Monochrome Factor

MONOCHROME FACTOR

REVIEW
Akira Nikaido is a high school slacker with no respect for authority, school or even his own friends. He is not malicious so much as he just doesn’t give a damn about anything. Even when he impresses his wannabe rocker friends with his vocal and guitar playing abilities, Akira declines an offer to join their band since he only plays out of boredom. Then he meets Shirogane, a strange man dressed in old fashioned yet stylish clothing who tells him to meet him at his school that night. Akira becomes acquainted with the shadow world after being attacked by several shadow creatures. Shirogane informs Akira about how the balance between the human and shadow worlds has become distorted and that he help restore that balance by becoming a shin or creature of the shadow world.
Monochrome Factor is a blatant copycat of another popular series and a tired one at that. What the show lacks in originality, it only mildly makes up for in animation. Even the dialogue is weak, with the main female character only seen shrieking at her slacker friends to stop slacking. Akira does make a decent protagonist, since he is cute and sort of a bad-ass, but there is nothing that stands out about him either. While, Monochrome Factor is given a shounen ai component, even this comes off as forced and not at all sexy. When Shirogane tells Akira he must kiss him to turn into a shin then kiss him again to turn back into a human, it makes him look lecherous and desperate rather than provocative and daring. Maybe the manga is better, but the first episode of the anime is a weak start.

Monochrome Factor (モノクローム・ファクター Monokurōmu Fakutā?) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kaili Sorano.[3] It was first serialized in Mag Garden’s bi-monthly manga magazine Comic Blade Masamune in May of 2004. However, when the magazine ceased publication, the manga began serialization in the new and revamped magazine, Comic Blade Avarus,[3] in September of 2007.

The manga is licensed for distribution in North America by Tokyopop, and has so far released two volumes,[4] with the latest having been released on May 13, 2008.[5] The next two volumes are expected to be released in 2008.[6]

An anime adaptation produced by GENCO, and animated by A.C.G.T., premiered on Japan’s terrestrial television network TV Tokyo on April 7, 2008.[3] It also airs on other networks such as AT-X and TV Osaka, though the episodes will be aired on TV Tokyo first.

Monochrome Factor
Cover of the first volume released by Tokyopop
Cover of the first volume released by Tokyopop
モノクローム・ファクター
(Monokurōmu Fakutā)
Genre Action, Fantasy, Shōnen-ai
Manga
Author Kaili Sorano
Publisher Flag of Japan Mag Garden
Demographic Seinen
Serialized in Flag of Japan Comic Blade Avarus
Comic Blade Masamune (former)
Original run May 2004 – ongoing
Volumes 4[1]
TV anime
Director Yuu Kou
Studio A.C.G.T.
Network Flag of Japan TV Tokyo, AT-X, TV Osaka
Original run April 7, 2008 – June 30, 2008
Episodes 13 (planned)

Storyline

The story revolves around high school student Akira Nikaido, a typical slacker living a normal life. That is, until he meets the mysterious Shirogane, a man who suddenly appears and tells him that they have a destiny together. When Akira hears this, he is shocked and doesn’t believe a word of it. Aya, a friend of Akira, forgets something in the school one night, and asks Akira to help her and go find it. He agrees, and while there, he gets attacked by a shadow monster. Shirogane convinces him that the balance between the human world and the shadow world has been distorted and that Akira must become a “shin”- a creature of the shadow world- in order to help restore the balance.

Characters

Akira Nikaido (二海堂 昶 Nikaidō Akira?) Voiced by: Daisuke Ono
Akira is the 16-year-old protagonist of the series. He is strong and impatient, often skipping class since he does not like school. Changing into his shadow form causes his hair and portions of his clothing to turn black, and his eyes to turn red. In order for Akira to stay in his human form, he initially depends on Shirogane to become his shadow, but later on uses a Doppler item.
Shirogane (白銀?) Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe
With his trademark black coat and top hat, and long, silvery hair, Shirogane is a mysterious man who appears before Akira and involves him in the fight between the shadow world and human world.
Kengo Asamura (浅村 賢吾 Asamura Kengo?) Voiced by: Hiroshi Kamiya
Kengo is in the same class as Akira, and usually hangs out with him. Despite Akira’s distant approach, the two share a deep friendship. He has a very cheerful disposition. His latent abilities were activated in his desire to help his older sister.
Aya Suzuno (鈴野 綾 Suzuno Aya?) Voiced by: Masumi Asano
Another student in Akira’s class, Aya is part of its Disciplinary Committee, and has a strong sense of justice. She has a very direct personality and is very skilled in kendo.
Haruka Kujo (九条 悠 Kujō Haruka?) Voiced by: Mitsuki Saiga
An 11-year-old university graduate, who befriends Akira.
Shuichi Wagatsuma a.k.a. Master (マスター/我妻 秋一 Masutā / Wagatsuma Shūichi?) Voiced by: Wataru Hatano
Shuichi is an acquaintance of Shirogane’s. He owns a bar, and often treats the other characters’ injuries. He is commonly called “Master”.
Ko (洸 Kō?) Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi
One of the Rei, friend to both Akira and Kengo from an event that occurred several years ago. Loyal to Ryuko.
Homurabi (焔緋?) Voiced by: Ryōtarō Okiayu
Hiryu (氷瀏 Hiryū?)
Sawaki (澤木?)
Lulu (ルル Ruru?) Voiced by: Yukari Tamura
A girl who dresses in a gothic lolita fashion.
Nanaya (七夜 Nanaya?) Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yoshino
A mysterious, blue-haired man who wears an eye patch.
Mayu Asamura (浅村 麻結 Asamura Mayu?) Voiced by: Kotono Mitsuishi
Kengo’s older sister. Master taught her how to exorcise evil spirits. Obsessed with attractive guys, she was once possessed by a shadow but was saved by Akira. She continues harboring her yen for bishonen.
Ryuko (劉黒 Ryūko?)
King of the Rei, opposite of the Shin.

Manga

The Monochrome Factor manga series is created by Kaili Sorano. It was first serialized in Mag Garden’s Japanese bi-monthly manga magazine Comic Blade Masamune in May of 2004. When the Masamune magazine ceased publication in June 15, 2007, the manga began serialization in the new and revamped magazine, Comic Blade Avarus, in September of 2007.[3]

As of September 10, 2007, a total of four tankōbon have been released in Japan. The fifth tankōbon is scheduled to be released on March 28, 2008.[1]

The manga is licensed for distribution in North America by Tokyopop, which has released a total of two volumes as of May 13, 2008.[7][5] The third and fourth volumes are expected to released on September 9[8] and December 2[9] of 2008, respectively.

Volumes

Manga volume

Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Volume 5
Japanese release date

April 10, 2005
December 10, 2005
September 10, 2006
September 10, 2007
March 28, 2008[1]
Japanese ISBN

ISBN 4-86127-132-0[1]
ISBN 4-86127-216-5[1]
ISBN 4-86127-291-2[1]
ISBN 4-86127-399-5[1]
English release date

January 2, 2008[7]
May 13, 2008[5]
September 9, 2008[8]
December 2, 2008[9]
English ISBN

ISBN 1-4278-0069-3[4]
ISBN 1-4278-0070-7[5]
ISBN 1-4278-0775-2[8]
ISBN 1-4278-1239-X[9]

Anime

An anime adaptation produced by GENCO, and animated by A.C.G.T., began broadcast in Japan on the television network TV Tokyo on April 7, 2008.[3] The anime is expected to contain a total of thirteen episodes.[2]

Episode list

# Title Original air date
01 “Silver Shadow”
“Giniro no kage” (銀色の影)		 April 7, 2008
Akira Nikaido is an easygoing student whose life is about to change after a weird encounter with a strange man who knew Akira’s name. The man, who introduces himself as Shirogane, did not possess a shadow and explains that this is because he is a shadow himself. Akira runs from him in fright. Later that night, Akira returns with his friends, Kengo and Aya, to their high school – only to be attacked by shadow monsters. Shirogane appears out of nowhere to lend his aid but due to the overwhelming number of these monsters, he transforms Akira to a shadow and spirit like himself. The fight ends with the monsters being vanquished but with a price. Akira will only be able to return to his human form if Shirogane becomes his shadow.
02 “A Scar’s Shadow”
“Kizuato no kage” (傷痕の影)		 April 14, 2008
Akira still doesn’t trust Shirogane completely. While at school, a massive shadow monster appears. In order to save his classmates, Akira and Shirogane faces the enemy, but with great hardship; causing heavy damage to Akira and moreso to Shirogane whose back was stabbed by the monster’s fang. Shirogane then takes Akira to a bar to meet the Master, a blind bartender in possession of very strong psychic abilities. The Master heals both of them and discloses useful information regarding the Doppler item thereby allowing Akira to regain his human form without Shirogane’s intervention.
03 “The Invading Shadow”
“Shinshoku suru kage” (侵食する影)		 April 21, 2008
04 “A Blade’s Shadow”
“Ken no kage” (剣の影)		 April 28, 2008
05 “Shadow’s Back”
“Senaka no kage” (背中の影)		 May 12, 2008
06 “A Rose’s Shadow”
“Bara no Kage” (薔薇の影)		 May 19, 2008
07 “Shadow’s Beauty”
“Bijin no kage” (美神の影)		 May 26, 2008
08 “Suna okina (saou) no kage” (沙翁(さおう)の影) June 2, 2008
09 (笑忘亭(しょうぼうてい)の影) June 9, 2008
10 June 16, 2008
11 June 23, 2008
12 June 30, 2008
13 July 7, 2008
This incomplete list is frequently updated to include new information.

Music themes

Opening theme
  • “Metamorphose”
Ending theme
  • “Awake ~my everything~” (AWAKE 〜僕のすべて〜 Awake ~boku no subete~?)

Broadcast

Though the episodes air on TV Tokyo first, other networks such as AT-X and TV Osaka also air the episodes.

Broadcast network Broadcast term Broadcast day and timings (in JST)
TV Tokyo April 7, 2008 ～ ongoing (original run) Mondays 02:00 ~ 02:30
TV Osaka April 9, 2008 ～ ongoing (original run) Wednesdays 02:25 ~ 02:55
AT-X May 28, 2008 ～ ongoing (original run) Wednesdays 11:00 ~ 11:30

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