20th Century Boys or 20世紀少年 is a Japanese Manga written and drawn by one of the finest Japanese Maga artists, Naoki Urasawa. Unlike other mangas out there which mainly aim toward kids with a lot of fighting scenes, 20th Century Boys is packed with interesting plot and is suitable for older audience. It began serialization in the weekly magazine Big Comic Spirits in 1999, and there are 22 volumes in total.
The story compose of several parts. The first part, takes place in the late 1990s and second part in the year 2014. The story of the first part involves a man name Kenji and his childhood friends. They begin to notice strange events around them that somehow connect to their childhood memories. Some one they know from the past is realizing their childhood ideas (bio weapons, mass destruction, and a killer robot) to hurt people. The mysterious man also uses their symbol of friends to create a cult-like organiztion and call himself “Friend”. No one know who this man really is. But for certain he’s set out to destroy this world. Ultimately the horrible incident at the end of the year 2000. The outcome of that event makes “Friend” the World’s hero and Kenji and his fellows criminals.
Around the fifth volume, the story fast forward to the year 2014, The protagonist of this part is a young woman by the name Kanna (Kenji’s nephew). She’s determined to find out the truth behind the events that occurred at the end of the year 2000. Will she be able to tell the World the truth? Will she be able to find out who “Friend” really is?
p/s: For more info about this manga please visit,
http://www.classicmanga.com/20thcenturyboys/index.html
Now is making to Real Movie !!!
It's will be a TRILOGY. Part 1 of the movie will be on cinema at 30th Aug 2008. Hopefully it's can showning on time.
p/s: visit office wedsite http://www.20thboys.com/index.html
The cast is:
??? as Friend
A mysterious figure who calls himself "Friend" is the main villian in this manga series. "Friend" seems to be one of Kenji's childhood friends or at least someone who know Kenji and his little secret base very well. "Friend" knows about a little child game Kenji and his friends made up when they were kids. The game was about making up a story that contain series of disasters ranging from bio-weapon (virus), and mass destruction by a giant robot.
as Endo Kenji
In his youth Kenji wanted to be a musician because he loved music, especially the song 20th Century Boy by T. Rex. In the year 1969, Endo Kenj and his friends built their secret base where they can go for a hideout and play together. Kenji started to develop a child-like plan where the World's menaced by bio-terrorists and a 50-foot tall Giant Robot. In their little plan, the end of the world is near and a team of heroes would rise up and save the world. That team's no other but Kenji's. They named their little pact, "FRIENDS" and even created a logo for it. The name of the plan was called "The book of Prophecy".
as Otcho
Otcho's one of Kenji's close friends when they were young. Otcho's a smart and strong boy. The "FRIEND" logo is created by him. In the year 2000, Otcho lived Bangkok, Thailand. Here Otcho earned a legendary name, "Shogun". Afterward, Otcho moved back to Japan and helped Kenji rivalling against "FRIEND" organization. After the year 2000, Otcho was captured and sent to Umihotaru prison.
as Yukiji
Yukiji was one of the 7 persons who rose up against "Friend" on the eve of New year 2000. She survived the horrible incident, since then she's the one taking care of Endo Kanna. She is a chirldhood friend of Kenji and secretly fell in love with Kenji.
as Yoshitsune
Yoshitsune's one of Kenji's childhood friends and one of the 7 who rose up against "Friend" on the bloody New Year of 2000. Yoshitsune secretly fell in love with Yukiji. Yoshitsune has more courage than he thought. After the year 2000, Yoshitsune continued on fighting the organization by secretly building up an underground rebel force.
as Maruo
One of Kenji's childhood friends who also rose up against "FRIEND" in the year 2000.
as Mon Chan
Mon Chan is one of Kenji's childhood friends who also rose up against "Friend" in the year 2000. Before Mon Chan was a very career oriented man. Until he found out that he's seriously ill and will soon die.
as Keroyon
Keroyon was Kenji's classmate. He's always refered to by friends as "Frog" as his face looks like a frog. He was married and has a kid. He was not a part of the gang that went up against "FRIEND" on the eve of New year 2000.
as Kido Saburo aka. Donkey
Kido Saburo or Donkey's Kenji's childhood friend. Donkey's a poor kid who lived with many siblings. At first Kenji and his friends didn't like Donkey because Donkey always has running nose.Donkey's a smart kid who did well in Science subject.Donkey later became a teacher at a Technical School. In the year 1997, he commited suicide by jumping off the top of school building. The fact is, Donkey's murdered by men sent from "Friend" organization.
as Yamane
Yamane's smart person since his youth. He's one of the three members who gather at night in the Lab room. Yamane appeared again at the school lab the night of December 31st, 2015. He purpose was to kill "Friend"
as Kaminaga Kyuutarou aka. God
Kaminaga Kyuutarou or God is one of the characters that has quite along history and somewhat entangles to Kenji and his friends since they were young.
as Endo Kiriko
Kiriko is Kenji's elder sister. One of key character to solve the mysterious. Mother of Endo Kanna. A micro organisms scientist.
as twins Yanbo-Mabo
In the year 1969, Yanbo-Mabo are bullying twins who always beat up Kenji. The person they always bully was Donkey. The summer of 1970, Yanbo-Mabo found and destroyed Kenji's secret base. That cause a fighting between them and Kenji.
Their appearances changed when they grew up, they became slim and actually successful business men. In the year 1997, Yanbo-Mabo gave away Kenji's hiding to Manjoume.
as Officer Yama
A member of "Friend" organization. Officer Yama's the man behind Detective Chou's death because Detective Chou investigated a bit too deep into "Friend" organization.
as Majoume
Majoume is a major Japanese political party leader of "FRIEND" 1997. Bad character.
as Rena
She's the daugther of a smart scientist, Dr. Shikishima. Becasue of her father's skill, Rena became "Friend"'s target.Kenji thought Rena's being used by the organization, so he tried to rescue her. Little that he knew, she actaully was willing to work for "Friend" organization and eventually became a full fledge member of the organization.
as Setsuko
Setsuko's Yukiji's friend who first told the story about a new popular cult called "Friend". She's a great support to Yukiji.
as Kakuta (comic artist / prisoner no:1498)
Kakuta is a comic artist with a good heart. He was captured and thrown in to Umihotaru prison (2014 AD). His crime was ....drawing comics (manga). At this very prison, Kakuta, the prisoner no:1498 met with Otcho AKA Prisoner no:3. The two successfully escaped from the prison in the year 2014.
??? p/s: Just wonder who will play the character Endo Kanna (the nephew girl of Kenji who had psychic power) for next TWO episode...
