Sorcerer Hunters

Sorcerer Hunters(Bạo れつハンター,Bakuretsu Hantā)is a Japaneselight novelandmangaseries, written bySatoru Akahoriand illustrated byRay Omishi.Akahori and Omishi also publishedSorcerer Hunters Special,a one-volume story set sometime after the series' conclusion.

Sorcerer Hunters
Cover
Bạo れつハンター (Bakuretsu Hantā)
Genre	Sword and sorcery
Light novel
Written by	Satoru Akahori
Published by	Shufunotomo
Imprint	Dengeki Bunko
Demographic	Male
Original run	August 10, 1993–April 20, 1996
Volumes	6
Manga
Written by	Satoru Akahori
Illustrated by	Ray Omishi
Published by	MediaWorks
English publisher	NA:Tokyopop(2003–2011)
Magazine	Comic Comp(1993-1994) Dengeki Comic Gao!(1994-1998)
English magazine	US:MixxZine
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	August 1993–October 1998
Volumes	13
Anime television series
Directed by	Kōichi Mashimo
Written by	Hiroyuki Kawasaki
Music by	Kenji Kawai
Studio	Xebec
Licensed by	NA:Discotek Media
Original network	TXN(TV Tokyo)
English network	PH:ABS-CBN,GMA Network
Original run	October 3, 1995–March 26, 1996
Episodes	26
Light novel
Sorcerer Hunt: Sorcerer Hunters Special
Written by	Satoru Akahori
Published by	Shufunotomo
Imprint	Dengeki Bunko
Demographic	Male
Original run	February 15, 1996–August 25, 1996
Volumes	3
Original video animation
Directed by	Takao Kato
Music by	Kenji Kawai
Studio	Xebec
Licensed by	NA:Discotek Media
Released	December 21, 1996–April 23, 1997
Runtime	29 minutes per episode
Episodes	3
Spin-off
Sorcerer on the Rocks

In theUnited Statesthe manga was serialized inMixxZine,replacingIce Blade,which had ended.

Plot

Sorcerer Huntersis set on the Spooner Continent, where the populace is divided into two groups: the ordinary people, called the Parsoners, and themagicusers, 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 Glacé brothers (Carrot and Marron), their childhood friends, the Misu sisters (Tira and her older sister Chocola), and Gateau Mocha.

Characters

Main

Carrot Glacé(キャロット·グラッセ,Kyarotto Gurasse)

• Voiced by:Shinnosuke Furumoto(Japanese);Brett Weaver(English)

The primaryprotagonistand thede factoleader of the Sorcerer Hunters, Carrot is an apparently powerless boy who carries alongsword,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 andZoanthropyactivate 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 theChinese zodiac,and he has been known to transform twice during a fight.

Carrot is a lascivious pervert with a ravenouslibido;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 Chocola, who really love him, and both of them take great offense to Carrot'slustfulpursuits. 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 Chocola romantically and thus, uses this rationale to chase after other girls. Unfortunately, this doesn't sit 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 Chocola and even marries Tira at the end of the manga. However, even though Chocola let her sister marry him, she's still bound and determined to bear Carrot's first child.

Marron Glacé(マロン·グラッセ,Maron Gurasse)

• Voiced by:Mitsuaki Madono(Japanese);Jason Douglas(English)

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 can conjure theFour Symbols.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 begaybut is really moreasexual.

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 theEuropean confection.

Gateau Mocha(ガトー·モカ,Gatō Moka)

• Voiced by:Kiyoyuki Yanada(Japanese); Chris Corey (episode 1-14), Andrew Klimko (episode 15-26) (English)

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 ofmartial artstraining; 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 Chocola and joined her team.

Gateau is excessivelymachoand alsobisexual,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 isexhibitionism,often stripping to aspeedoand 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"inFrench.

Tira Misu(ティラ·ミス,Tira Misu)

• Voiced by:Megumi Hayashibara(Japanese); Tamara Lo (English)

Tira, along with Chocola, was raised by Carrot and Marron's father and mother, Onion and Apricot. She resemblesLittle 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 leatherDominatrixgear. 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 anopen secret.Tira gets jealous when Carrot lusts after other girls, and along with her sister Chocola, she whips Carrot as punishment for his constant skirt-chasing. Tira even gets miffed when she sees Chocola incessantly flirting with Carrot.

In battle, Tira occasionally uses awhip.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,bustiers,corsets,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 theItalian dessert.

Chocola Misu(ショコラ·ミス,Shokora Misu,Chocolate Misu in ADV dub)

• Voiced by:Yuko Mizutani(Japanese);Tiffany Grant(English)

Chocola is the sexy, straightforward, sometimes high-maintenance, short-tempered and somewhatnymphomaniacolder sister of Tira. She ismadly in lovewith 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.

Chocola 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 hergarroteand she is incredibly skilled with it. It is suggested that her character was inspired byLumfromUrusei Yatsura.

Chocola's dominatrix attire in the manga and OVAs resembles that of aNazi Germansoldier. It consists of a leather cap (with the Nazi symbols of theeaglecarrying theswastikaas well as theGestapo Death's Head), suspenders that barely covers her nipples, leather pants and boots (her dominatrix attire in the manga and OVAs is also reminiscent of that worn byCharlotte Ramplingin the 1974 filmThe Night Porter). However, in the anime television series, 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, Chocola appears in her manga outfit with her sister.

Even though she loves Carrot sincerely, Chocola 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. Chocola often hasromantic/sexual dreamsof her and Carrot together. Theseshōjoesquefantasies 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 completeecstasy.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, Chocola 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 five Sorcerer Hunters arereincarnationsof five 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 fromNorse Mythology
• Tira—Apros,the goddess of the West who's also a healer
• Chocola—Qurin,the goddess of the South who resembles theHindu goddessKali

Carrot is the reincarnation of the Destruction god Hakaishin while the other four Hunters are the reincarnations of the four gods that subdued him, which explains why it takes Tira and/or Chocola as well as even Marron to bring Carrot back to his normal human form.

Big Mama(ビッグ·マム,Biggu Mamu)

• Voiced by:Sumi Shimamoto(Japanese),Sue Ulu(English, TV), Kelly Manison (English, OVA)

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 personalbodyguards.

Daughter(ドーター,Dōtā)

• Voiced by:Sakiko Tamagawa(Japanese);Kira Vincent-Davis(English)

Also known as Dotta, she is Big Mama's messenger and assistant. She is one of only two survivors of the Winged People. She wearsqipao,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.

Mille Feuille(ミルフィー·ユ,Mirufī Yu)

• Voiced by: Yasuyuki Hirata (TV series),Megumi Ogata(OVA) (Japanese); Lew Temple (TV series),Chris Patton(OVA) (English)

Also known as Milphey-uy, he is atransvestitewho most often acts with Carrot's group and has a thorough knowledge ofnecromancyand all kind of magic. His power comes from his Guardian Spirit, thePhoenix.He is pansexual and constantly flings himself at both Onion and Carrot, which draws more ire from Tira and Chocola, and flirts with them, though he's also shown some degree of interest in Gateau and Marron.

Cinnamon Tea(シナモン·コーチャ,Shinamon Kōcha)

A very youthful-looking blonde girl with a slow manner, she has the power of super speed.

Chiffon Cake(シフォン·ケーキ,Shifon Kēki)

He is a master of magical chemistry, usingtest tubesand flasks as powerful magic explosives, as well as for other offensive and defensive uses.

Kahlua Milk(カルーア·ミルク,Karūa Miruku)

This man is another highly skilled mystic, specializing in ice.

Onion Glacé(オニオン·グラッセ,Onion Gurasse)

• Voiced by:Shigeru Chiba(Japanese); Eric Opella (English)

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.

Abricot Glacé (néeAnzu)(アプリコット·グラッセ,Apurikotto Gurasse)

A former Sorcerer Hunteress who can change into her own outfit and uses a knife as well as nature magic. She was "killed" long ago by the Lord of Darkness Almond Rasseru who possessed her body. However, her soul escaped and inhabited a new one—that of a femaleartificial humannamed Mousse. 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

Qui Shurein

A sorcerer of noble birth who is after the Crystal Magicians, who kidnapped his Parsoner girlfriend Audrey. He becomes an ally of the Sorcerer Hunters during the Crystal Magicians' story arc, although Gateau is reluctant to trust him. After the Magicians are defeated, he proposes to Audrey and vows to aid the Hunters whenever they ask.

Shicho

Nicknamed the "Butterfly of Death", Shicho is akunoichially of the Soga Clan who has poison in her blood.

Potato Chips

• Voiced by:Kazue Ikura(Japanese);Mandy Clark(English)

A pint-sized sorcerer with a lisp, he looks far more like his father who makes an appearance in the manga.

Salad Chips

• Voiced by: Masami Toyoshima (Japanese);Monica Rial(English)

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 resemblesYodafromStar Wars,he offers wisdom and support to Sorcerer Hunters though his true identity has a far darker twist (see below inEnemies).

Enemies

The Crystal Magicians,who turn humans into gems used for mystical purposes. They are appropriately named afterjewels.

• Sapphire Regal

The first of the Crystal Magicians to appear. He was responsible for kidnapping Qui Shurein's girlfriend Audrey and turning her into a gem. He tries to do the same to Carrot, but is killed by Gateau.

• Emerald Ren

The leader of the Crystal Magicians. Appearing initially as a mischievous young boy, he later reveals his true age and form (a centuries-old man) to the Sorcerer Hunters. He is killed by Carrot.

• Diamond Ra

The most powerful of the Crystal Magicians. He uses a magic void to draw Marron in, but is burned alive from within by Marron's phoenix spell.

• Ruby Rulan

Ra's lover. She kisses Carrot and Gateau to place them under her control. She later tries to trap Chocola into a crystal, but is impaled by Chocola's garotte.

Sacher Torte(ザッハ·トルテ,Zahha Torute)(pronounced "Zaha" )

• Voiced by:Banjō Ginga(Japanese);Guil Lunde(1st), Randy Sparks (2nd) (English)

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 Chocola and Tira's adoptive father. He's named after theAustrian dessert.

• Death Master

A powerful Necromancer. He seeks the "Necronomicon",a book that will give him absolute control over the dead. He is defeated by Carrot in his beast form and ultimately killed by Mille Feuille.

The Sorcerer Hunter Killers

• Steel Grey,who is made of liquid metal and can morph his body into a lethal weapon a la theT-1000fromT2.
• 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 theBatmansupervillainMr. Freeze.
• 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. In the OVA, he is voiced byHiro Yukiin Japanese and Eric Opella in English.
• Kengyu Kiba,a living suit ofsamuraiarmor.
• 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 wasCammyfromStreet Fighter.In the OVA, she is voiced byTomoko Ishimurain Japanese and Kelly Cooke in English.

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. He is killed by Onion Glace.
• Gin Namba,the lover of Cashew Prize (Gran Pa), she chose to reform to stay with him.
• Cashew Prize,the most ruthless of the four who reformed and became Gran Pa.
• Cool Mint,had the power toconjure dead people.
• Charlotte Stella,Kanure's little brother who is virtually all powerful. Like Sacher Torte, he attempts to purify the world by reviving the God of Destruction within Carrot's body, but ultimately fails, and is instead killed by the deity.

Adaptations

Sorcerer Hunterswas later adapted into a 26-episodeanimetelevision series byXebec,which was the studio's first production, and aired onTV Tokyofrom October 3, 1995, to March 3, 1996. It was aired in the Philippines onABS-CBNfrom 1998 to 1999 and re-aired by rivalGMA Networkin 2001 to 2004. InNorth America,the series was licensed byADV Filmsup until the company's collapse in 2009. On May 25, 2019,Discotek Medialicensed both the TV series and the OVA series.

The TV series was followed by a three-episodeOVA,also byXebec.

Sorcerer Huntershas 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 bySorcerer Hunters II, The Monthly Collection: 1st Season - 5th Season.The third set,Sorcerer Hunters SP,came out in 1996.

Video games

The series would also seenumerous videogame releasesstarting with theadventure gameBakuretsu Hunterfor theSega SaturnbyI'Maxin April 26, 1996. Other titles based on the series includeBakuretsu HunterMahjongSpecialin October 25, 1996 and another adventure titleBakuretsu Hunter: Sorezore no Omoi...Nowānchattein April 11, 1997 both byBanprestofor theSony PlayStation,and arole-playing gameBakuretsu Hunter Rfor the Sega Saturn byKing Recordsin August 8, 1997.

Media

TV episode list

#	Title	Original air date
1	"Float-Bridge of Love" "Ai no Nanba Hashi" (Ái のなんぱ kiều)	October 3, 1995(1995-10-03)
2	"Red Flower of Life" "Inochi Meshimase Akaki Hana" (Mệnh triệu しませ hồng hoa [あかきはな])	October 10, 1995(1995-10-10)
3	"Unwritten Laws about Light and Dark" "Kage to Hikari no Fubunritsu" (Ảnh と quang の bất văn luật)	October 17, 1995(1995-10-17)
4	"Fireworks Competition of Love" "Ai no Hanabi Daikai da" (Ái の hoa hỏa đại hội だ)	October 24, 1995(1995-10-24)
5	"A Dreamy Girl at Lakeside" "Kohan no Yume Shōjo" (Hồ bạn の mộng thiếu nữ)	October 31, 1995(1995-10-31)
6	"Heresy of Love is Crystal" "Itan no Ai wa Kurisutaru" (Dị đoan の ái は thủy tinh [クリスタル])	November 7, 1995(1995-11-07)
7	"Love, as it Drifts" "Ai, Nagareru mama" (Ái, lưu れるまま)	November 14, 1995(1995-11-14)
8	"The Forbidden Fire" "Kinjirareta Honō" (Cấm じられた viêm)	November 21, 1995(1995-11-21)
9	"Labyrinth Opera House" "Meikyū he no Opera Hausu" (Mê cung への ca kịch tràng [オペラハウス])	November 28, 1995(1995-11-28)
10	"To Love a Vagabond" "Koisuredo Fūraibō" (Luyến すれど phong lai phường)	December 5, 1995(1995-12-05)
11	"Forbidden Fruit" "Yurusarezaru Kajitsu" (Hứa されざる quả thật)	December 12, 1995(1995-12-12)
12	"The Fossilized Warrior" "Kaseki no Yūsha" (Hóa thạch の dũng giả)	December 19, 1995(1995-12-19)
13	"In Between Dreams and Reality" "Yume to Utsutsu no Hazama de" (Mộng と hiện [うつつ] の gian [はざま] で)	December 26, 1995(1995-12-26)
14	"God's a Big Fool" "Kamisama wa Dai Tawake" (Thần dạng は đại たわけ)	January 2, 1996(1996-01-02)
15	"The First Reunion" "Somete no Saikai" (Sơ めての tái hội)	January 9, 1996(1996-01-09)
16	"The Great Hospital of Love" "Ai no Dai Byōin da" (Ái の đại bệnh viện だ)	January 16, 1996(1996-01-16)
17	"Big Mama Once Again" "Mamu, Futatabi..." (マム, tái び...)	January 23, 1996(1996-01-23)
18	"The Gods Within" "Himerareshi Kamigami" (Bí められし thần 々)	January 30, 1996(1996-01-30)
19	"Darling is a Love-Stricken Ass" "Mahoroba no Dārin" (まほろばの luyến nhân [ダーリン])	February 6, 1996(1996-02-06)
20	"The Boy Has Seen It" "Shōnen wa Mita" (Thiếu niên は kiến た)	February 13, 1996(1996-02-13)
21	"A Sleepless Night" "Nemurenai Yoru" (Miên れない dạ)	February 20, 1996(1996-02-20)
22	"Sorcerer Hunter Spirits" "Sōsarāhantā Supirittsu" (Pháp tộc thú り tinh thần [ソーサラーハンター·スピリッツ])	February 27, 1996(1996-02-27)
23	"The Foible of Kindness" "Yashisa no Haiboku" (Ưu しさの bại bắc)	March 5, 1996(1996-03-05)
24	"Overture of Destruction" "Hametsu he no Jokyoku" (Phá diệt への tự khúc)	March 12, 1996(1996-03-12)
25	"The Awakening of the Destroyer" "Hakai Kami Fukkatsu" (Phá 壊 thần phục hoạt)	March 19, 1996(1996-03-19)
26	"A Forgotten Piece from the Future" "Mirai kara no Wasuremono" (Vị lai からの vong れ vật)	March 26, 1996(1996-03-26)

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 FurumotoandMegumi Hayashibara

Ending theme

• "MASK"

Lyrics and composition by: Masami Okui

Arrangement by: Toshiro Yabuki and Tsutomu Ohira

Song by:Masami Okuiand Kasumi Matsumura

External links

• Sorcerer Hunters(manga) atAnime News Network's encyclopedia