Comedy drama · Science

Angelic Layer

Japanese manga series

Released: —
Platforms: —
Genres: Comedy drama Science
Developers: —
Publishers: Kadokawa Comics Ace
Country: Japan

About

Angelic Layer (Japanese: エンジェリックレイヤー, Hepburn: Enjerikku Reiyā) is a Japanese manga series created by Clamp. The manga was published in Japan by Kadokawa Shoten, and in English originally by Tokyopop, but has since been re-licensed by Dark Horse Comics. It was the group's first work using a significantly pared-down style, which lowered emphasis on detail and accentuated posing and gestures. It would later be repeated in series like Chobits and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle.

The manga was adapted into a 26-episode anime series produced by Bones titled Battle Doll: Angelic Layer (機動天使エンジェリックレイヤー, Kidō Tenshi Enjerikku Reiyā; lit. 'Angelic Layer: Mobile Angel') which aired on TV Tokyo from April 1, 2001 – September 23, 2001. Seven volumes of videos were released by ADV Films on VHS and DVD in 2003. It was re-released in 2005 as a five-volume box set.

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Story

The primary protagonist is Misaki Suzuhara. Despite her short stature, she is a seventh grader who just moved to Tokyo to live with her aunt, Shouko Asami. After arriving in the city outside of Tokyo Station, Misaki watches a battle between two dolls on a big live-screen called Angelic Layer, a highly popular game in which players (called Deus) buy and custom-design dolls known as Angels that are moved by mental control when on a field called the "layer".

Interested in learning about Angelic Layer, an eccentric man wearing a white lab coat and glasses, calling himself "Icchan" (いっちゃん), encourages Misaki to purchase and create her own angel. She wants the angel to be "a short girl, but strong and happy", and names it Hikaru, based on Hikaru Shidō from Clamp's Magic Knight Rayearth (a manga in Angelic Layer's world). Even though she's clueless about the game, Misaki soon competes in tournaments and is assisted and watched carefully by Icchan. Later, Icchan's identity is revealed as Ichiro Mihara, the co-creator of Angelic Layer.

Reception

Angelic Layer won the Animation Kobe Award for TV Feature in 2001. Jason Bustard of THEM Anime Reviews gave Angelic Layer a five-star rating, noting that the character designs were well-presented and the animation was colourful. He also said that Angelic Layer portrayed the concepts of friendship and how "through common interests, even very different people can be friends". Zac Bertschy of Anime News Network however, published a less favorable review, comparing it to Pokémon and Digimon, and calling it a glorified tie-in to "a toy you can't purchase".