Muv-Luv Alternative (マブラヴ オルタネイティヴ, Mabu Ravu Orutaneitivu) is an anime adaptation based upon the visual novel of the same name and developed by âge and originally released as an adult game for Windows on February 28, 2003.
Synopsis[]
In Muv-Luv Alternative, Takeru wakes up three years after the end of Muv-Luv Unlimited to find himself back in his room. Although he first thinks that everything that had happened to him was a dream, he soon feels that something is wrong, and leaves the house to find that he has been sent back in time to the beginning of the events in Unlimited. Unwilling to accept something like Alternative V, he decides to help professor Kouzuki to complete Alternative IV and save mankind.
List of Published Books[]
Novel[]
Shueisha has published a seven volume novel series based on Muv-Luv and Muv-Luv Alternative. The Muv-Luv Alternative anime adapts the first six chapters of the visual novel of the same name, which is the third and final part of the Muv-Luv trilogy.
| No. | Title | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Muv-Luv 1: Extra: Unmei (マブラヴ 1 EXTRA 運命) | October 25, 2006 | 978-4-08-630323-1 |
| 02 | Muv-Luv 2: Extra: Yūjō (マブラヴ 2 EXTRA 友情) | February 23, 2007 | 978-4-08-630344-6 |
| 03 | Muv-Luv 3: Unlimited: Sensō (マブラヴ 3 UNLIMITED 戦争) | July 25, 2007 | 978-4-08-630371-2 |
| 04 | Muv-Luv 4: Unlimited: Haiboku (マブラヴ 4 UNLIMITED 敗北) | November 22, 2007 | 978-4-08-630390-3 |
| 05 | Muv-Luv 5: Alternative: Saiki (マブラヴ 5 ALTERNATIVE 再起) | March 25, 2008 | 978-4-08-630414-6 |
| 06 | Muv-Luv 6: Alternative: Ruten (マブラヴ 6 ALTERNATIVE 流転) | November 21, 2008 | 978-4-08-630458-0 |
| 07 | Muv-Luv 7: Alternative: Kessen (マブラヴ 7 ALTERNATIVE 決戦) | June 25, 2009 | 978-4-08-630488-7 |
Manga[]
Three manga adaptations based on Muv-Luv and its sequel Muv-Luv Alternative have been serialized in MediaWorks's, and later ASCII Media Works's Dengeki Daioh manga magazine. Muv-Luv Alternative is a the third series of Muv-Luv Series, also was written and illustrated by Azusa Maxima and based on the second game of the same name. It began its serial run in the February 2007 issue of Dengeki Daioh. Seventeen compilation volumes have been published by ASCII Media Works.
| No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | April 26, 2008 | 978-4-04-867049-4 | — | — |
| 02 | November 27, 2008 | 978-4-04-867442-3 | — | — |
| 03 | June 27, 2009 | 978-4-04-867866-7 | — | — |
| 04 | January 27, 2010 | 978-4-04-868369-2 | — | — |
| 05 | August 27, 2010 | 978-4-04-868896-3 | — | — |
| 06 | April 4, 2011 | 978-4-04-870406-9 | — | — |
| 07 | October 27, 2011 | 978-4-04-870982-8 | — | — |
| 08 | April 4, 2012 | 978-4-04-886569-2 | — | — |
| 09 | November 27, 2012 | 978-4-04-891190-0 | — | — |
| 10 | August 27, 2013 | 978-4-04-891846-6 | — | — |
| 11 | February 27, 2014 | 978-4-04-866295-6 | — | — |
| 12 | August 27, 2014 | 978-4-04-866844-6 | — | — |
| 13 | February 27, 2015 | 978-4-04-869210-6 | — | — |
| 14 | August 27, 2015 | 978-4-04-865298-8 | — | — |
| 15 | February 27, 2016 | 978-4-04-865716-7 | — | — |
| 16 | October 27, 2016 | 978-4-04-892368-2 | — | — |
| 17 | June 27, 2017 | 978-4-04-892967-7 | — | — |
Character[]
The main character of Muv-Luv Extra. He is a third-year student at Hakuryo Hiiragi Academy. He has relatively good grades and with the exception of the fact that Yuho is watching her, his school life is pretty normal. He is obsessed with a competitive Mech game called "Valgern-On," and his skills are at an advanced level.
In Unlimited he wakes up one morning to find the town in ruin, with a giant robot on top of the remains of Sumika's house and concludes that he's dreaming and wanders around to enjoy his dream, and pilot Valgern On-esque Mechs. He had been leading a normal school life with relatively good grades, but one day he suddenly entered a parallel world and found himself living in a battlefield overrun by the extraterrestrial organism "BETA."
At first, he was often slowed down by the other members in their rigorous training, but the experience he gained in the original world of Valgern-On was put to good use in the piloting skills of the tactical aircraft of this world. They even fall asleep in the tactical aircraft simulator, which is so uncomfortable that they are given a bag in case they vomit when they first board the aircraft. Also, Marimo has to explain concepts such as "leading input" and "cancel" from the operation logs, which are still stuck in the game's peculiarities. He also has Sakaki and Ayamine, who are on the same team in a later mock battle, learn "cancel" and "multi-level jump" (a relatively unique maneuver that he was not allowed to explain), leading them to victory in the mock battle. In Episode 11, he is commissioned as an officer and his rank is Ensign. He replaces Sakaki as the squad leader of the 207th squadron in the Yokohama area.
≪Spoiler...≫
At the end of Unlimited he fails to help Yuuko complete Alternative IV and as a result they switch to Alternative V (sending 100,000 people into outer space while everyone else fights the BETA with G-Bombs.) It's implied that he later dies.
The difference from the Muv-Luv Unlimited version is that he has three years of experience as an emissary and has memories of the events of the past three years, although some are missing. He decides to save this world by relying on his fragmented memories and, as someone who knows the tragic future of the parallel worlds, he becomes involved in the alteration of history together with Yuho and Kasumi.
The original Takeshi, who lived in the parallel world, was an ordinary person who did not know any of the characters except Junatsu. He and Junatsu were captured by a BETA that invaded Yokohama, and when a soldier-class BETA tried to take Junatsu away for experiments, he was killed while trying to protect her. He was killed while trying to protect Junatsu when a soldier-class BETA tried to take her away for an experiment.
He was originally extremely talented at piloting tactical aircraft, and not only did he devise the "XM3," a maneuvering OS for tactical aircraft based on the movements of the competitive robot game "Valgern-On," but he also served as a decoy in actual combat against a huge number of BETAs using only the maneuvering of his tactical aircraft. In actual combat, he has served as a lone decoy against a huge number of BETAs, and has also played a role in taunting BETAs with just the maneuverability of his tactical aircraft. He was later commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to the A-01, where he became a storm vanguard.
In the Muv-Luv Unlimited: The Day After, he become a lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Security Forces, call sign "Hondo 3", and is currently a member of the Security Forces. He is currently a member of the Imperial Japanese Security Forces, and is the personal bodyguard of Sukerokuro Makabe. He was selected to join the Shogun not because of his family background, but because of his skills, so he pilot the "Takemikazuchi" C-type (black version). His skill in piloting tactical aircraft is outstanding, and he was able to one-sidedly defeat several French Rafale aircraft and lightly cut down a fortress-class aircraft during the JFK Hive invasion.
≪Spoiler...≫
In the spin off series, Muv-Luv Unlimited: The Day After we learn of the events and memories that Sumika locked away to create the version of Takeru that appears in Muv-Luv: Alternative. Most of these are viewed from the perspective of the protagonist Tatsunami Hibiki, a member of the Imperial Mainland Defence Force who is stationed in Seattle after the destruction of the Japanese home islands during the Babylon Disaster. However there are some scenes from Takeru's perspective that give a great deal of insight into his as-yet unrevealed experiences between the end of Muv-Luv: Unlimited and the start of The Day After. These include the deaths of the majority of Squadron 207, Mitsurugi Meiya replacing Kobuin Yuuhi as the Grand Shogun of Japan, learning of the true purpose of Alternative IV and learning of Sumika's existence far too late to be able to save her. This and other factors have rendered him nearly emotionless and almost robotically under the control of the Commander of the Imperial Royal Guard Ikaruga Takatsugu. The epilogue of The Day After shows his experiences with Hibiki have somewhat broken him from his fugue and reawaken his emotions and desire to save everyone.
| Game Version |
 Uniform Outfit  Military Outfit  Casual Outfit  Battle Suit Outfit  Imperial Guard Outfit |
| Anime Version |
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Abilities[]
"I'll never run away again!"
― Shirogane Takeru (Muv-Luv: Alternative)
In Unlimited/Alternative, Extra Shirogane fuses with Unlimited/Alternative Shirogane to form a causality conductor. He is formed as a flawed combination of all past Shirogane's from the previous time loops, giving him experience and (flawed) knowledge of the future. The memory retention between loops isn't perfect, if Shirogane learned something critical on his second loop he will not remember it on his third or fourth loop, but he needs to experience the same event many, many times for him to remember it, Yuuko hints at this during her ending in Unlimited.
Interestingly, this effect carries on to his body as well, for Shirogane's accumulated muscle memory also carries on with into each loop, this is shown in Alternative where Shirogane is extremely fit for his age, and extremely experienced with a variety of weapons (especially TSFs). This means Shirogane also retains his sex skills during time loops, meaning that by the time of Alternative, Shirogane's skills during sex should be on the same level as his skills as a soldier given all the practice he's had with the court-able characters in Unlimited. Yuuko confirms this in her ending when she praises Shirogane's skills.
Logically, this process of accumulation of mass with each loop should have increased Shirogane's brain mass as well, leading to a very sharp increase in his intelligence, however, as Alternative shows, Shirogane remains nothing more than a slightly intelligent teenager. What this means is brain mass doesn't accumulate in the same way as muscle mass, Shirogane wasn't very bright to begin with or the author deliberately limited Shirogane's intelligence for plot advancement reasons.
He also has unquestionable skill in piloting tactical aircraft, and even though he is a trainee, he managed to escape from Shiranui driven by Captain Sagiri in the 12.5 Incident, thanks to the backup of his surroundings and the intervention of Lieutenant Tsukiaki, and his "unmatchable maneuverability" proved to be a sufficient weapon against the BETA.
His main aircraft was the Type 97 Advanced Training Aircraft "Fubuki", and after being assigned to the A-01 Unit, he flew the Type 94 Tactical Walking Fighter "Shiranui". During Operation Sakura Blossom, he flew the XG-70d "Sosono-Ohshi Type IV" (gunner and pilot).
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| 《Shiranui - Gallery》 |
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TV Anime[]
At October 2019 live event, âge presented the on-screen title “Muv-Luv Alternative in Animation”, followed by a clip of new animation, seemingly indicating an anime adaptation of the original Muv-Luv Alternative visual novel. It was later announced that the new anime would be a television series. The series is animated by Yumeta Company and Graphinica, with production by Flagship Line, and is directed by Yukio Nishimoto, featuring Tatsuhiko Urahata handling the series' scripts, Takuya Tani designing the characters, and Evan Call composing the series' music.
It aired from October 7 to December 23, 2021 on Fuji TV's +Ultra programming block. V.W.P performed the series' opening theme song "Rinne" (輪廻), while STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION performed the series' ending theme song "Tristar".
- Staff
- Original work - Koki Yoshimune, aNCHOR
- Director - Yukio Nishimoto
- Series composition - Tatsuhiko Urahata
- Character design - Takuya Tani
- Sub-character design - Aki Tsunaki
- Prop design - Koichi Hoshino
- Animation Mecha Director - Hiroyuki Okawa
- Color design - Hiromi Uchibayashi
- Art director - Ken Naito
- Art setting - Tsukasa Ohira
- Director of Photography - Takeo Ogihara
- 3DCG production - Graphinica
- 3DCG Director - Kazuya Oya
- Editing - Tansako
- Sound Director - Satoshi Motoyama
- Music - Evan Call
- Music production - Avex Pictures
- Producer - Kanji Ogo, Yuka Okayasu (Fuji Television), Kazutoshi Matsumura
- Animation Producer - Nobuyasu Nobe (1st season), Yukio Kayo (1st season)
- Animation production - FLAGSHIP LINE, Yumeta Company x Graphica
- Production - Alternative Third Plan (Avex Pictures, Fuji Television, Crunchyroll, Tencent, BS Fuji, Dentsu, Bandai Namco Arts → Bandai Namco Music Live, aNCHOR)
Crunchyroll licensed the series outside of Asia. Muse Communication licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Storyboarded by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The State of the World" Transliteration: "Sekai no Nichijō" (Japanese: 世界の日常) |
Takushi Shikatani | Atsuo Ishino, Tatsuhiko Urahata | Ryūta Ono, Hiroyuki Taiga, Yukio Nishimoto | October 7, 2021 |
| In the year 1973, hostile alien lifeforms called the BETA land on Earth and begin an invasion of the planet. By the year 1998, almost the entire Eurasian continent has fallen, devastating the global population to around 2 billion humans, and the BETA begin invading Japan, overrunning almost half of the island nation. In order to fight back, humanity has developed the Tactical Surface Fighter, large mechas specifically designed to combat BETA, but they are still fighting a losing battle. TSF pilot Sayoko Komaki is transferred to a Japanese military base in Sadogashima, which is a critical strategic defense point. However, a massive BETA force attacks Sadogashima, and despite the best efforts of Sayoko and the base's defenders, the BETA eventually overwhelm the defenses and begin overrunning the area. Instead of staying behind to fight, Sayoko is ordered to escort refugee transports for evacuation. As she and the survivors of Sadoga Island leave the area, it is later revealed that Sadoga Island soon became the site of the 21st BETA hive. | |||||
| 2 | "Recurring Worlds" Transliteration: "Kurikaesu Sekai" (Japanese: 繰り返す世界) |
Shigeru Fukase | Tatsuhiko Urahata | Yukio Nishimoto | October 14, 2021 |
| In 2001, Takeru Shirogane awakes from a seeming nightmare where humanity enacted the Alternative V plan, which involved the evacuation of several hundred thousand colonists to another planet while leaving the rest of humanity behind to stage a last stand against the BETA. However, he realizes it was no dream, and instead a time loop has returned him to two months before Alternative V's execution. With his memories of the previous timeline, Takeru meets with scientist Yuuko Kouzuki at Yokohama Base. Takeru explains to Yuuko that he was transported from his native parallel universe where the BETA never existed. He also explains he knows Alternative V was only implemented as a backup in case Alternative IV, which Yuuko is in charge of, could not be completed. Intrigued, Yuuko decides to work with Takeru, but has him join the 207th TSF training squadron as a cover. He once again meets the alternate version of his teachers and classmates, instructor Marimo Jinguuji and pilot cadets Chizuru Sakaki, Meiya Misturugi, Kei Ayamine, and Miki Tamase with Mikoto Yoroi being absent due to hospitalization. Hoping to change the future, Takeru resolves to become a full-fledged TSF pilot to find a way to make Alternative IV succeed. | |||||
| 3 | "Something to Protect" Transliteration: "Mamoritai Mono" (Japanese: 守りたいもの) |
Takahiro Tanaka | Tatsuhiko Urahata | Tōru Takahashi | October 21, 2021 |
| The United Nations commences Operation Lucifer, a military operation that results in the successful capture a BETA hive located in Yokohama. A UN team heads deep into the hive and are shocked to discover preserved human brains. Meanwhile, Takeru continues with his training, and decides to go meet Kasumi Yashiro, Yuuko's lab assistant. Takeru then asks about the whereabouts of another friend of his from his original world, Sumika Kagami. Yuuko reminds him no record of Sumika exists, and also reveals Alternative IV involves the use of Kasumi, who can communicate with a preserved human brain kept in Yuuko's lab. However, Takeru is worried he won't be able to change the future, as events have gone exactly as they had in the previous timeline. Takeru also meets Mikoto and realizes it's November, remembering that BETA will land on the Japanese mainland on November 11. Thanks to Takeru's prior knowledge, Yuuko puts the defenders on alert status, allowing them to repel the BETA with much fewer casualties. Two days later, Takeru and his friends undergo the Comprehensive Combat Skill Evaluation test and manage to pass it, earning them the right to become TSF pilots. | |||||
| 4 | "Comrades" Transliteration: "Nakama" (Japanese: 仲間) |
Toshiyuki Sone | Atsuo Ishino | Hisashi Saitō | October 28, 2021 |
| After a brief leave period, Takeru and his friends return to training, with Takeru acing the simulator training due to his past experience in the previous timeline and his video game skills he learned in his original universe. In order to help his friends improve faster, Takeru decides to share his control data with them. With Yuuko's influence, the squadron also receives their Fubuki training TSFs much quick than normal, though a Royal Guard Takemikizuchi is also sent the base on the Shogun's request for Meiya's use, though she refuses to pilot it. As training progresses, Takeru wonders why they can't modify TSF controls to be more streamlined like a videogame, with the ability to execute combo moves and cancel automatic inputs. Yuuko is intrigued by the suggestion and agrees to implement the changes, intending to use Takeru and his friends as test pilots. The next day, Kasumi gives Takeru a picture of a Game Guy portable gaming device, which confuses him since video games don't exist in the current timeline. He also learns that the UN Undersecretary will be visiting Yokohama ahead of schedule, and he warns Yuuko this means the orbital HSST will crash. Yuuko reluctantly agrees to help prevent the crash, and Takeru discovers the Yokohama base has been built on top of the remains of the captured Yokohama Hive. | |||||
| 5 | "A New Power" Transliteration: "Atarashii Chikara" (Japanese: 新しい力) |
Tsutomu Murakami | Takaaki Suzuki | Hiroshi Shirai | November 4, 2021 |
| With the Undersecretary due to arrive, Takeru notices Miki in a panic. It's revealed that the Undersecretary is Miki's father, Genjousai Tamase, and she had accidentally led him to believe that she is her squadron's flight commander and is afraid of him finding out she lied. Takeru decides to have Miki pose as the flight lead for the day while Genjousai is visiting. It's later revealed that Genjousai's HSST transport was originally shot down in the past timeline, so Takeru's influence successfully saved his life. For an upcoming mock battle, Takeru has Yuuko install her newly developed control OS into his team's TSFs, which prove to be vastly more maneuverable and responsive than TSFs running on the old OS. Impressed with the results, Yuuko decides to implement the new OS on all of the 207th's TSFs for further testing. After the mock battle, Takeru follows Kasumi into Yuuko's office, where he encounters a mysterious man who knows his name. | |||||
| 6 | "Transfer Experiment" Transliteration: "Tensō Jikken" (Japanese: 転送実験) |
Won Chang hee | Atsuo Ishino | Kenji Setō | November 11, 2021 |
| The man introduces himself has Sakon Yoroi, a Japanese intelligence agent and Mikoto's father. He warns Yuuko that a group within the Japanese government called the "Strategic Studies Group" has formed, which may pose a threat to Alternative IV. He also expresses curiosity at how Takeru can be alive and how orders that can seemingly tell the future have been issued, but Yuuko asks him to leave rather than answer any questions. Meanwhile Mikoto notices Kei talking with an unknown man. Takeru then begins experiencing strange dreams of being back in his old world, and Yuuko theorizes that his original world is trying to pull him back and he is theoretically able to return any time he wants if he desires it enough, making his existence in the current world unstable. Yuuko then organizes an experiment to temporarily send Takeru back to his original world so she can figure out how her alternate self was able to solve an equation that's preventing her from completing Alternative IV. Takeru successfully travels back to his original world and talks to the original Yuuko. The original Yuuko believes Takeru, as his existence proves her theory on alternate worlds, and she promises to give him the formulas he needs in three days. | |||||
| 7 | "Promise" Transliteration: "Yakusoku" (Japanese: 約束) |
Seiya Takatori | Takaaki Suzuki | Yukio Nishimoto, Tōru Takahashi | November 18, 2021 |
| During his time in his original world, Takeru encounters Sumika and his memories of her return, reminding him how much he misses her. However, he resolves not to be tempted to stay in his original world until he can save the alternate one. Upon returning to the alternate world, Yuuko reveals that Kasumi is the result of Alternative III, which bred children with psychic potential in an effort to communicate with the BETA. As such, Kasumi has the ability to read thoughts, and acts as Takeru's anchor to the alternate world. Takeru then takes Kasumi outside to teach her there is more to life than her mission. The next day, Takeru gets into an argument with Meiya over the Japanese military forcibly evicting residents from a disaster zone, with Meiya believing the military shouldn't be acting against the people while Takeru points out the Japanese government doesn't have the resources to help everyone. Kei overhears the argument and runs away, prompting Takeru to follow her. He finds a mysterious letter that she drops, and he begins to think that she is a spy for the anti-Alternative faction just as Kei subdues him. Meanwhile, Japanese army officers dissatisfied with the government's actions begin to mobilize. | |||||
| 8 | "The Capital in Chaos" Transliteration: "Teito Dōran" (Japanese: 帝都動乱) |
Michita Shiraishi | Tatsuhiko Urahata | Junji Nishimura | November 25, 2021 |
| The standoff between Takeru and Kei is interrupted when the base enters in alert status, as a rebel military faction led by Naoya Sagiri has staged a coup and seized the Japanese capital of Tokyo. Sagiri claims that he is acting in the best interests of the Japanese people by purging the corrupt government and seeking the Shogun's endorsement. Despite no civilians being killed in the uprising, many government officials have been assassinated, including the Prime Minister, who is also Chizuru's father. The interim Japanese reluctantly accepts offers of assistance from the UN and US military to retake Tokyo. Meanwhile, Takeru is concerned about Chizuru seeking revenge on Sagiri. Kei reveals that she is connected to Sagiri through her father, who was a general who was executed for disobeying orders to save civilians. The 207th then receives orders to deploy while fighting breaks out in Tokyo. Takeru private talks with Meiya, who is anxious about the fate of her sister, the Shogun. | |||||
| 9 | "Battlefield" Transliteration: "Senjō" (Japanese: 戦場) |
Kōjin Ochi | Takaaki Suzuki | Ken Ōtsuka | December 2, 2021 |
| Takeru comes across a woman named Yuuhi Koubuin and is shocked at her resemblance to Meiya. Sakon then arrives and reveals Yuuhi is the Shogun. In order to end the fighting in Tokyo, she has slipped out of the city and had Sakon leak her location to the rebels so that they will leave the city to chase after her. The 207th then receives new orders to take Yuuhi to the Yokohama Base. Yuuhi confirms to Takeru that she is Meiya's twin sister, and asks he give her one of her dolls in her stead since she and Meiya must officially remain estranged. Meanwhile, the rebel forces begin to mobilize and pursue the 207th, with Takeru reluctant to go at full speed with Yuuhi riding in his cockpit, as she does not have a flightsuit to protect her from the G-force. As the rebel forces begin to close in, an American force led by Major Walken intervenes and helps hold off the rebels long enough for the 207th to make the final sprint to safety. However, Yuuhi falls unconscious from the G-force. | |||||
| 10 | "Resolve" Transliteration: "Kakugo" (Japanese: 覚悟) |
Tōru Takahashi | Atsuo Ishino | Yukio Nishimoto | December 9, 2021 |
| With Yuuhi unconscious, Walken orders Takeru to administer sedatives to her so they can keep moving, but Takeru hesitates while Marimo and Tsukuyomi advise that since Yuuhi is fatigued from lack of sleep, sedatives may negatively impact her health and advise they stop to give her a chance to rest, leaving both sides at a standoff. Takeru is left uncertain of what to until Yuuhi regains consciousness and requests he administer to sedative to her in order to minimize casualties from the conflict. Meanwhile, Naoya sends another unit led by Sayoko to break a line in the UN's defenses, only to be intercepted by the Valkyries, an elite UN squadron. While both sides take casualties, the Valkyries eventually wipe out the rebel unit, leaving Sayoko as the sole survivor. However, the attack is only a diversion as Sagiri boldly airdrops himself and his forces behind UN lines, blocking the 207th's escape route. Sagiri offers a 60 minute ceasefire after which the UN must hand over Yuuhi to him. Takeru meanwhile is frustrated at his hesitation and wonders why he is still lacking the resolve to do what he thinks is right. | |||||
| 11 | "Everyone's Thoughts" Transliteration: "Sorezore no Omoi" (Japanese: それぞれの想い) |
Kiyotaka Ōhata | Takaaki Suzuki | Kiyotaka Ōhata | December 16, 2021 |
| While on patrol, Miki meets and befriends Irma, a Finnish pilot who has joined the American army in hopes of one day liberating her BETA-occupied homeland of Finland. However, this exchange leaves Miki wondering if her father helped start the coup in order to involve American forces. Takeru meets Yuuhi, who instructs him that he will face many more hard decisions in the future and he should not hesitate. When Takeru mentions how all the pilots of the 207th are connected to Japan's leadership in some way, Yuuhi has them all summoned together and gives them a reassuring speech on how she plans to reform and take a greater role in the government once the coup is stopped. Meiya volunteers to become Yuuhi's body double so she can negotiate with Sagiri in her place. Takeru, a disguised Meiya, and Tsukuyomi meet Sagiri, and Meiya's please to his sense of honor cause Sagiri to stand down. However, he warns Meiya that the troops who instigated the fighting in Tokyo were working for an American intelligence agency, meaning America orchestrated the escalation of the coup as a setup. At that moment, Irma, apparently brainwashed, attacks Sagiri's troops, causing the ceasefire to break down. | |||||
| 12 | "Fate" Transliteration: "Shukumei" (Japanese: 宿命) |
Yukio Nishimoto, Takushi Shikatani | Tatsuhiko Urahata | Hiroyuki Taiga, Kenji Setō | December 23, 2021 |
| As fighting between both sides breaks out, Takeru attempts to flee with Meiya. Irma recovers from her brainwashing, but is killed by her teammate who then starts to fire on Takeru. Walken confronts the traitor, realizing he is a spy. The traitor attempts to flee but is cut down by Sagiri. Walken then confronts Sagiri, but due to the traitor sabotaging his TSF, Walken is quickly killed. Sagiri continues after Takeru, with Chiziru and Kei unable to stop him. Tsukuyomi then confronts Sagiri, pointing out that his rebellion has already exposed the government's corruption and will bring about the change he sought, so she will grant him a honorable death in battle. Sagiri, accepting that he will die regardless of the outcome, engages in one final duel with Tsukyomi and dies by her blade. With Sagiri's death, the rebel forces surrender and order is restored. Yuuhi promises to reform the government to prevent another uprising from happening again. The 207th mourn their lost loved ones and graduate from training, becoming full fledged TSF pilots. Meanwhile, Yuuko plots with Sakon as Alternative IV proceeds to its next stage. | |||||
| TRAILERS (SEASON 1) | |
At the end of the series' episode finale, a second season was announced. It aired from October 6 to December 22, 2022. JAM Project and Minami Kuribayashi performed the opening theme song "Akatsuki o Ute" (暁を撃て), while V.W.P performed the ending theme song "Saikai" (再会).
- Staff
- Original work - Koki Yoshimune, aNCHOR
- Director - Yukio Nishimoto
- Series composition - Tatsuhiko Urahata
- Character design - Takuya Tani
- Sub-character design - Aki Tsunaki
- Prop design - Keiko Onishi (2nd season)
- Animation Mecha Director - Hiroyuki Okawa
- Color design - Hiromi Uchibayashi
- Art director - Ken Naito
- Art setting - Tsukasa Ohira
- Director of Photography - Takeo Ogihara
- 3DCG production - Graphinica
- 3DCG Director - Kazuya Oya
- Editing - Tansako
- Sound Director - Satoshi Motoyama
- Music - Evan Call
- Music production - Avex Pictures
- Producer - Kanji Ogo, Yuka Okayasu (Fuji Television), Takaya Yamada (2nd season)
- Animation Producer - Hirotsugu Shimoyama, Fumiomi Goto (2nd season)
- Animation production - FLAGSHIP LINE, Yumeta Company x Graphica
- Production - Alternative Third Plan (Avex Pictures, Fuji Television, Crunchyroll, Tencent, BS Fuji, Dentsu, Bandai Namco Arts → Bandai Namco Music Live, aNCHOR)
Crunchyroll licensed the series outside of Asia. Muse Communication licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Storyboarded by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Graduation" Transliteration: "Sotsugyō" (Japanese: 卒業) |
Tōru Takahashi, Yukio Nishimoto | Tatsuhiko Urahata | Yukio Nishimoto | October 6, 2022 |
| Takeru returns to his original world to obtain the original Yuuko's research notes needed for the completion of Alternative IV. While there, he briefly reunites with the original versions of his friends and classmates, including Sumika, and resolves to save the alternate world so he can return to his own. Upon returning to the alternate world, Yuuko is overjoyed that the development of the "00-Unit" can be completed. The next day, Takeru and the rest of the 207th are gathered together to attend their official graduation ceremony and are granted their TSF wings. The squad then thanks Marimo for all of the training she had provided them. | |||||
| 2 | "XM3" | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | October 13, 2022 |
| Now that the 207th are a full fledged TSF squadron, Yuuko assigns them to participate in a series of exercises meant to demonstrate the capabilities of the new XM3 operating system, which Takeru helped develop. As part of the exercise, they will be competing against a squadron of TSF aces who have experience fighting the BETA. In the first round of exercises, the 207th manage to defeat the aces, greatly impressing them and instilling a sense of pride in Takeru that he may be making a difference in this timeline. However, in the next round of exercises, BETA suddenly attack the training grounds. Stuck with nonlethal training weapons, the aces order the 207th to return to the hangar and bring back live weapons, since their TSFs have greater speed. When the inexperienced 207th pilots falter, the aces resort to hypnotic suggestions and combat stimulates to remove their fear. However, Takeru has an adverse reaction to the stimulants and attacks the BETA instead, but his TSF is destroyed and he barely survives the battle. Afterwards, Takeru is left distressed at how powerless and afraid he felt during the battle. Marimo comforts Takeru, assuring him that everybody feels fear in their first battle against the BETA, including her. However, at that moment, a BETA ambushes Marimo and bites her head off, traumatizing Takeru. | |||||
| 3 | "Escape" | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | October 20, 2022 |
| Traumatized by Marimo's death, and believing it be caused by him changing the timeline, Takeru cracks under the pressure and decides to return to his original universe. Yuuko allows him to return, stating that he's served his purpose, but warns him that if he stays in his original world longer than 24 hours, he can't return to the alternative world, and if he can't maintain his sense of self, he will disappear from existence. Upon returning to his original world, Takeru becomes emotional when he meets the original Marimo again. However, she ends up being murdered by stalker. The original Yuuko angrily tells Takeru that he is transporting the causality from the alternative world to the original one, thus causing Marimo's death. She then warns Takeru to keep an eye for any changes to his environment. After Marimo's memorial service, Meiya comforts Takeru and offers to go on a date with him the next day, which is his birthday, to which Takeru accepts. Meanwhile, Sumika attempts to call Takeru and leaves a message on his phone asking to go a date with on him on his birthday as well. | |||||
| 4 | "Diary" | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | October 27, 2022 |
| Takeru meets Meiya the next day for their outing, but is shocked when Meiya has apparently lost all her memories of him. Yuuko theorizes that since Takeru is a "causality conductor", his very existence is erasing his friends' memories of him. Takeru realizes that he can't interact with his friends anymore, and tries to push Sumika away. However, Sumika refuses to leave him, sensing that he is hurt. Takeru tells Sumika about his ordeals in the alternative world and his attempts to save it, as well as the alternative Marimo's death. Sumika believes Takeru's story and assures him that she won't forget him, and they kiss, confessing their love for each other. However, the next day, Takeru is dismayed to find out Sumika has lost her memories of him, too. Later, the ceiling in the gym suddenly collapses on top of Sumika, leaving her near death. Realizing he is a danger to his friends, Takeru begs Yuuko to make him disappear and she agrees. First, she shows Takeru Sumika's diaries, which show that she was losing her memories of him but was using her diaries to remind herself. Yuuko then tells Takeru that she will send him back to the alternative world, since if he can save that world and figure out what made him a causality conductor in the first place, he can undo all of the damage caused in the original world. With newfound resolve to save Sumika, Takeru agrees to be sent back to the alternative world. | |||||
| 5 | "Return" | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | November 3, 2022 |
| Takeru and Yuuko break into the university laboratory in order to access the equipment needed to send Takeru back to the alternate world. Yuuko reveals that her alternate self left instructions on how to send him back as a contingency, though she realizes that her alternate self predicted this entire course of events. Yuuko uses Takeru's love for Sumika to lock on to the alternate world, and he tells him that the alternate Sumika must still be alive. Takeru returns to the alternate world, where the alternate Yuuko decides to recruit him to help care for the newly developed Type 00 Unit, which Takeru is shocked to discover looks identical to Sumika. Yuuko explains that she hid Takeru's absence by telling the others he was sent on a classified mission. Takeru is then assigned to the A-01 Squadron, "Isumi's Valkyries", who perform special missions for Alternative IV directly under Yuuko's command. His friends have also been assigned to the Valkyries, and with him returned, they all pay their respects to Marimo's makeshift memorial. | |||||
| 6 | "Sumika" | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | November 10, 2022 |
| Yuuko explains that Sumika was the brain that was being kept in her lab, as she was the only living human prisoner taken by the BETA before she was rescued during the capture of the Yokohama Hive. Since Sumika is their best chance at establishing communication with the BETA, Yuuko had her personality transplanted into a new body, and in order to stabilize it, she needs Takeru's help. The next few days are spent training with his squadron as well as spending time with Sumika. However, Sumika is still traumatized from her time in BETA captivity, and always has a nervous breakdown while declaring she will kill all the BETA to take revenge for the alternate Takeru's death. Yuuko explains the importance of getting Sumika ready for combat, as she reveals she deliberately released the BETA that attacked the base during the training exercise that resulted in Marimo's death in order to test the base's readiness. She then gives an angry Takeru a chance to kill her in revenge, but he declines, stating he wants to focus on saving the world and Sumika. With Takeru spending more time with her, Sumika's personality begins to stabilize enough for Yuuko to believe that she will be ready for her combat assessment, which will take place on the battlefield. | |||||
| 7 | "The Night Before the Attack" | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | November 17, 2022 |
| The Valkyries are briefed that the UN and IJA will be commencing a joint operation to destroy the Sadogashima Hive. The Valkyries are tasked with protecting the new weapon developed by Alternative IV, the Susano-O Mark II, a prototype mobile fortress specifically designed to destroy BETA hives. Sakura, a survivor of the fall of Sadogashima, is left anxious about the operation. Takeru and his friends are also anxious at the thought of fighting the BETA for the first time. Tsukiyomi then approaches Takeru and privately informs him that the Shogunate has decided to withdraw Royal Guard protection from Meiya now that her existence has become public knowledge, afraid that acknowledging her will make her a potential political pawn for America. Takeru agrees to watch over Meiya in their place. The Valkyries then commence rigorous training to prepare for the attack. On the night before the attack, the Valkyries board the transport ship bound for Sadogashima. During the trip, Takeru encounters Isumi and asks her what she would do if there was someone she had feelings for in her squad. Isumi admits that her childhood crush and her younger sister are participating in the operation as well. Takeru tells Isumi about his attraction to Sumika and she orders him to survive the mission so he can spend more time with Sumika. | |||||
| 8 | "Operation 21st" | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | November 24, 2022 |
| The UN and IJA commence their assault on Sadogashima, with the IJA commencing a major diversionary landing operation on one side of the island while the Valkyries and Susano-O land on the other side. Despite heavy casualties, the human forces make significant progress and UN squadrons manage to breach the hive. However, the BETA manage to ambush and destroy the squadrons inside the hive and mobilize their full forces, sending the bulk of them towards the Susano-O's firing position. Since they are the only line of defense between the BETA and the Susano-O, the Valkyries prepare an ambush for the BETA vanguard, successfully destroying them from behind before heading out to eliminate the Laser-class BETA in the rear. However, BETA resistance is still heavy, so Takeru volunteers to act as a diversion so the rest of the Valkyries can reach the Laser-class. | |||||
| 9 | "The Light of Victory" | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | December 1, 2022 |
| Despite being heavily outnumbered and surrounded, Takeru manages to slaughter the BETA forces sent against him, giving the rest of the Valkyries the opening they need to eliminate the Laser-class BETA. Meanwhile, the Royal Guard enters the battle in order to hold the line at the diversionary landing zone. The Susano-O then arrives and manages to destroy the Sadogashima Hive with two massive particle beam shots, proving that humanity now has a superweapon against the BETA. However, after the second shot, Sumika inexplicably loses consciousness. Yuuko instructs Takeru to extract Sumika and evacuate her from the island while Isumi tries to manually activate the Susano-O's autopilot, with the contingency plan of demolishing the Susano-O if there is a risk of the BETA capturing it. The remaining BETA on the island then begin to dig to the surface, leaving the Valkyries with little time to recover the Susano-O. | |||||
| 10 | "Escape" | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | December 8, 2022 |
| The Japanese navy and the Valkyries head out to attack the BETA and clear an escape path for Takeru and Sumika to leave the island while Isumi continues to try and reactivate the Susano-O. However, the BETA appear to be aware of their plans, and shift the focus towards intercepting Takeru and attacking the Susano-O. Just as Takeru and the Valkyries reach the coast, a massive formation of BETA appear and block their path. Meanwhile, more BETA begin to close in on the Susano-O which Isumi is still unable to reactivate. | |||||
| 11 | "Inheritance" | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | December 15, 2022 |
| With the Valkyries' escape cut off and the Susano-O surrounded by BETA, Isumi decides to reactivate the Susano-O to lure all the BETA on the island to her and then self destruct to wipe them all out. Kashiwagi dies buying time for Isumi to reactivate the Susano-O and commence the self destruct sequence. Sensing the Susano-O's activation, the BETA head straight for it, leaving an opening for the Valkyries to evacuate. Yuuko is able to open a private communications line to Isumi, informs her that her sister suvived the battle, and thanks her for everything she did for Alternative IV. Isumi instructs Takeru to watch over the Valkryies, as she is confident he will be Humanity's savior. Finally, Isumi gives her final farewells to the Valkyries, assigning Hayase to take command. The Susano-O then explodes and destroys the entire island of Sadogashima while Isumi meets her comrades in the afterlife. | |||||
| 12 | "The World Moves On" | Unknown | Unknown | TBA | December 22, 2022 |
| In the aftermath of the destruction of Sadogashima, while the BETA hive is destroyed, much of Japan's coastline is devastated from the resulting tsunami. While there are no civilian casualties thanks to a prepared evacuation, the IJA is forced to move their defense lines back farther than expected. A national day of mourning is declared for all the soldiers who lost their lives, and Isumi's sisters are given notification of her death, though it is covered up as a training accident due to the existence of the Valkyries being a secret. Hayase officially takes command of the Valkyries and they are told their next target is Hive 20 in Korea. The Valkyries spend the rest of the day mourning the loss of Isumi and Kashiwagi. Takeru meets with Sumika, who feared he would leave her for Meiya, but Takeru reassures her that he loves only her. Yuuko theorizes that Sumika's jealousy caused her ODL levels to drop, resulting her falling unconscious during the mission. She also reveals Sumika successfully accessed the BETA hive network and was able to provide comprehensive maps of all BETA hives on Earth, which she can use to plan future assaults. She also assures Takeru that Isumi's death was by her own choice, and that he shouldn't blame himself for it, and compliments him for being able to stabilize Sumika's personality in just days. Outside, Sakaki, Meiya, Kei, Mikoto, and Miki move Marimo's memorial to the cherry blossom tree in front of the base so that she can symbolically rest alongside Isumi. The group then recalls Isumi's final words of advice to them and resolve to surpass both her and Marimo. Later, Takeru, Sumika, and Kasumi visit the cherry blossom tree together where he resolves to save the world so he can be together with Sumika. | |||||
| TRAILERS (SEASON 2) | |
Merchandise[]
The Muv-Luv franchise has prompted the creation of a wide variety of tie-in merchandise, including clothing, model kits, action figures, dakimakura (hug pillows), and more. Several tie-in books provide coverage of the franchise's lore, such as Muv-Luv Alternative Integral Works
The Kickstarter campaign that funded the official English translation of the core trilogy commissioned new merchandise as rewards for backers. Unique items included a plush BETA toy, and Muv-Luv Alternative Codex, an English translation of most of Integral Works along with other material.
Reception[]
In 2003, Muv-Luv was number one in national PC sales following its release. The sequel, Muv-Luv Alternative, released in 2006, was number three in sales during the first half of 2006.
Muv-Luv has received a median rating of 79 out of 100 on Erogamescape (EGS), while Muv-Luv Alternative has received a median rating of 93 out of 100, making it the third-highest rated visual novel on the website. On the Visual Novel Database (VNDB), Muv-Luv Alternative received an average rating of 9.13 (out of 10), making it the site's #1 visual novel by Bayesian ranking.
The English-language release of Muv-Luv has a Metacritic score of 76/100 based on reviews from four critics. RPGFan writer Don Kim gave the game a mixed review, writing "although Extra is nothing more than a glorified character introduction (and a terrible one at that), the game went far beyond my expectations in Unlimited, making the mediocrity of Extra almost forgivable."
Muv-Luv Alternative's English release has a Metacritic score of 83/100, based on reviews from six critics. Summarizing the series for DualShockers, Giuseppe Nelva wrote: "If you love strong storytelling, solid and realistic sci-fi, diverse and engaging characters, quite a bit of charming fanservice, and to be deeply engaged on the emotional level, you owe it to yourself to try the Muv-Luv trilogy out."
According to the manga author Hajime Isayama, his hit manga series Attack on Titan was heavily inspired by Muv-Luv Alternative.
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External Link[]
- Muv-Luv Alternative — Official Manga Website
- Muv-Luv Portal — Official Website
- Muv-Luv Official (@Muvluv_Official) - Twitter X
- Muv-Luv Alternative Game — Official Website
- Muv-Luv Alternative Game — Official Xbox 360 Website
- Muv-Luv 20th Odyssey Box — Portal Website
- Muv-Luv Alternative Theory No. 5 — 4Gamer.net Website
- TV Anime "Muv-Luv Alternative" Official Website
- TV Anime "Muv-Luv Alternative" Official (@Muv_Luv_A_anime) - Twitter X
- Muv-Luv Alternative — Wikipedia JP
- Muv-Luv Series — Wikipedia EN
Trivia[]
to be added.