Jinki: Extend
Shirō Tsunashima began writing the manga series Jinki: Extend in the early 2000s. The story first appeared in a magazine called Monthly Comic Blade published by Mag Garden. Readers followed the tale of two girls piloting giant robots until the publisher dropped the series in early 2007. Tsunashima disagreed with the editor-in-chief about how to depict the mecha designs within the pages. This disagreement led to the cancellation of the original run after many years of serialization. The project then found a new home in Dengeki Moeoh, a magazine released by MediaWorks. The move allowed the author to continue the narrative without the previous constraints on mechanical design. The transition marked a significant shift in the publication history of the work.
In 1988, Aoba stands atop Table Mountain while the sky turns gray over Venezuela. She discovers a secret base where a new machine waits for her hands. Ryouhei Ogawara kidnaps her from her normal life to join a unit named Angel. They must fight Ancient Jinki that appear rapidly across the landscape. Aoba loves making model robots and uses that skill to pilot the Moribito Type-02. Her mother Shizuka ordered this kidnapping because she believed Aoba's abilities would benefit the group. The conflict ends with Shizuka becoming a human vegetable after the trauma of the battle. The events here set the stage for the clones and conspiracies that follow three years later.
Akao wakes up in Tokyo during 1991 with no memory of the last three years. She is an amnesiac girl who does not remember anything before that time. In reality, Akao is a clone created by Kokushou out of spite for his former mentor. The villain once known as Hino Hakuya now leads a group called Kyomu. He wants to destroy all living scientists connected to the giant machines. Akao pilots the Moribito Type-02 alongside Ryouhei who has replaced his father Genta as leader of Angel. The story reveals that Shiva is also a clone of Shizuka. These manufactured humans serve as weapons in a war against the world itself.
Feel animation studio produced the television series adaptation between January and March 2005. Thirteen episodes were planned but only twelve aired on standard television channels. The thirteenth episode never broadcasted its final scenes to the public eye. Instead, producers released this missing chapter directly as an OVA for home viewing. Fans had to seek out the video disc format to see the conclusion of the story. The anime version changed several character backstories compared to the original manga source material. Some characters like Kouse appeared differently or held different roles depending on the medium. The production team struggled with these divergences while maintaining the core plot points.
ADV Films acquired the rights to distribute Jinki: Extend in North America for ninety-one thousand dollars. They released the complete series across three separate volumes and a box set for collectors. This transaction marked one of their early major acquisitions in the mecha genre. In 2008, ADV transferred the title along with over thirty other titles to Funimation. The new owner took over all distribution responsibilities for the franchise in the region. The financial figure of $91,000 remains a specific detail from that licensing agreement. The transfer ensured the series remained available to fans who missed the initial release window.
Ryouhei Ogawara appears as a childhood friend of Aoba in the manga but not in the anime adaptation. Shizuka's true intentions regarding her daughter are explained in volume seven of the manga only. Kokushou's backstory differs significantly between the two versions of the story. The anime shows him killing Akana accidentally out of jealous rage while the manga depicts a complex history involving military hostage situations. Mel J.'s brother Cecil exists only in flashbacks within the anime version of events. The manga gives him a role as a member of the Hachishoujin group instead. These divergences highlight how the animation studio altered character relationships and motivations to fit a different narrative structure.
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Common questions
When did Shirō Tsunashima begin writing the manga series Jinki: Extend?
Shirō Tsunashima began writing the manga series Jinki: Extend in the early 2000s. The story first appeared in a magazine called Monthly Comic Blade published by Mag Garden.
Why was the original run of Jinki: Extend cancelled in 2007?
The cancellation occurred because Tsunashima disagreed with the editor-in-chief about how to depict the mecha designs within the pages. This disagreement led to the end of the serialization after many years of publication.
Who is Akao and what is her true identity in Jinki: Extend?
Akao is an amnesiac girl who wakes up in Tokyo during 1991 without memory of the last three years. In reality, she is a clone created by Kokushou out of spite for his former mentor.
How many episodes were produced for the Jinki: Extend television series adaptation?
Feel animation studio planned thirteen episodes but only twelve aired on standard television channels between January and March 2005. The thirteenth episode never broadcasted its final scenes to the public eye and was released directly as an OVA for home viewing.
What price did ADV Films pay to acquire the rights to distribute Jinki: Extend in North America?
ADV Films acquired the rights to distribute Jinki: Extend in North America for ninety-one thousand dollars. They released the complete series across three separate volumes and a box set for collectors before transferring the title to Funimation in 2008.