A Channel (manga)
| Company type | Manga series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manga, Anime |
| Founded | October 28, 2008 |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Products | Manga, Anime television series, OVA |
is a Japanese four-panel comic series created by bb Kuroda, which was serialized between 2008 and 2021 in the seinen magazine Manga Time Kirara Carat, published by Houbunsha. A prequel installment began its run in Manga Time Kirara Carino starting January 2012. The anime adaptation, produced by Studio Gokumi, was broadcast in Japan from April through June 2011. Additionally, an original video animation (OVA) titled A Channel + smile was launched on March 21, 2012.
Plot
Tooru Ichii and Run Momoki have been close friends since childhood. After successfully passing her entrance exams, Tooru joins the same high school as Run. Upon arriving to share the news, Tooru encounters Run in a comically awkward moment alongside their new classmate Yuko Nishi. Tooru then finds herself guarding Run from others showing interest, while Yuko and their friend Nagi Tennoji help manage Run’s dramatic behavior. As Run, Nagi, and Yuko progress into their second year and Tooru begins her first year, their high school experiences unfold filled with humor, drama, and various adventures.
Main characters
- A small-statured first-year student who often struggles to find clothes that fit properly. She has been friends with Run since kindergarten and becomes protective and somewhat jealous when others approach her. Initially suspicious of Yūko due to a misunderstanding, she frequently playfully mocks her. Tooru has a fondness for sweets and owns a cat named .
- A second-year student with blonde hair styled distinctively, who is known for her airheaded nature and is Tooru’s closest friend. Despite being forgetful and scatterbrained, she cares deeply for Tooru.
- Run’s classmate in the second year who is recognized for her intelligence and sharp wit. She is self-conscious about her weight and dislikes extreme weather conditions. Her look changes significantly when she takes off her glasses and lets her hair down.
- A long-haired second-year student also in Run’s class who often becomes the subject of Tooru’s teasing due to envy of her figure. She speaks with a Kansai dialect.
Other characters
- A talkative first-year student and Tooru’s classmate who eagerly tries to befriend Tooru, much to her unease.
- Yutaka’s friend and fellow first-year student who helps moderate Yutaka’s enthusiasm toward Tooru. She holds a part-time job as a maid in a café.
- Tooru’s homeroom teacher who has a passion for poetry but often clashes with students because of her energetic mornings.
- The laid-back homeroom teacher for Run, Yūko, and Nagi who frequently takes charge of sports classes.
- The timid health teacher who seems to have a crush on Run.
- Yūko’s devoted younger sister.
Manga
The manga authored by bb Kuroda started its serialization in Manga Time Kirara Carat on October 28, 2008. As of November 25, 2020, eleven tankōbon volumes have been published. An anthology featuring guest contributors was released on June 27, 2011. The prequel manga series titled A Channel ~days in junior high school~ began its serialization in Manga Time Kirara Carino from January 27, 2012.
Art book
| No. | Title | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beautiful Box | March 27, 2017 | 978-4-8322-4821-2 |
| 2 | Baby Blue | January 27, 2021 | 978-4-8322-7247-7 |
Comics Anthology
| Number | Publication Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 27, 2011 | 978-4-8322-4043-8 |
Official Guide Books
| Number | Title | Publication Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Channel.zip: Visual Fan Book for "A Channel" | July 27, 2011 | 978-4-8322-4050-6 |
| 2 | A Channel TV Anime Official Guide Book – colorful days collection – | August 27, 2011 | 978-4-8322-4060-5 |
Anime
The anime adaptation, created by Studio Gokumi, was broadcast in Japan from April 8 through June 24, 2011. The Blu-ray and DVD editions were released starting May 25, 2011, each containing two brief +A Channel mini-episodes. In North America, Sentai Filmworks issued the series on DVD on February 28, 2012, followed by a Blu-ray release on January 27, 2015. An original video animation (OVA) titled A Channel + smile was made available on March 21, 2012. Another OVA was bundled with a Blu-ray Disc Box set released on September 27, 2017. The licensing agreement with Sentai Filmworks ended on April 30, 2019.
Music
- Opening Themes
- "Morning Arch" performed by Marina Kawano (TV series)
- performed by Marina Kawano (OVA)
- Ending Themes
- performed by Aoi Yūki, Kaori Fukuhara, Minako Kotobuki, and Yumi Uchiyama (TV series)
- performed by the same quartet (OVA)
- Insert Songs
- performed by Kaori Fukuhara, Aoi Yūki, Minako Kotobuki, and Yumi Uchiyama (episodes 1 and 12)
- "Start" by the same group (episode 2)
- performed by Aoi Yūki (episode 3)
- "Summer Dream Syndrome" by Kaori Fukuhara (episode 4)
- "Mermaid Sisters" by Minako Kotobuki (episode 5)
- performed by Yumi Uchiyama (episode 6)
- "Summer Breeze" and performed by Kaori Fukuhara and Minako Kotobuki (episode 7)
- and performed by Yumi Uchiyama, Kaori Fukuhara, and Aoi Yūki (episode 7)
- performed by Daisuke Ono (episode 7)
- performed by Kaori Fukuhara and Aoi Yūki (episode 8)
- and "Happy Snow" sung by the main cast (episodes 9–10)
- performed by Aoi Yūki (episode 11)
- performed by Minako Kotobuki and Yumi Uchiyama (episode 12)
- performed by Aoi Yūki, Ai Matayoshi, and Momoko Saitō (OVA episode 1)
- "Happy New Days" performed by the main cast (OVA episode 2)
Appearances in Other Media
The characters make appearances alongside other franchises from Manga Time Kirara within the mobile RPG Kirara Fantasia released in 2017, thereby enhancing brand exposure through cross-media collaboration.