Kantai Collection (艦隊これくしょん), known as KanColle (艦これ) for short, is a 2015 Japanese anime television series produced by Diomedéa, based on the game of the same name by Kadokawa Games. The series was announced in September 2013,[3] and aired from January to March 2015.[4][5][6] An animated film, titled KanColle: The Movie (劇場版 艦これ), was released on November 26, 2016.[7][8][9]
A second installment titled KanColle: Someday in that Sea (「艦これ」いつかあの海で) by ENGI aired from November 2022 to March 2023. The stories of the first and second animes are not connected and are separate works, not being set in the same universe and timeline.[10]
Plot
In a world where humanity faces the threat of the abyssal fleet which has taken over the seas, special human girls who don weaponized outfits and possess the spirit of historical naval vessels known as kanmusu (艦娘) are the only ones capable of countering them. The kanmusu live together at a naval base, where they spend their everyday lives as they begin training for battle.
1st anime
The series features the destroyer Fubuki as the main character, with the storyline based on her point of view.[11][12] Fubuki arrives at the naval base, where she meets other girls that she will eventually fight alongside. Despite lacking adequate combat training, she is recommended into the Third Torpedo Squadron by the admiral, and quickly finds herself sortied into battle. Upon being rescued by Akagi in a dangerous situation, Fubuki strives to do her best in order to train, with the hopes of eventually being able to fight alongside Akagi.
Film
The film follows the development of the 1st anime, keeping the main cast with some new additions. Kisaragi plays here a more prominent role, and the movie also introduces another element from the game, a "Dark Portal".
Characters
Characters (1st anime)
Destroyers (1st anime)
- [13]
- A newcomer destroyer to the naval base, and assigned to the, Fubuki is the main protagonist of the first instalemnt of the series. Meek and timid, at the beginning of the series she has no combat experience prior to transferring to the base, and performs poorly at physical activity. She is assigned temporarily to the during the Battle of Southwest Area, before being transferred to the during Operation MO and Operation FS, where she earns the respect of her peers, who choose her as their Flagship. Having a deep admiration for Akagi, she dreams of eventually becoming her escort, eventually doing so following her first remodel.
Broadcast and distribution
The series is directed by Keizō Kusakawa, with the script written by Jukki Hanada,[14][15][16] and features the voice cast from the original game.[17][18] The show's premiere screening event took place at Shinjuku Piccadilly on December 27, 2014.[19] The 12-episode series aired in Japan between January 8 and March 26, 2015 and was simulcast by Crunchyroll.[20]
Reception
The first volume of the anime ranked second place within Oricon's weekly anime Blu-ray sales charts during its first week of release, selling 16,789 units and trailing behind the limited edition Blu-ray boxset of Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works;[32] the same volume also placed third within the anime DVD sales charts, with 3,184 units sold.[33]
Jonathan Gad of Vice said that the Kantai Collection anime television series is historically revisionist, criticising the show's depiction of the Japanese protagonists being victorious in the Battle of Midway.[34]
Timothy Blake Donohoo of Comic Book Resources said that despite the series being historically revisionist, it is the historical World War II aspect of Kantai Collection that is likely the main draw for its fans.[35]
External links
References
- Crunchyroll to Stream KanColle TV Anime Crunchyroll, January 3, 2015, retrieved January 5, 2019^
- J. M. Melegrito. ANIPLUS Asia schedules Kantai Collection the Movie's premiere on April 22 Anime Pilipinas, April 6, 2017, retrieved August 30, 2017^
- 【速報】『艦これ改 (仮)』PS Vitaで2014年発売決定 『艦これ』アニメ化企画も進行中！