the school. Unlike the principal, he shows little remorse for the loss of students and doesn't take his job seriously, as evidenced by his consumption of alcohol.
Kagenari
Voiced by: Terrence Stone
Terrence Stone
Terrence Stone is an Irish-American voice actor who is also known as Terry Stone.-Anime Roles:* Ah! My Goddess as Photographer* Apocalypse Zero as Kagenari...
(English)
An Executive at Harara's fortress. He is responsible for reporting the threat of Kakugo to her and advises against her actions during the final battle.
Eikichi
An elderly Tactical Evil who is sent to attack Kakugo. Though he manages to gain the upper hand against the unarmored Kakugo, he is quickly defeated once Kakugo gains his Zero armor. His body is then possessed by Harrara and perishes along with her when Kakugo defeats her.
Haoka
A feared student at the school, he resents anyone who goes after Horie. Haoka initially dislikes Kakugo, but eventually comes to respect him. He is injured by Eikichi, but appears alive at the finale.
Dogumakuro
Voiced by: Derek Stephen Prince
Derek Stephen Prince
Derek Stephen Prince is an American voice actor who is most memorable for his various roles in the Digimon series, as well as the voice of Elgar in the live-action Power Rangers Turbo and Power Rangers in Space.While a talented actor, with vocal skills capable of anything from High School girls to...
(English)
The second Tactical Evil encountered, Dogumakuro is a mutant rock star capable of electrocuting his opponents with his tongue. Kakugo manages to overcome this and defeats him by shattering his skull and evaporating his body.
Rai
Voiced by: Doug Stone
Doug Stone (voice actor)
Douglas David Stone is a voice actor who is most notable for his representation of the character Psycho Mantis from the popular video game Metal Gear Solid, as well as the voice of Matt Trakker and several other characters in M.A.S.K., and Dragonborg in Beetleborgs Metallix...
(English)
First appearing as the head of the school's security, Rai is actually Harara's Security adviser. He delivers fighters for Harara to kill at her fortress.
Megumi
Taking on the form of a nurse, Megumi is a Tactical Evil who attempts to seduce men before killing them. Capable of regenerating limbs, Kakugo kills her by fully dismembering her.
Chidokuro
Voiced by: Tony Pope
Tony Pope
Anthony Pope , also known as Anthony Mozdy, was a voice actor.He was born in Cleveland, Ohio and was known for providing the voice of Furby, as well as the voice of Newton Gimmick and other voices in the popular toy series The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin in the 1980s.-Death:He died on February 11,...
(English)
The general of the Tactical Evils.
Manga
The Apocalypse Zero mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series was written and illustrated by Takayuki Yamaguchi
Takayuki Yamaguchi (manga artist)
is a Japanese manga artist. He is the creator of Apocalypse Zero and Shigurui.-Works: ; English translation Apocalypse Zero ; Adapted into a 12 episodes anime series by Madhouse...
. It was originally serialized in the Akita Shoten
Akita Shoten
is a Japanese publishing company established on August 10, 1948 in Chiyoda, Tokyo. Its main editorial target has always been teenagers , and it currently publishes mostly manga...
magazine Weekly Shōnen Champion
Weekly Shonen Champion
is a weekly shōnen manga magazine published by Akita Shoten.- History :Shōnen Champion was first published 15 July 1969. It has had numerous popular series by manga artists such as Osamu Tezuka, Go Nagai, Shinji Mizushima, and Keisuke Itagaki...
from 1994 to 1996. A total of 11 tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
(chapter collections) volumes were published by Akita Shoten. An English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
translation of the manga was published as a graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
in the US by Media Blasters
Media Blasters
Media Blasters is an entertainment corporation founded by John Sirabella and Sam Liebowitz, based in New York City. They are in the business of licensing, translating, and releasing to the North American market manga compilations and anime and live-action movies and television series to home-video...
beginning on January 19, 2005. The manga was sold shrink wrap
Shrink wrap
Shrink wrap, also shrinkwrap or shrink film, is a material made up of polymer plastic film. When heat is applied it shrinks tightly over whatever it is covering. Heat can be applied with a hand held heat gun or the product and film can pass through a heat tunnel on a conveyor.-Composition:The...
ped, presumably due to the large amount of violence. Only six of the original 11 volumes were translated and released, as Media Blasters chose to cease publication of the series in early 2007.
OVA
The Apocalypse Zero animeAnime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
OVA was co-produced by Victor Entertainment
Victor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
, Tomy
Takara Tomy
is a Japanese toy, children's merchandise and entertainment company created from the March 2006 merger of two companies: Tomy and long-time rival, Takara...
and Big West Advertising
Big West Advertising
Big West Advertising Co., Ltd. is a Japanese advertising agency. They are known as one of the sponsors of the Macross franchise in Japan....
and directed by Toshihiro Hirano. It was released in Japan in two volumes from October 23, 1996 to December 18, 1996. The US license for Apocalypse Zero was acquired by Media Blasters who created a dubbed English language version of the anime translated by Takashi Sakudo and produced by the Anime Works studio. The two VHS volumes were released from June 20 to August 22, 2000. A DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
release containing both episodes was released on August 28, 2001.
Video game
A video game based on Apocalypse Zero was released on the PlayStationPlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
on March 21, 1997 exclusively in Japan by Tomy
Takara Tomy
is a Japanese toy, children's merchandise and entertainment company created from the March 2006 merger of two companies: Tomy and long-time rival, Takara...
. The game is a standard 3D fighting game
Fighting game
Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...
allowing the player to go head-to-head against the CPU or against another player. It features seven characters to choose from based on both the anime and manga, and animated cut scenes taken from the OVA.
Reception
The use of gratuitous violence and repulsive imagery of Apocalypse Zero has been largely negative. John Oppliger of AnimeNationAnimeNation
AnimeNation is an American retailer of anime, manga, and other products of Japanese culture. It was founded in 1995 and is located in Tampa, Florida...
called the Apocalypse Zero OVA "the most viscerally violent and gruesome anime" he has seen and "arguably the most grotesque anime ever made". Animerica
Animerica
Animerica is a quarterly digest published by Viz Media. It initially started as a monthly magazine featuring reviews of anime and manga titles, as well as related works. After a preview issue was released in November 1992, the magazine's first issue was released in February 1993 with a March 1993...
called Apocalypse Zero the "Best Anime Splattervision" in its "Best of the Best" awards. "When a 45-minute video features a scene where someone's face is sucked off, and that's not even the most shocking thing in the video," the magazine proclaimed, "you know you'll be getting your horror-show money's worth."