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S-CRY-ed

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article S-CRY-ed, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 202525 sources
s-CRY-ed
Company typeTelevision series
IndustryAnime
FoundedJuly 4, 2001; 25 years ago (2001-07-04)
FounderSunrise
Headquarters
Japan
ProductsAnime television series, manga, light novel, films

, also referred to as s.CRY.ed or Scryed, is a Japanese anime television series consisting of 26 episodes that debuted on TV Tokyo. The script was penned by Yōsuke Kuroda, with production handled by Sunrise and direction by Gorō Taniguchi. The soundtrack was composed by Kōtarō Nakagawa. The narrative unfolds in an alternate version of Kanagawa Prefecture, where a mysterious event grants supernatural abilities known as Alters to 1% of the population. The plot focuses on Kazuma, a mercenary wielding Alter powers, and Ryuho, a member of HOLY—the special forces unit of Alter users—whose rivalry escalates as their respective domains come into conflict.

The idea for the series originated in 1999 during Taniguchi’s involvement with Infinite Ryvius, intending to examine themes related to adaptation in the modern era. A manga adaptation created by Yasunari Toda was serialized in Akita Shoten’s Weekly Shōnen Champion, accompanied by a novelization authored by Kazuho Hyodo. Subsequently, Sunrise released a two-part recap film. Both the anime and manga versions have been licensed for distribution in English-speaking markets.

Achieving commercial success within Japan, s-CRY-ed consistently ranked in magazine popularity polls and secured third place in the Anime Grand Prix. Critical reception was generally favorable, highlighting that although the initial episodes are relatively straightforward, the plot develops greater complexity as the series advances.

Setting

The storyline takes place years after an event known as "The Great Uprising," a geological upheaval in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo that divided the area into two regions: the "Lost Ground" and the "Mainland." In the aftermath, a segment of Lost Ground’s inhabitants gained supernatural abilities called "Alters," which allow them to manifest extraordinary weaponry. Two factions arise from this divide: the "Native Alters," who live autonomously outside the city center, and "HOLY," an elite special police force composed of Alter users from "HOLD," representing the Mainland government’s authority within Lost Ground.

Plot

Kazuma, a Native Alter mercenary, earns his livelihood supporting himself and his close companion Kanami Yuta. After being tasked by his friend Kunihiko Kimishima to eliminate another Native Alter, Kazuma is apprehended by Ryuho, a HOLY operative who interrogates him regarding an enigmatic Alter user known as Crystal, who is responsible for killing Ryuho’s mother.

Kazuma escapes captivity by taking HOLY agent Mimori Kiryu hostage; however, HOLY soon detains numerous Native Alters. In a confrontation with Crystal in a forested area, Kazuma’s Alter experiences a significant power surge. It is later disclosed that the Great Uprising parallels a similar incident occurring in a parallel universe inhabited by autonomous, sentient Alters.

Following Kimishima’s sacrifice while aiding him, Kazuma embarks on a vendetta against HOLY, reigniting his rivalry with Ryuho. Their clash inadvertently opens a portal to the parallel universe, sparking another uprising and attracting Mainland government intervention. Both fighters are presumed dead; Kazuma retreats into underground fighting circuits while Ryuho suffers from amnesia. With assistance from HOLY member Straight Cougar, Kazuma regains determination to protect Kanami, who continues searching for him. Meanwhile, Ryuho recovers his memories and begins defending Natives against HOLY forces, eventually joining forces with Kazuma.

The Mainland dispatches their top agent Kyouji Mujo to harness powers from the parallel universe for economic advantage. Mujo takes control over Lost Ground’s administration and absorbs Crystal’s entity to augment his Alter capabilities but is ultimately defeated by Kazuma and Ryuho, who draw strength from the parallel world to boost their powers. The Mainland then sends enhanced Alter users to reclaim control but they are defeated once more.

After these Mainland forces are repelled, Kazuma and Ryuho prepare for their conclusive battle aimed at ending their long-standing rivalry. As one gains the upper hand, the scene fades to white. An epilogue set years later depicts them as guardians of Lost Ground defending against Mainland incursions, while an older Kanami awaits their return.

Creation and release

Director Gorō Taniguchi revealed that the concept for s-CRY-ed was conceived in 1999 while he was involved with Infinite Ryvius. Whereas Infinite Ryvius concentrated on themes of communication, s-CRY-ed centers on individualism by depicting characters who have already adjusted to societal transformations. The title merges the Japanese word "su" (meaning natural form), the English word "cry," and the suffix "ed," which signifies a person, symbolizing individuals' natural reactions. Originally intended as a provisional title, it was ultimately kept for the final product.[1]

Taniguchi refuted any influence from Western superheroes, instead attributing inspiration to earlier Sunrise productions. The narrative delves into personal adaptation rather than traditional superhero motifs. To visually differentiate HOLY members, Sunrise designed their attire to resemble prison uniforms.[1]

Broadcast in Japan from July 4 to December 26, 2001, the series comprises twenty-six episodes. These episodes were distributed across nine DVD volumes released between November 2001 and July 2002.[2][3] A full DVD box set was later issued in January 2008,[4] followed by a Blu-ray box release in October 2011,[5] which sold 6,172 copies during its first week.[6]

In early 2003, Bandai Entertainment secured licensing rights,[7] subsequently releasing the series in North America as six separate Region 1 DVD volumes beginning in 2003. This was followed by a comprehensive box set in November 2004.[8][9][10] A Universal Media Disc edition was released in October of the following year.[11] Meanwhile, Bandai's European division Beez Entertainment distributed a six-disc collection in the United Kingdom between June 2005 and February 2006.[12][13]

The show made its debut on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block in the United States on May 29, 2005.[14] Bandai re-released s-CRY-ed under their Anime Legends label as three two-disc sets between September and November of the same year,[15][16] with a full Anime Legends Collection arriving in October 2006.[17] After Bandai Entertainment ceased operations in 2012, Sunrise announced at Otakon 2013 that Sentai Filmworks had obtained rights to s-CRY-ed along with other titles,[18] although Sentai never reissued the series and eventually let the license expire. On May 3, 2020, Discotek Media acquired licensing rights and released the series on Blu-ray on April 27, 2021.[19][20][21] In Australia, licensing is managed by Madman Entertainment.[22]

The musical score was created by Kōtarō Nakagawa, with an original soundtrack album launched on November 21, 2001 and two drama CDs released on December 19 of that year.[23] The opening theme for episodes one through twenty-five was "Reckless Fire" performed by Yasuaki Ide; the ending theme was "Drastic My Soul" by Mikio Sakai. For episode twenty-six, "Drastic My Soul" replaced "Reckless Fire" as the opening song while "Tabidachi no Kane ga Naru" ("The Bell of Setting out for a Journey Will Ring"), also by Sakai, served as the closing theme. Additionally, three insert songs were featured: "All I Need Is Love" (episodes fourteen and seventeen), "Magma" (episode nineteen), and "Discovery." Singles for both "Reckless Fire" and "Drastic My Soul" were made available on August 22, 2001.[24][25]

Films

On April 8, 2011, Sunrise revealed plans to remaster and re-release the s-CRY-ed series in the form of two feature films titled s-CRY-ed Alteration, as part of the franchise's 10th Anniversary Project. The initial movie, TAO, entered the Japanese box office at fifteenth place, generating approximately US$141,055 from nine screens, with an average revenue of US$15,673 per screen; however, it exited the rankings the following week. The Blu-ray edition of TAO, released on February 24, 2012, recorded sales of 6,624 copies during its debut week and reached a total of 7,726 units by the conclusion of its second week.

The subsequent film, QUAN, premiered on March 10, 2011. Its Blu-ray release followed on July 27, 2012, selling 6,543 copies within Japan. Complementing these films, a single CD featuring updated versions of "Reckless Fire" and "SPIRITS" was launched on March 7, 2012. This release was accompanied by a CD drama titled s-CRY-ed Alteration Sound Edition 2012.

Related media

A manga adaptation authored by Yōsuke Kuroda with illustrations by Yasunari Toda was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion from October 4, 2001, until June 20, 2002. The series was later compiled into five tankōbon volumes. Tokyopop acquired the license and distributed the volumes between March and November 2003.

Additionally, a light novel series penned by Kazuho Hyodo and illustrated by Hisashi Hirai was published under Dengeki Bunko from May 10, 2002, through May 10, 2003. The protagonist Kazuma also appears in the crossover role-playing game titled Heroes Phantasia.

Reception

The franchise enjoyed considerable popularity in Japan, securing positions among the top three anime series twice in 2001 according to Anihabara!. It sustained this ranking in a 2002 poll conducted by Animage, where it also achieved third place in the Animage Anime Grand Prix for series. The character Kazuma was ranked second among male characters, following only Inuyasha. A survey by TV Asahi placed the show at number 51 among favorite Japanese television anime. In March 2010, Newtype listed Kazuma as the nineteenth most outstanding male anime character of the decade.

Critical assessments were largely favorable. Reviewers praised the energetic action sequences and compelling character designs despite occasional superficial dialogue. DVD Verdict highlighted the appeal of the action scenes; DVD Talk commended its plot strength relative to typical fighting series and expressed preference for the original Japanese voice cast. UK Anime Network found enjoyment in the English dub and valued Kazuma’s embodiment of personal freedom as a central theme. Several critics drew positive comparisons to the acclaimed Clamp series X. Mania Beyond Entertainment lauded the depth of characters—particularly Ryuho’s motivations—and recommended it to enthusiasts of action-packed shows like Dragon Ball Z.

Subsequent critiques recognized character growth and plot progression while noting some drawbacks related to animation quality and pacing. Responses to the finale were mixed: some reviewers applauded its resolution and climactic battles; others viewed certain confrontations as underwhelming. DVD Talk advised acquiring complete DVD collections due to cost considerations and suggested that the storyline might have benefited from tighter editing.

IGN’s Ryan Clements emphasized the entertaining dynamic rivalry between Kazuma and Ryuho despite issues with pacing and animation. In his publication Manga: The Complete Guide, Jason Thompson characterized the manga as "over-the-top" with "enjoyably weird, exaggerated" artwork reminiscent of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, which added to its distinctive charm.

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named animerica
  2. ↑ スクライド 1 DVD (in 日本語). Amazon.co.jp. 25 November 2001. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  3. ↑ "スクライド 9 DVD". Amazon.co.jp. 25 July 2002. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Scride 5.1 ch DVD-Box" スクライド 5.1ch DVD-BOX (期間限定生産) (in 日本語). Amazon.co.jp. 25 January 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  5. ↑ スクライド Blu-ray BOX (in 日本語). Amazon.co.jp. 26 October 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking: October 24–30". Anime News Network. November 1, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Bandai Publicizes New Anime at Toy Fair". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  8. ↑ "S-Cry-Ed - The Lost Ground (Vol. 1)". Amazon. 15 July 2003. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  9. ↑ "S-Cry-Ed - Final Fight (Vol. 6)". Amazon. 25 May 2004. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  10. ↑ "S-Cry-Ed - The Complete Collection". Amazon.com. 23 November 2004. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  11. ↑ "New UMD Releases". Anime News Network. July 17, 2005. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  12. ↑ "S-Cry-Ed (Vol. 1)". Amazon.co.uk. 6 June 2005. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  13. ↑ "S-Cry-Ed (Vol. 6)". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Upcoming Adult Swim Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  15. ↑ "S-Cry-Ed, Vol. 1". Amazon. 27 September 2005. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  16. ↑ "S-Cry-Ed, Vol. 3". Amazon.com. 22 November 2005. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  17. ↑ "S-Cry-ed - Anime Legends Complete Collection". Amazon. 24 October 2006 . Retrieved December 18, 2016. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help); no-break space character in |access-date= at position 9 (help); no-break space character in |date= at position 11 (help)
  18. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named sentai2013
  19. ↑ "Discotek Licenses Detective Conan: Episode One, Love Hina Again, S-CRY-ed Anime". 19 May 2024. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); no-break space character in |date= at position 7 (help)
  20. ↑ "Discotek Schedules Gin Rei OVA in Late 2020-Early 2021". 19 May 2024. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); no-break space character in |date= at position 7 (help); no-break space character in |title= at position 39 (help)
  21. ↑ "Discotek to Release Lupin III: Elusiveness of the Fog Anime, Saint Seiya Movies on BD on April 27". 19 May 2024. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); no-break space character in |date= at position 7 (help); no-break space character in |title= at position 95 (help)
  22. ↑ "Scryed". Madman Entertainment. Retrieved December 30, 2016. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help); no-break space character in |access-date= at position 9 (help)
  23. ↑ "Scryed CDs to go on Sale this Winter". Anime News Network. November 24, 2001. Retrieved December 6, 2016. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help); no-break space character in |access-date= at position 9 (help); no-break space character in |date= at position 9 (help)
  24. ↑ "Reckless Fire" (in 日本語). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved December 22, 2016. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help); no-break space character in |access-date= at position 9 (help)
  25. ↑ "Drastic My Soul" (in 日本語). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved December 22, 2016. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help); no-break space character in |access-date= at position 9 (help)

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