Angelic Layer (Japanese: エンジェリックレイヤー, Hepburn: Enjerikku Reiyā) is a Japanese anime adapting the manga of the same name by Clamp. Renamed Battle Doll: Angelic Layer (機動天使エンジェリックレイヤー, Kidou Tenshi Angelic Layer), it was produced by Bones, directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori, and written by Ichirō Ōkouchi. Character design was by Takahiro Komori, and the music was composed by Kohei Tanaka.[1][2] The series follows Misaki Suzuhara, a schoolgirl who learns to play "Angelic Layer", a game in which players fight using dolls. Misaki enters professional competitions with her doll Hikaru.
The series first premiered on TV Tokyo on April 1, 2001, and finished on September 23, 2001, with a total of 26 episodes.[2][3] The opening theme is "Be My Angel" by Atsuko Enomoto, the first ending theme is "The Starry Sky" by HAL, and the second ending theme is "After the rain" by Moeko Matsushita.[2]
Angelic Layer was originally released in Japan across nine DVD sets, the first coming out on July 25, 2001, and was then brought out as a limited edition box set on March 3, 2004.[4] It was released in North America by ADV Films across seven DVD sets, the first released on October 14, 2003,[5] and then in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2004.[6] The series was then released as a complete collection in North America on September 27, 2005,[7] and in the UK on February 9, 2009.[8] Angelic Layer then came out as a Blu-ray collector's edition in Japan, originally scheduled for March 26, 2010, but postponed until September 24, 2010.[4][9] It was then released on Blu-ray by Sentai Filmworks in North America on December 13, 2016.[10] Anime Limited released a Blu-ray collection in the UK on September 24, 2018, which also featured a 40-page artbook.[11]
In 2001, Angelic Layer won the "Television Award" in the 6th Animation Kobe awards.[12]
- ^ "Battle Doll ANGELIC LAYER". Bones (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Angelic Layer (TV)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ あらすじ [Synopsis]. mv.avex.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ a b "Angelic Layer: Release dates". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "Angelic Layer - Divine Inspiration (DVD-R1 1 of 7)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "Angelic Layer » Volume 1: Divine Inspiration". ADV Films. Archived from the original on October 28, 2007. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "ADV Announces Sept 27 Releases". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ Curzon, Joe (December 17, 2008). "LDMS and ADV Films January and February 2009 DVD line up". Otaku News. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ 『機動天使エンジェリックレイヤー』Blu-ray BOX＆DVD-BOX発売日が9月24日に延期 ["Battle Doll: Angelic Layer" Blu-ray BOX & DVD-BOX release date postponed to September 24]. Animate Times (in Japanese). March 15, 2010. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (August 26, 2016). "Sentai Filmworks to Release Angelic Layer Anime on Blu-ray Disc". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "Angelic Layer - Blu-ray Collector's Edition". Anime Limited. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ アニメーション神戸 これまでの記録 [Records so far: Archive]. xebec.co.jp (in Japanese). January 24, 2021. Archived from the original on March 21, 2007.