A Channel (manga)


A Channel, is a Japanese four-panel comic strip by bb Kuroda. It was serialized from 2008 to 2021 in the seinen manga magazine Manga Time Kirara Carat, published by Houbunsha. A prequel manga series, also by Kuroda, launched in Manga Time Kirara Carino from January 2012. An anime adaptation by Studio Gokumi aired in Japan between April 8, 2011, and June 24, 2011. An original video animation, A Channel +smile, was released on March 21, 2012.
WWW a-ch.jp

Plot

Adolescent girls Tooru Ichii and Run Momoki have been best friends since childhood. After passing her entrance exams, Tooru manages to enroll in the high school that Run is attending. Tooru decides to tell Run the news, only to come at a bad time and find her and her new classmate Yuko Nishi involved in an embarrassing situation, which makes things a bit awkward but funny on their first day of school, as Tooru begins fending off others who might show interest in Run while Yuko and another friend, Nagi Tennoji, start dealing with Run's own penchant for drama. As Run, Nagi and Yuuko begin their sophomore year while Tooru begins her freshman year, their high school life filled with drama, humor and adventure begins.

Characters

Main characters

;Tōru Ichii
;Run Momoki
;Nagisa "Nagi" Tennōji
;Yūko Nishi

Other characters

;Yutaka Imai
;Miho Noyama
;Kimiko Kitō
;Taki Kamate
;Sachiyo Satō
;Keiko

Books and publications

Manga

The manga by bb Kuroda began serialization in Manga Time Kirara Carat from October 28, 2008. Eleven tankōbon volumes have been released as of November 25, 2020. An anthology comic featuring guest authors was released on June 27, 2011. A prequel manga series, A Channel ~days in junior high school~ began serialization in Manga Time Kirara Carino magazine from January 27, 2012.

Anime

An anime adaptation produced by Studio Gokumi aired in Japan between April 8, 2011, and June 24, 2011. The series began release on Blu-ray Disc and DVD from May 25, 2011, with each volume containing two short +A Channel mini-episodes. Sentai Filmworks released the series on DVD in North America on February 28, 2012, with a Blu-ray release followed on January 27, 2015. An OVA, titled A Channel + smile, was released on March 21, 2012. Another OVA episode was included with a Blu-ray Disc Box released on September 27, 2017. Sentai Filmworks's license for A Channel expired on April 30, 2019.

Music

;Opening Theme
;Ending Theme
;Insert Songs
  • "Chemistry of a Spring Breeze" by Kaori Fukuhara, Aoi Yūki, Minako Kotobuki and Yumi Uchiyama
  • "Start" by Kaori Fukuhara, Aoi Yūki, Minako Kotobuki and Yumi Uchiyama
  • "I Want to Hold You Tight" by Aoi Yūki
  • "Summer Dream Syndrome" by Kaori Fukuhara
  • "Mermaid Sisters" by Minako Kotobuki
  • "Let's Explore!" by Yumi Uchiyama
  • "Summer Breeze" by Minako Kotobuki
  • "Tea's Melodical Beauty Bang Bang" by Kaori Fukuhara
  • "One Night's Love, One Night's Dream" by Yumi Uchiyama
  • "Friends" by Kaori Fukuhara and Aoi Yūki
  • "Your Hand" by Daisuke Ono
  • "We Don't Have Wings" by Kaori Fukuhara and Aoi Yūki
  • "Sweets Time" by Kaori Fukuhara, Aoi Yūki, Minako Kotobuki and Yumi Uchiyama
  • "Happy Snow" by Kaori Fukuhara, Aoi Yūki, Minako Kotobuki and Yumi Uchiyama
  • "Surely, Always, More" by Aoi Yūki
  • "Unidentified Flying Girl" by Minako Kotobuki and Yumi Uchiyama
  • "A Special Place" by Aoi Yūki, Ai Matayoshi and Momoko Saitō
  • "Happy New Days" by Aoi Yūki, Kaori Fukuhara, Minako Kotobuki and Yumi Uchiyama

Appearances in other media

Characters from the series appear alongside other Manga Time Kirara characters in the 2017 mobile RPG, Kirara Fantasia.