Another (novel)

Another is a Japanese mystery horror novel by Yukito Ayatsuji, published on October 29, 2009 by Kadokawa Shoten. The story focuses on a boy named Kōichi Sakakibara who, upon transferring into Yomiyama Middle School and meeting the curious Mei Misaki, finds himself in a mystery revolving around students and people related to his class falling victim to gruesome, senseless deaths.
A manga adaptation by Hiro Kiyohara was serialized between May 2010 and January 2012 in the issues of Kadokawa Shoten's "Young Ace". Both the novel and the manga have been licensed in North America by Yen Press. A 12-episode anime television series produced by P.A. Works aired in Japan between January 10 and March 27, 2012, with an original video animation episode released on May 26, 2012, and a live-action film of the same name was released in Japanese theatres on August 4, 2012.
Plot.
In 1972, Misaki, a popular student of Yomiyama North Middle School's class 3-3, suddenly died partway through the school year. Devastated by the loss, the students and teacher of class 3-3 continued to behave as though Misaki was still alive, leading to a strange presence shown within the graduation photo. In Spring 1998, Kōichi Sakakibara transfers into Yomiyama's class 3-3, where he meets Mei Misaki, a quiet student whom their fellow classmates as well as the teacher seemingly ignore. The class is soon caught up in a strange phenomenon, in which students and their relatives begin to die in often peculiarly gruesome ways. Realizing that these deaths are related to the long deceased "Misaki of 1972", a yearly calamity that has struck most every class 3-3 since 1972, Kōichi and Mei seek to figure out how to stop it before it kills anymore of their classmates or them.
Media.
Novels.
"Another" is a 487-page novel written by Yukito Ayatsuji. The novel was originally serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's literary magazine "Yasai Jidai" in intermittent periods between the August 2006 and May 2009 issues. A compiled "tankōbon" volume was published on October 29, 2009 and a two-volume "bunkobon" edition was released on September 25, 2011. A re-release of the "bunkobon" edition featuring illustrations by Noizi Ito was released under the imprint Sneaker Bunko on March 1, 2012. A spin-off novel titled "Another: Episode S/0" was released on July 31, 2013. It is two novels in one binding. "Another S" is a side novel set in the same time period, an adventure of Mei Misaki during summer vacation. "Another 0" is set during Aunt Reiko's year in class 3-3, in 1983. Yen Press has licensed the novels in North America, and released "Another" in 2013 digitally, and in October 2014 in print. "Another: Episode S/0" was released in May 2016. The English translation is by Karen McGillicuddy.
A sequel, titled "Another 2001", was serialized in "Yasei Jidai" magazine from the November 2014 issue to the February 2020 issue, and as its name implies, takes place in 2001. A compiled volume was released on September 30, 2020. Yen Press also licensed the sequel novel and released it on December 13, 2022.
Manga.
A manga adaptation illustrated by Hiro Kiyohara was serialized between the May 2010 and January 2012 issues of Kadokawa Shoten's "Young Ace" magazine. Four "tankōbon" volumes were released between October 4, 2010 and December 29, 2011. A "0th" volume of the manga was released on May 26, 2012, compiling two extra chapters published in "Young Ace" on December 28, 2011 and February 3, 2012. Yen Press has licensed the original four-volume manga in North America and released it as an omnibus.
Anime.
A 12-episode anime television series adaptation produced by P.A. Works and directed by Tsutomu Mizushima aired in Japan between January 10 and March 27, 2012. The screenplay was written by Ryō Higaki, and the chief animation director Yuriko Ishii based the character design used in the anime on Noizi Ito's original concept art. The music was produced by Kow Otani, and the sound director is Yoshikazu Iwanami. The anime has two theme songs: the opening theme by the band Ali Project, and the ending theme "Anamnesis" by Annabel. Sentai Filmworks licensed the series in North America, releasing it on BD/DVD on July 30, 2013. An original video animation (OVA) episode set before the beginning of the series was released on May 26, 2012 with a "0th" volume of the manga. MVM Films released the series, including the OVA, in the United Kingdom and Ireland in late 2013.
Live-action film.
A live-action film adaptation of the same name, directed by Takeshi Furusawa and produced by Kadokawa Pictures was released in Japanese theaters on August 4, 2012. The theme song is by Miliyah Kato.
Reception.
The novel ranked third in both the "2010 Honkaku Mystery Best 10" and the "Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! 2010" mystery fiction guide books. It was nominated for the 2010 Honkaku Mystery Award.
On June 12, 2015, the now-defunct Chinese Ministry of Culture listed "Another" among 38 anime and manga titles banned in China.
Editions.
Novel
"Another" manga volumes story by Yukito Ayatsuji, art by Hiro Kiyohara.
Original Japanese version published by Kadokawa Shoten. English version by Yen Press.
External links.
[[Category:Fiction set in 2008]
[[Category:Horror anime and manga]]
[[Category:Hospitals in fiction]]
[[Category:Japanese horror novels]]
[[Category:Japanese mystery novels]]
[[Category:Japanese novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Japanese serial novels]]
[[Category:Kadokawa Dwango franchises]]
[[Category:Kadokawa Shoten manga]]
[[Category:Manga adapted into films]]
[[Category:Mystery anime and manga]]
[[Category:Novels about death]]
[[Category:Novels about suicide]]
[[Category:Novels set in Japan]]
[[Category:Novels set in high schools and secondary schools]]
[[Category:P.A.Works]]
[[Category:Paranormal novels]]
[[Category:Fiction set in prison]]
[[Category:Fiction about sacrifices]]
[[Category:School life in anime and manga]]
[[Category:Seinen manga]]
[[Category:Sentai Filmworks]]
[[Category:Supernatural thriller anime and manga]]
[[Category:Television censorship in China]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Japan]]
[[Category:Works banned in China]]
[[Category:Yen Press titles]]