X, also known as X/1999 and X: The Movie, is a 1996 anime film directed by Rintaro and studio Madhouse. Rintaro wrote it alongside Clamp head writer Nanase Ohkawa. It is based on Clamp's manga of the same name. It premiered August 3, 1996, in Japan and had a limited screening in North America during March 10, 2000. The movie ran for an hour and forty minutes. The supernatural thriller focuses on the roles Kamui Shiro, Kotori Monou, and Fma Monou play in the Apocalypse. After his mother's death, the young Kamui returns to Tokyo to participate in a Holy War between two groups that will either protect mankind and protect nature at the cost of mankind.
Rintaro was approached by Kadokawa Shoten to direct this movie and found this part of his career unique due to how he work with Ohkawa, Clamp's head writer, while also aiming to show a self-contained story with a style and atmosphere that might be rejected by the viewers. The film's theme song is "Forever Love" by X Japan. The film was released in both VHS and DVD format.
Despite the popularity of the series, critical response to the film was mixed with critics praising the visuals and fight choreography, while the lack of focus on most of the cast supporting Kamui and Fuma was met with negative response. In retrospective, books focused on films still praised Rintaro's film while the television series produced years later by Madhouse was felt superior due to the further handling of the cast.
Plot[]
Theme song[]
- Opening: "Forever Love"
Staff[]
- Director: Rintaro.
- Screenplay: Rintaro and Nanase Ohkawa.
- Original creator: CLAMP.
- Music: Yasuaki Shimizu.
- Production company: MADHOUSE.
Cast and Voice Actors[]
| Character | Japanese Voice Actor | English Voice Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Kamui Shiro | Kenichi Suzumura Takaaki Hiyoshi (Young) |
Alan Marriott |
| Fuma Monou | Ken Narita Sora Tôma (Young) |
Adam Henderson |
| Kotori Monou | Junko Iwao Megumi Yoshiwaka (Young) |
Larissa Murray |
| Sorata Arisugawa | Kōichi Yamadera | Mike Fitzpatrick |
| Arashi Kishu | Emi Shinohara | Teresa Gallagher |
| Subaru Sumeragi | Issei Miyazaki | William Dufris (Uncredited) |
| Karen Kasumi | Mami Koyama | Toni Barry |
| Yuzuriha Nekoi | Yukana | Anne-Marie Lawless |
| Seiichiro Aoki | Hideyuki Tanaka | David Harris |
| Nataku | Rika Matsumoto | Don Fellows (Uncredited) |
| Seishiro Sakurazuka | Tōru Furusawa | Garrick Hagon (Uncredited) |
| Yuto Kigai | Kazuhiko Inoue | Nigel Whitney |
| Satsuki Yatoji | Kotono Mitsuishi | Anne Marie Zola (Uncredited) |
| Kakyo Kuzuki | N/A | N/A |
| Kusanagi Shiyu | Jouji Nakata | Jeff Harding |
| Princess Hinoto | Yūko Minaguchi | Stacey Jefferson |
| Kanoe | Katsuko Takahata | Denica Fairman |
| Daisuke Saiki | N/A | N/A |
| Shōgo Asagi | Toshihiko Seki | Rupert Degas |
| Toru Magami | Masako Ikeda | Liza Ross |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
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| X/1999 | |
| Content: | Anime Episodes • Manga Volumes • Characters • Timeline of Events • OVA • Movie • CLAMP |
| Media: | Anime • Manga • Music Video • Drama CDs • Video Games • X Artbooks |