The World God Only Knows

The World God Only Knows

The cover of The World God Only Knows volume 3 as published by Shogakukan
神のみぞ知るセカイ
(Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai)
Genre Romantic comedy,[1] Parody, Fantasy, Harem
Manga
Written by Tamiki Wakaki
Published by Shogakukan
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday
Original run April 9, 2008 – April 23, 2014
Volumes 26
Light novel
Written by Mamizu Arisawa
Illustrated by Tamiki Wakaki
Published by Shogakukan
Demographic Male
Imprint Gagaga Bunko
Published May 19, 2009
Original video animation
Flag.0
Directed by Shigehito Takayanagi
Written by Hideyuki Kurata
Music by Hayato Matsuo
Studio Manglobe
Released September 17, 2010
Runtime 2 minutes
Anime television series
Directed by Shigehito Takayanagi
Written by Hideyuki Kurata
Music by Hayato Matsuo
Studio Manglobe
Licensed by
Network TV Tokyo
English network
Original run October 6, 2010 – December 22, 2010
Episodes 12
Anime television series
The World God Only Knows II
Directed by Shigehito Takayanagi
Written by Hideyuki Kurata
Music by Hayato Matsuo
Studio Manglobe
Licensed by
Network TV Tokyo
English network
Animax Asia
Original run April 12, 2011 – June 28, 2011
Episodes 12
Original video animation
The World God Only Knows: 4 Girls and an Idol
Directed by Shigehito Takayanagi
Written by Hideyuki Kurata
Music by Hayato Matsuo
Studio Manglobe
Licensed by
Released September 16, 2011
Runtime 24 minutes
Original video animation
The World God Only Knows: Tenri-Hen
Directed by Shigehito Takayanagi
Written by Hideyuki Kurata
Music by Hayato Matsuo
Studio Manglobe
Licensed by
Released October 16, 2012 – December 18, 2012
Runtime 24 minutes
Episodes 2
Manga
Magical Star Kanon 100%
Written by Tamiki Wakaki
Published by Shogakukan
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday
Original run March 27, 2013 – April 10, 2013
Original video animation
Magical Star Kanon 100%
Directed by Mitsuko Kase
Written by Yūko Kawabe
Music by Hayato Matsuo
Studio Manglobe
Licensed by
Released June 18, 2013
Runtime 24 minutes
Anime television series
The World God Only Knows: Goddesses
Directed by Satoshi Ōsedo
Written by Hideyuki Kurata
Music by Hayato Matsuo
Studio Manglobe
Licensed by
Network TV Tokyo, TVO, TSC, TVQ, TVh, TV Aichi
English network
Animax Asia
Original run July 8, 2013 – September 23, 2013
Episodes 12
Manga
Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai: On the Train

The World God Only Knows (神のみぞ知るセカイ?, Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai) , abbreviated as Kaminomi (神のみ?) ,[2][3] is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tamiki Wakaki. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday from 2008 to 2014, with the 268 individual chapters published into 26 tankōbon volumes by Shogakukan. The prototype version of the story was first featured as a one-shot in Weekly Shōnen Sunday on its 2007 Issue 32 release, and was titled "Koishite!? Kami-sama!!" (恋して!? 神様?) . The tankōbon have been adapted into three anime series produced by Manglobe, which were broadcast in Japan from 2010 to 2013. The anime series has been licensed for an English-language release by Sentai Filmworks in North America.

Plot

Keima Katsuragi, a second-year high school student, is an avid player of gal games (video games that involve interactions with anime-styled pretty girls). He is known on the Internet as "The God of Conquests" (落とし神 Otoshi-gami) for his legendary skills to be able to "conquer" any 2D girl in games. However, in his actual school life, Keima is called otamega (オタメガ?) , a derogatory portmanteau of the two words otaku (オタク?) and megane (メガネ?, glasses) .

At the start of the series, Keima receives an e-mail offering him a contract to "conquer" girls and, thinking it is an invitation to a game challenge, he accepts. In response, a cute demon from Hell named Elsie appears: a Spirit Hunter. She asks for his cooperation to help her in catching the evil spirits that have escaped to the Human Realm: the "Loose Souls", which were once Old Demons from Hell. These evil spirits hide themselves inside the hearts of girls, feeding off the hosts' negative emotions to replenish their power and strength, in becoming whole demons once again (which in turn, the host becomes an empty shell of a person). Elsie suggests that the only method to force the evil spirits out is by "conquering" the girls' hearts, making them fall in love with him and filling up the gaps which the escaped evil spirits hide in, in which she is then able to capture them. Interested only in video game girls, however, Keima is appalled by the idea, and refuses the assignment as he has no romantic real life experiences whatsoever. Nevertheless, with the contract already agreed, Keima has no choice but to help Elsie no matter what, as they will be beheaded by an invisible (to others) purple collar around their necks if they fail.

After winning the hearts of several girls (and capturing the spirits residing in them), Keima and Elsie are given an even greater mission: to awaken the six goddesses known as the Jupiter Sisters. Each sister is dormant in the heart of a girl among those they have previously helped, thus Keima must locate them and conquer their hearts a second time. This time however, they remember the encounters he has had with them already, due to the goddesses inside them, causing high tension and constant possible failure as he tries to conquer the girls simultaneously. However, his time is limited as a rebel demon faction called "Vintage" is planning to capture the goddesses and take over the world.

After Vintage's plans are thwarted, Keima starts seeing visions of a child who is somewhat familiar to him. The goddesses send Keima and Elsie to the past with the task of helping her. Upon arriving, they team up with a mysterious girl who apparently has some connection with Dokuro, Elsie's superior in the underworld, and Keima discovers that several occurrences in the past are different from what he remembers, leading to a tragic chain of events that he must avert to ensure that the present stays unaltered, as well as another demon faction which releases giant humanoid monsters.

As Keima completes his final mission, he discovers the truth about one of the giants and is able to reconcile with it. He is relieved from the collar and returns to his normal life in the real world, although Elsie chooses to remain with him. He then professes his love for Chihiro Kosaka, one of the girls who has liked him from the beginning.

In addition to Keima's romantic comedy adventures, the series makes fun of and parodies common, and popular cliches about dating sims, anime character stereotypes, and pop culture.

Media

Manga

The World God Only Knows is written and illustrated by Tamiki Wakaki, serialized in the Japanese manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday since April 9, 2008.[4] Wakaki created a prototype version of the story which debuted as a one-shot in Weekly Shōnen Sunday 2007 Issue 32 and was titled, "Koishite!? Kami-sama!!" (恋して!? 神様!!).[5] Publication is ongoing in Japan by Shogakukan; the first tankōbon was released on July 11, 2008, and as of March 18, 2014, 25 volumes have been released.[6][7] A 3-chapter spin-off series, titled Magical Star Kanon 100% (マジカル☆スターかのん１００％), portrayaing Kanon Nakagawa as a magical girl ran in Weekly Shonen Sunday from March 27, to April 10, 2013. The series was published along with additional chapters in a book, bundled with the limited edition of the 21st volume of the main series, released on April 16, 2013.[8]

The series is licensed in South Korea by Haksan Culture Company, and the first two volumes of the series has been simultaneously released on August 2009 with limited edition supplement for each.[9]

Light novel

A light novel entitled The World God Only Knows―God and the Devil and an Angel (神のみぞ知るセカイ―神と悪魔と天使 Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai Kami to Akuma to Tenshi), written by Mamizu Arisawa and illustrated by Tamiki Wakaki, was released on May 19, 2009, published by Shogakukan under their Gagaga Bunko label.[10] The novel features a completely original story, disparate from the series, with original novel characters.

A second light novel entitled The World God Only Knows 2 Prayer and Curse and Miracle (神のみぞ知るセカイ 2 祈りと呪いとキセキ Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai Inori to Noroi to Kiseki) was released on May 18, 2010.[11]

Anime

The anime adaptation was officially announced in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday 2010 Issue #19.[12] It was announced that script writer Hideyuki Kurata, character designer Watanabe Akio, and director Shigehito Takayanagi would be working on the project.[13][14] The studio in charge of the animation is Manglobe.[15] A prologue OVA episode was released and bundled together with the tenth manga volume on September 17, 2010.[16] On September 18, 2010, Crunchyroll announced the anime would be streaming online on their site.[17] The anime aired on TV Tokyo from October 6 to December 22, 2010,[18] with the second season airing from April 11 to June 28, 2011. A second OVA episode, titled Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai: 4-nin to Idol (神のみぞ知るセカイ　4人とアイドル, "The World God Only Knows: 4 Girls and an Idol"), was released on a DVD, bundled together with the fourteen manga volume on September 16, 2011.[19] At Anime Weekend Atlanta 2011, Sentai Filmworks announced that they have licensed both seasons of the anime in North America and released the first season on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in January 2012.[20] A third OVA, titled Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai: Tenri-Hen (神のみぞ知るセカイ　天理篇, "The World God Only Knows: Tenri Arc"), was released in two parts with the 19th and 20th volumes of the manga, on October 16 and December 18, 2012.[21][22] A third season of the anime and a spin-off OVA based on the character Kanon were announced in the 2013's combined 2nd and 3rd issues of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine.[23] The spin-off is titled Magical Star Kanon 100% (マジカル☆スター かのん100％) and was released bundled with the 22nd volume of the manga on June 18, 2013.[24] The third season, titled The World God Only Knows: Goddesses (神のみぞ知るセカイ 女神篇 Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai: Megami-Hen), began airing on TV Tokyo on July 8, 2013, and was simulcast on Crunchyroll.[25]

Reception

The third volume of The World God Only Knows was the fourth highest-selling tankōbon in Japan on the Oricon Comic Chart for the week of January 13 and January 19, 2009, with over 50,500 copies sold that week.[26] The following week, it was the twenty-first highest-selling manga volume in Japan, having sold 30,600 copies the week of January 20 and January 26, 2009. As of January 2009, the third manga volume have sold about 81,100 copies.[27]

Carlo Santos of Anime News Network reviewed the anime's first season and gave it a B where he was surprised how much he enjoyed the great storyline despite its plot description alone might be off putting to some saying, "By most expectations, anything involving ditzy demon girls and gaming-obsessed geekboys and a rotating lineup of high school beauties should have been the stuff of critical derision. Yet the show's sharp sense of humor, honest emotions, and polished production values prove that working with familiar clichés doesn't have to result in a clichéd product. With the right prodding and poking, any anime series can indeed become greater than the sum of its parts." Anime & Manga have finished."Goodbye" - A Anime/Manga Lover [28]

References

  1. ↑ "The World God Only Knows Manga Gets New Video Anime". Anime News Network. June 10, 2011.
  2. ↑ As seen on Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine.
  3. ↑ 2008, April 25-Tamiki Wakaki's blog (Japanese) The author also acknowledged Kamishiru (神しる?) , Misoshiru (みそしる?) , Kamiseka (神セカ?) as alternative abbreviation
  4. ↑ Wakaki, Tamiki (2008-04-09). 4/9:孫悟空の髪の毛のごとく。 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-07-26.
  5. ↑ Wakaki, Tamiki (2007-07-25). 7/25:外れメール送信終わりました。 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  6. ↑ 神のみぞ知るセカイ　２４　クリアファイルセット付き限定版 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
  7. ↑ 神のみぞ知るセカイ　２４ (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
  8. ↑ 神のみぞ知るセカイ 21 マジカル☆スターかのん１００％コミックス付 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  9. ↑ "Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai question" (in Korean). Haksan Culture Company. 2009-07-21. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
  10. ↑ "Shogakukan : 神のみぞ知るセカイ" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  11. ↑ "Shogakukan : 神のみぞ知るセカイ2" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  12. ↑ "Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai Manga Gets Anime Green-Lit". Anime News Network. April 2, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  13. ↑ 2010, May 14 - Announced at Tamiki Wakaki's blog (Japanese)
  14. ↑ As seen on Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine 2010 Issue #25, #26.
  15. ↑ As seen on Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine 2010 Issue #27.
  16. ↑ "The World God Only Knows Manga to Bundle Anime DVD". Anime News Network. August 4, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Crunchyroll Adds Squid Girl, KamiNomi, Letter Bee 2". Anime News Network. September 18, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai's 2nd Season Listed for April 2011". Anime News Network. October 5, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  19. ↑ "The World Only God Knows Manga Gets New Video Anime". Anime News Network. June 10, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Sentai Filmworks Licenses Towa no Quon, The World God Only Knows". Anime News Network. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  21. ↑ "神のみぞ知るセカイ 19 OVA付限定版 (少年サンデーコミックス)" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  22. ↑ "神のみぞ知るセカイ 20 DVD付特別版 (特品)" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  23. ↑ "The World God Only Knows Anime Gets 3rd Season & Spinoff OVA". Anime News Network. December 7, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  24. ↑ "The World God Only Knows' New OVA Slated for June 18". Anime News Network. March 11, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Crunchyroll to Stream More World God Only Knows, Silver Spoon, Makai Ouji". Anime News Network. July 6, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, January 13–19". Anime News Network. 2009-01-21. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  27. ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, January 20–26". Anime News Network. 2009-01-28. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  28. ↑ "The World God Only Knows Episodes 1-12 streaming". Anime News Network. 2011-01-23. Retrieved 2011-02-10.
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