RahXephon

RahXephon (ラーゼフォン) is a 26-episode science fiction anime series about young Ayato Kamina, his ability to control a god-like mecha known as the RahXephon, and his inner journey to find a place with the world around him. There is also a manga adaptation of the anime, created by Yutaka Izubuchi and Bones, with artwork from Takeaki Momose.

The title has been released in the United States and United Kingdom by ADV Films on 7 DVDs. Additionally, there is an OVA and a movie that summarizes the whole story, taking most of the scenes from the TV episodes, but also featuring a couple of new shots. The anime was released in Singapore by Odex. The manga is published in English in North America by Viz Communications, and it is published in English in Singapore by Chuang Yi.

Cast

Japanese Cast

• Ayato Kamina – Hiro Shimono
• Haruka Shitow – Aya Hisakawa
• Quon Kisaragi – Houko Kuwashima
• Reika Mishima – Maaya Sakamoto
• Megumi Shitow – Ayako Kawasumi

English Cast

• Ayato Kamina – Chris Patton
• Haruka Shitow – Monica Rial
• Quon Kisaragi – Kira Vincent-Davis
• Reika Mishima – Mandy Clark
• Megumi Shitow – Hilary Haag

Plot

The premise of RahXephon is the fight between Humans, and pan-dimensional invaders known as the Mulians, short Mu (pronounced "moo", or "moo-li-ans"). The Mu appear to be human; the only consistent physical difference seems to be their blue blood. The Mu first invaded in the late 1990's, and after some fighting with Humans involving nuclear weapons, they envelope the entire city of Tokyo and some outlying suburbs in a transdimensional sphere resembling Jupiter. It is referred to as Tokyo-Jupiter. Nothing may cross this "absolute barrier", although it turns out that with enough power and technology it is possible to cross and even destroy it. The Mu control Tokyo, and the citizens are in effect cut off from the entire rest of the world, and are led to believe that the rest of the Earth has been destroyed. The barrier has a time-dilation effect, and time passes much more slowly inside Tokyo-Jupiter.

Although RahXephon is usually placed in the mecha category of anime, its mechas aren't mechanical at all. They are referred to as "Dolems", a name which is derived from the first three notes in music, Do-Re-Mi. Dolems are made of clay and are animated by an unknown force resembling magic. Further, each Dolem is controlled by a pilot, and the pilot is bound to the Dolem. When a Dolem is destroyed, its pilot is killed as well.

The underlying theme of RahXephon is one of music and sound. Dolem pilots are referred to as "instrumentalists". Each of the Mulian Dolems has a name like "Alegretto", "Falsetto", or "Crescendo". The ultimate goal of the RahXephon is to "tune the world".

Influences

RahXephon has many references to the Mayan culture. The Dolem's control system appears to consist of the pilot wearing a helmet shaped like a face from a Mayan sculpture [1]. Also, the cities of the Mu contain artwork that appears to be Mayan in origin. In addition, the date that the RahXephon awoke was December 21, 2012, which is the end of the Mayan long-count calendar (According to the Mayans, December 21, 2012 marks the end of the Age of the Jaguar, and the transformation of Earth into the fifth and perfect phase). Even the leader of the Mu is named Maya. This is probably not coincidential since the series draws many of its references from James Churchward's 1931 novel The Lost Continent of Mu, a story about an advanced ancient race from a large island in the South Pacific which had sunk, similiar to the legendary continent of Atlantis.

Comparison to other Anime

Many fans compare RahXephon to Neon Genesis Evangelion, usually favorably, especially as regards the proactive nature of RahXephon's protagonist and the clearer nature of RahXephon's single ending. But there are also negative comparisons by some. Some say that since RahXephon came out after NGE, the similarities in the respective protagonists functions on the shows, have accordingly damned it to copycat status.

Cultural commentary

The impermeable barrier between Tokyo and the rest of Japan with the Tokyo-Jupiter effect might be interpreted as representational of a perceived cultural barrier between the urbanized, seemingly more Westernized primate city of Tokyo and the comparably more rural and traditional rest of the country.

This analogy would make the Mu into a representation of the Japanese view of Westerners from just before the Meiji Restoration to the reconstruction following World War II: similar anatomically except for a few minor variances, an invading force, both militarily and culturally, an initially technologically superior enemy that causes the Japanese (or in RahXephon, humans) to require rapid advancement in military technology, and a scapegoat used to inflame nationalistic (or in RahXephon, non-Mu) jingoism.

The Dolems

• Allegretto – A Dolem that defends the capital of Japan. It has large bird-like wings and resembles a humanoid female figure. It is able to produce a shield and attacks using a laser on its head that pivots 360 degrees.

• Fortissimo – A humanoid female figure who resembles a tuning fork. It attacks with high frequency soundwaves.

• Forzando – A Dolem that is 3 miles long and acts like a floating fortress. It carries Dotems inside of it which can be launched out to attack. It has functionless legs which are easily destroyed by RahXephon. Its upper body was hidden in the clouds. It bound RahXephon in a cloud that it controlled.

• Dotem – 82 foot mobile weapons carried by Forzando.

• Sforzando – A Dolem that was previously attached to Forzando. It left behind a crystal in Forzando's remains. After Itsuki gave the crystal to Sayoko as a Christmas gift, it grew and assimilated with her and was able to control the weather. It caused snow and then an intense blizzard as it grew from the crystal.

• Ritardando – A 951 foot Dolem that appeared in the Aurora Borealis. It appeared 14 years ago and destroyed 8 cities in Australia, killing many people. By studying the D-1 Aria waveform, TERRA was able to predict its path. After unsuccessfully trying to absorb RahXephon, it attempted a final attack, and RahXephon shattered it.

• Larghetto – A 328 foot Dolem that fought RahXephon above the Pacific Ocean.

• Falsetto – A 393 foot tall Dolem that resembles a mushroom. It attempted to swallow RahXephon.

• Vivace – A bird-like Dolem with a halo. It engulfs RahXephon in its wings, disappears into a null zone, and forces a Dolem-stone into the RahXephon's (and Ayato's) mouth, causing the RahXephon to cease most functions and Ayato to hallucinate about being back in Tokyo Jupiter.

• Arpeggio – Appeared in orbit above Nirai Kanai. It was so far up that none of TERRA's forces could attack it. It emmitted a D-1 Aria that only Ayato and Quon could hear. It sent them a message from Maya. RahXephon shoots it down with an arrow generated from its palms.

• Alternate – Two 161 foot Dolems who, at first, appeared as one. While split in two, it trapped Ayato and Elvy in a mirrored phase space. After killing it once, RahXephon turns back time, bringing it back to life. It is defeated once again by Vermillion.

• Mud Doll – "The life form that was living underground, beneath Bähbem´s mansion. It grows by eating special rock made of a particular kind of mud. It is capable of attacking by using sound and able to resonate with Isshiki Makoto." -From Orchestration 4 booklet

• Vibrato – Dolem that resembles a girl wearing a hooded sweatshirt and is bound to Asahina. It attacks using a sharp, tentacle-like extension on its bottom. When it is struck by RahXephon, it causes the city lights to turn on in a wave.

• Obbligato – A humanoid Dolem that has sharp claws on its hands. Has a third arm in its chest. Bound to Mamoru.

• Largo – 1.6 miles. The largest of all the Dolems. Its entire lower surface works as a giant beam weapon and can obliterate entire cities. It is defeated when it is encased in a barrier similar to the one that encases Tokyo Jupiter. Bound to Kuki.

• Staccato – Accompanies the high-ranking Mulian officials at Hiranipra.

• Metronome – Guards the inside of Tokyo Jupiter. Although they float in plain sight, most people seem to be unaware that they are there. They tried to stop the RahXephon when it was running around autonomously, but failed.

• Mezzoforte – 56 feet. Appears in large numbers and can crush fighter jets.

• Grave – The first Dolem encountered outside of Tokyo Jupiter. It's shaped like a stringed instrument. It attacks from underwater with its tentacles and easily rips apart ships.

• Vermillion – Unknown Dolem with "overtechnology" built onto it for human pilots to control. Armed with a rail gun and a wave-optical cannon called the Baus-Ghazal. Humanoid, has large wings on its head and the rear of its hips. It is carrier-launched and flies by an unknown method.

• Schwarzer – Similar to the Vermillion, it's a black, piloted dolem with "overtechnology". Looks like a Vermillion with no fins on its head or hips.

See also

• Ramune – The soft drink that Ayato is unfamiliar with but encounters after leaving Tokyo Jupiter.
• Yoko Kanno – The composer of the theme song.

External links

• Official Japanese website
• Official English website