Everything about X 1999 totally explained
Kamui Shirō is the series protagonist, a powerful
esper believed to be the one who holds the key to the fate of the world. He never knew his father and was raised only by his mother, Tōru of the Magami Clan.
Kotori and
Fūma Monou are the children of the Togakushi Shrine. They were raised by their father Kyōgo after their mother Saya died under mysterious circumstances. The siblings' friendship with Kamui stems from a promise the three made as children: to always protect one another.
The series is divided into seven
story arcs:,,,,, and, starting in volume seventeen. Volumes five through seventeen of the Japanese release include short stories detailing the individual backgrounds of the Dragons of Heaven and Earth.
On
September 26,
2006, Kadokawa Shoten published
Clamp Newtype Platinum, a special Clamp edition of
Newtype Magazine. The issue includes the "X 18.5" supplement, a re-print of five previously uncollected chapters. The series is expected to reach twenty-one volumes upon completion.
The
North American version of the manga, retitled
X/1999, was serialized in
Viz Media's
Animerica Extra and released in
graphic novel form under the
Shōjo imprint.
Chuang Yi handles distribution of the English language version in
Singapore,
Australia and
New Zealand. The series has also been translated into
Brazilian Portuguese,
Chinese,
French,
German,
Indonesian,
Italian,
Korean,
Polish and
Spanish.
Adaptations
X has proven popular enough to be animated as a feature film in 1996 and a television series five years later, both by
Madhouse Studios. Although the manga remains unfinished, each adaptation provides a distinct conclusion to the story.
Feature film
The
X feature film, directed by
Rintaro (
Captain Herlock,
Doomed Megalopolis) and co-scripted by Nanase Ohkawa, premiered
August 3,
1996 in Japan. The
supernatural thriller focuses on the roles Kamui, Kotori, and Fūma play in the Apocalypse, reducing the Dragons of Heaven and Earth to peripheral characters. Even though the abbreviated story fails to place the characters' action in the proper context, the film is praised for its dreamlike atmosphere, powerful imagery and visually engaging action sequences. The film is considered a technical masterpiece, but it lacks plot and character development. The film was given a
limited release in the
United States in early 2000 and released to DVD on
September 25,
2001.
X: The Destiny War, a
comic book based on the feature film, was released on
September 30,
1996 (
Kadokawa Shoten: ISBN 4-04-852714-2).
TV series
The
X TV series directed by
Yoshiaki Kawajiri (
Ninja Scroll, ) was announced on
October 18,
2000. In anticipation to the series premiere, was released
direct-to-DVD on
August 25,
2001. Written and directed by Kawajiri, "An Omen" tells the story of the upcoming battles through the prophecies of Kakyō Kuzuki, dreamgazer for the Dragon of Earth, and acts as primer for viewers not familiar with Clamp's manga. The 2001 incarnation makes use of its longer running time and episode format to explore the original mythos and works the characters' back-stories into the narrative through the use of
flashbacks.
X finished its run on
March 27,
2002, totaling twenty-four episodes. Two days later,
Pioneer Entertainment claimed ownership of the series for distribution in
North America. On
July 11,
2006, Geneon released the
X TV Series Remix, a box set with re-encoded video and audio, including
5.1 surround sound for both the Japanese and English tracks. The series has been broadcast in
France,
Germany,
Italy,
Spain and
Latin America.
Design
Clamp's
X appears to defy the conventions of "
boys' manga" and "
girls' manga". Intended for a female audience, the series is drawn in the ornate style characteristic of
shōjo manga; but the emphasis on moral conflict and gruesome violence expected of
seinen works attracts male readers as well.
Nanase Ohkawa, the group's head writer, seized the opportunity to script her long-in-development "end of the world" epic. Conceived while she was still in
middle school, Ohkawa's original story focused on a group of warriors fighting a losing battle in the name of "
justice". While the idea never materialized, many aspects were carried over into Clamp's manga, including the lead characters of Kamui and Fūma.
The writer cites Go Nagai's
Devilman as a stylistic and thematic influence. The
ensemble cast, inspired on Kyokutei Bakin's
Nansō Satomi Hakkenden, with Clamp's own
modern mythology to tell the tale of the fate of the world. The
X mythos is inspired on the
Apocalypse of John, with Tokyo standing as a modern-day
Babylon. Like the biblical city, Clamp's Tokyo is "the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird" (
Rev. 18:2
KJV) and slated for destruction. He is the one prophesied to
return to Tokyo and the one who will determine humanity's fate. The construction of Kamui as a
messiah is reinforced by his
miraculous birth and given name. "
Kamui", like "
Christ", doubles as a title that alludes to the character's divine nature. Apocalyptic allusions abound with respect to nomenclature. On the side of the Angels is, a sentient supercomputer branded with the number
666.
Other apocalyptic standards, such as earthquakes, are employed but the apocalypse of Clamp's manga trades the religious element for an environmental theme. Inspired by the
Gaia theory, the idea that the Earth itself is one living organism, Ohkawa crafts an end brought on by humanity's abuse of the planet. The story reflects environmental concerns in its depiction of
Judgment Day. With mankind gone, the planet can regulate itself back to health and experience a rebirth.
X deals with societal issues. Being set in the present provides an outlet for the authors to reflect and comment on Japan's state of affairs. topics in
X go unspoken and
implied. it represents Kamui's potential for destruction. On each side is a, a diviner who
sees the future in its dreams.
Dreams are a source of inspiration for Ohkawa, and thus became a standard motif in her writing.
In
Tokyo Babylon, the protagonist's dreams reveal to him a hidden truth. In
xxxHolic, the characters' dreams comprise a
whole world parallel to their own.
Dreams in
X depict the future, the destruction of mankind. Hinoto, dreamgazer for the Dragons of Heaven, is convinced it can be changed.
Ohkawa explains it as
lucid dreaming, where the individual can exert conscious control over the dream to the point it can perform impossible feats.
Kakyo of the Dragons of Earth is a dreamgazer in a permanent coma who lives in the
dreamscape, always dreaming of the future and knowing there's nothing he can do about it. Although he hopes for a better future, he can't get involved and is convinced
all is predetermined, including Kamui's return.
Kamui's arrival in Tokyo unwillingly sets Armageddon in motion.
Kotori's death and Fuma's turning were foretold, but subject to the young man's allegiance. Thinking of the people he loves, Kamui chooses to become a Dragon of Heaven to protect them, but ends up losing them for it. Other characters are also at the mercy of
Fate.
Sorata Arisugawa is destined to die for a woman; but, unlike Kamui, the warrior monk embraces his preordained future and chooses Arashi Kishū of the Dragons of Heaven as the one he'll give his life for.
expresses no interest in the future of the Earth, but still he and
his counterpart are drawn to Tokyo on the Promised Day. Even with the fatalist atmosphere that persists in the series,
Ohkawa is convinced individuals exert control over their destiny the same way they choose between right and wrong.
Media
Music video
On November 21, 1993, SME Records released, a short film based on Clamp's manga, set to the music of power metal band X Japan. X² features a slideshow of X artwork set to a medley of X Japan's "Silent Jealousy," "Kurenai" and "Endless Rain" and the "X" music video directed by Shigeyuki Hayashi.
Audio Drama
The X were released from June 1996 to December 1996 by Victor Entertainment. The seven audio dramas, scripted by Nanase Ohkawa, focus on the thoughts and motivations of the individual Dragons of Heaven and Earth. The Character Files are performed by the feature film voice actors. No English translation is available.
Video games
was released for the PlayStation on August 22, 2002 by Bandai. The fighting game features a Story Mode, set in the television series continuity, and a Versus Mode, which allows players to compete against each other using any of the Dragons of Heaven or Earth. The game wasn't released outside of Japan.
X: Card of Fate, a card battle video game for the WonderSwan Color, was released June 27, 2002.
Further Information
Get more info on 'X 1999'.
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