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[[File:angeliclayer.jpg|frame]]
[[File:angeliclayer.jpg|frame]]


{{quote| ''Angel wings, please guide me and Hikaru!''}}
{{quote|''Angel wings, please guide me and Hikaru!''}}


A typical shounen [[Tournament Arc]] series, save that it's done by [[CLAMP]], has a predominantly female cast without being a [[Bishoujo Series]], and involves fighting dolls controlled by the player's mind.
A typical shounen [[Tournament Arc]] series, save that it's done by [[CLAMP]], has a predominantly female cast without being a [[Bishoujo Series]], and involves fighting dolls controlled by the player's mind.
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Suzuhara Misaki is the new girl at Eriol Academy, living with her aunt Shouko in Tokyo after growing up with her grandparents. Her mother, Shuuko, has been so busy with work in Tokyo that Misaki hasn't seen her since she was five years old, but she refuses to feel sad about it or look into her mom's whereabouts, feeling that she'd be a burden. Upon arriving in Tokyo, she sees a crowd gathered around a screen playing an intense match between two fighting dolls, called Angels, in a game called Angelic Layer. With some persuasion from a [[Mad Scientist]], Misaki jumps at the chance to get her own Angel and start competing nationally.
Suzuhara Misaki is the new girl at Eriol Academy, living with her aunt Shouko in Tokyo after growing up with her grandparents. Her mother, Shuuko, has been so busy with work in Tokyo that Misaki hasn't seen her since she was five years old, but she refuses to feel sad about it or look into her mom's whereabouts, feeling that she'd be a burden. Upon arriving in Tokyo, she sees a crowd gathered around a screen playing an intense match between two fighting dolls, called Angels, in a game called Angelic Layer. With some persuasion from a [[Mad Scientist]], Misaki jumps at the chance to get her own Angel and start competing nationally.


Besides the twists to the formula, ''Angelic Layer'' starts out like a regular shounen adventure series of the same mold. Misaki meets new friends, begins to fight and realizes that she has a vast, incredible talent for the game. All the while, the [[Mad Scientist]] Icchan is watching her progress in the tournament, revealing to the audience the reason that he cares so much about Angelic Layer and about this particular little girl.
Besides the twists to the formula, '''''Angelic Layer''''' starts out like a regular shounen adventure series of the same mold. Misaki meets new friends, begins to fight and realizes that she has a vast, incredible talent for the game. All the while, the [[Mad Scientist]] Icchan is watching her progress in the tournament, revealing to the audience the reason that he cares so much about Angelic Layer and about this particular little girl.


The manga treats certain plot elements completely different from the anime, which also makes big changes to the battle system later on. Either is recommended, as while the anime's changes make more sense later on, the manga is still quite good.
The manga treats certain plot elements completely different from the anime, which also makes big changes to the battle system later on. Either is recommended, as while the anime's changes make more sense later on, the manga is still quite good.


''Angelic Layer'' is either an [[Alternate Continuity]] or [[Prequel]] to ''[[Chobits (Manga)|Chobits]]'' and ''[[Kobato]].''
''Angelic Layer'' is either an [[Alternate Continuity]] or [[Prequel]] to ''[[Chobits]]'' and ''[[Kobato.]].''


It is also notable for being one of the first [[Shounen]] series to innovatively break genre conventions and feature a ''female'' leading protagonist, a trend which eventually caught on and appeared in franchises such as ''[[Chrono Crusade]]'' and ''[[Soul Eater]]''.
It is also notable for being one of the first [[Shounen]] series to innovatively break genre conventions and feature a ''female'' leading protagonist, a trend which eventually caught on and appeared in franchises such as ''[[Chrono Crusade]]'' and ''[[Soul Eater]]''.


Despite the ''very'' similar premise, no relation to ''[[Custom Robo (Video Game)|Custom Robo]]'', which first appeared a mere six months after the Manga.
Despite the ''very'' similar premise, no relation to ''[[Custom Robo]]'', which first appeared a mere six months after the Manga.

----
{{tropelist}}
=== This program provides examples of: ===
* [[The Abridged Series]]
⚫
* [[Abuse Is Okay When Its Female On Male]]: See [[Attack Hello]] below.
* [[Action Mom]]: {{spoiler|Shuuko.}}
* [[Action Mom]]: {{spoiler|Shuuko.}}
* [[Adaptation Expansion]]: The anime expands the roles of several characters, allowing for more in the way of [[Character Development]].
* [[Adaptation Expansion]]: The anime expands the roles of several characters, allowing for more in the way of [[Character Development]].
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* [[Apologetic Attacker]]: Misaki.
* [[Apologetic Attacker]]: Misaki.
* [[Attack Hello]]: Tamayo whenever she meets Koutarou. ''Every. Single. Time.''
* [[Attack Hello]]: Tamayo whenever she meets Koutarou. ''Every. Single. Time.''
* [[Awesome By Analysis]]: Easily Misaki's strongest attribute.
* [[Awesomeness By Analysis]]: Easily Misaki's strongest attribute.
* [[Badass Adorable]]: Misaki, Hatoko, and Kaede, at least as Dei.
* [[Badass Adorable]]: Misaki, Hatoko, and Kaede, at least as Dei.
* [[Badass Automaton]]: All of the featured Angels.
* [[Badass Automaton]]: All of the featured Angels.
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* [[Clingy Jealous Girl]]: Tamayo towards both [[Les Yay|Misaki]] and Koutarou, more so in the anime for the latter.
* [[Clingy Jealous Girl]]: Tamayo towards both [[Les Yay|Misaki]] and Koutarou, more so in the anime for the latter.
* [[Companion Cube]]: The Angels. They may seem like [[Mons]] at first glance, but the whole point is that they're really just dolls who can only move on the Layer. Shuuko points out that treating one's Angel as a [[Companion Cube]] is required to fully enjoy the game.
* [[Companion Cube]]: The Angels. They may seem like [[Mons]] at first glance, but the whole point is that they're really just dolls who can only move on the Layer. Shuuko points out that treating one's Angel as a [[Companion Cube]] is required to fully enjoy the game.
** Kaede takes this the furthest, claiming her only role in battle is being Blanche's moral support
* [[Continuity Nod]]: The various one-shot characters who Misaki faces over the course of the series all show up as spectators to the final fight between {{spoiler|Athena and Hikaru}}.
* [[Continuity Nod]]: The various one-shot characters who Misaki faces over the course of the series all show up as spectators to the final fight between {{spoiler|Athena and Hikaru}}.
* [[Cool and Unusual Punishment]]: Icchan's subordinate Ogata often gets penalized for things that go wrong, with punishments including making him eat spaghetti through his nose and dropping a live octopus down his pants.
* [[Cool and Unusual Punishment]]: Icchan's subordinate Ogata often gets penalized for things that go wrong, with punishments including making him eat spaghetti through his nose and dropping a live octopus down his pants.
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* [[Ditto Fighter]]: Hikaru, due to Misaki possessing the gift of [[Awesomeness By Analysis]].
* [[Ditto Fighter]]: Hikaru, due to Misaki possessing the gift of [[Awesomeness By Analysis]].
* [[Dogged Nice Guy]]: Kotarou.
* [[Dogged Nice Guy]]: Kotarou.
⚫
* [[Double Standard Abuse (Female on Male)]]: See [[Attack Hello]].
* [[Elevator School]]
* [[Elevator School]]
* [[Emotionless Girl]]: Sai comes across as this.
* [[Emotionless Girl]]: Sai comes across as this.
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* [[Explosive Overclocking]]: Kaede's Angel Blanche and Sai's Angel Shirahime both have "Hyper Mode", which maxes their power but risks destroying the Angel's core components permanently the longer it is used. In the manga, where only Blanche has the capability, it's risk-free.
* [[Explosive Overclocking]]: Kaede's Angel Blanche and Sai's Angel Shirahime both have "Hyper Mode", which maxes their power but risks destroying the Angel's core components permanently the longer it is used. In the manga, where only Blanche has the capability, it's risk-free.
* [[Expy]]: Hikaru is is an expy of [[Magic Knight Rayearth|Clamp's other Hikaru]].
* [[Expy]]: Hikaru is is an expy of [[Magic Knight Rayearth|Clamp's other Hikaru]].
** Misaki can be seen as one to [[Cardcaptor Sakura (Manga)|Sakura]].
** Misaki can be seen as one to [[Cardcaptor Sakura|Sakura]].
* [[Facial Markings]]
* [[Facial Markings]]
* [[Fighting Series]]: Though the main focus is still the drama that happens ''outside'' of combat.
* [[Fighting Series]]: Though the main focus is still the drama that happens ''outside'' of combat.
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** In the anime, {{spoiler|Shuuko; she's in a wheelchair, and this is the true reason why she left Misaki}}.
** In the anime, {{spoiler|Shuuko; she's in a wheelchair, and this is the true reason why she left Misaki}}.
** Also Sai's little sister, who exists only in the anime.
** Also Sai's little sister, who exists only in the anime.
* [[In the Name of The Moon]]: In the anime, everybody is required to come up with a quick blurb for when their Angels enter the Layer.
* [[In the Name of the Moon]]: In the anime, everybody is required to come up with a quick blurb for when their Angels enter the Layer.
* [[Indirect Kiss]]
* [[Indirect Kiss]]
* [[Invincible Hero]]: Misaki only faces one major loss in the entire series. [[Justified Trope|Jusified]] in that the series itself takes place during a single tournament. When she lost, the tournament was at a stage were losing didn't immediately result in elimination.
* [[Invincible Hero]]: Misaki only faces one major loss in the entire series. [[Justified Trope|Jusified]] in that the series itself takes place during a single tournament. When she lost, the tournament was at a stage were losing didn't immediately result in elimination.
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* [[Locked Out of the Loop]]: Misaki
* [[Locked Out of the Loop]]: Misaki
* [[Lolicon]]: [[Played for Laughs]] by showing the typical reaction of fans of various ages -- a man in the audience screams how he loves Misaki.
* [[Lolicon]]: [[Played for Laughs]] by showing the typical reaction of fans of various ages -- a man in the audience screams how he loves Misaki.
* [[Luke I Am Your Father]]
* [[Luke, I Am Your Father]]
* [[Mad Scientist]]: Icchan is a non-evil example.
* [[Mad Scientist]]: Icchan is a non-evil example.
* [[Mega Manning]]: Misaki/Hikaru, once again due to Misaki's gift of [[Awesome By Analysis]].
* [[Mega Manning]]: Misaki/Hikaru, once again due to Misaki's gift of [[Awesomeness By Analysis]].
* [[Meganekko]]: Kaede.
* [[Meganekko]]: Kaede.
* [[Mission Control]]
* [[Mission Control]]
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* [[Mysterious Parent]]
* [[Mysterious Parent]]
* [[Mysterious Protector]]
* [[Mysterious Protector]]
* [[Names to Know In Anime]]: The manga was done by [[CLAMP]]. The anime approaches having something of an [[All Star Cast]], featuring seiyuu both well-known at the time ([[Kotono Mitsuishi|Mitsuishi Kotono]] as Shouko, [[Kikuko Inoue]] as Shuuko, [[Tomokazu Seki]] as Ogata, [[Houko Kuwashima]] as Sai, Yuri Shiratori as Hatoko, Masaya Onosaka as Icchan, [[Yui Horie]] as Hiromi Fujimori and [[Kappei Yamaguchi]] as one-shot character [[Names the Same|Ryou Misaki]], and a number of up-and-comers who eventually gained stardom in their own right: [[Soichiro Hoshi]] as Oujiro, [[Jun Fukuyama]] as Kotarou, [[Ayako Kawasumi]] as Kaede, and [[Kana Ueda]] as Ringo.
* [[No Guy Wants an Amazon]]
* [[No Guy Wants an Amazon]]
* [[Oba-san]]: Shouko refuses to be called this, despite actually being Misaki's aunt, [[Christmas Cake|because it makes her feel old]].
* [[Oba-san]]: Shouko refuses to be called this, despite actually being Misaki's aunt, [[Christmas Cake|because it makes her feel old]].
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* [[Odango]]: Madoka.
* [[Odango]]: Madoka.
* [[The Only One Allowed to Defeat You]]: Hatoko and Misaki to each other. And Madoka feels this way towards Hatoko
* [[The Only One Allowed to Defeat You]]: Hatoko and Misaki to each other. And Madoka feels this way towards Hatoko
* [[Paper Thin Disguise]]: Ringo's attempts to escape from her manager leave a lot to be desired
* [[Paper-Thin Disguise]]: Ringo's attempts to escape from her manager leave a lot to be desired
* [[Pimped Out Cape]]: Misaki and Hikaru each wear one as tournament champions at the end of the manga.
* [[Pimped-Out Cape]]: Misaki and Hikaru each wear one as tournament champions at the end of the manga.
* [[Pinky Swear]]: Misaki and Hatoko's promise
* [[Pinky Swear]]: Misaki and Hatoko's promise
* [[Power Gives You Wings]]
* [[Power Gives You Wings]]
* [[Raised By Grandparents]]: Misaki.
* [[Raised by Grandparents]]: Misaki.
* [[Replacement Goldfish]]: {{spoiler|Icchan}}'s hidden agenda.
* [[Replacement Goldfish]]: {{spoiler|Icchan}}'s hidden agenda.
* [[Robot Girl]]: The angels, naturally.
* [[Robot Girl]]: The angels, naturally.
* [[Romantic Two Girl Friendship]]: Misaki and Hatoko's friendship occasionally borders on this.
* [[Romantic Two-Girl Friendship]]: Misaki and Hatoko's friendship occasionally borders on this.
** Sai and Kaede's as well.
** Sai and Kaede's as well.
* [[Rose Haired Girl]]: Hikaru.
* [[Rose-Haired Girl]]: Hikaru.
* [[Scary Shiny Glasses]]: Icchan is quite the expert at this.
* [[Scary Shiny Glasses]]: Icchan is quite the expert at this.
* [[Secret Legacy]]
* [[Secret Legacy]]
* [[Serious Business]]: Subverted. There are a number of Dei who treat Angelic Layer as [[Serious Business]], but according to a number of characters, including the man who invented the game itself, they're doing it wrong and should just be having fun.
* [[Serious Business]]: Subverted. There are a number of Dei who treat Angelic Layer as [[Serious Business]], but according to a number of characters, including the man who invented the game itself, they're doing it wrong and should just be having fun.
* [[Shipper On Deck]]: Tamayo apparently thinks this way about Misaki and Koutarou.
* [[Shipper on Deck]]: Tamayo apparently thinks this way about Misaki and Koutarou.
* [[Shock and Awe]]: Athena.
* [[Shock and Awe]]: Athena.
* [[Shorttank]]: Tamayo.
* [[Shorttank]]: Tamayo.
* [[Shout Out]]:
** Hikaru is actually based on Shidou Hikaru, the heroine of ''[[Magic Knight Rayearth]]''; also, Eriol Academy is named after Hiiragizawa Eriol from ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura (Manga)|Cardcaptor Sakura]]''. Plus the manga has newspaper clips of how the [[CLAMP School Detectives]] have vowed to investigate the disappearance of three girls from Tokyo Tower (Another ''Rayearth'' ref.)
** There are also two points in the manga where Misaki is shown singing the anime theme tunes for CLAMP School Detectives and Rayearth season 2.
* [[Shrinking Violet]]: {{spoiler|Shuuko. In the manga, this is more or less the reason why she left Misaki.}}
* [[Shrinking Violet]]: {{spoiler|Shuuko. In the manga, this is more or less the reason why she left Misaki.}}
* [[Smoke Shield]]
* [[Smoke Shield]]
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* [[Stock Footage]]: The "Entry Angel" sequences.
* [[Stock Footage]]: The "Entry Angel" sequences.
* [[Sugar and Ice Personality]]: Probably a more apt description of Sai; as Kaede points out, she is fiercely driven under the ice queen exterior.
* [[Sugar and Ice Personality]]: Probably a more apt description of Sai; as Kaede points out, she is fiercely driven under the ice queen exterior.
* [[Tall Dark and Bishoujo]]: Sai.
* [[Tall, Dark and Bishoujo]]: Sai.
* [[Throw the Dog A Bone]]: After spending the entirety of the series as the [[Butt Monkey]], Ogata eventually [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|gets back at Icchan]] during the [[Beach Episode]] by putting him through the exact same treatment that he constantly endured. It's also heavily implied that he {{spoiler|hooks up with Fujimori}} at the end of the series.
* [[Throw the Dog a Bone]]: After spending the entirety of the series as the [[Butt Monkey]], Ogata eventually [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|gets back at Icchan]] during the [[Beach Episode]] by putting him through the exact same treatment that he constantly endured. It's also heavily implied that he {{spoiler|hooks up with Fujimori}} at the end of the series.
* [[Tomboyish Sidetails]]
* [[Tomboyish Sidetails]]
* [[Tournament Arc|Tournament Series]]: The entire series is basically one big [[Tournament Arc]].
* [[Tournament Arc|Tournament Series]]: The entire series is basically one big [[Tournament Arc]].
* [[Trickster Mentor]]: Icchan is a perfect example of this.
* [[Trickster Mentor]]: Icchan is a perfect example of this.
* [[Two Scenes One Dialogue]]
* [[Two Scenes, One Dialogue]]
* [[Unlucky Childhood Friend]]: Tamayo in the manga.
* [[Unlucky Childhood Friend]]: Tamayo in the manga.
* [[Victorious Childhood Friend]]: Tamayo in the anime.
* [[Victorious Childhood Friend]]: Tamayo in the anime.
* [[Waif Fu]]: Hikaru, along with other smaller Angels.
* [[Waif Fu]]: Hikaru, along with other smaller Angels.
* [[Where Are They Now Epilogue]]
* [[Where Are They Now? Epilogue]]
* [[White Haired Pretty Boy]]: Wizard.
* [[White-Haired Pretty Boy]]: Wizard.
* [[White Haired Pretty Girl]]: Shirahime.
* [[White-Haired Pretty Girl]]: Shirahime.
* [[Winged Humanoid]]: Athena; in the anime, filler character Eagle, Hikaru in the opening, and {{spoiler|Hikaru again in the last battle.}}
* [[Winged Humanoid]]: Athena; in the anime, filler character Eagle, Hikaru in the opening, and {{spoiler|Hikaru again in the last battle.}}
* [[Wise Beyond Their Years]]: Hatoko, though she does relapse on occasion.
* [[Wise Beyond Their Years]]: Hatoko, though she does relapse on occasion.
* [[Womanin Black]]: Suzuka.
* [[Woman in Black]]: Suzuka.
* [[Woman in White]]: [[Meaningful Name|Blanche, Shirahime,]] and Athena.
* [[Woman in White]]: [[Meaningful Name|Blanche, Shirahime,]] and Athena.
* [[Zettai Ryouiki]]: The Eriol Academy girl's uniform.
* [[Zettai Ryouiki]]: The Eriol Academy girl's uniform.


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Anime]]
[[Category:Anime]]
[[Category:Anime of the 2000s]]
[[Category:Manga]]
[[Category:Manga]]
[[Category:Kidou Tenshi Angelic Layer]]
[[Category:Manga of the 2000s]]
[[Category:CLAMP]]
[[Category:Dark Horse Comics]]
[[Category:Tokyopop]]
[[Category:Shonen Demographic]]
[[Category:Animax]]
[[Category:Science Fiction Anime and Manga]]
[[Category:TV Tokyo]]
[[Category:Studio BONES]]
[[Category:Sentai Filmworks]]
[[Category:Anime Network]]

Latest revision as of 18:19, 4 September 2022

Angel wings, please guide me and Hikaru!

A typical shounen Tournament Arc series, save that it's done by CLAMP, has a predominantly female cast without being a Bishoujo Series, and involves fighting dolls controlled by the player's mind.

Suzuhara Misaki is the new girl at Eriol Academy, living with her aunt Shouko in Tokyo after growing up with her grandparents. Her mother, Shuuko, has been so busy with work in Tokyo that Misaki hasn't seen her since she was five years old, but she refuses to feel sad about it or look into her mom's whereabouts, feeling that she'd be a burden. Upon arriving in Tokyo, she sees a crowd gathered around a screen playing an intense match between two fighting dolls, called Angels, in a game called Angelic Layer. With some persuasion from a Mad Scientist, Misaki jumps at the chance to get her own Angel and start competing nationally.

Besides the twists to the formula, Angelic Layer starts out like a regular shounen adventure series of the same mold. Misaki meets new friends, begins to fight and realizes that she has a vast, incredible talent for the game. All the while, the Mad Scientist Icchan is watching her progress in the tournament, revealing to the audience the reason that he cares so much about Angelic Layer and about this particular little girl.

The manga treats certain plot elements completely different from the anime, which also makes big changes to the battle system later on. Either is recommended, as while the anime's changes make more sense later on, the manga is still quite good.

Angelic Layer is either an Alternate Continuity or Prequel to Chobits and Kobato..

It is also notable for being one of the first Shounen series to innovatively break genre conventions and feature a female leading protagonist, a trend which eventually caught on and appeared in franchises such as Chrono Crusade and Soul Eater.

Despite the very similar premise, no relation to Custom Robo, which first appeared a mere six months after the Manga.

Tropes used in Angelic Layer include:
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Angelic_Layer?oldid=1976921"