Sorcerer Hunters
Encyclopedia
is a 13-volume manga
series, written by Satoru Akahori
and illustrated by Rei Omishi
. Akahori and Omishi also published Sorcerer Hunters Special, a one-volume story set sometime after the series' conclusion.
In the United States
Sorcorer Hunters was serialized in MixxZine, replacing Ice Blade
, which had ended.
users, the Sorcerers. Marked by the triangles on their foreheads, many Sorcerers dominate, exploit, torment, murder, and enslave the Parsoners of the Spooner Continent.
The Sorcerer Hunters are a group of warriors who protect humans from the Sorcerers. They are under the command of a holy woman who goes by the name of "Big Mama", the head of the popular Stella Church, who seeks to protect Parsoners from the gifted Sorcerers who have chosen to abuse their powers.
The plot focuses on the adventures of a small family group of Sorcerer Hunters, including the Glace Brothers (Carrot and his younger brother Marron), their childhood friends, the Misu Sisters (Tira and her older sister Chocolate), and Gateau Mocha.
Almost all character names are pun
s on the names of foods, particularly pastries.
The style is usually a parody
of fantasy
clichés, but it occasionally satirizes pop culture in the broader sense. For example, one entire chapter is a dedicated parody of the popular Iron Chef
cooking show. In another one, the characters drink a potion
to make them the heroes of various anime series, such as Urusei Yatsura
, Darkstalkers, Sailor Moon
, and even literary classics, such as Alexandre Dumas'
' The Three Musketeers
and Louisa May Alcott
's Little Women
.
The primary protagonist
and the de facto
leader of the Sorcerer Hunters, Carrot is an apparently powerless boy who carries a longsword
, but almost never uses it due to extreme imprecision. However, he does have one ace in the hole. When he comes into contact with a Sorcerer's magic, his Aranju and Zoanthropy activate one of his 12 beast genes and transform him into a giant, out-of-control monster. It takes Tira Misu to bring him back to his normal state in the animated series; in the manga, she wears Carrot's monster form down while his brother Marron pulls the magic out of Carrot. Carrot's forms are based on the animals of the Chinese Zodiac
, and he has been known to transform twice during a fight.
Carrot is a lascivious pervert with a ravenous libido
; he propositions nearly every woman he sees with either a date or sex. In fact, the only two women whom he does not pursue are Tira and Chocolate, who really love him, and both of them take great offense to Carrot's lust
ful pursuits. In his defense, Carrot doesn't view himself as being unfaithful to the Misu sisters; he has a brotherly love for them rather than a romantic type, and he feels uneasy with the notion of being with Tira or Chocolate romantically and thus, uses this rationale to chase after other girls. Unfortunately, this doesn't suit very well with the sisters, who think he ignores their affections. As a result, when they are not in battle with sorcerers, Carrot is often the victim of the Misu sisters' barrage of whippings as punishment for his constant infidelity (or what they perceive as infidelity) towards them, which is another reason Carrot fears both the sisters. Later in the series, he professes his love to both Tira and Chocolate and even marries Tira at the end of the manga. However, even though Chocolate let her sister marry him, she's still bound and determined to bear Carrot's first child.
Marron is Carrot's younger brother, although he appears to be older due to his height, as well as his docile, mature manner. Unlike Carrot, Marron is a gentleman. He is an expert practitioner of Eastern style magic, which does not require one to be born a Sorcerer. He conjures the same spirit beasts as Tsuzuki from Yami no Matsuei. Marron is also a very skilled swordsman, but he rarely uses his sword skills. He is pursued by Gateau because of his beauty. Despite being a male he's beautiful enough to catch Gateau's attention. While he seems to mostly ignore Gateau's advances, there is a running gag with his overt, suspicious affection for his older brother, more pronounced in the manga than the anime. Marron is said to be gay
but is really more asexual
.
Growing up, Carrot always protected Marron from other kids who bullied him on account of his rather feminine looks. Now in their teens, Marron returns the favor by taking out anyone who harms him, his friends, and especially his older brother Carrot.
Though powerful, Marron does have some weak points shown better in the manga, such as a total lack of tolerance for alcohol. He's named after the European confection.
The oldest of the five Sorcerer Hunters, Gateau was not raised in the Sorcerer Hunters' village on Mt. Saint Hordic; as a result, he is one of the few to join in adulthood (in the anime, he and Éclair grew up with the Glace brothers and Misu sisters). His advantage is immense physical strength due to a lifetime of martial arts
training; he is also partially immune to magic due to that strength. Gateau's parents were killed by Sacher Torte, and his younger sister Eclair was abducted at that time; shortly afterwards, he met Chocolate and joined her team.
Gateau is excessively macho
and also bisexual
, as shown in the manga by his statement "Beauty transcends gender." He also has a libido that nearly rivals that of Carrot, the only main character to whom Gateau has no attraction. Unlike Carrot, however, Gateau knows when to put his libido in check.
Gateau's main hobby is exhibitionism
, often stripping to a Speedo
and posing, accompanied by a cry of "Look at meee!" There's a running gag with him openly showing attraction to Marron due to his physical beauty, only to be ignored by the younger mystic.
His first name means "cake
" in French
.
Tira, along with Chocolate, was raised by Carrot and Marron's father and mother, Onion and Apricot. She resembles Little Red Riding Hood
, dressed in an oversized cloak and glasses.
She seems very meek and shy, but reveals a bolder side of her personality in combat, pulling away her cloak and revealing her whip and leather Dominatrix
gear. She is very skilled with the whip and is the one who usually beats Carrot down after he transforms, turning him back to human form in the anime.
Tira is deeply in love with Carrot, but due to her shy nature she isn't very up front until later in the manga, so her love for Carrot is an open secret
. Tira gets jealous when Carrot lusts after other girls, and along with her sister Chocolate, she whips Carrot as punishment for his constant skirt-chasing. Tira even gets miffed when she sees Chocolate incessantly flirting with Carrot.
In battle, Tira occasionally uses a whip
. She also has basic knowledge of Gaia's magic, which is derived from nature; magic she learned from Apricot Glace, though she is only able to heal with it. Her dominatrix attire in the manga and OVAs is the traditional ensemble consisting of black leather stiletto-heel boots, bustier
s, corset
s, and spiked dog chains. Her anime attire, however, has a more colorful style, consisting of a tight, skimpy, orange and white leotard with an emerald "tie", white gloves and heels. In the manga, her dominatrix outfit changes often—sometimes even during the same story. In the anime, she appeared in her manga outfit after being reborn.
At the end of the manga, Tira finally admits her love to Carrot and marries him.
Her name is a pun on the Italian dessert
.
Chocolate is the sexy, straightforward, sometimes high-maintenance, short-tempered and somewhat nymphomaniac older sister of Tira. She is madly in love
with Carrot (whom she calls "Darling" although there have been few times she's called Carrot by name) and literally throws herself at him. Often, Carrot is petrified of her and flees from her advances. Still, she keeps a close bond with Tira, protecting her when it's needed and fighting in her name. She and Gateau are a separate team early in the manga, but eventually all five form a single group.
Chocolate is a dominatrix like Tira, but is far more violent and savage than her sister, and is also able to turn Carrot back to normal in the anime—after beating him up even harder than Tira. Her main weapon is her garrote
and she is incredibly skilled with it. It's suggested that her character was inspired by Lum
from Urusei Yatsura
.
Chocolate's dominatrix attire in the manga and OVAs resembles that of a Nazi German
soldier. It consists of a leather cap (with the Nazi symbols of the eagle
carrying the swastika
as well as the Gestapo Death's Head
), suspenders that barely cover her ample bust, leather pants and boots. (Her dominatrix attire in the manga and OVAs is also reminiscent of that worn by Charlotte Rampling
in the 1974 film The Night Porter
.) However, in the TV anime, her attire is more reflective of a biker: a slightly modest red leather bra top, along with similar leather pants, boots and cap (sans the Nazi symbol), with red gloves. At the end of the anime, after being reborn, Chocolate appears in her manga outfit with her sister.
Even though she loves Carrot sincerely, Chocolate is a very jealous girl and is quite vicious and ferocious towards Carrot when she catches him cheating on her, and whips him mercilessly (though she is most vicious to those that harm her friends in particular Tira and Carrot). Normally, however, she is very amorous and romantic towards him, always smothering him in deep love and affection, which is the reason Carrot keeps his distance from her between the two sisters. Chocolate often has romantic/sexual dreams of her and Carrot together. These shōjo
esque fantasies usually feature Carrot as very well-groomed and debonair-looking, as well as often ending in Carrot making love to her; in which she often goes into complete ecstacy
. Oddly enough, her own image in these fantasies show her to be either meek or submissive, which is a big change from what she truly is.
At the end of the manga, Chocolate allows her sister to marry Carrot, though that doesn't stop her from trying to seduce him and bearing his children.
An important part of the plot is that the 5 Sorcerer Hunters are reincarnation
s of 5 gods. They are:
There's a reason for this: Carrot is the reincarnation of the Destruction god Hakaishin while the other 4 Hunters are the reincarnations of the 4 gods that subdued him, which explains why it takes Tira and/or Chocolate as well as even Marron to bring Carrot back to his normal human form.
Big Mama is an imposing being with great magical abilities. Her real name is Kanure Stella and she, alongside Sacher Torte, formed the Sorcerer Hunters, and henceforth dedicated her life to the punishment of evil Sorcerers. The highest rank of the Sorcerer Hunters, the Haz Knights, are her personal bodyguards.
Also known as Dotta, she is Big Mama's messenger and assistant. She is one of only two survivors of the Winged People. She wears qipao
, and usually has her hair up in small buns.
(OVA)
Also known as Milphey-uy, he is a transvestite
who most often acts with Carrot's group and has a thorough knowledge of necromancy
and all kind of magic. His power comes from his Guardian Spirit, the Phoenix
. He is also bisexual and constantly flings himself at both Onion and Carrot, which draws more ire from Tira and Chocolate, and flirts with them, though he's also shown some degree of interest in Tira and Marron.
A very youthful-looking blonde girl with a slow manner, she has the power of super speed.
He is a master of magical chemistry, using test tubes and flasks as powerful magic explosives, as well as for other offensive and defensive uses.
This man is another highly skilled mystic, specializing in ice.
A former Haz Knight who left the group to raise a family. He wields twin axes that can inflict serious damage. He married Apricot Anzu, a fellow hunter and is Carrot and Marron's father. His appearance is very similar to Carrot's, with the addition of a facial scar and a far more muscular body. After the death of Apricot, it seems he has become as much of a lecher as his oldest son, at times. Of the two he acts as if he dislikes Carrot, though adores Marron for the resemblance to his dead wife.
A former Sorcerer Hunteress who can change into her own outfit and uses a knife as well as nature magic. She becomes the head of the Stella Church at the end of the manga. She is Onion's wife and the Glace brothers' mother.
Nicknamed the "Butterfly of Death", Shicho is a kunoichi
ally of the Soga Clan who has poison in her blood.
Potato Chips
A pint-sized sorcerer with a lisp, he looks far more like his father who makes an appearance in the manga.
Salad Chips
Salad Chips is Potato's short and rather young-looking mother. She is over 30 though looks no more than 12.
Grand Pa
An elder at the village of hunters who resembles Yoda
from Star Wars
, he offers wisdom and support to Sorcerer Hunters though his true identity has a far darker twist (see below in Enemies).
A sorcerer doctor and wielder of the Plantina Energy, he was once an ally of Big Mama. He helped found the Sorcerer Hunters, but eventually left because of differences between himself and Mama. He is Chocolate and Tira's adoptive father. He's named after the Austrian dessert
.
The Sorcerer Hunter Killers
The Five Guardian Spirits, assembled by Sacher to guard the Plantina Stones. They are named after stars.
Lendoll Carlsburg, the sonic gunslinger from the town of Tamales who gave the hunters all they could handle
Four Lords of Darkness, ancient demons who once terrorized the world
alter egos.
television series which aired on TV Tokyo
from October 3, 1995 to March 3, 1996. In North America
, the series is licensed by ADV Films.
The TV series was followed by a three-episode original video animation
(OVA).
Sorcerer Hunters has three releases in dramatic audio format in which the main roles are all performed by the same actors as in the TV series and OVA. The first set, Sorcerer Hunters Whip I - V, was released on June 22, 1994. This was followed in 1995 by Sorcerer Hunters II, The Monthly Collection: 1st Season - 5th Season. The third set, Sorcerer Hunters SP, came out in 1996.
Ending theme
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series, written by Satoru Akahori
Satoru Akahori
is a Japanese scriptwriter, novelist and manga author. He is best known for the Saber Marionette, Sakura Wars and Sorcerer Hunters series, which comes in anime, novel and manga forms.-Works:*Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai...
and illustrated by Rei Omishi
Rei Omishi
Rei Omishi is a Japanese screenwriter and manga author/artist. She is best known for the Sorcerer Hunters series, which comes in anime and manga forms....
. Akahori and Omishi also published Sorcerer Hunters Special, a one-volume story set sometime after the series' conclusion.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Sorcorer Hunters was serialized in MixxZine, replacing Ice Blade
Ice Blade
is manga series written and illustrated by Tsutomu Takahashi, published in Kodansha's Afternoon magazine from 1992 to 1999. It was announced by Afternoon's October magazine that a new Jiraishin series would be in the magazine good! afternoon and would be known as Jiraishin diablo, which is...
, which had ended.
Story
Sorcerer Hunters is set on the Spooner Continent, where the populace is divided into two groups: the ordinary people, called the Parsoners, and the magicMagic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
users, the Sorcerers. Marked by the triangles on their foreheads, many Sorcerers dominate, exploit, torment, murder, and enslave the Parsoners of the Spooner Continent.
The Sorcerer Hunters are a group of warriors who protect humans from the Sorcerers. They are under the command of a holy woman who goes by the name of "Big Mama", the head of the popular Stella Church, who seeks to protect Parsoners from the gifted Sorcerers who have chosen to abuse their powers.
The plot focuses on the adventures of a small family group of Sorcerer Hunters, including the Glace Brothers (Carrot and his younger brother Marron), their childhood friends, the Misu Sisters (Tira and her older sister Chocolate), and Gateau Mocha.
Themes
Family (La Familia) is one of the story's main themes, playing a very important role throughout the manga.Almost all character names are pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
s on the names of foods, particularly pastries.
The style is usually a parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
clichés, but it occasionally satirizes pop culture in the broader sense. For example, one entire chapter is a dedicated parody of the popular Iron Chef
Iron Chef
is a Japanese television cooking show produced by Fuji Television. The series, which premiered on October 10, 1992, is a stylized cook-off featuring guest chefs challenging one of the show's resident "Iron Chefs" in a timed cooking battle built around a specific theme ingredient. The series ended...
cooking show. In another one, the characters drink a potion
Potion
A potion is a consumable medicine or poison.In mythology and literature, a potion is usually made by a magician, sorcerer, dragon, fairy or witch and has magical properties. It might be used to heal, bewitch or poison people...
to make them the heroes of various anime series, such as Urusei Yatsura
Urusei Yatsura
is a comedic manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi that premiered in Weekly Shōnen Sunday in 1978 and ran until its conclusion in 1987. Its 374 individual chapters were collected and published in 34 tankōbon volumes. The series tells the story of Ataru Moroboshi, and the alien...
, Darkstalkers, Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon, known as , is a media franchise created by manga artist Naoko Takeuchi. Fred Patten credits Takeuchi with popularizing the concept of a team of magical girls, and Paul Gravett credits the series with "revitalizing" the magical-girl genre itself...
, and even literary classics, such as Alexandre Dumas'
Alexandre Dumas, père
Alexandre Dumas, , born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie was a French writer, best known for his historical novels of high adventure which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world...
' The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, first serialized in March–July 1844. Set in the 17th century, it recounts the adventures of a young man named d'Artagnan after he leaves home to travel to Paris, to join the Musketeers of the Guard...
and Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist. She is best known for the novel Little Women and its sequels Little Men and Jo's Boys. Little Women was set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts, and published in 1868...
's Little Women
Little Women
Little Women is a novel by American author Louisa May Alcott . The book was written and set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts. It was published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869...
.
Main
The primary protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
and the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
leader of the Sorcerer Hunters, Carrot is an apparently powerless boy who carries a longsword
Longsword
The longsword is a type of European sword designed for two-handed use, current during the late medieval and Renaissance periods, approximately 1350 to 1550 .Longswords have long cruciform hilts with grips over 10 to 15 cm length The longsword (of which stems the variation called the bastard...
, but almost never uses it due to extreme imprecision. However, he does have one ace in the hole. When he comes into contact with a Sorcerer's magic, his Aranju and Zoanthropy activate one of his 12 beast genes and transform him into a giant, out-of-control monster. It takes Tira Misu to bring him back to his normal state in the animated series; in the manga, she wears Carrot's monster form down while his brother Marron pulls the magic out of Carrot. Carrot's forms are based on the animals of the Chinese Zodiac
Chinese zodiac
The Shēngxiào , better known in English as the Chinese Zodiac, is a scheme that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes, according to a 12-year mathematical cycle...
, and he has been known to transform twice during a fight.
Carrot is a lascivious pervert with a ravenous libido
Libido
Libido refers to a person's sex drive or desire for sexual activity. The desire for sex is an aspect of a person's sexuality, but varies enormously from one person to another, and it also varies depending on circumstances at a particular time. A person who has extremely frequent or a suddenly...
; he propositions nearly every woman he sees with either a date or sex. In fact, the only two women whom he does not pursue are Tira and Chocolate, who really love him, and both of them take great offense to Carrot's lust
Lust
Lust is an emotional force that is directly associated with the thinking or fantasizing about one's desire, usually in a sexual way.-Etymology:The word lust is phonetically similar to the ancient Roman lustrum, which literally meant "purification"...
ful pursuits. In his defense, Carrot doesn't view himself as being unfaithful to the Misu sisters; he has a brotherly love for them rather than a romantic type, and he feels uneasy with the notion of being with Tira or Chocolate romantically and thus, uses this rationale to chase after other girls. Unfortunately, this doesn't suit very well with the sisters, who think he ignores their affections. As a result, when they are not in battle with sorcerers, Carrot is often the victim of the Misu sisters' barrage of whippings as punishment for his constant infidelity (or what they perceive as infidelity) towards them, which is another reason Carrot fears both the sisters. Later in the series, he professes his love to both Tira and Chocolate and even marries Tira at the end of the manga. However, even though Chocolate let her sister marry him, she's still bound and determined to bear Carrot's first child.
Marron is Carrot's younger brother, although he appears to be older due to his height, as well as his docile, mature manner. Unlike Carrot, Marron is a gentleman. He is an expert practitioner of Eastern style magic, which does not require one to be born a Sorcerer. He conjures the same spirit beasts as Tsuzuki from Yami no Matsuei. Marron is also a very skilled swordsman, but he rarely uses his sword skills. He is pursued by Gateau because of his beauty. Despite being a male he's beautiful enough to catch Gateau's attention. While he seems to mostly ignore Gateau's advances, there is a running gag with his overt, suspicious affection for his older brother, more pronounced in the manga than the anime. Marron is said to be gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
but is really more asexual
Asexuality
Asexuality , in its broadest sense, is the lack of sexual attraction and, in some cases, the lack of interest in sex. Sometimes, it is considered a lack of a sexual orientation...
.
Growing up, Carrot always protected Marron from other kids who bullied him on account of his rather feminine looks. Now in their teens, Marron returns the favor by taking out anyone who harms him, his friends, and especially his older brother Carrot.
Though powerful, Marron does have some weak points shown better in the manga, such as a total lack of tolerance for alcohol. He's named after the European confection.
The oldest of the five Sorcerer Hunters, Gateau was not raised in the Sorcerer Hunters' village on Mt. Saint Hordic; as a result, he is one of the few to join in adulthood (in the anime, he and Éclair grew up with the Glace brothers and Misu sisters). His advantage is immense physical strength due to a lifetime of martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
training; he is also partially immune to magic due to that strength. Gateau's parents were killed by Sacher Torte, and his younger sister Eclair was abducted at that time; shortly afterwards, he met Chocolate and joined her team.
Gateau is excessively macho
Machismo
Machismo, or machoism, is a word of Spanish and Portuguese origin that describes prominently exhibited or excessive masculinity. As an attitude, machismo ranges from a personal sense of virility to a more extreme male chauvinism...
and also bisexual
Bisexuality
Bisexuality is sexual behavior or an orientation involving physical or romantic attraction to both males and females, especially with regard to men and women. It is one of the three main classifications of sexual orientation, along with a heterosexual and a homosexual orientation, all a part of the...
, as shown in the manga by his statement "Beauty transcends gender." He also has a libido that nearly rivals that of Carrot, the only main character to whom Gateau has no attraction. Unlike Carrot, however, Gateau knows when to put his libido in check.
Gateau's main hobby is exhibitionism
Exhibitionism
Exhibitionism refers to a desire or compulsion to expose parts of one's body – specifically the genitals or buttocks of a man or woman, or the breasts of a woman – in a public or semi-public circumstance, in crowds or groups of friends or acquaintances, or to strangers...
, often stripping to a Speedo
Speedo
Speedo International Ltd. is a manufacturer and distributor of swimwear and swim-related accessories. Founded in Australia in 1914, the industry leading company is now a subsidiary of Pentland Group Plc. Today, the Speedo brand can be found on products ranging from swimsuits and goggles to wrist...
and posing, accompanied by a cry of "Look at meee!" There's a running gag with him openly showing attraction to Marron due to his physical beauty, only to be ignored by the younger mystic.
His first name means "cake
Cake
Cake is a form of bread or bread-like food. In its modern forms, it is typically a sweet and enriched baked dessert. In its oldest forms, cakes were normally fried breads or cheesecakes, and normally had a disk shape...
" in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
Tira, along with Chocolate, was raised by Carrot and Marron's father and mother, Onion and Apricot. She resembles Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood, also known as Little Red Cap, is a French fairy tale about a young girl and a Big Bad Wolf. The story has been changed considerably in its history and subject to numerous modern adaptations and readings....
, dressed in an oversized cloak and glasses.
She seems very meek and shy, but reveals a bolder side of her personality in combat, pulling away her cloak and revealing her whip and leather Dominatrix
Dominatrix
Dominatrix or mistress is a woman or women who takes the dominant role in bondage, discipline and sadomasochism, or BDSM. A common form of address for a submissive to a dominatrix is "mistress", "ma'am", "domina" or "maîtresse"...
gear. She is very skilled with the whip and is the one who usually beats Carrot down after he transforms, turning him back to human form in the anime.
Tira is deeply in love with Carrot, but due to her shy nature she isn't very up front until later in the manga, so her love for Carrot is an open secret
Open secret
An open secret is a concept or idea that is "officially" secret or restricted in knowledge, but is actually widely known; or refers to something which is widely known to be true, but which none of the people most intimately concerned are willing to categorically acknowledge in public.Examples of...
. Tira gets jealous when Carrot lusts after other girls, and along with her sister Chocolate, she whips Carrot as punishment for his constant skirt-chasing. Tira even gets miffed when she sees Chocolate incessantly flirting with Carrot.
In battle, Tira occasionally uses a whip
Whip
A whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid in dressage...
. She also has basic knowledge of Gaia's magic, which is derived from nature; magic she learned from Apricot Glace, though she is only able to heal with it. Her dominatrix attire in the manga and OVAs is the traditional ensemble consisting of black leather stiletto-heel boots, bustier
Bustier
A bustier is a form-fitting garment for women, which is traditionally worn as lingerie. Its primary purpose is to push up the bust by tightening against the upper midriff and forcing the breasts up, while gently shaping the waist. Nowadays, it might also be worn as a push-up bra under a low-backed...
s, corset
Corset
A corset is a garment worn to hold and shape the torso into a desired shape for aesthetic or medical purposes...
s, and spiked dog chains. Her anime attire, however, has a more colorful style, consisting of a tight, skimpy, orange and white leotard with an emerald "tie", white gloves and heels. In the manga, her dominatrix outfit changes often—sometimes even during the same story. In the anime, she appeared in her manga outfit after being reborn.
At the end of the manga, Tira finally admits her love to Carrot and marries him.
Her name is a pun on the Italian dessert
Tiramisu
Tiramisu, , , literally "pick me up", is an Italian cake and dessert.It is made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of egg yolks and mascarpone, and flavored with liquor and cocoa...
.
Chocolate is the sexy, straightforward, sometimes high-maintenance, short-tempered and somewhat nymphomaniac older sister of Tira. She is madly in love
Unrequited love
Unrequited love is love that is not openly reciprocated or understood as such, even though reciprocation is usually deeply desired. The beloved may or may not be aware of the admirer's deep affections...
with Carrot (whom she calls "Darling" although there have been few times she's called Carrot by name) and literally throws herself at him. Often, Carrot is petrified of her and flees from her advances. Still, she keeps a close bond with Tira, protecting her when it's needed and fighting in her name. She and Gateau are a separate team early in the manga, but eventually all five form a single group.
Chocolate is a dominatrix like Tira, but is far more violent and savage than her sister, and is also able to turn Carrot back to normal in the anime—after beating him up even harder than Tira. Her main weapon is her garrote
Garrote
A garrote or garrote vil is a handheld weapon, most often referring to a ligature of chain, rope, scarf, wire or fishing line used to strangle someone....
and she is incredibly skilled with it. It's suggested that her character was inspired by Lum
Lum Invader
is a fictional character and the female protagonist from Rumiko Takahashi's manga and anime series Urusei Yatsura. She is often believed to be the main protagonist of the series due to her iconic status. However, Takahashi has stated that Ataru Moroboshi is the main character. She is named Lamu in...
from Urusei Yatsura
Urusei Yatsura
is a comedic manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi that premiered in Weekly Shōnen Sunday in 1978 and ran until its conclusion in 1987. Its 374 individual chapters were collected and published in 34 tankōbon volumes. The series tells the story of Ataru Moroboshi, and the alien...
.
Chocolate's dominatrix attire in the manga and OVAs resembles that of a Nazi German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
soldier. It consists of a leather cap (with the Nazi symbols of the eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
carrying the swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
as well as the Gestapo Death's Head
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
), suspenders that barely cover her ample bust, leather pants and boots. (Her dominatrix attire in the manga and OVAs is also reminiscent of that worn by Charlotte Rampling
Charlotte Rampling
Charlotte Rampling, OBE is an English actress. Her career spans four decades in English-language as well as French and Italian cinema.- Early life :...
in the 1974 film The Night Porter
The Night Porter
The Night Porter is a controversial 1974 film by Italian director Liliana Cavani, starring Dirk Bogarde and Charlotte Rampling.- Synopsis :...
.) However, in the TV anime, her attire is more reflective of a biker: a slightly modest red leather bra top, along with similar leather pants, boots and cap (sans the Nazi symbol), with red gloves. At the end of the anime, after being reborn, Chocolate appears in her manga outfit with her sister.
Even though she loves Carrot sincerely, Chocolate is a very jealous girl and is quite vicious and ferocious towards Carrot when she catches him cheating on her, and whips him mercilessly (though she is most vicious to those that harm her friends in particular Tira and Carrot). Normally, however, she is very amorous and romantic towards him, always smothering him in deep love and affection, which is the reason Carrot keeps his distance from her between the two sisters. Chocolate often has romantic/sexual dreams of her and Carrot together. These shōjo
Shojo
The term refers to manga marketed to a female audience roughly between the ages of 10-18. The name romanizes the Japanese 少女 , literally: "little female". Shōjo manga covers many subjects in a variety of narrative and graphic styles, from historical drama to science fiction — often with a strong...
esque fantasies usually feature Carrot as very well-groomed and debonair-looking, as well as often ending in Carrot making love to her; in which she often goes into complete ecstacy
Ecstasy (emotion)
Ecstasy is a subjective experience of total involvement of the subject, with an object of his or her awareness. Because total involvement with an object of our interest is not our ordinary experience since we are ordinarily aware also of other objects, the ecstasy is an example of altered state of...
. Oddly enough, her own image in these fantasies show her to be either meek or submissive, which is a big change from what she truly is.
At the end of the manga, Chocolate allows her sister to marry Carrot, though that doesn't stop her from trying to seduce him and bearing his children.
An important part of the plot is that the 5 Sorcerer Hunters are reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
s of 5 gods. They are:
- Carrot—Hakaishin, the god of Destruction (which explains his beast forms)
- Marron—Yaksha, the god of the East who carries a sword (explanation of Marron's rarely seen sword skills)
- Gateau—Karlman, the god of the North who resembles a god from Norse MythologyNorse mythologyNorse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
- Tira—Apros, the goddess of the West who's also a healer
- Chocolate—Kuurin, the goddess of the South who resembles the Hindu goddessHinduismHinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
KaliKali' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
There's a reason for this: Carrot is the reincarnation of the Destruction god Hakaishin while the other 4 Hunters are the reincarnations of the 4 gods that subdued him, which explains why it takes Tira and/or Chocolate as well as even Marron to bring Carrot back to his normal human form.
- Voiced by: Sumi ShimamotoSumi Shimamoto, real name , is a veteran Japanese voice actress born on December 8, 1954, in Kōchi, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. After graduating from the Toho Gakuen School of Music, she joined Gekidan Seinenza, a theatrical acting troupe...
(Japanese), Kelly ManisonKelly ManisonKelly Evelyn Manison is an American voice actress working for ADV Films and Seraphim Digital. She has been featured in almost 100 films and television programmes...
(English, OVA), Sue UluSue UluSue Ulu is an American voice actress specializing in English voice dubs for anime. She is best known for voicing the role of Dr. Ritsuko Akagi in the English dub of Neon Genesis Evangelion. She also has performed local theater in the Houston, Texas area. She moved to Los Angeles in 1999 to pursue...
(English, TV)
Big Mama is an imposing being with great magical abilities. Her real name is Kanure Stella and she, alongside Sacher Torte, formed the Sorcerer Hunters, and henceforth dedicated her life to the punishment of evil Sorcerers. The highest rank of the Sorcerer Hunters, the Haz Knights, are her personal bodyguards.
Also known as Dotta, she is Big Mama's messenger and assistant. She is one of only two survivors of the Winged People. She wears qipao
Qipao
The cheongsam is a body-hugging one-piece Chinese dress for women; the male version is the changshan. It is known in Mandarin Chinese as the qípáo Wade-Giles ch'i-p'ao, and is also known in English as a mandarin gown...
, and usually has her hair up in small buns.
Haz Knights
The Haz Knights are the most elite Sorcerer Hunters, with amazing powers, augmented by magical armor. Mille is the first to appear in the manga, while the others don't appear until volumes Nine, Ten and Eleven.(OVA)
Also known as Milphey-uy, he is a transvestite
Transvestism
Transvestism is the practice of cross-dressing, which is wearing clothing traditionally associated with the opposite sex. Transvestite refers to a person who cross-dresses; however, the word often has additional connotations. -History:Although the word transvestism was coined as late as the 1910s,...
who most often acts with Carrot's group and has a thorough knowledge of necromancy
Necromancy
Necromancy is a claimed form of magic that involves communication with the deceased, either by summoning their spirit in the form of an apparition or raising them bodily, for the purpose of divination, imparting the ability to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge...
and all kind of magic. His power comes from his Guardian Spirit, the Phoenix
Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
. He is also bisexual and constantly flings himself at both Onion and Carrot, which draws more ire from Tira and Chocolate, and flirts with them, though he's also shown some degree of interest in Tira and Marron.
A very youthful-looking blonde girl with a slow manner, she has the power of super speed.
He is a master of magical chemistry, using test tubes and flasks as powerful magic explosives, as well as for other offensive and defensive uses.
This man is another highly skilled mystic, specializing in ice.
A former Haz Knight who left the group to raise a family. He wields twin axes that can inflict serious damage. He married Apricot Anzu, a fellow hunter and is Carrot and Marron's father. His appearance is very similar to Carrot's, with the addition of a facial scar and a far more muscular body. After the death of Apricot, it seems he has become as much of a lecher as his oldest son, at times. Of the two he acts as if he dislikes Carrot, though adores Marron for the resemblance to his dead wife.
A former Sorcerer Hunteress who can change into her own outfit and uses a knife as well as nature magic. She becomes the head of the Stella Church at the end of the manga. She is Onion's wife and the Glace brothers' mother.
Supporting
ShichoNicknamed the "Butterfly of Death", Shicho is a kunoichi
Kunoichi
is the term for a female ninja or practitioner of ninjutsu .-Etymology:The term is thought to derive from the names of characters that resemble the three strokes in the kanji character for ; said in the order they are written: ku - no - ichi...
ally of the Soga Clan who has poison in her blood.
Potato Chips
A pint-sized sorcerer with a lisp, he looks far more like his father who makes an appearance in the manga.
Salad Chips
Salad Chips is Potato's short and rather young-looking mother. She is over 30 though looks no more than 12.
Grand Pa
An elder at the village of hunters who resembles Yoda
Yoda
Yoda is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, appearing in the second and third original films, as well as all three prequel trilogy films. A renowned Jedi master, Yoda made his first on-screen appearance in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back where he is responsible for...
from Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
, he offers wisdom and support to Sorcerer Hunters though his true identity has a far darker twist (see below in Enemies).
Enemies
The Crystal Magicians, who turn humans into gems used for mystical purposesA sorcerer doctor and wielder of the Plantina Energy, he was once an ally of Big Mama. He helped found the Sorcerer Hunters, but eventually left because of differences between himself and Mama. He is Chocolate and Tira's adoptive father. He's named after the Austrian dessert
Sachertorte
Sachertorte is a chocolate cake. It was invented by chance by Austrian Jewish Franz Sacher in 1832 for Klemens Wenzel von Metternich in Vienna, Austria. It is one of the most famous Viennese culinary specialties. The Original Sachertorte is only made in Vienna and Salzburg, and it is shipped from...
.
- Sapphire Regal
- Emerald Ren
- Diamond Ra
- Ruby Rulan
- Death Master, a powerful Necromancer
The Sorcerer Hunter Killers
- Steel Grey, who is made of liquid metal and can morph his body into a lethal weapon a la the T-1000T-1000The T-1000 is a fictional nanomorph mimetic poly-alloy assassin and the main antagonist in Terminator 2: Judgment Day controlled by the series main antagonist Skynet. The T-1000 is portrayed primarily by Robert Patrick; however, being a shape-shifter, the T-1000 is played by other actors in some...
from T2. - Moss Green, a female who has similar powers to Steel Grey.
- Gia Purple
The Five Guardian Spirits, assembled by Sacher to guard the Plantina Stones. They are named after stars.
- Artail
- Ice Vega, a master of ice and cold. It was inspired by Mister Freeze from BatmanBatmanBatman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
. - Sirius of the Wind, one of the Winged People. He falls in love with Daughter and eventually surrenders to the hunters. He goes to live with Daughter and they begin trying to make a family.
- Kengyu Kiba, a living suit of SamuraiSamuraiis the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
Armor - Deneb, once Éclair Mocha, Gateu's younger sister. Sacher removed her memories, and she became Deneb of Sacher's guardian spirits. She has strength to rival her brother's and some magical abilities, she eventually regains her memory and goes to live at Mt. Saint Hordic with the Sorcerer Hunters. Her character designer admits her inspiration was Cammy.
Lendoll Carlsburg, the sonic gunslinger from the town of Tamales who gave the hunters all they could handle
Four Lords of Darkness, ancient demons who once terrorized the world
- Almond Rasseru, the bodiless one who possessed Carrot's mother
- Gin Namba
- Cashew Prize, the most ruthless of the four who reformed and became Gran Pa
- Cool Mint, had the power to conjure dead peopleNecromancyNecromancy is a claimed form of magic that involves communication with the deceased, either by summoning their spirit in the form of an apparition or raising them bodily, for the purpose of divination, imparting the ability to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge...
. - Charlotte Stella, Kanure's little brother who is virtually all powerful
Criticisms
Many fans of the original manga disliked the anime version, viewing it as being unfaithful to the manga with its many differences in story (adapted by Hiroyuki Kawasaki) and character design (adapted by Keiji Gotō). There is some debate over whether Sorcerer Hunters was edited to match with Japanese broadcast standards for children's television or whether the show was altered to appeal more to younger audiences without controversy. The OVA uses the original character designs, which are again adapted by Gotō. Many characters who did not appear in the television series appeared in the OVA. Also, Tira and Chocolate (who are 18 and 19 years old respectively), look physically mature in their dominatrixDominatrix
Dominatrix or mistress is a woman or women who takes the dominant role in bondage, discipline and sadomasochism, or BDSM. A common form of address for a submissive to a dominatrix is "mistress", "ma'am", "domina" or "maîtresse"...
alter egos.
Adaptations
Xebec later adapted Sorcerer Hunters as a 26-episode animeAnime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
television series which aired on TV Tokyo
TV Tokyo
is a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...
from October 3, 1995 to March 3, 1996. In North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, the series is licensed by ADV Films.
The TV series was followed by a three-episode original video animation
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
(OVA).
Sorcerer Hunters has three releases in dramatic audio format in which the main roles are all performed by the same actors as in the TV series and OVA. The first set, Sorcerer Hunters Whip I - V, was released on June 22, 1994. This was followed in 1995 by Sorcerer Hunters II, The Monthly Collection: 1st Season - 5th Season. The third set, Sorcerer Hunters SP, came out in 1996.
TV episode list
| # | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
Music
Opening theme- "What's Up Guys?"
- Lyrics by: Miho Matsuba
- Composition by: Sho Goshima and Toshiro Yabuki
- Arrangement by: Toshiro Yabuki
- Song by: Shinnosuke FurumotoShinnosuke Furumotois a Japanese voice actor, actor and radio personality.-Notable voice roles:*Carrot Glace in Sorcerer Hunters*Junkers in Junkers Come Here*Pantyhose Taro and Genji Heita in Ranma ½-External links:...
and Megumi HayashibaraMegumi Hayashibarais a Japanese voice actress, singer, radio personality, and lyricist from Tokyo. She is currently affiliated with Aksent. Her nicknames include: Megu-san, Megu-nee, Bara-san, Kakka, and Daijin...
Ending theme
- "MASK"
- Lyrics and composition by: Masami Okui
- Arrangement by: Toshiro Yabuki and Tsutomu Ohira
- Song by: Masami OkuiMasami Okuiis a Rock/Pop/Anison singer who was born in Itami, Hyōgo, Japan. She began her professional musical career at age 21 as a concert backup singer.From almost the very beginning of her career, Masami has sung themes for anime TV and movies...
and Kasumi Matsumura