Kagerou Project


The Kagerou Project, also known as Kagerou Daze or Kagerou Days, sometimes referred to as Kagepro, is a Japanese mixed-media project created by Jin.
It initially began as a series of Vocaloid songs that became increasingly popular following the release of the third song, "Kagerou Daze". Eventually, a light novel and manga series, both under the name of Kagerou Daze, were released. In 2014, an anime by Shaft was also released under the name "Mekakucity Actors".

Story

Shintarō Kisaragi has not left his house in over two years, spending all day on his computer and getting ruthlessly teased by Ene, an annoying computer virus. When Shintarō spills a drink on his computer keyboard, he has to buy a replacement in person. Unfortunately, terrorists arrive and Shintaro is taken hostage. However, he meets a group of young people, including his own sister, called the "Mekakushi Dan" who stop the criminals using mysterious powers. They then force Shintarō to join their group. Little does he know, the Mekakushi Dan are in for a never-ending summer.

Routes

The series contains alternative storylines, endings, and in some cases, beginnings, depending on the format of the media. Each storyline is called a "route". These are not adaptations to one another.
  • Music Route : the first route created. It contains "Route 1" and "Route XX". It is the series of Vocaloid songs, each focusing on a different character and/or event within the story. There are 2 main albums, Mekakucity Days and Mekakucity Records.
  • * Another album, Mekakucity Reload, was released, but the songs in it do not take place within the music route. Rather, they take place around the whole series.
  • * Summertime Record from Mekakucity Records also does not occur in the Music Route, but in the Anime Route.
  • Manga Route : Though it was debuted in June 2012, Jin confirmed he was working on the manga earlier on, writing the story for it as of "Konoha's World Situation's" music video release in May 2012. It contains "Manga Route 1" and "Manga Route 2", and has 13 total volumes.
  • Novel Route : Contains only one route told from a first-person perspective. Like the songs, every volume focuses on a different character, but they also have chapters about other characters. It has 8 total volumes.
  • Anime Route: The final canonical route, marking the end of the project. It contains covers of the songs, that were collected along with the OST in "Mekakucity M's".
  • Kagerou Daze -in a day's- is an MX4D produced an animated short movie in which the Mekakushi Dan join up once again to stop an incident occurring at the mall. This Mekakushi Dan consists of Dan members 1-7 initially, and also containing Ene, Hibiya Amamiya, Konoha, and Hiyori Asahina, despite the events of the previous "routes". Certain other members related to the Dan do not appear in this "route", while instead "new" characters do; however, the "new" characters' identities were kept somewhat secret, including their names. The "new" characters were created specifically for this film. However, the canonicity of this route is debatable.
Various other smaller or shorter timelines occur within the series but are not completely shown. These are all indicated in detail in the "Kagerou Project Perfect Guide" and with glimpses from other routes. While most of the timelines occur between August 14–15, some timelines' initial storylines are indicated to happen before the main series begins. This includes the backstories of Kido, Kano, and Seto, supporting character Ayano Tateyama, and Mekakushi Dan member Marry Kozakura. Other timelines detailing Marry's own backstory and historical events also are noted to happen on August 15 or other close dates.

Characters

Mekakushi Dan

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In Route XX among other "bad end" timelines, Clearing Eyes kills all the members of the Mekakushi Dan besides Marry, and has her reset the timeline. This happens by means of her Combining Eyes ability, used through her by the snake of 'Clearing Eyes', who "awakens" her, and, by "collecting" the snakes that "have lost their owners", she reverses time in order to save everyone. Marry seemingly reverses time at the end of every official "route" and "timeline" seen thus far.
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Other characters

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Media

CD / DVDs

The series began as a series of albums that were released alongside the novels. The soundtracks were produced by Jin and released by IA Project. The first album is titled Mekakucity Days and was released on May 30, 2012. It was followed by a single, "Children Record", on August 15, 2012. A second album titled Mekakucity Records was released on May 29, 2013. A third album titled Mekakucity Reload was announced on August 15, 2017 and was released November 7, 2018.

Songs

Light novels

The Kagerou Daze light novels are written by Jin with illustrations from Kagerou Project music video maker Sidu. The first volume was released on May 30, 2012, by Enterbrain on their KCG Bunko imprint, and will conclude in the eighth volume on December 29, 2017. Yen Press has been releasing the novels in English in North America since May 26, 2015.
There is an anthology series called Mekakushi Dan: Watchers that is made up of short stories from a Pixiv contest.
There is a novel anthology series named Kagerou Daze Novel Anthology made from other Pixiv competitions.

Manga

The Kagerou Daze manga is illustrated by Mahiro Satou. It began serialization in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Gene on June 15, 2012. The first tankōbon volume was released on November 27, 2012; thirteen volumes have been released as of March 27, 2019. Yen Press will release the manga in English in North America, with the first volume released on April 21, 2015.
There is also an ongoing anthology series called Kagerou Daze Official Anthology Comic and each volume goes with a certain theme. It is written and illustrated by various people including Kagerou Daze light novel artist and music video creator Sidu, the Kagerou Daze manga artist Mahiro Satou, and Kagerou Project music video creator Wannyanpu.

Anime

A Kagerou Project anime titled Mekakucity Actors, directed by Akiyuki Shinbo and produced by Shaft, began airing on April 12, 2014. The anime adaptation starring Kana Asumi as Ene, Kana Hanazawa as Mary, and Mamoru Miyano as Konoha. This is the first voice-acting of Asumi since her marriage on January 14, 2014. The teaser website of the anime series was launched on January 17, 2014. The anime has been licensed for streaming by Aniplex of America. The opening theme is "Daze" sung by Jin feat. Maria from Garnidelia and the ending theme is "Days" by Jin feat. Lia. For episode six, the opening insert song is "Headphone Actor" and the ending insert song is "Yūkei Yesterday"; both songs are performed by Jin feat. LiSA. For episode eight, the ending insert song is "Lost Time Memory" sung by Jin feat. Kōta Matsuyama from Byee the Round. For episode nine, the opening insert song is "Ayano no Kōfuku Riron" sung by Jin feat. Aki Okui. All songs are composed by Jin.
A Kagerou Project short anime film titled Kagerou Daze -in a day's- was directed by Sidu and produced by Studio Jumonji. It was produced with MX4D presentation in mind and premiered on November 4, 2016. The opening theme is "Red" by Gouache, a band Jin is a part of.
A Kagerou Project anime titled Mekakucity Reload was announced at the Seek at Mekakucity event on August 15, 2016.