Hiwou War Chronicles (Japanese: 機巧奇傳ヒヲウ戦記, Hepburn: Karakuri Kiden Hiwō Senki, lit. "Karakuri Amazing Legend Hiwou War Chronicles") is an anime series, and the first to be produced by Bones. The series was first aired on NHK BS-2 and ran for twenty six episodes, from October 24, 2000, 'til May 1, 2001. Created by Shō Aikawa and directed by Tetsurō Amino, the series' character designer and chief animation director was the late Hiroshi Ōsaka.

Hiwou War Chronicles
Promotional art by Bones
機巧奇傳 ヒヲウ戦記
(Karakuri Kiden Hiwō Senki)
GenreMecha, Adventure
Created byBones
Shō Aikawa
Manga
Written byShō Aikawa
Illustrated byIchi Jinguuji
Published byKodansha
MagazineMagazine Z
DemographicSeinen
Original run19992001
Volumes4
Anime television series
Directed byTetsurō Amino
Produced byKatsuhiko Gotō
Mitsuyuki Yokohama
Michiru Ōshima
Shirō Sasaki
Korefumi Seki
Masahiko Minami
Written byAkihiko Inari
Fuyunori Gobu
Naruhisa Arakawa
Shō Aikawa (screenwriter)
Yutaka Nada
Music byHiroshi Yamaguchi
StudioBones
Licensed by
Original networkNHK BS-2
English network
Original run October 24, 2000 May 1, 2001
Episodes26

The series was subsequently aired by the anime television network Animax, who also aired it across its English language networks in Southeast Asia and South Asia.[1]

Story

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The series is set within the Meiji period of Japan, following a small boy named Hiwou. The townspeople have lived simply, making "Clockwork Dolls" or "karakuri" for festivals. Hiwou's father left the family on a long trip, and their mother has since died. The children live with friends.

Their simple life vanishes when the "Wind Gang" appears, destroys the city with their own clockwork dolls, and captures its citizens. Hiwō and his siblings and friends, Shishi, Machi, Tetsu, Mayu, Sai, and baby Jyobu (who are exploring a cave at the time), escape unharmed and embark on a quest to save the town. They take with them Homura, a huge clockwork doll that functions like a giant robot.

Along the way, they are forced to use their clockwork dolls as weapons - something they were never supposed to do, according to Hiwō's father. Early in the series, they meet Arashi, a member of the Wind Gang, and Hana and Yuki, two samurai daughters who ended up traveling with the group.

Hiwō and his friends encounter a number of historical figures, before these people entered the history books during the Meiji Restoration.

Production

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Staff

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  • Director: Tetsuro Amino
  • Music: Hiroshi Yamaguchi
  • Original creator: Shō Aikawa
  • Character Design: Hajime Jinguji, Hiroshi Osaka
  • Art director: Nobuto Sakamoto
  • Mecha design: Junya Ishigaki
  • Director of Photography: Youichi Ōgami
  • Color Coordination: Kenji Chiba
  • Historical Verification: Tetsunori Iwashita
  • Main Animation Director: Hiroshi Osaka
  • Sound director: Yasuo Uragami
  • Animation Production: BONES

Cast

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Music

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Opening theme

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Hiwou no Theme(ヒヲウのテーマ) by Hiroshi Yamaguchi

Ending theme

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CROSSROAD by Kumiko Endō

References

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  1. ^ "Hiwow War Chronicles". Animax Asia. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
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