Summer 2004 Anime

In Elfen Lied, Lucy is a Diclonius, a subspecies marked by horns and invisible telekinetic arms that made her a target of brutal government experiments. When she finally finds a chance to escape, the years of her captivity and suffering have twisted her mind, leading to a bloody slaughter of her captors as she breaks free. During her frantic flight, a severe head injury fractures her psyche, creating a second, childlike personality who is barely able to speak. In this vulnerable state, she is found by Kouta and his cousin Yuka, college students who unknowingly take the injured fugitive in. Their compassion sets off a chain of events that pulls them into a hidden world of government secrets and conspiracy.

Naruto Uzumaki, together with his teammates Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno, is assigned to escort a film crew to the Land of Snow. Their mission grows complicated when they discover their charge is the famous actress Yukie Fujikaze, who refuses to go to the destination. Matters worsen after an unexpected clash with ninja from the Land of Snow, leading Naruto to learn that Yukie is concealing her real identity. The story follows the team's fight against the obstacles of the Land of Snow and their effort to uncover Yukie's true reason for the trip.

Kurono Kei and his former elementary school classmate Kato Masaru have made it through the first two missions sent by the mysterious black sphere known as Gantz. Exploding limbs, fighting to survive until the final seconds, and watching their fellow comrades fall in pools of blood and viscera have become routine for them. They now understand that Gantz can summon them along with any new recruits at any moment for another encounter with aliens. Will Kato's experiences inside the Gantz world give him the same bravery in the real world? With fellow veteran Gantz player Kei Kishimoto currently living at Kurono's place as his "adopted pet," can Kurono resist his growing desire for her breasts? What the hell is Gantz?

In Girls Bravo, Yukinari is a high school boy who is short in stature and constantly bullied by girls, and he has a peculiar condition: he breaks out in hives whenever any female touches or approaches him. His life is turned upside down when he is inexplicably transported to Seiren, a hidden magical city orbiting Earth that is mostly inhabited by women, with men being extremely rare. In this new setting, Yukinari meets Miharu-chan, a friend whose presence does not trigger his allergic reaction, a phenomenon that has no immediate explanation.

Takeya Ikuhara is an ordinary high school student going about his everyday routine. A year ago, a UFO carrying a group of beautiful alien women crash-landed on Earth, but Takeya has no interest in all the commotion surrounding them. These extraterrestrials, known as the DearS, have decided to make Earth their permanent home. What no one realizes is that the DearS are a slave species whose only purpose is to serve and please their masters. One day, Takeya spots a figure shivering behind some bushes. That figure is Ren, a DearS, and after Takeya saves her, she chooses him as her master. Takeya, unaware of the master-slave relationship that defines the DearS, tries to teach Ren how normal people live on Earth, though he constantly worries that she is an evil alien attempting to brainwash him. Ren, however, is unlike the other DearS—she is malfunctioning, and their leader is tracking her down. Meanwhile, Takeya begins to learn more about the DearS, and a legendary DearS bond known as the "Gift" starts to develop between the two of them.

In a distant future on a planet that might once have been called "Earth," a war was fought among samurai who had mechanized their bodies. After this prolonged conflict, peace remained fragile. The villagers of Kanna now face the threat of starvation and abduction by the Nobuseri, menacing mechanized bandits. To protect themselves, they decide to seek out samurai for defense, despite the risks. Kirara, the village's water priestess, along with her younger sister Komachi and a grief-stricken villager named Rikichi, set out on a quest to find willing samurai, promising to pay them with rice from their scarce harvest. Through dangerous journeys and fortunate events, they manage to gather seven samurai, each with distinct skills and backgrounds, setting the stage for an epic confrontation against the bandits and their merchant controllers. Samurai 7 draws inspiration from Akira Kurosawa's renowned film "Seven Samurai" / "Shichinin no Samurai."

In the high-tech metropolis of LaRousse, famous for its elite Battle Tower, Ash arrives eager to engage in intense Pokémon battles. But his plans get derailed when he discovers his battle partner is Tooi, a young boy deeply scarred by a past run-in with Pokémon, making him afraid even of Pikachu. Things escalate when Deoxys appears and takes over the city, shutting down all its systems and holding the residents captive. The legendary Rayquaza steps in, intent on driving the intruder out of its domain. Caught in the middle of these mighty forces, Ash, Tooi, and their friends remain determined to face whatever lies ahead.

Nishi rekindles his high school romance with Myon after she narrowly survives a train accident, only to discover she is engaged. While visiting Myon’s family’s yakitori restaurant and meeting her fiancé, Yakuza members ambush them, and Nishi is killed trying to protect Myon. In death, Nishi meets a whimsical, shapeshifting deity who challenges him to accept his fate by stepping through a portal into oblivion. Refusing to comply, Nishi chooses to return to life with a renewed perspective and foreknowledge of the Yakuza attack. Using this awareness, he turns one of the assailants’ weapons against them and flees with Myon and her sister in a stolen vehicle. Directed by Masaaki Yuasa, Mind Game employs a fluid, ever-changing animation style to explore themes of living without regret, establishing itself as a truly unique cinematic work.

During the steam-powered era of Victorian Britain, the Industrial Revolution drives the empire's expansion. James Ray Steam, a young inventor from a distinguished family of innovators, resides in Manchester, where he spends his days laboring in local factories and gathering parts for his creations. One day, he gets a mysterious parcel from his grandfather, who is working with Ray's father in the United States. The parcel holds an odd ball fitted with a valve. Soon after, agents from the O'Hara Foundation storm his home, aiming to confiscate the object. Panicked and bewildered, Ray flees to the home of his grandfather's associate, Robert Stephenson, with his pursuers close behind. As he uncovers the secrets and capabilities of the ball, it becomes clear that multiple factions within the British Empire are competing to gain control of it.

The grand sports festival in Konohagakure is in full swing, with all ninja teams vying for the ultimate prize: a week of paid vacation. Naruto Uzumaki is determined to triumph alongside Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno. However, he faces an unexpected obstacle in the form of a sudden digestive problem. Balancing his participation in the competitions with his urgent need, Naruto finds himself in a series of increasingly challenging situations as he tries to resolve his predicament.

Ancient Egyptian evil, Anubis, who was once defeated by Yugi's alternate self long ago, has resurfaced with intentions of revenge. Wielding the strength of the Eighth Millennium Item, Anubis aims to annihilate Yugi and take over the world.

In a remote area of the Japanese archipelago, Tatsumiyajima serves as the primary hub for a group of islands. The inhabitants enjoy calm lives, with youth attending school free from worry. Yet this peace masks a deeper reality. Humanity's survival hangs in the balance, and Tatsumiyajima stands as the final barrier against a strange, unknowable threat. At the heart of this conflict lies the colossal mecha Fafner, a dragon-shaped guardian charged with protecting the last remnants of humanity.

In "Ninja Nonsense," Kaede, a typical student buried in exam prep, finds her routine disrupted when Shinobu, a ninja apprentice, attempts to pilfer one of Kaede's undergarments as part of her own training assignment. Despite Kaede's efforts to thwart the theft, an unexpected friendship blossoms between them. Kaede becomes entangled in Shinobu's wild ninja universe, filled with festive ninjas and the eccentric Onsokumaru—a yellow, Pac-Man-esque entity who claims to be the supreme ninja master.

In the year 2100, humanity has set up colonies on the Moon, where a groundbreaking energy research project is underway. Amami Kurau, whose father leads this project, accompanies him to the lab on her twelfth birthday to observe the ongoing experiments. A disaster occurs when she is struck by two bursts of light. After the accident, her father realizes that Kurau has changed, now containing two energy beings that grant her extraordinary powers.

In "Re: Cutie Honey," Honey Kisaragi devotes herself to avenging her father's murder at the hands of the mysterious Panther Claw organization. Her father's final message fuels her determination to protect others. Inspector Natsuko Aki, brimming with energy, strives to capture Panther Claw members and bring them to justice. However, the police force is no match for this criminal syndicate, leaving only Cutie Honey—Honey's hidden persona—to oppose them. Though Natsuko initially dismisses vigilantes like Honey, their bond deepens as the resolute detective begins to understand Honey's motives. As time goes on, Honey struggles with her growing thirst for revenge, while Natsuko wrestles with her desire to protect Honey despite her duty to uphold the law. For them to effectively confront the formidable Panther Claw, they must set aside their differences and join forces.

As the spring semester starts at Lillian Girls' Academy, familiar bonds among the students are renewed. Yet for the Yamayuri Council members, this period carries a mix of joy and sorrow. Yoko, Eriko, and Sei are getting ready to leave Lillian, while Sachiko, Rei, and Shimako strive to make their beloved seniors' final days unforgettable. With Sei's departure, the White Roses will lose a vital member, and finding her replacement will prove difficult. Could a new student emerge who captures Shimako's interest enough to become the next Rosa Gigantea en bouton?

In the year 972 AD, Kyoto, the capital of ancient Japan, has become a corrupt and decaying city overrun by selfish samurai and onmyoji who seek only political power. Compounding the problem, the city suffers from famine and widespread disease. Unable to ignore the city's worsening state any longer, the Imperial Court decides to dispatch Minamoto no Raiko, a famous samurai renowned for his archery skills, to retrieve a legendary gem said to possess a mysterious power that can save the world. However, Raiko himself falls ill from the disease. Instead, his youngest sister, Hikaru, secretly sets out on the journey in his place. Along her quest for the legendary gem, Hikaru encounters many people and experiences numerous adventures.

Saiki Misaki has possessed the ability to perceive ghosts since childhood. Currently employed at an S&M club, she spends her free time helping spirits move on to the afterlife by making them aware of their own death and the need to depart. This task might be somewhat simpler if she didn't have a history of hardship and solitude... and a lecherous boss.

In the story "Wind: A Breath of Heart," Okano Makoto returns to his childhood town and begins attending school once more, spending ordinary but happy days alongside his sister Hinata, the energetic classmate Tachibana Tsutomu, Tsutomu's longtime friend Shikouin Kasumi, and the rest of their group. One afternoon, Makoto catches the sound of a harmonica playing, and the melody stirs a faded memory, drawing him up to the school rooftop. There, bathed in the twilight, he encounters a girl. She is Narukaze Minamo, smiling at him—the two were close friends as children, but years have passed since they last met. Concealing their true feelings, Makuto and his companions continue their routine school life. The stories of this mysterious town are about to unfold.

Three television movies compiled from the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed series. 1. The Empty Battlefield (Kokuu no Senjou) 2. The Far-Away Dawn (Harukanaru Akatsuki) 3. The Rumbling Sky (Meidou no Sora) The story is set in CE 70. The "Bloody Valentine" tragedy has escalated the conflict between the Naturals of the Earth Alliance and the genetically enhanced Coordinators of PLANT to a new level. ZAFT, PLANT's military force, holds a significant edge thanks to their mobile suits, which the Earth Alliance's mobile armors are powerless to counter. Kira Yamato, a Coordinator residing in the neutral colony Heliopolis, happens upon the EA's secret project—a set of powerful mobile suits he dubs Gundam—during a surprise ZAFT attack. Forced to battle his own kind in order to protect his Natural friends aboard the EA battleship Archangel, Kira must decide whether to keep fighting or leave the Archangel defenseless against the four other Gundam that ZAFT has stolen.

During summer vacation, Gash and his friends set out for Fuji Mountain to enjoy a picnic together. While they're there, they come across a girl named Kotoha who carries a white spellbook. Written inside her book is a message revealing that Gash's mother can be found in a cave within the forest. Yet when they finally locate the cave, a blond-haired young man named Wiseman is already inside. Hoping to help Wiseman, Gash and the others push deeper into the cavern, only to discover a gateway leading to an entirely different world. Before they can make sense of it, the mightiest fighter known as the Black Knight appears before them. Convinced that Gash is the one who stole the 101st magical book, the Black Knight launches an attack. Now Gash and Kiyomaro must track down the true culprit within a 24-hour window, or else they'll be trapped in that strange alternate world forever.

With Chitose Karasuma becoming the newest member of the Galaxy Angel team, the Angel Troupe continues its ongoing mission to locate The Lost Technology, facing various adventures and obstacles along the way.

Third-year high school student Naoki Kuzumi has been living with his aunt, uncle, and cousin Matsuri ever since he lost his parents in a tragic accident five years ago. He considers his life ordinary, aside from having no memories of his earliest childhood. One sunny day, as he is nodding off on a park bench, a strange girl with red hair named Mikoto suddenly falls onto him from above. Despite being strangers, she claims that he is her younger brother. It turns out that Naoki's time period is a safe haven for people from the future, where a widespread incurable disease is rampant. After discovering that her brother Yuusuke was sent to this safer era, Mikoto set out to find him.

Mabel West, a young girl, is the daughter of mystery writer Raymond West, who wishes for her to have an ordinary life. Defying this desire, Mabel aspires to become a great detective and travels to London to work as the assistant of none other than Hercule Poirot, the renowned Belgian detective residing there. After eventually gaining her father's hesitant approval, she begins a thrilling life full of mystery and suspense—his sole condition being that she occasionally visits her great-aunt, Jane Marple, in the quiet village of St. Mary Mead.

In the midst of summer, many Pokémon gather for a lively beach festival filled with various stalls. Just as everyone prepares for a concert by the popular pop star Azumarill, she vanishes, carried off by the flying-type Pokémon Skarmory. Pikachu, alongside Plusle, Minun, Meowth, Wobbuffet, and several other Pokémon, sets out on a rescue mission to bring back the kidnapped performer—after all, the show cannot go on without her!

In this short OVA, the reason for the series being titled "Flame of Recca" is revealed. The events that occur in this OVA are taken from the final volume, volume 33, of the Flame of Recca tankoubon.

Midway through a midair heist, Lupin finds himself transformed from thief to stolen goods when he is abducted and coerced into carrying out a job for a shadowy figure known only by the brand of cigarette they smoke. Lupin's task: to steal the notorious "Bull's Eye," a small green gem infamous because every previous thief who has taken it has wound up dead. Between the challenges of alternately dodging and chasing a young, competitive-minded thief, Lupin and his crew must solve the mystery of the Bull's Eye before the jewel's curse—or their enigmatic employer—catches up with them.

Kimi ga Nozomu Eien parodying the Gundam series in two minutes.

Maetel left behind her mother and her home world, the frozen and doomed La Metal, where survival demands becoming a cyborg. When she is called back, her choices seem limited: follow her mother's example—and with it a robotic mind and the hatred of all humans—or flee and join the human struggle against the machines. Yet she is not without allies and protectors. If she can embrace the friendship of metallic beings who long for peace, and stand against those who believe that being made of flesh and blood is enough to define humanity, she may still find a way to forge her own destiny.

The Stress Team looms over the city, seeking out stressed individuals and turning them into monsters. To fight this menace, three young women are forced to become the Sweet Valerians, rabbit-inspired heroes of justice.

The Extra Identification feature lets viewers match the various costumes appearing in the series to the anime shows that inspired them.

An animated variety show showcasing the works of Monkey Punch, this series aired on WOWOW with each episode running 52 minutes. Twelve episodes were broadcast from July 31, 2004, to June 25, 2005, and a DVD-exclusive 15-minute special titled Crime Mate was also released. Every episode is divided into a Mini Stage lasting 15 minutes and a Grand Stage lasting 30 minutes, interspersed with 60-second segments. The Lupin characters appear in brief 60-second segments called The Lupin Gang, though they have no dialogue and rely on visual gags; they also appear in the Mankatsu Monkey segments featuring a monkey that only says "Mankatsu."

In this ten-minute short film from the fictional "Houchiku Movie Corporation," after the dark castles are destroyed and their previous enemy is defeated, Scarlett departs from the team to follow her own path. Koto remains with her companions but anticipates reuniting with Scarlett. A powerful new opponent appears, greater than any they have encountered before, and stopping him is essential. To have any chance against this threat, the group must combine their strengths and fight as one.

Mika Suzuki, a 27-year-old homeroom teacher who looks about half her age, is the main focus of the series, alongside the colorful and eccentric students in her class.

Part of the Diamond Daydreams box set, this OVA elaborates on Kitano Suomi's storyline from the seventh episode and features bloopers from earlier episodes.

Sequel to Monkey Turn.

Zuku turned to banditry after being abandoned as a child. One night following a robbery, a mysterious little girl leads him to a beach near a pine grove, where he discovers a young woman lying unconscious beneath a radiant veil. Captivated by the veil's beauty, Zuku tries to take it and flee. The woman awakens and begs him to return her cherished possession, insisting he must give it back even though she cannot remember why it matters. Zuku initially refuses, not caring about her plea. Unbeknownst to him, this encounter will drastically change his fate. Drawing from a classic Japanese legend, Hi no Tori: Hagoromo-hen follows two people learning to find comfort in each other amid their struggles, showing how empathy can soften even the hardest heart.

Momo and Komomo are devoted mail carriers who can deliver messages from any sender to any destination. Their routes span from across the globe, through the galaxy, and even beyond the universe—to the ocean floor, the highest sky, or just around the corner. They make sure important letters reach their recipients, and their deliveries can bridge different time periods, connecting the past, present, and future. Komomo puts in extra effort to keep Momo, who often gets sidetracked, focused on their crucial mission.

This television anime film is the third installment in Shin-Ei's annual series of World War II-themed works titled "Sensou Douwa" (war story), produced for a young audience.

As the century-old comet Dream Suisei draws near to Earth, its influence makes everyone dream of an unfamiliar, faraway place. Melonpanna saves an egg from peril, and the egg chooses to follow her home. It eventually hatches into a kitten, which Melonpanna calls Nyanii and begins caring for. They soon discover that Nyanii must go back to Dream Suisei, or else she will vanish. Melonpanna struggles with the difficult task of saying farewell to her new friend. Matters become more complicated when Baikinman accidentally rouses the wicked creature Muuma.

Directed by Yuen Toe, McDull, Prince de la Bun is a 2004 Hong Kong animated film. It continues the narrative of the beloved pig character McDull, chronicling his exploits after My Life as McDull (2001) and before McDull, the Alumni (2006).