Divergence Eve

A 13-episode anime series developed by RADIX and initially broadcast in 2003, Divergence Eve is rather controversial due to its excessively busty characters and use of fanservice (thanks to Toshinari Yamashita of Amazing Nurse Nanako fame - or infamy) in a story that would otherwise have been taken more seriously.

The plot is a bit difficult to wrap your brain around. In 2017, Earth satellites detect a gravitational anomaly coming from the direction of the constellation Lyra. When the signal is analyzed, it's revealed to be a transmission from the Voyager spacecraft, leading to the discovery of faster-than-light travel as well as a wormhole inside the core of Saturn's moon Titan. Others are soon discovered. Further exploration of these wormholes, or "inflation holes," results in the discovery, in the year 2197, of a planet ten parsecs from Titan which is dubbed the Quantum Core, which contains a wormhole identical to Titan's at its center and was apparently once occupied by a now-extinct alien species whose excessive use of wormhole travel resulted in the equatorial mass of the Core being burned away, leaving it in the shape of...well, an apple core.

Within 50 years, humanity has constructed a base on the Core, dubbed Watcher's Nest. Not long after, an expedition beneath the planet's surface is attacked by a Ghoul - your garden-variety Cosmic Horror, origins and intentions unknown. The purpose of Watcher's Nest is now twofold: Monitor the Core, and prevent any further incursion from the Ghoul. Autopsies and genetic research conducted by a group called Alchemy reveal startling results when Ghoul genes are combined with animal DNA -- and later with human DNA, resulting in the project being officially closed down.

Now a new squad of cadets is brought on board Watcher's Nest to experience combat training, conspiracy and absurdly tight uniforms. Misaki, our heroine, is hardly cut out for the job -- but trouble seems to find her, and she's being observed by parties unknown....

The original series was followed by a second 13-episode series, Divergence Eve: Misaki Chronicles, in 2004. With the same set of characters and set in an alternative universe, Misaki Chronicles is about the elite team at Watcher's Nest defeat Ghouls at different times in Earth's history.


 * Anachronic Order: Confused by the first episode? You should be, as it takes place chronologically between episodes 12 and 13.
 * Anime Hair: Compared to other animes the hair isn't too extreme but most defy physics.
 * Balloon Belly: Misaki in the ending.
 * Barbie Doll Anatomy: Averted with nipples but straight with the groin.
 * Blond Guys Are Evil: Jean-Luc LeBlanc.
 * Big No: In episode 10.
 * Bridge Bunnies: Naturally, they bounce every time they turn around.
 * Christmas Cake: Lyar von Ertiana, to her chagrin.
 * Clothing Damage: Misaki's armour rips off her, leaving her naked.
 * Conspicuous CG: Some of the worst best uniquest you'll ever see.
 * Cool Old Guy: Wolfgang Woerns, commander of Watcher's Nest.
 * Cosmic Horror: The Ghoul.
 * Deliberately Monochrome: Misaki's nightmare in episode 9.
 * The Dragon: Prim Snowlight, to LeBlanc. Even though she isn't all that evil.
 * Eaten Alive:.
 * Empty Shell:
 * Evilutionary Biologist: Dr. Kessler. Also LeBlanc - maybe.
 * Fan Service
 * Fake-Out Make-Out: Invoked by Bernard.
 * Five-Man Band:
 * The Hero: Misaki
 * The Lancer: Kiri
 * The Smart Guy: Suzanna
 * The Big Guy: Luxandra
 * The Chick: Kotoko
 * The Mentor: Lyar
 * French Jerk: LeBlanc.
 * Gainaxing: Every plot-important woman save the Token Mini-Moe.
 * Go Mad From the Revelation:.
 * Good Looking Privates
 * Gory Discretion Shot: except the blood.
 * Humongous Mecha: Rampart Armor.
 * Ignorance Is Bliss: "The truth doesn't always save somebody."
 * Immortality Seeker:
 * Intrepid Reporter: Subverted. Bernard Firestar turns out to be a complete ass
 * Laser-Guided Amnesia: This happens to anybody who leaves the military having learnt top secret information to stop it leaking. This happens to.
 * Latex Space Suit: Obviously.
 * Meganekko: Prim.
 * Mind Control Device:
 * The Mole: Bernard.
 * Nietzsche Wannabe: LeBlanc.
 * No Hugging, No Kissing: Except for the Fake-Out Make-Out there's no touching at all. No romance either.
 * People Jars: Hundreds of them
 * Put on a Bus: And memory-wiped to boot, such as.
 * Ridiculously-Human Robots: Kotoko-01. To the point that in one episode, she starts bleeding.
 * Scary Shiny Glasses: LeBlanc, and sometimes Prim.
 * Soundtrack Dissonance: The ending theme of the first series and the opening theme of Misaki Chronicles are bouncy pop songs.
 * The Starscream:
 * These Are Things Man Was Not Meant to Know:  learns of all the knowledge in the entire universe and their head explodes.
 * Token Mini-Moe: Kotoko
 * Tomato in the Mirror: It's obvious to the audience from the start that there's something special about Misaki. All in all
 * It also turns out that.
 * White-Haired Pretty Girl: Lyar
 * Wise Beyond Their Years: Prim has several degrees.
 * You Gotta Have Blue Hair: Bernard and Misaki.
 * You Killed My Father
 * You Know Too Much: : "The rat has entered the forbidden zone."
 * Your Head Asplode: in episode 13.
 * Zettai Ryouiki: Misaki, Suzanna, Kotoko and Kiri.
 * Your Head Asplode: in episode 13.
 * Zettai Ryouiki: Misaki, Suzanna, Kotoko and Kiri.

Misaki Chronicles contains the following tropes:

 * Badass Cape: Lyar's cape.
 * Beethoven Was an Alien Spy: Toyotomi Hideyoshi was a Ghoul.
 * Brutal Honesty: After Lyar says a heartfelt farewell to Kurenai-no-ha when she returns to the sort of future, Kotoko finds out what would happen to him . She jokes about what would have happened had Lyar gone and helped him.
 * Cute Ghost Girl:.
 * Ghost Memory: 1595-Misaki gets the memories of dead people..
 * I Never Told You My Name:.
 * Military School: Misaki Chronicles takes place during the characters' training in the alternative universe.
 * Mind Screw: They're travelling to the past of an alternative world while also being ... It gets complicated.
 * Samurai: Kurenai-no-ha.
 * Past Life Memories:.
 * Trapped in the Past: There's a time limit for how long the barrier around Earth will remain open. If they stay too long whoever went down would become trapped. Though really.