Aruvu Rezuru: Kikaijikake no Yōseitachi
A light novel series selected for the first BOX-AiR animation.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Aruvu Rezuru: Kikaijikake no Yōseitachi (アルヴ・レズル -機械仕掛けの妖精たち-), meaning "Arve Rezzle: Mechanized Fairies," is a Japanese science fiction light novel series written by Yū Yamaguchi. It started serialization in 2011 through the electronic magazine BOX-AiR, an imprint of Kodansha Box. In December 2011, the series was chosen from eleven winners of the New Author Awards to become the first BOX-AiR title to receive an animated adaptation. A short film, produced by Zexcs as part of Anime Mirai 2013, premiered on March 2, 2013. The film was directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara, a newcomer who had previously worked as an episode director on Sket Dance.
The story takes place in 2022, where nanomachines allow the human nervous system to connect directly to external networks. People leave their physical bodies submerged in water tanks while exploring cyberspace. A system overload known as "Early Rapture" causes thousands of consciousnesses to become lost in the network. Remu Mikage's sister, Shiki, is among them. While searching for her, Remu visits her apartment and finds Shiki there. She tells him that the person he is speaking to is not his sister and has somehow taken over her body.
Key characters include Remu Mikage (voiced by Jun Fukuyama) and Shiki Mikage (voiced by Eri Kitamura).
- field
- Science fiction light novel series
- author
- Yū Yamaguchi
- serialization_start
- 2011
- publisher
- Kodansha Box (via BOX-AiR)
- animation_studio
- Zexcs
- film_director
- Tatsuya Yoshihara
- film_release_date
- March 2, 2013
Lore & Background
Set in 2022, technology has advanced to the point where the human nervous system can be seamlessly integrated into external networks thanks to nanomachines. People leave their bodies behind in water tanks while traversing through cyberspace. However, a crisis known as 'Early Rapture' occurs where the system becomes overloaded, resulting in thousands of consciousnesses being lost in the network. Remu Mikage's sister Shiki is one of them, and in an attempt to look for her he visits her apartment. He encounters Shiki there, who informs him that the person he is speaking to isn't his sister, and has somehow taken over her body.
The series features two main characters: Remu Mikage, voiced by Jun Fukuyama, and Shiki Mikage, voiced by Eri Kitamura. The short film adaptation was part of Anime Mirai 2013, a project supporting young animators.
Reader's Guide
Aruvu Rezuru: Kikaijikake no Yōseitachi holds significance as the first series from the electronic magazine BOX-AiR to receive an animated adaptation, following its selection from 11 winners of the New Author Awards in December 2011. The work explores themes of consciousness and identity in a near-future setting where human minds can inhabit cyberspace, and a catastrophic system overload leaves thousands of consciousnesses lost. The short film, directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara in his directorial debut, was produced by Zexcs and released as part of Anime Mirai 2013 on March 2, 2013. Its legacy lies in launching Yoshihara's directorial career and demonstrating the potential of BOX-AiR as a platform for new authors and animators.
Did You Know?
- The series was selected out of 11 winners of the New Author Awards to become the first BOX-AiR series to be animated.
- The short film adaptation was part of Anime Mirai 2013.
- The director, Tatsuya Yoshihara, was previously an episode director for Sket Dance.
- The story is set in 2022 and involves a crisis called 'Early Rapture' where thousands of consciousnesses are lost in a network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Arve Rezzle: Mechanized Fairies?
It is a Japanese science fiction light novel series written by Yū Yamaguchi, whose Japanese title (アルヴ・レズル -機械仕掛けの妖精たち-) translates to 'Arve Rezzle: The Mechanized Fairies.' The story is published under Kodansha Box's digital imprint BOX-AiR.
Who wrote Arve Rezzle: Mechanized Fairies?
Yū Yamaguchi is the author of the series. The work has been serialized through BOX-AiR, an electronic magazine operated by Kodansha Box, since its 2011 debut.
Did Arve Rezzle receive an anime adaptation?
Yes. In December 2011 it was picked from eleven New Author Award winners to become the first BOX-AiR title to get an animated version. A short film was produced by studio Zexcs under the Anime Mirai 2013 banner, directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara, and premiered on March 2, 2013.
When did Arve Rezzle: Mechanized Fairies first appear?
The series began serialization in 2011 on the BOX-AiR digital platform. It has continued as an ongoing light novel series since that initial launch.
Why is Arve Rezzle considered a milestone for light novels?
It earned the distinction of being the very first work from the BOX-AiR imprint to be greenlit for animation, a selection made from a pool of eleven award-winning new authors. This helped establish the digital-first platform as a viable pipeline for animated adaptations within the broader industry.
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