Crows Zero Cinematic Series – Prequel of the “Crows” manga/comic series
The Crows Zero movie series is a prequel of the manga/comic ‘Crows’( (クローズ Kurōzu) written by Hiroshi Takahashi(高橋ヒロシ).
The characters and contents of the movies Crows Zero and Crows Zero 2 weren’t officially part of the Crows manga/comic series of Crows. However, the Crows Zero movie became a huge success and even the second episode of the movie became highly popular.
The success of the first Crows Zero film between Takiya Genji and Serizawa Tamao and the second episode between Suzuran High School and Housen Academy was great.
Eventually the storylines of the movies were officially incorporated into the Crows manga/comic as well and a spin off manga/comic of the Crows Zero was also published.
The contents and history of the Crows series continues in the ‘High and Low’ TV series in Japan as well which shows how influential the series was.
The Meaning of GPS and overview of the Crows Zero series
The Crows Zero(クローズZERO, Kurōzu Zero) movie series highlights the story of Takiya Genji, a senior who came to ‘dominate’ Suzuran High School, the so called ‘High School of crows.
During the first episode, Takyia Genji makes his own clan, GPS (Genii Perfect Seiha, Seiha means dominance or conquer in Japanese) to stand against the strongest force of Suzuran High School ‘Serizawa Corps’ led by Serizawa Tamao.
The second episode depicts how Takiya Genji unites GPS and Serizawa Crops to resolve the prolonged conflict between Suzuran High School and its arch enemy, Housen Academy. The Crows Zero series became one of the most vivid academy-violence action film presenting unique characters and action.
Why unimportant characters were focused in the Crows Zero movie
Many characters that don’t cooperate with the main characters such as Takiya Genji nor Serizawa Tamao take a substantial part of the movie. Most of these characters are substantial main characters of the original manga/comic Crows series and serve as a connection with the manga/comics.
This delighted the original manga/comic fans while those without background knowledge of the Crows manga/comic series would have thought it was a waste of time.
Original Crows comic/manga series & Crows Zero timeline
The original Crows comic/manga series is the 3-year story of Bouya Harumichi(坊屋 春道), the main character of the Crows manga/comics who has transferred to Suzuran High School as a junior.
The Crows Zero movie series depicts the events a year before the transfer of Bouya Harumichi to Suzuran High School.
The main characters of the Crows Zero movie series were seniors and graduated from Suzuran High School during the starting point of the Crows comic/manga series.
The Crows Zero movie series were a prequel that wasn’t intended to be a part of the Crows manga/comic series at first. Thus many characters of the movie weren’t in the comic/manga Crows.
Characters in both the Original Crows comic/manga series & Crows Zero movies
Some main characters of the Crows comic/manga premiered in the movie Crows Zero as a connection between the movie and the comic/manga. Below are the characters that premiere in both the manga/comic Crows and the movie Crows Zero series
Bandou Hideto was a member of the ‘Front of Armament’ in the first episode of Crows Zero and the leader of the Front of Armament of Suzurh High School.
Bitou Tatsuya was the younger brother of Housen Academy’s former boss Bitou Makio from episode 2. Bitou Tatsuya doesn’t fight much in the movie but he leads Housen Academy after the seniors graudated.
The Ebizuka Trio, Makoto Sugihara, Toshiaki Honjou and Hiromi Kirishima were the freshman that conversates with Izaki Shuun a lot. The guy with sunglasses and long braids, and the guy wearing a mask were part of the Ebizuka Trio.
Rindaman was the most powerful character in the Crows Zero movie series and he also befriends the main character of Crows manga/comic Bouya Harumichi.
The Ebizuka Trio - Kirishima Hiromi, Sugihara Makoto and Honjou Toshiaki
The main narrator of the Crows comic/manga series is the Ebizuka Trio. During the Crows Zero movie series, the trio takes a substantial portion of the scenes, however they never played a crucial role during the clash between Takiya Genji’s GPS and Serizawa Tamao’s Seirzawa Crops nor the clash between Housen Academy and Suzuran High School.
The Ebizuka Trio, however, are the major partners of Bouya Harumichi, the main protagonist of the Crows comic/manga series.
As the Crows Zero movie series was made as a spin-off non official story from the Crows comic/manga series, the Ebizuka Trio doesn’t make much history in Suzuran highschool but serve as a major link between the movie series and the comic/manga series.
Kirishima Hiromi is the character, mostly depicted as the leader of the trio in the movie series with black pointy hair. Honjou Toshiaki is the character with a white mask with yellow/gold hair on while Sugihara Makoto is the character with the unique pig tail braided hair style with sunglasses on.
Although Kirishima is depicted much as the leader in the movie, in the Crows comic/manga, Sugihara Makoto is probably the best fighter among the trio.
As the Crows Zero series became a huge success and the spinoff comics/manga of Crows Zero was published, scenes with Sugihara Makoto fighting with Takiya Geji were added.
Front of Armament – Biker gang of Crows Zero
One of the most popular groups in the Crows comics/manga is the Front of Armament. The leather jackets of the Front of Armament are popular among the original comics/manga fans.
The Front of Armament is a biker group lead by one leader the ‘head’ and 4 lieutenants known as the ‘elite four’. The symbol of this group is the skull drawn on the back of their jackets.
Why did Bandou Hideto help Takiya Genji against Serizawa Corps
Bandou Hideto was impressed with Takiya Genji when he tried to cut off his ear without bluffing during the misunderstanding between the kidnap of Genji’s girlfriend that was plotted by Tokaji Yuji. Bandou Hideto decided to help Takiya Genji and GPS against Serizawa Corps by this event.
Story of Bandoun Hideto and the Front of Armament in the Crows manga/comics
Bandou Hideto was originally one of the elite four members of the Front of Armament under the 2nd head Sugata Kazushi. Bandou Hideto was personally close with the 2nd head. However, the 2nd head Sugata Kazushi was killed in a very mischievous accident.
Kuno Hideomi, who was considered second in place then takes over the Front of Armament after Sugata Kazushi’s death. Bandou Hideto rebelled against Kuno Hideomi and decided to build strength to take over the Front of Armament.
Bandou Hideto’s transferred to Suzuran High School to build his strength against the Front of Armament as Suzuran High School was notorious for its strength.
He wanted to avenge the death of the 2nd head as believing the incident was a conspiracy. He erased the skull on the jackets of his men as a pledge for his ambitions which Takiya Genji was able to notice upon the misunderstanding of Luka’s kidnap.
Tokaji Yuji, the staff of chief or the brain of Serizwa Corps he negotiated with Bandou Hideto to kidnap Luka to trigger war between Bandou’s group and Taikya Genji’s GPS. Unlike the movie, Bandou is depicted more as a craven character in the comics/manga.
Bandou Hideto constantly tried to force the Ebizuka trio to join his cause, however Bandou eventually loses to Bouya, the main protagonist of the comic/manga Crows.
Eventually, Bandou forms a band with Kirishima Hiromi of the Ebizuka trio at the end. Nothing much was depicted of him after Bandou lost to Bouya.
Rindaman – The invincible of Suzuran High School
Rindaman's real name is Hayashida Megumi. Rindaman is the most powerful character among the comics/manga and movie series. Even Bouya Harmuchi couldn’t win against Rindaman.
Thus, strictly speaking, Bouya and Taikya Genji both failed to take over Suzuran High School, however in both the movie and the comics/manga series, Rindaman didn’t care about Suzuran High School.
The protagonist of Crows manga/comics Bouya Harumichi actually was also not interested in taking over Suzuran High School either but still as the protagonist of the comic/manga series, he got involved in all the incidents in the comic/manga series.
Rindaman was also friends with the deceased Bitou Makio from Housen Academy. Bitou Makio was a ‘lone wolf’ unlike how he was depicted in the episode 2 of the Crows Zero movie series.
Bitou Makio and Rindaman both noticed each other’s strength and their personality in a series of events. Both often had lunch together and shared their own feelings as a lone wolf as well.
Takiya Genji – Suzuran High School GPS
Takiya Genji is the son of a yakuza boss named Takiya Hideo and he joins Suzuran High School because his father promised to inherit his place as the boss of the yazkua clan he leads if Genji could reign over Suzuran High School.
Genji’s father Takiya Hideo knew the cruelty, viciousness of a life as a yakuza which he regretted so he wanted his son Takiay Genji to realize that during his struggle to take over Suzuran High School.
Takiya Genji would form his own clan GPS(Genji Perfect Seiha – Genji’s perfect reign over) with Izaki Shuun, Tamura Chuta and Makise Takashi.
Tamura Chuta - Suzuran High School GPS
Tamura Chuta was the best fighter of class E of the seniors of Suzuran High School. Takiya Genji transferred to class E and fights Tamura Chuta first by the advice of Ken. Tamura Chuta became best friends of Takiya Genji and even when Takiya Genji was confused and strayed, Tamura Chuta stood by his side.
Makise Takashi - Suzuran High School GPS
Makise Takashi was the best fighter of class E, however he never yielded to Serizawa Tamao’s Serizawa Corps. However, Makise Takashi was terrible with treating women, Takiya Genji tried to earn Makise Takashi’s trust by helping him with women. Although Makise Takashi’s dates always miserably failed, Takiya Genji earned Makise Takashi’s trust.
Izaki Shuun - Suzuran High School GPS
Izaki Shuun was the senior of the Ebizuka trio when they were in Ebizuka middle school(junior high school) and the Ebizuka trio respected Izaki Shuun. Izaki Shuun was a man who could never work under someone else but Izaki Shuun saw the sheer will of Takiya Genji.
Izaki Shuun became the advisor or the staff of chief for GPS as he admired Takiya Genji and his will
Serizawa Tamao - Suzuran High School Serizawa Corps
Serizawa Tamao was the boss of Serizawa Corps and he was the closest to becoming the true leader of Suzuran High School before Taikya Genji’s transfer.
He wasn’t interested in much of the silly ranking of Suzuran High School; however Takiya Genji’s challenge sparked the inner zeal within.
After losing to Takiya Genji, Serizawa Tamao had respect for him while Takiya Genji wasn’t still respected by his Serizawa Corps. Serizawa Tamao eventually acknowledges Takiya Genji in front of Suzuran High School and Housen Academy during the final duel.
“Aren’t you too harsh to our boss” – Serizawa Tamao to Narumi Taiga of Housen Academy
Tatsukawa Tokio - Suzuran High School Serizawa Corps
Tatsukawa Tokio was a close friend of Serizawa Tamao, and he was also an old friend of Takiya Genji. Tokio tried his best to halt the fight between Takiya Genji and Serizawa Tamao but Tatsukawa Tokio was suffering from a life threatening Intracranial aneurysm (brain aneurysm) and couldn’t fight in the final fight between GPS and Serizawa Corps.
Tokaji Yuji - Suzuran High School Serizawa Corps
Tokaji Yuji was the brain or the staff of chief of the Serizawa Corps. After Takiya Genji’s GPS grew rapidly and started to threaten Serizawa Corps, Tokaji Yuji landed sucker punches on Genji’s GPS members.
Tokaji Yuji tried to make conflict between the Front of Armament and Takiya Genji’s GPS by kidnapping Takiya Genji. Tokaji was scolded by Serizawa Tamao but Tokaji never made such plots for himself so Serizawa Tamao forgave him and Tokaji joined the final fight against GPS.
TsuTsumoto Shoji and the Mikami Brothers - Suzuran High School Serizawa Corps
Tsutsumoto Shoji was the junior with dreadlocks that was a junior of Serizawa Tamao and was a junior in Suzuran High School. The Mikami brothers were twins and the best fighters of class B.
Housen Academy – Differences between the comic and the movie
As the Crows Zero movie series prospered, the spin-off comic/manga published later differed a bit with the movie. Details were added to the Housen Academy captains which wasn’t depicted much in the movies. In the movie, Housen Academy was united under the leadership of Narumi Taiga from the first.
However, in the spin-off comics later published, Housen Academy was also divided as much as Suzuran High School. Narumi Taiga actually had to unite all of Housen Forces by his own hands.
Housen Academy – Why everyone have their hair shaved
Only captains of the Housen Academy were allowed to have their own hairstyle and all students who are not captains must shave their hair off.
The four captains or leaders of Housen Academy were easily distinguished as they were the only ones that didn’t shave their hair off. Housen Academy’s leader ship was under Narumai Taiga with Matoba Toushi, Shibayama Hayato, Kumakiri Rikiya and Urushibara Ryo as the captains.
Narumi Taiga – Housen Academy Boss
Narumi Taiga was the boss of Housen Academy and the leader. After Takiya Genji broke the armistice between Housen Academy and Suzuran High School, Narumi Taiga grew curious of Takiya Genji while he also had the chance to avenge Bitou Makio who passed away as he was stabbed by former Suzuran High School student Kawanisih Noboru.
Narumi Taiga was curious who could have won Serizawa Tamao and he kind of admired Takiya Genji. Narumi Taiga liked onigiri, the seasoned rice with nori and he liked masculinity and didn’t like betrayal nor cowardly behaviors.
Housen Academy captain – Kumakiri Rikiya – brown hair with a hairband and bandage on the nose
Kumakiri Rikiya loved to flirt with women and only became a leader in Housen Academy so he could keep his looks to flirt with women.
He wasn’t interested in Housen Academy’s war against Suzuran High School in the spin-off, however Narumi Taiga convince him to join the fight against Suzuran High School.
Housen Academy captain - Shibayama Hayato – yellow hair
Shibayama Hayato, also known as ‘Mister Hercules’ was a buffed-up character in the spin-off. Shibayama Hayato was supposed to be a big huge character with great strength.
Although in the movie, the actor was smaller to make such an impression, however Hayato’s character was successfully depicted in the spin-off comics/manga series.
Housen Academy captain – Urushibara Ryo – long hair with the umbrella
Urushibara Ryo only spoke with Narumi Taiga in both the movie and the comic/magna series. After Narumi left Housen Academy, Ryo quits Housen Academy. In the spin-off comics/manga, Urushibara Ryo becomes obsessed with Serizawa Tamao.
Before the main clash between Suzuran High School and Housen Academy, both picked up a fight but discontinues as they were in public.
Both in the movie and comics/manga, as Urushibara Ryo beats Tsutsumoto Shouji(the junior with dreads and part of the Serizawa Corps), Serizawa Tamamo was eager to avenge Shouji and fight Ryo.
Housen Academy captain – Matouba Toushi – Silver tooth and griilz
Matoba Toushi is the character with the grillz, the silver tooth like feature in his mouth in the movie. Toushi was the 2nd best fighter in Housen Academy. In the spin-off comic/manga, Narumi Taiga had to pick up a hard fight to force Toushi for the reunification of Housen Academy.
Bitou Tatsuya – Main character of the Crows manga/comic
Bitou Tatsuya was the younger brother of Bitou Makio who passed away as he was stabbed by Kawanishi Noboru during the clash between Housen Academy and Suzuran High School.
Unlike the movie series, Bitou Tatsuya didn’t overcome his brother Bitou Makio’s death and tried to avenge his brother in the Crows manga/comic series as he became the leader of Housen Academy after Narumia Taiga graduated from Housen Academy.
‘Suzuran High School’ became a proper noun for ‘hard boiled school’. The Crows Zero movie series was able to represent academy-violence genre influencing other movies and media as well. Even in the ‘High and Low’ series, the universe created within the Crows Zero series has been descended and is still popular.
Also, many media celebrities of Japan were highlighted in the Crows Zero series. Oguri Shun who played Takiya Genji, Yamada Takayui who played Serizawa Tamao, and Ayano Go who played Urushibara Ryo became one of the most popular actors of Japan.
'Media - Movies & Books & Music etc > Movie & Media' 카테고리의 다른 글
| [Der Untergang, Downfall] - Military figures (0) | 2023.02.11 |
|---|---|
| [Der Untergang] - Waffen SS and the Wermacht (0) | 2023.02.06 |
| [Der Untergang] - The road to Germany's downfall & the Battle of Berlin (0) | 2022.11.04 |
| [Der Untergang] - Albert Speer - Joseph Goebbels - Politicians ep3 (0) | 2022.10.30 |
| [Der Untergang] - Hermann Göring - Martin Bormann- Politicians ep2 (0) | 2022.10.28 |
