Blue Seed

Blue Seed (ブルーシード, Burū Shīdo) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuzo Takada. The plot is based on the Izumo cycle of Japanese mythology and the tale of the god Susanoo and the eight-headed monster Yamata no Orochi. The main character, Momiji Fujimiya, is a descendant of the mythical Princess Kushinada (奇稲田姫, Kushinada-hime). When Japan is menaced by Aragami (荒神, Aragami, lit. "angry gods") spawned by Yamato-no-Orochi, Momiji is intended to be sacrificed to appease the Aragami. She instead, however, becomes a member of the Terrestrial Administration Center (TAC), a secret agency charged with fighting them.

Ashi Productions and Production I.G. created an anime adaptation for broadcast on Japan's TV Tokyo. The anime series ran for 26 episodes, originally airing from October 5, 1994, to March 29, 1995. An original video animation (OVA), Blue Seed 2, was released in three episode between 1996 and 1998. Both the anime and OVA (under the name Blue Seed Beyond) were licensed by ADV Films in the United States until 2009, when the company shut down.

Plot

Momiji Fujimiya thought she was just an ordinary high school student. One day, she is confronted on her way to school by a cat-eyed man with blue magatama beads embedded in his hands, who then attempts to kill her. Momiji is confused and terrified this strange man's sudden desire to kill her; he also refers to her as Kushinada, confusing her even further. Momiji is saved by the sudden appearance of two government officials, one of whom shoots the man in the arm and sends him fleeing.

Momiji is intrigued as to why she was referred to as "Kushinada". She discovers that "Kushinada" refers to an ancient princess whose blood holds the power to stop the ancient monsters known as Aragami by sending them to an eternal sleep. Momiji dismisses the idea that she could be such a person, despite the fact she lives with her mother and grandmother in a shrine in Izumo. However, she soon changes her mind after vines begin to appear from every crack and opening attempting to capture her as they whisper "Kushinada".

Momiji tries to escape, not knowing that the vines are being employed by a powerful Aragami known as Orochi. Fortunately, she is saved by the man with the magatamas embedded into his hands, who introduces himself as Mamoru Kusanagi. He confronts Orochi using Momiji as bait. The plan fails and the government officials appear again. They reveal themselves to be members of the Terrestrial Administration Center (TAC for short), and manage to subdue Orochi. However, with the last of its strength, it makes a final attempt on Kusanagi.

Momiji saves Kusanagi by taking Orochi's blow. Impaled by the Aragami, instead of dying, she is instead fused with the magatama, more specifically identified as a mitama, which gives Momiji the ability to sense the presence of other Aragami. The TAC agents explain that they are an organization dedicated to defeating the Aragami, who seek to destroy humanity. The current Kushinada, Momiji, must aid them because the other Kushinada, Momiji's twin sister, is now dead. Momiji, wishing to discover more about the twin sister she never knew and also to fulfill her destiny, agrees to join the TAC under the protection of Kusanagi, who wishes to destroy his former masters, the Aragami.

The story becomes increasingly complex with the appearance of Murakumo, a man with eight mitamas who kills any Aragami he comes across for his own personal reasons. Kusanagi repeatedly attempts to kill Murakumo. Kaede Kunikida reappears along with a strange energy field in Tokyo, and Murakumo and Kaede's plans soon become clear – they intend to resurrect the god Susanoo and purify the world of humanity's influences, with Kaede acting as the leader of the movement.

There is also a three episode OVA, Blue Seed Beyond, which takes place two years after the end of the TV series. It concerns what seems to be a resurgence of aragami (actually created via biotechnology), and introduces a new character, Valencia Tachibana. Like Kusanagi, she was implanted with a mitama without turning into a full aragami.

Characters

• Momiji Fujimiya (藤宮 紅葉, Fujimiya Momiji): Momiji is the primary protagonist of the series. She is the descendant of the "Kushinada" who actually lives in Izumo where Princess Kushinada lived. An eighth-grade student in middle school, she was unprepared to understand her destiny to battle the Aragami. She becomes a member of the TAC in order to stop the Aragami from destroying humanity and the world. An ironic twist of fate has Momiji carrying a mitama – an Aragami "soul" – embedded in her chest. At awkward times, Momiji is the recipient of panty shots and jokes about the type of panties she wears. Her relationship with Kusanagi takes a turn for the better during the shielded town incident, where she finally confesses her love for him, and he in turn tells her to wait for him. Voiced by: Megumi Hayashibara (Japanese); Amanda Winn Lee (English), Monica Rial (English, OVA)
• Mamoru Kusanagi (草薙 護, Kusanagi Mamoru): He was given seven mitama with the expressed mission that when he was older, he would protect the Kushinada from harm. He was very close to Kaede, Momiji's twin sister, before her sacrifice in the tunnels of Tokyo. After Kaede's demise he initially goes to Momiji to kill her, in order to rid the world of the Aragami. He comes around, however, in the second episode, and from then on makes it his sole purpose to keep Momiji from harm and eventually falls in love with her. Kusanagi often pokes fun at Momiji's choice of panties just to aggravate her. Kusanagi gains his 8th mitama from Momiji when he rescues her from danger in the last few episodes, which gives him the power to fight Murakumo on an even level. Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue (Japanese); Jason Lee (English), Matt Kelley (English, OVA)
• Daitetsu Kunikida (国木田 大哲, Kunikida Daitetsu): Daitetsu, or Mr. Kunikida, is the Chief Director of the TAC. When Kaede and Momiji were born, Mr. Kunikida raised Kaede like his own daughter, but he exploited her ability to track down and kill the Aragami. However, when Kaede sacrificed herself, he felt heartbroken. With Momiji in the TAC, Mr. Kunikida decides not to exploit her abilities like he did with Kaede and instead treated her like a normal girl. He usually drives a Citroën XM. Voiced by: Akio Ōtsuka (Japanese); Rob Mungle (English)
• Azusa Matsudaira (松平 梓, Matsudaira Azusa): Azusa is the science officer and experimental biologist in the TAC. Azusa is rarely on the field due to her research and development background. She constructs biological weapons for the TAC to use against the Aragami. She is a divorced mother of one. Voiced by: Yoshiko Sakakibara (Japanese); Sharon Shawnessey (English)
• Ryoko Takeuchi (竹内 涼子, Takeuchi Ryōko): A former member of Tokyo Metropolitan Police, Ryoko uses her police instincts to help the TAC. Ryoko uses her standard police issue weapons in conjunction with weapons modified to be used against the Aragami. She is in love with Kunikida. Voiced by: Ai Orikasa (Japanese); Marcy Rae (English)
• Koume Sawaguchi (沢口 小梅, Sawaguchi Koume): Koume wears a pink jumpsuit, but never acts feminine. She is loud, brash and aggressive due to her stint in the Japan Self-Defense Forces. She was discharged by the SDF and transferred to the TAC as a result of insubordination. Her philosophy is based on the "bigger gun" theory and uses her military mind and muscle to destroy the Aragami. Despite her tough exterior, she is a vulnerable woman who wants to give her love. She has a soft spot for puppies, enjoys playing matchmaker to Momiji and Kusanagi, and at the end of the series, falls in love with co-worker Yaegashi. Voiced by: Kotono Mitsuishi (Japanese); Tiffany Grant (English)
• Yoshiki Yaegashi (八重樫 良樹, Yaegashi Yoshiki): The stereotypical computer nerd, Yaegashi does computer analogy for the TAC. On off days, he enjoys hentai games on his computer. He also has a program that pinpoints the Aragami's weak points and attacks, but it doubles as a program to predict what animal would appear on Momiji's panties. He has a love/hate relationship with Koume through most of the series. He later gets engaged to her in the OVA. Voiced by: Yuji Ueda (Japanese); Kurt Stoll (English)
• Sakura Yamazaki (山咲 桜, Yamazaki Sakura): Sakura spent most of her life training in the United States. She uses Shinto magic and magic seals to stop the Aragami. She often flirts with Kusanagi just to get under the skin of Momiji, but also helps Momiji deal with the Aragami. Voiced by: Sakiko Tamagawa (Japanese); Allison Keith (English)
• Kaede Kunikida (国木田 楓, Kunikida Kaede): Kaede is the twin sister of Momiji and Mr. Kunikida's adopted daughter. Her talents were used to detect Aragami for the TAC, but after realizing she was merely a tool and not a person, she sacrificed herself, only to return on the side of the Aragami. It's not well-shown if Kaede was in love with Kusanagi or not. Voiced by: Mitsuki Yayoi (Japanese); Amanda Winn Lee (English)
• Lord Susano-oh: Susano-Oh is an all-powerful god who is the guardian deity of the Aragami. In the legend, Susano-Oh killed the monster Yamato-no-Orochi (Orochi-no-Orochi in ADV dub) and married the Princess Kushinada. Kaede and Murakumo awakened him as part of their plan to create a world of nothing but plants. Voiced by: Jun Kitagawa
• Murakumo Yagami (八神 ムラクモ, Yagami Murakumo): The series' primary antagonist; like Kusanagi, Murakumo was also chosen to protect the Kushinada. Murakumo has embraced the power of the Aragami and plans on unleashing that power against humanity. Murakumo has eight Blue Seeds embedded in his body. Voiced by: Jōji Nakata (Japanese); Aaron Krohn (English)
• Valencia Tachibana: Valencia shows up in the OVA. Like Kusanagi, she was implanted with a mitama without turning into a full aragami. Voiced by: Junko Iwao (Japanese); Kira Vincent-Davis (English)

Media

Manga

The manga's complete title is Aokushimitama Blue Seed (碧奇魂ブルーシード). Originally serialized by Takeshobo in Comic Ganma between March 1992 and June 1996, it's 17 chapters were also collected into two Japanese Tankōbon volumes.

Anime episode list

Blue Seed

Blue Seed Beyond

Theme songs

Opening

• Carnival Babel by Takada Band (Fumihiko Tachiki and Ami Mimatsu) (remade by Megumi Hayashibara as "CARNIVAL BABEL 2003 VER." also known as "CARNIVAL BABEL REVIVAL")^[3]

Ending

• Touch and Go!! by Megumi Hayashibara
• Life by Megumi Hayashibara (Ep. 26)

Video game

A role-playing video game entitled Blue Seed ~The Legend of Hiroku Kushinada~ (ブルーシード ～奇稲田秘録伝～, Burūshīdo ~Kushinada Hiroku Den~) was developed by Sega for the Sega Saturn on June 23, 1995. It follows an adventure format, and utilizes a card-based battle system. The game's story is not an adaption of either the manga or the TV series, but a set of original episodes set in the same continuity as the TV series. The main cast of the TV series reprised their roles for the battle sequences and introductory cutscene.

The game was one of 12 Sega Saturn games announced when the system was first unveiled at the 1994 Tokyo Toy Show.^[4]

On release, Famicom Tsūshin scored the game a 28 out of 40.^[5]

References

External links

• Blue Seed (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Blue Seed (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Blue Seed Beyond (OVA) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

Works by Production I.G
Feature films 009 Re:Cyborg Appleseed XIII: Ouranos Appleseed XIII: Tartaros Attack on Titan - Part 1: Crimson Bow and Arrow Attack on Titan - Part 2: Wings of Freedom Blood-C: The Last Dark Blood: The Last Vampire Book Girl Broken Blade Cyber Team in Akihabara: Summer Holidays of 2011 Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic Dead Leaves The End of Evangelion Garm Wars: The Last Druid Ghost in the Shell Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie Giovanni's Island Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade Kick-Heart Kill Bill: Volume 1 (animated sequence) Kuroko's Basketball The Movie: Last Game A Letter to Momo Loups=Garous Nadesico: Prince of Darkness Mass Effect: Paragon Lost Miss Hokusai Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror MiniPato Patlabor: The Movie Patlabor 2: The Movie Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice Psycho-Pass: The Movie Sakura Wars: The Movie Sengoku Basara: The Last Party Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters Tennis no Ōjisama – Futari no Samurai The Princess in the Birdcage Kingdom The Sky Crawlers The Weathering Continent Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike xxxHolic: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Television series Ani*Kuri15 (animated sequence) Ace of Diamond Atom: The Beginning Attack on Titan Attack on Titan: Junior High Blade of the Immortal Blood+ Blood-C Blue Seed Blue Spring Ride Broken Blade Bunny Drop Cromartie High School Eden of the East FLCL Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet Genshiken: Second Season Ghost Hound Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Alternative Architecture Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG Guilty Crown Haikyū!! Idaten Jump Immortal Grand Prix Joker Game Kimi ni Todoke Kemono no Sōja K-tai Investigator 7 Kuroko's Basketball Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne Le Chevalier D'Eon Library War Maria the Virgin Witch Medabots Damashii Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Moshidora Otogi Zoshi PaRappa the Rapper Pokémon Origins PoPoLoCrois The Prince of Tennis Psycho-Pass Reideen Real Drive Robotics;Notes Sands of Destruction Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings Shining Hearts: Shiawase no Pan Sisters of Wellber Tales of Eternia: The Animation Vampiyan Kids Windy Tales xxxHolic Yondemasuyo, Azazel-san Zillion (produced by Tatsunoko)
Original video animations Appleseed XIII Batman: Gotham Knight (animated sequence) Book Girl Bronze: Zetsuai Since 1989 Chocolate Underground Combustible Campus Guardress The Enemy's the Pirates! (episodes 3 and 4) Eyeshield 21: The Phantom Golden Bowl FLCL Ghost in the Shell: Arise Golden Boy Halo Legends (animated sequence) Hiyokoi Kai Doh Maru Leave it to Chocola Noblesse: Awakening One Piece: Defeat The Pirate Ganzak! Please Save My Earth Pokémon Generations The King of Fighters: Another Day The Prince of Tennis The Special Duty Combat Unit Shinesman Tokyo Marble Chocolate Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle Vassalord Video Girl Ai Yondemasuyo, Azazel-san Zillion: Burning Night (produced by Tatsunoko)
Video games Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere BlazBlue: Central Fiction Children of Mana Ghost in the Shell Infinite Space Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 12 Namco × Capcom Persona 5 Professor Layton and the Curious Village Sands of Destruction Sonic Riders Star Ocean: First Departure Star Ocean: Second Evolution Summon Night 4 Surveillance Kanshisha Tales Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria Valkyria Chronicles III Wario Land: Shake It! Xenogears
Category

Works of Xebec
Films	Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!! WGP Bōsō Mini Yonku Dai Tsuiseki! (1997) Nadesico: Prince of Darkness (1998) Cyber Team in Akihabara: Summer Vacation of 2011 (1999) Rockman EXE Hikari to Yami no Program (2005) Major: Yūjō no Winning Shot (2008) Fafner in the Azure: Heaven and Earth (2010) Broken Blade (2010–2011) (six films) Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom (2011) Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (2012–2013) (seven films) Space Battleship Yamato 2199: A Voyage to Remember (2014) Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark (2014) Space Battleship Yamato 2202: Warriors of Love (2017–present) (seven films)
Television series	Sorcerer Hunters (1995–1996) Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!! (1996) Martian Successor Nadesico (1996–1997) Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!! WGP (1997) Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!! MAX (1998) Steam Detectives (1998–1999) Super Yo-Yo (1998–1999) Burst Ball Barrage!! Super B-Daman (1999) Mito's Great Adventure: The Two Queens (1999) Zoids: Chaotic Century (1999–2000) Dai-Guard (1999–2000) Pilot Candidate (2000) Love Hina (2000) Zoids: New Century (2001) Tales of Eternia: The Animation (2001) Shaman King (2001–2002) MegaMan NT Warrior (2002–2003) Ground Defense Force! Mao-chan (2002) Stellvia (2003) D.N.Angel (2003) Avenger (2003) Bottle Fairy (2003) MegaMan NT Warrior: Axess (2003–2004) Fafner in the Azure (2004) MegaMan NT Warrior: Stream (2004–2005) D.I.C.E. (2005) Negima! Magister Negi Magi (2005) Elemental Gelade (2005) Petopeto-san (2005) MegaMan NT Warrior: Beast (2005–2006) MegaMan NT Warrior: Beast+ (2006) Saru Get You -On Air- (2006) Saru Get You -On Air- 2nd (2006–2007) Buso Renkin (2006–2007) The Third (2006) Shooting Star Rockman (2006–2007) Hitohira (2007) Heroic Age (2007) Over Drive (2007) Zombie-Loan (2007) Shooting Star Rockman Tribe (2007–2008) Mnemosyne (2008) To Love-Ru (2008) Kanokon: The Girl Who Cried Fox (2008) Kyō no Go no Ni (2008) Pandora Hearts (2009) Ladies versus Butlers! (2010) Hana Kappa (2010–present) MM! (2010) Motto To Love-Ru (2010) Rio: Rainbow Gate! (2011) Hen Semi (2011) Softenni (2011) Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne (2012) Upotte!! (2012) Haiyore! Nyaruko-san (2012) To Love-Ru Darkness (2012) Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (2013) Haiyore! Nyaruko-san W (2013) Pokémon Origins (2013) Future Card Buddyfight (2014–2015) Maken-Ki! Two (2014) Broken Blade (2014) Monster Retsuden Oreca Battle (2014–2015) Argevollen (2014) Tokyo ESP (2014) Fafner in the Azure: Exodus (2015) Triage X (2015) Future Card Buddyfight 100 (2015–2016) To Love-Ru Darkness 2nd (2015) Future Card Buddyfight Triple D (2016–present) Keijo!!!!!!!! (2016) BanG Dream! (2017) Full Metal Panic! IV (2017)
OVAs/ONAs	Blue Seed Beyond (1996–1998) Sorcerer Hunters (1996–1997) Gekiganger III (1998) Love Hina: Christmas Special (2000) Love Hina: Spring Special (2001) Love Hina Again (2002) Special Curriculum: The Candidate for Goddess (2002) Mahō Sensei Negima! Introduction Film (2004–2005) Majokko Tsukune-chan (2005–2006) Fafner in the Azure: Right of Left (2005) Petit Eva: Evangelion@School (2007) To Love-Ru (2009–2010) Pandora Hearts Omake (2009–2010) Kanokon: Manatsu no Daishanikusai (2009) Kyō no Go no Ni (2009) Hen Semi (2010–2011) To Love-Ru Darkness (2012–2015) Rinne no Lagrange: Kamogawa Days (2012) Maken-ki! (2013) Haiyore! Nyaruko-san F (2015) Triage X (2015) To Love-Ru Darkness 2nd (2016) Pokémon Generations (2016) Black Clover (2016)
Video games	Mega Man 8 (1996) Mega Man X4 (1997) Killer7 (2005) Mega Man Maverick Hunter X (2005) The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces (2008) Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier EXCEED (2010)
Category

Ashi Productions/Production Reed
TV series	Blocker Gundan 4 Machine Blaster (1976–1977) Monchhichi Twins (1980) Space Warrior Baldios (1980–1981) GoShogun (1981) Magical Princess Minky Momo (1982–1983) Special Armored Battalion Dorvack (1983–1984) Dancouga – Super Beast Machine God (1985) Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos (1986–1987) Machine Robo: Battle Hackers (1987) Ironfist Chinmi (1988) Sonic Soldier Borgman (1988) Idol Densetsu Eriko (1989–1990) Time Travel Tondekeman (1989–1990) Idol Angel Yokoso Yoko (1990–1991) NG Knight Ramune & 40 (1990–1991) Magical Angel Sweet Mint (1990–1991) Jankenman (1991–1992) Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hold on to Your Dreams (1991–1992) Floral Magician Mary Bell (1992–1993) Macross 7 (1994–1995) Blue Seed (1994–1995) Mega Man (1994–1995) Jura Tripper (1995) H2 (1995–1996) Skysurfer Strike Force (1995–1996) Kaiketsu Zorro (1996–1997) VS Knight Ramune & 40 Fire (1996) All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku (1998) Beast Wars II: Super Life-Form Transformers (1998–1999) Cyber Team in Akihabara (1998) Super Life-Form Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (1999) Cybuster (1999) F-Zero: GP Legend (2003–2004) Ultra Maniac (2003) Jūsō Kikō Dancouga Nova (2007) Onsen Yōsei Hakone-chan (2015) Rainbow Days (2016)
Films	Space Warrior Baldios (1981) GoShogun (1982) GoShogun: The Time Étranger (1985) Vampire Hunter D (1985) Ai City (1986) Sonic Soldier Borgman: The Final Battle (1989) Sonic Soldier Borgman: Lover's Rain (1990) Sword for Truth (1990) Floral Magician Mary Bell: The Key of Phoenix (co-production with Shochiku and Toho) (1992) Floral Magician Mary Bell: Mary Bell's Traffic Safety (1993) Floral Magician Mary Bell: Mary Bell's Fire Prevention: What to Do When an Earthquake Occurs (1993) Beast Wars II: Lio Convoy's Close Call! (1998)
OVAs/ONAs	Magical Princess Minky Momo La Ronde in my Dream (1985) Dancouga: Requiem for Victims (1986) Dancouga: Jūsenkitai Songs (1986) Violence Jack: Harem Bomber (1986) God Bless Dancouga (1987) Makyō Gaiden Ladius (1987) Magical Princess Minky Momo Hitomi no Seiza Minky Momo SONG Special (1987) Leina: Wolf Sword Legend (1988–1989) Dancouga: Blazing Epilogue (1989–1990) Lightning Trap - Leina & Laika (1990) NG Knight Ramune & 40 EX (1991) Jankenman Kaiju Dai Kessen (1992) Rockman: Wish Upon a Star (1993) Sonic Soldier Borgman II: New Century 2058 (1993) NG Knight Lamune & 40 DX (1993) Idol Defense Force Hummingbird (1993–1995) Iria: Zeiram the Animation (1994) Macross 7: The Galaxy Is Calling Me! (1995) Mutant Turtles: Superman Legend (1996) Apocalypse Zero (1996) Jewel BEM Hunter Lime (1996–1997) VS Knight Ramune & 40 FRESH (1997) Macross Dynamite 7 (1997–1998) Knights of Ramune (1997) All Purpose Cultural Cat-Girl Nuku Nuku DASH! (1998) Ultra Maniac (2002) Futari Ecchi (2014)
Category