''Human Crossing'', originally titled , is a Japanese

manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...

written by Masao Yajima and illustrated by Kenshi Hirokane. The manga is about a series of unrelated stories of people's life and their lessons in life. ''Human Crossing'' received the 1985

Shogakukan Manga Award The is one of Japan's major manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is ...

for the General category.

Manga

Shogakukan is a Japanese publisher of comics, magazines, light novels, dictionaries, literature, non-fiction, home media, and other media in Japan. Shogakukan founded Shueisha, which also founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but ...

published ''Human Crossing'' in 27 ''

tankōbon A is a standard publishing format for books in Japan, alongside other formats such as ''shinsho'' (17x11 cm paperback books) and ''bunkobon''. Used as a loanword in English, the term specifically refers to a printed collection of a manga that w ...

'' between October 1, 1981 and March 1, 1991. The series was republished into 19 '' bunkoban'' between November 17, 1994 and June 15, 1996.

Anime

The series was adapted into a 13-episode

anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...

in 2003 by A.C.G.T and produced by OB Planning. Directed by Issei Kume, it was broadcast on

TV Tokyo JOTX-DTV (channel 7), branded as is a Japanese television station that serves as the flagship of the TX Network.Geneon (abbreviated as NBCUEJ) is a Japanese music, anime, and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise that is a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, owned by American telecommunications/media company Comcast headquartered in Akasaka, Tokyo ...

in 2004. Each episode is a separate story of little relevance to each other. The anime is released in France by Kaze, and in Taiwan by

Muse Communication Muse Communication Co., Ltd. (also known simply as Muse) is a Taiwanese distributor and licensor that specializes in the distribution of Japanese animation. Based in Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City, the company also distributes Asian and E ...

. The anime uses two pieces of

theme song Theme music is a musical composition which is often written specifically for radio programming, television shows, video games, or films and is usually played during the title sequence, opening credits, closing credits, and in some instances at ...

. "REVENGE ~Asu e no Chigai~" by Nana Katase is the opening theme, while "Believing" by Aki Asahina is the ending theme.

Geneon (abbreviated as NBCUEJ) is a Japanese music, anime, and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise that is a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, owned by American telecommunications/media company Comcast headquartered in Akasaka, Tokyo ...

released a set of four DVDs for ''Human Crossing''. They released the first DVD, ''Human Crossing - The 25th Hour'' on February 8, 2005, the second DVD, ''Human Crossing, Vol. 2: The Cicadas of Winter'' on April 26, 2005, the third DVD, ''Human Crossing, Vol. 3: Message in White'' on June 28, 2005, and the fourth and final DVD, ''Human Crossing, Vol. 4: Instructor's Rain'' on August 30, 2005. On March 13, 2007,

released ''Human Crossing: Complete Brick Pack'', which contains all four DVDs of the anime. Maiden Japan has now licensed the anime series.

Episode listing

Albums

Avex trax is a record label owned by Japanese entertainment conglomerate Avex Inc. The label was launched in September 1990, and was the first label by the Group. History Two years after Max Matsuura began a career distributing studio albums from othe ...

released a soundtrack CD on ''Human Crossing'' anime's ending theme called, ''Human Scramble - Believing'', on June 4, 2003. The CD uses

Bobby Caldwell Robert Hunter Caldwell (August 15, 1951 – March 14, 2023) was an American singer and songwriter. He released several albums spanning R&B, soul, jazz, and adult contemporary. He is known for his soulful and versatile vocals. Caldwell release ...

, Marsga Randcliffe and Debra Shane lyrics. It was sung by Aki Asahina. On July 16, 2003, Hiboom released a soundtrack CD for ''Human Scramble'', containing the opening and ending themes of the anime. On January 7, 2005,

Universal Music Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum ...

released a CD for ''Human Scramble'', which was sung by Shinji Tanimura. On March 11, 2009,

created a SHM-CD version of Shinji Tanimura's 10-part album, which includes "Ningen Kosaten - Human Scramble".

Reception

Anime News Network Anime News Network (ANN) is a news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, video games, Japanese popular music and other related cultures within North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. The website offers reviews and ot ...

's Theron Martin criticizes “The 25th Hour” episode, "which comes off as preachy, improbable, and forced" but he also commends the “Direction" episode for its "poignancy and emotional appeal" at the end.

's Carlo Santos criticizes the second DVD of ''Human Crossing'' because of its animation, labeling it "stiff" and "choppy". Mania.com's Jennifer Rocks comments on the "stand-alone" nature of each episode more saying that it might be more rewarding if the anime is "viewed as a cultural study, rather than as pure entertainment".

DVD Talk DVD Talk is a home video news and review website launched in 1999 by Geoffrey Kleinman. History Kleinman founded the site in January 1999 in Beaverton, Oregon. Besides news and reviews, it features information on hidden DVD features known as ...

's Don Houston commends the anime on its "background detail" and writes that many of the episodes have a "universal appeal".

References

External links

Official Kaze ''Human Scramble'' website
* {{A.C.G.T 2003 anime television series debuts Geneon USA Maiden Japan Seinen manga Shogakukan manga TV Tokyo original programming Winners of the Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga