Elf wo Karu Mono-tachi

is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yu Yagami. The manga was serialized in MediaWorks's "Monthly Dengeki Comic Gao!" magazines completing up to 21 volumes, and 1 DX volume which is a prequel to the series. In 2007, a sequel titled "Those Who Hunt Elves Returns" was serialized for a short time before "Those Who Hunt Elves 2" in 2013 which has been serialized into 10 volumes.

An anime adaptation produced by Group TAC was broadcasted on TV Tokyo's late-night block from October 1996, which continued for a second season from October 1997. The anime was released in North America on VHS and DVD by ADV Films and later re-released by Sentai Filmworks.

On June 12, 2015, the Chinese Ministry of Culture listed Those Who Hunt Elves among 38 anime and manga titles banned in China.

Synopsis
In a certain incident, Junpei Ryuzoji, Airi Komiyama, and Ritsuko Inoue were summoned from modern Japan to the fantasy world by the elf mistress, Celcia Mariclere. The spell is casted again to repatriate the matter, but the ritual gets interrupted and scattering fragments of the spell across the world. Thus begins the journey of "Those Who Hunt Elves", where they must locate the scattered 5 spell fragments imprinted to the skin of young female elves, even if it means stripping them!

Those Who Hunt Elves Returns
The sequel of "Those Who Hunt Elves", but also subtitled "Jimbochi Curry Chronicles (神保町カレー戦記)". It was serialized for a short time from issues November 2007 to the 5th issue on Monthly Comic Gao as a commemorative project for the magazine's 15th anniversary (& suspension).

Finally having returned to Japan, Junpei and company returned to their normal lives...that is until a giant monster appeared and wreaking havoc in the curry town, Jimbocho. The mastermind is Magna, the chief of the Highland Elves who summons the whole town of Jimbocho to another world as part of her ambitions. The "Elf Hunters" rise again to return Jimbocho to their world as stop Magna's plans.

Those Who Hunt Elves 2
The sequel to "Those Who Hunt Elves Returns" mentioned above where the tagline is "Those My Sister Hunts". It was serialized in the free "COMIC Meteor" (G-mode) web comic magazine from January 30, 2013 to January 10, 2018.

A junior high school girl named Mai Shintani longs for an older brother until her mother informs her she has one, a street fighter named Junpei Ryuzoji. Confused but somewhat delighted that her dream came true, Mai then finds herself in trouble by her classmate and her older brother until something happened. Mai finds herself in a fantasy world named Eldina, after she was summoned by Queen Lotta of the Water Bubble Kingdom. Shocked and happy because Mai finds herself beside her older brother, Junpei along with Airi, Ritsuko and Celcia where they are known from the other fantasy world in the first series as "Those Who Hunt Elves". While this was good news for Mai, there is the same bad news "again" when a chain reaction from Lotta's bracelet scatters the summoning spell engraved on her skin across the land. As the story goes, the group must search the world for all the missing spell fragments, but with the addition of Mai as their new member.

Novel
Novelization by Masaharu Amiya who is in charge of the anime series composition. Published by Dengeki Bunko for a single volume. Written around the last two episodes of the anime's first season, and the climax greatly revised.
 * 1) "Those Who Hunt Elves" (Published July 25, 1998, - ISBN 4-07-309217-0 )

Manga
The manga was written and illustrated by Yu Yagami. It was serialized by MediaWorks in the manga magazine Dengeki Comic Gao! from June 1995 to March 2003, and collected in 21 bound volumes. It is licensed in English by ADV Manga, with only the first seven volumes published in English in 2004, before the series went on indefinite hiatus. ADV's website makes no mention of the series in manga form, so it is unlikely the series will be continued.

Those Who Hunt Elves

 * 1) Published July 15, 1995 - ISBN 4-07-303172-4
 * 2) Published November 15, 1995 - ISBN 4-07-303829-X
 * 3) Published March 15, 1996 - ISBN 4-07-304214-9
 * 4) Published September 15, 1996 - ISBN 4-07-305076-1
 * 5) Published January 15, 1997 - ISBN 4-07-305484-8
 * 6) Published June 15, 1997 - ISBN 4-07-306325-1
 * 7) Published October 15, 1997 - ISBN 4-07-307017-7
 * 8) Published January 15, 1998 - ISBN 4-07-307661-2
 * 9) Published May 15, 1998 - ISBN 4-07-308703-7
 * 10) Published November 15, 1998 - ISBN 4-07-310137-4
 * 11) Published February 15, 1999 - ISBN 4-07-310982-0, Includes feature films not published in "Monthly Dengeki Comic Gao!"
 * 12) Published April 15, 1999 - ISBN 4-07-311473-5
 * 13) Published September 15, 1999 - ISBN 4-8402-1273-2
 * 14) Published January 15, 2000 - ISBN 4-8402-1400-X
 * 15) Published July 15, 2000 - ISBN 4-8402-1590-1
 * 16) Published January 15, 2001 - ISBN 4-8402-1731-9
 * 17) Published July 15, 2001 - ISBN 4-8402-1872-2
 * 18) Published January 15, 2002 - ISBN 4-8402-2018-2
 * 19) Published July 15, 2002 - ISBN 4-8402-2134-0
 * 20) Published January 15, 2003 - ISBN 4-8402-2281-9
 * 21) Published April 15, 2003 - ISBN 4-8402-2345-9

Those Who Hunt Elves DX

 * 1) Published June 15, 1996 - ISBN 4-07-304705-1 ─ Includes a one-shot short story before the main story of "Those Who Hunt Elves"

Those Who Hunt Elves Returns

 * 1) Published March 15, 2008 - ISBN 978-4-8402-4217-2

Those Who Hunt Elves 2

 * 1) Published May 20, 2013 - ISBN 978-4-593-85729-6
 * 2) Published November 12, 2013 - ISBN 978-4-593-85729-6
 * 3) Published June 20, 2014 - ISBN 978-4-593-85781-4
 * 4) Published December 12, 2014 - ISBN 978-4-593-85797-5
 * 5) Published June 12, 2015 - ISBN 978-4-593-85808-8
 * 6) Published December 10, 2015 - ISBN 978-4-593-85822-4
 * 7) Published May 11, 2016 - ISBN 978-4-593-85834-7
 * 8) Published October 8, 2016 - ISBN 978-4-593-85845-3
 * 9) Published May 12, 2017 - ISBN 978-4-593-85860-6
 * 10) Released on January 12, 2018 - ISBN 978-4-593-85876-7

Complete Anime Fan Book
It deals with the contents of the first season, and a newly written comic is also posted.
 * "Those Who Hunt Elves Complete Anime Fan Book -Spicy Deluxe Edition-" (Published June 15, 1997, - ISBN 4-07-304728-0 )

Character
Summoned to another world, Junpei's party continues its journey to search for the necessary spell fragments to return to Japan. Junpei, who excels in close-quarters combat, Airi, a smart strategist, Ritsuko, a modern weapon master who controls medium and long range, and three people who have unique abilities even in different worlds, initially hunted elves. was continuing. However, the search was not going well, and the leader of the elves, Celsia, who had been hostile to Junpei and others until then, offered to cooperate. With the addition of Sercia, who specializes in magic, the party has become even more powerful. Their notoriety for stripping elves is high (so much so that they are treated as "gods" by the stripper organization), but there are those who feel good about their involvement. In "2", Mai is a new member.
 * -|Main Character #1=

A 19-year-old Karateka & strongman with incredible fighting ability, Junpei is the muscle of the group as well as being the only male in the group. However, his rather rough way of saying things as well as his eye for beautiful women get him into trouble more often than not. He is constantly arguing with Celcia and obsessed about curry and, briefly, heliocentrism. Junpei abhors fantasy stories and might be atheist or agnostic. He is infatuated with Airi but is clueless to Celcia's own feelings for him as well despite their constant bickering. Junpei carries a wallet filled with membership cards from various dojos, and a condom with the words "Use with Airi Only!" written on the wrapper.

A karate master aiming to become a martial artist. Said to have left a legend in his high school days, his fighting ability is at the strongest level, and he is especially good at foot techniques such as heel drop. He is a transcendent single-celled man who pushes things forward without thinking about the future, but because of that, he is pure, delicate, and fragile on the mental side. Because he doesn't think about anything, the words he uttered hit the essence, and although he sometimes impresses those around him, he often ruins it with the lines he utters afterwards. Although he is by no means smart, he has a side of him that is strangely rich in trivia. He is a expert in astronomy, and extremely disliked of the fantasy idea that advocated the Ptolemaic theory due to the influence of a TV history program he saw when he was young.

He has the brute force ability to take off the elves in an instant, and because he mainly takes them off even in the work, he is constantly criticized by the elves, and this is a factor in spreading the notoriety of "those who hunt elves  . Even after collecting all the "spell fragments" and returning to Japan, in "Returns", due to the effect of hunting elves on a long trip, if you have long ears, you will unconsciously take them off regardless of whether you are a man or an animal. On the other hand, he does not attack Sercia or other women that could cause injury.

He has been an avid fan of Airi since he was in Japan, and he shows a favorable attitude towards her, but Airi himself thinks of him as nothing more than a "bad brother", while Ritsuko and Celsia. I don't even notice how you feel. She loves curry and eats it deliciously even if it's super spicy. Especially in Jimbocho, there are many curry shops that he frequents, such as the European-style curry shop Bondi (a real shop), and it has become a sacred place for him. However, curry does not exist in the fantasy world, which is also one of the reasons why he dislikes the fantasy world.

His favorite phrases are "I'll teach you the secrets of karate!" and "I hate fantasy!". After returning to Japan, he made his debut as a fighter. He went undefeated on his debut and won two consecutive MMA Grand Prix championships. He visits to help Mai, obtains a photo book published in Japan in the past when Airi was an idol, and returns to the present with it. After Sercia was brainwashed by Marple, it was discovered that he had a habit of unconsciously stopping the opponent if he tried to hit a female opponent seriously, even if the opponent was an enemy. From her anger at brainwashing Sercia in the battle on the Sorin Islands, she draws out enough power to defeat all the magic beasts she summons with a single blow. He has risen from her early days with her skills to take off the concept of "monster skin" and her fighting ability to defeat even huge monsters as mentioned above.

Abilities
From the beginning, his fighting ability and ability to defeat even giant monsters have improved from the beginning. Possessing the brute force ability to take off the elves in an instant, and because he mainly undresses even in the work, he is constantly criticized by the elves, and this is a factor that spreads the notoriety of "those who hunt elves".

Even after collecting all the "spell fragments" and returning to Japan, in "Returns", due to the effect of hunting elves on a long trip, if you have long ears, you will unconsciously take them off regardless of whether you are a man or an animal. On the other hand, he does not attack Sercia or other women that could cause injury.

Abilities
Airi carries a katana and a make-ups compact kit. She is the leader of the "those who hunt elves", and with her acting skills as an actress, disguise with her special makeup (Master of Disguise), and mind control techniques that make use of her clear mind, she is able to capture elves. take off. Her powers of observation and insight are considerable, and she can see through the lies of others, and she can tell the lies she has told herself.

The sword hanging from her waist is a theatrical decoration without a blade itself, but her brilliant performance makes it look like a real one with a blade, and furthermore, it makes you feel as if he cut down the opponent from her sword fight experience, that make It deceivedable. Her I.Q is 450.

Abilities
A military maniac (A military geek who loves the Self-Defense Forces) who goes to see the Self-Defense Forces exercises, he is extremely knowledgeable about firearms and traps, and has a talent for using all kinds of weapons, from pistols to tanks. She carries a Howa Type 64 Battle Rifle, SIG SG 550 assaut rifle, SIG P226 semiautomatic pistol, Heckler & Koch USP, G36 Assault Rifle, PSG1 Sniper Rifle, a sheath knife, some C4 and a Colt M16A2 Assault Rifle. Her I.Q is 500. She also speaks fluently in English and German.


 * }

TV Anime
Two anime series were created. Both were animated by Group TAC and produced by Amuse, Inc., while the second was also produced by Project E2. Both series were licensed by ADV Films, who released as 4 DVDs. In 2009 Sentai Filmworks released the series in a complete collection set.

Differences from the Original

 * Sercia addresses Airi without honorifics in the original story, but calls her "Airi-san" in the anime.
 * The shoulders of Junpei's jacket and the Hinomaru attached to the Type 74 tank were not attached from the beginning in the anime.
 * The deciding line when stripping the elf directly is "Elf Stripped!" is censored down to "Forgive me for stripping!" in the anime.
 * The Elf Inquiry Committee makes an appearance in the anime
 * Upon the finale of the first season where the fragments are once again scattered, the second season reveals the total number of fragments counting up to 1025.

Staff

 * Original: Yu Yagami
 * Director: Kazuyoshi Katayama (1st season) → Hiroshi Fukutomi (2nd season)
 * Series composition: Masaharu Amiya
 * Character design: Keiji Gotoh
 * Setting design: Nobuaki Nagano (1st season)
 * Art Director: Akira Furuya (1st season) → Toshiaki Marumori (2nd season)
 * Color design: Eriko Matsuura (1st season) → Hiromi Imaizumi (2nd season)
 * Cinematographer: Motoaki Ikegami (1st season) → Mitsunobu Yoshida (2nd season)
 * Editor: Masashi Furukawa
 * Music: Hideki Tsutsumi (1st season) → Hideki Tsutsumi, Go Yokoyama (2nd season)
 * Sound Director: Susumu Akitagawa
 * Producers: Kenichiro Zaizen, Toshiki Onishi
 * Animation Production: Group TAC
 * Production: Amuse, Project E2 ( 2nd season)

Theme Song
Those Who Hunt Elves

Those Who Hunt Elves II
 * Opening theme "Angel Blue", Lyrics & Artist: Naoko Hamasaki / Composition & Arrangement: Chihiro Kiryu
 * Ending theme "Genius comes last", Artist: Naoko Hamasaki / Lyrics: Natsumi Tadano / Composition & Arrangement: Hideki Tsutsumi


 * Opening theme "Round 11", Lyrics & Artist: Naoko Hamasaki / Composition & Arrangement: Chihiro Kiryu /
 * Ending theme "To the other side of the miracle", Lyrics & Artist: Naoko Hamasaki / Composition & Arrangement: Hideki Tsutsumi

Video / LD / DVD
Released by Amuse Pictures where the exposure degree of the nudity footage from the TV broadcasted has been altered to be slightly higher.


 * The video / LD version contains 2 episodes per volume, totalling 12 volumes for both seasons and each containing bonus footage.
 * The DVD version contains 4 episodes per volume, totalling 6 volumes for both seasons. As a voice privilege, they include the English dubbed dialogue from the 1st season, but removing the character's lines from the 2nd season. Only in the second and third volumes of the DVDs, there are special bonus versions containing bonus footage from the video/LDs in addition to the newly shot footage as the first bonus. In addition, a carton box with its cover drawn by Keiji Gotoh was presented as a bonus for purchasing all three volumes.

Radio drama
A radio drama was broadcasted on TBS Radio in 1996, with different cast from the anime. All three volumes have been released as drama CDs.


 * Original: Yu Yagami
 * Composition: Masaharu Amiya
 * Screenplay: Masaharu Amiya, Kenichi Yamada, Masashi Kubota
 * Director: Tsukasa Sato
 * Music: Yoshiyuki Ito

Cast

 * Junpei Ryuzoji: Koji Tsujitani
 * Airi Komiyama: Aya Hisakawa
 * Ritsuko Inoue: Wakana Yamazaki
 * Sercia (Pochi): Yumi Touma
 * Narration: Toshiyuki Morikawa

Game
Both games were released by Altron.


 * Those Who Hunt Elves (Sega Saturn, April 25, 1997)
 * Those Who Hunt Elves -Complete Edition- (PlayStation, August 7, 1997)
 * A movie adventure game using animation scenes from the first season.
 * Those Who Hunt Elves -Hanafuda Edition- (PlayStation, August 28, 1997)
 * Those Who Hunt Elves -Hanafuda Edition- (Sega Saturn, September 4, 1997)
 * A Hanafuda-strip game, where the PS version was rated has 24 points of 7, 5, 6, and 6 in Famitsu Cross Review. The reviewer said that the Hanafuda mechanism is surprisingly full-fledged, to its purpose in advancing the story. While the stripping matches with the series plot, the volume of the winning and losing the dialogue doesn't match in balance being too noisy compared to the story roughs. He mentioned that it was bothersome to cut the dialogue lines when a high score was reached."
 * Those Who Hunt Elves II (Sega Saturn, July 16, 1998)
 * Those Who Hunt Elves II (PlayStation, August 13, 1998)
 * A movie adventure game using animation scenes from the second season.

External Link

 * Elf wo Karu Mono-tachi II ─ Official Manga Website, "COMIC Meteor" Manga Distribution Page
 * TV Anime "Elf wo Karu Mono-tachi"  [DVD ] ─ Official Website (in Japanese)
 * Elf wo Karu Mono-tachi ─ Wikipedia (in Japanese)
 * Elf wo Karu Mono-tachi ─ Wikipedia (in English)

Trivia
'' to be added. ''

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