Re:bel Robotica
Japanese mixed-media project about MR beings and Kiramon.
Re:bel Robotica (Japanese: レベルロボチカ, Hepburn: Reberu Robochika), often written as RE:BEL ROBOTICA, is a Japanese mixed-media project from Mika Pikazo and Arch. It started as the AAO Project, originally a doujinshi that Pikazo sold at Summer Comiket on August 11, 2017. The project went official in December 2019, when its website went live and a serialized novel began. Two novels followed in September 2022, published by Shinchosha under their Shincho Bunko nex imprint: one by Ryō Yoshigami and another by Gakuto Mikumo. An anime television series from Silver Link is scheduled to air in 2027.
The story takes place in 2050, where technology has blurred the line between real and virtual worlds, creating something called Meta Reality (MR). People can use their senses to interact with this virtual space. Taiki, a high school student, has weak MR senses—a condition known as MR bug—so he can't use MR fully. When a monster attacks, an MR being named Lily saves him. They team up to fight Kiramon, MR monsters that used to be human.
Taiki is a 15-year-old student with MR bug. After Lily rescues him, he sees his condition as a way to help fight the Kiramon. Lily is a Robotica, an advanced AI without a physical body, who saved Taiki. Kurumi is Taiki's childhood friend and classmate, full of energy. Asato is another classmate, antisocial and fascinated by Robotica.
Mika Pikazo came up with the idea early in the VTubing era, wondering what it would be like if VTubers could interact with people directly. Since VTubing was still new, she was intrigued by its ties to virtual and augmented reality and wanted to build a world where those ideas felt real. She started by imagining life as a high school student in 2050, why Lily exists, and how she met Taiki. Pikazo first released the project as a doujinshi at Summer Comiket in 2017. That caught Arch's attention, and they helped develop it further. Science-fiction writer Ryo Yoshigami and Gakuto Mikumo—known for *Asura Cryin'* and *Strike the Blood*—joined to develop the characters and setting and write novels.
The project officially launched on December 30, 2019, with its website and a web novel called *Episode #β One day.*, serialized from January 3 to May 25, 2020. Two novels came out on September 28, 2022: *Re:bel Robotica 0* by Ryō Yoshigami and *Re:bel Robotica* by Gakuto Mikumo, both from Shinchosha's Shincho Bunko nex impr
- field
- Mixed-media project
- nationality
- Japanese
- known_for
- Story of Taiki and Lily in a Meta Reality world, fighting Kiramon
- creators
- Mika Pikazo and Arch
- first_release
- August 11, 2017 (doujinshi at Summer Comiket)
- official_launch
- December 30, 2019
Lore & Background
The project was originally developed under the title AAO Project by Mika Pikazo, who conceived it as a doujinshi work sold at Summer Comiket on August 11, 2017. The concept originated during the early days of VTubing, when Pikazo wondered what it would be like for VTubers to interact with people. Fascinated by VTubers' relationship to virtual and augmented reality, she began writing about a high school student in 2050, the MR being Lily, and how they met. The doujinshi caught the attention of the publishing company Arch, which helped develop the property. Science-fiction writer Ryo Yoshigami and writer Gakuto Mikumo (known for Asura Cryin' and Strike the Blood) joined to flesh out characters and setting and to write novels.
Reader's Guide
Re:bel Robotica represents a notable example of a creator-driven mixed-media project that evolved from a self-published doujinshi to a formally published series with an anime adaptation. Its significance lies in its exploration of Meta Reality (MR), a concept blending virtual and real worlds, and its thematic focus on underdeveloped senses (MR bug) as a unique condition. The project's development reflects the influence of early VTubing culture on narrative creation. The upcoming anime, produced by Silver Link and set to premiere in 2027, marks a major milestone, bringing the story to a wider audience. The involvement of established writers Yoshigami and Mikumo helped solidify the project's literary foundation, while the original art and concept by Mika Pikazo maintain its distinct visual identity.
Did You Know?
- The project was originally developed under the title AAO Project.
- The first publication was a doujinshi sold at Summer Comiket on August 11, 2017.
- Two novels were released by Shinchosha under their Shincho Bunko nex imprint on September 28, 2022.
- The anime television series is produced by Silver Link and set to premiere in 2027.
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