Read or Die
ROD: Read or Die ( Japanese リ ー ド ・ オ ア ・ ダ イ , Rīdo oa Dai ) is a light novel series that has been written by Hideyuki Kurata and published by Shueisha since 2000 . The work was adapted as a manga and anime and can be classified into the genres of his own , adventure, comedy , mystery and action.
action
The British Empire has remained a world power to the present day and bases its power primarily on the "British Library", a worldwide secret service. The main character and passionate reader Yomiko Readman is under the code name "The Paper" agent for the special unit of the organization. In addition to her missions, she also has to help the young writer Nenene Sumiregawa, who often gets into trouble.
publication
There are currently eleven volumes of novels, the illustrations were made by Uon Taraku . Volume 11 announced that the series would be completed with the twelfth volume. In 2007, an apology was posted on the official website for the delay in volume 12, stating that the author was doing his best to complete the story.
Adaptations
Manga
In addition to the novels, Kurata also wrote the script for the official ROD manga drawn by Shutaro Yamada. The manga was originally published in Ultra Jump Magazine and later printed as a four-volume paperback series. The manga was published in English by Viz Media in North America.
Kurata also wrote the script for Read or Dream , a manga drawn by Ran Ayanaga and also set in the Read or Die universe.
Anime
The success of the Read or Die novels and mangas led in 2001 to the production of the OVA Read or Die (Japanese ROD -READ OR DIE- ), directed by Kōji Masunari from Aniplex and Studio Orphe, of which Hideyuki Kurata is a member, was produced. The animations are from Studio Deen . The music was composed by Taku Iwasaki , the character design by Masashi Ishihama and the artistic director was Kazuo Ogura. In Germany, this series was first broadcast on Animax from September 7th to 9th, 2007 . The OVA has also been translated into English, French, Spanish and Russian, among others.
The 3-part OVA was released on DVD in 2007 by the anime label Anime Virtual in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
In 2003, Aniplex produced R.OD the TV through studio JCStaff , a 26-episode television series that serves as a sequel to OVA and brings together the characters of Read or Dream with those of Read or Die .
synchronization
OVA and TV series
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Television series
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reception
The manga received the Ryōta Fujitsu Award of the Japanese Otaku Awards in 2008 .
The specialist magazine MangasZene praises the OVA's "lavish animation, detailed design, an exciting story of atmospheric music" . According to Funime , the design of the OVA knows how to please and the story is "spiced" with many historical personalities . Funime also writes about animation of the highest quality. However, the plot of the OVA, especially in comparison to the manga, offers little background. But both adaptations have their weaknesses in the narrative style, too often the line between joke and slapstick is broken.
Individual evidence
- ↑ ANIMAX program highlights in September / Many series restarts and OVA special "Read or Die". (No longer available online.) Press portal, August 30, 2007, archived from the original on July 15, 2009 ; Retrieved April 4, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Japanese Otaku Awards' 2008 Winners Announced. Anime News Network , January 13, 2009, accessed October 29, 2009 .
- ↑ MangasZene No. 5, p. 24
- ↑ Funime No. 31 p. 24
Web links
- Official website for the light novel (Japanese)
- Manga and OVA on Anime News Network (English)