Mnemosyne (anime)

RIN ~Daughters of Mnemosyne~
Mnemosyne Japanese title screen
Mnemosyne -ムネモシュネの娘たち- (Mnemosyne -Mnemosyne no Musumetachi-)
Genre	Action, Horror, Mystery, Tech-noir
Light novel
Written by	Hiroshi Ōnogi
Illustrated by	Chūō Higashiguchi
Published by	Hobby Japan
Demographic	Male
Magazine	Charano!
Original run	January 2008 – September 2008
Volumes	1
TV anime
Directed by	Shigeru Ueda
Produced by	Nobuhiro Osawa Yasuo Ueda Yoshikazu Beniya
Written by	Hiroshi Ōnogi
Music by	Takayuki Negishi
Studio	Xebec, Genco
Licensed by	Funimation Entertainment
Network	AT-X
Original run	February 3, 2008 – July 6, 2008
Episodes	6 (List of episodes)
Manga
Written by	Xebec & Genco
Illustrated by	Miss Black
Published by	Kill Time Communication
Demographic	Seinen
Magazine	Comic Valkyrie
Original run	May 27, 2008 – July 26, 2008
Volumes	2 chapters
Anime and Manga Portal

RIN ~Daughters of Mnemosyne~ (Mnemosyne -ムネモシュネの娘たち-, Mnemosyne: Munemoshune no Musumetachi^?, lit. Mnemosyne: Daughters of Mnemosyne) is a six-episode Japanese anime television series produced by Xebec and Genco, featuring grotesque and erotic visuals.^[1] The anime was produced to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the AT-X network, which it originally aired on.^[2] Funimation Entertainment licensed the series in North America. The plot, rich in the mix of murder and action, is set in modern and near-future Tokyo, and revolves around Rin Asogi, an immortal female private investigator. A light novel and a manga adaptation have also been published.

Story

Rin Asogi runs a private investigation agency in Tokyo's Shinjuku district, performing odd jobs ranging from finding lost pets to hunting rare stamps in order to get by. Yet despite attempts at a normal life, she finds herself constantly hindered by the strange cases that come her way, figures from her dark past, and her inability to die.

Characters

Main characters of Mnemosyne: Mimi (left) and Rin (right)

Main

Rin Asogi (麻生祇 燐, Asōgi Rin^?)

Voiced by: Mamiko Noto (Japanese), Colleen Clinkenbeard (English)

The protagonist of the series. Her appearance is that of someone in her mid-twenties but her real age is unknown.^[3] In episode six, she says she has been looking for Tajimamori for a thousand years, making her at least a millennium old. She usually wears a black suit and glasses. Her whimsical personality serves as a front for a cunning, ruthless mind and extraordinary martial art skills. She always keeps a number of throwing blades and a garrote wire concealed on her body. At some point in the past, a "Fruit of Time" (also known as a "time spore") entered Rin's body, effectively making her immortal, unable to age, and capable of surviving and regenerating from a phenomenal amount of bodily damage. In episode four, she is sucked inside a running jet engine and regenerates her entire body over 25 years, albeit at the cost of all her memories (they return when she is briefly killed by Laura). In episode five, Apos removes Rin's time spore, seemingly killing her just like Sayara and Maeno before, but it is revealed in episode six that an immortal's death is not permanent as long as her time spore remains intact. Rin's time spore is then brought to Apos' castle, where its proximity to Yggdrasil, the fabled source of all time spores, speeds up her revival, which would have normally taken many decades. She and Mimi run the detective business Asogi Consulting together in West Shinjuku until their office is demolished in episode four.

Mimi (ミミ^?)

Voiced by: Rie Kugimiya (Japanese), Jamie Marchi (English)

Rin's assistant. It is hinted throughout the series that they also have a more intimate relationship, though in episode four, she appears to have grown close to the second informant. Also an immortal, Mimi has a bright personality and is fond of alcoholic drinks despite having the appearance of someone in her late teens.^[3] Her job scope includes financial management, information processing, and other miscellaneous tasks. She cares for Rin very much and would do anything to ensure her safety, even while nagging her to do the job properly. She feels indebted to Rin as Rin saved her from being devoured by an angel during their first encounter and has been protecting her ever since. She is a formidable hacker but is outmatched by Katsuyuki Kamiyama in episode four. After Rin disappears in episode four, she leaves with Genta and becomes a Buddhist nun. In episode six, believing there still being a chance that Rin is still alive, Mimi constantly displays her resolve in rescuing Rin from Apos' sadistic scheme.

Antagonists

Apos (エイポス, Eiposu^?)

Voiced by: Akira Ishida (Japanese), Todd Haberkorn (English)

The primary antagonist of the series. As revealed in episode five, Apos is a hermaphrodite, or more properly an intersex person, possessing qualities of both an angel and an immortal, which, according to him, makes him a "god". He seems to have no concept of human morals but instead, has a sadistic sense of amusement and beauty. In the early episodes, Apos demonstrates interest in Rin, to the point that he hires mortal killers to target her. In episode three, he reveals that he is after Rin's time spore. Apparently, time spores contain the immortals' memories and Apos enjoys consuming them. It is also revealed that he has the ability to instantly remove the spores from both immortals and angels (thus killing them). Anyone else wishing to kill an immortal must physically dig through their victim's flesh for the time spore. In episode six, Apos is revealed to be the child of Tajimamori, the previous Guardian of Yggdrasil, and the current Guardian himself. Guardians are supposed to switch every once in a (long) while, but Apos desires to become a permanent guardian by sacrificing Rin to Yggdrasil.

Laura (ローラ, Rōra^?)

Voiced by: Sayaka Ohara (Japanese), Clarine Harp (English)

An assassin skilled with firearms and other weapons who is repeatedly sent to assassinate Rin by Apos. Although Rin kills Laura in most of the engagements, Apos resurrects her so that she can attack Rin again. In episode four, she becomes a cyborg, though the extent of her transformation is left open. Episode five reveals that Laura is in possession of an android body designed to resemble Rin and telepathically linked to Apos' torture victim, and she further elaborates in episode six that only her brain remains immortal, apparently as the result of Apos' sadistic manipulations. Rin extracts the Fruit of Time from there and feeds it into Apos at Laura's own request so that he would feel her memory and pain.

Sayara Yamanobe (山之辺 沙耶羅, Yamanobe Sayara^?)

Voiced by: Rie Tanaka (Japanese), Monica Rial (English)

The head of the Aoyama Pharmaceutical research lab in Sayama. Originally researching bacteria, she discovered one that could be the key to cloning, moving on to conduct illegal cloning experiments aiming to achieve immortality. She has a sadistic personality, often torturing her captives to death. In episode one, Sayara is last seen being surrounded by the delirious zombies she created. In episode three, she is revealed to have been saved by Apos in the last moment, who injects her with a time spore after her body is already considerably mutilated. As a result, she remains forever crippled and waits twenty-one years until a powered exoskeleton capable of supporting her is invented. After one last confrontation with Rin and Maeno, she is finally killed by Apos, who removes and consumes her spore.

Ruon Kamiyama (神山 瑠音, Kamiyama Ruon^?)

Voiced by: Hitomi Nabatame (Japanese), Tia Ballard (English)

The antagonist in episode four. The daughter of the "modern von Neumann" Katsuyuki Kamiyama, Ruon's consciousness was removed from her body by Katsuyuki and uploaded onto the net (2.0) as an artificial intelligence, effectively killing her in real life (1.0). Katsuyuki implies that this event was the cause of Great Network Crisis of 2020. Ruon spends five years posing as an online sex doll until she becomes infatuated with Teruki because he is the first person to want to meet her offline. Following the events of the episode, her physical (android) form is destroyed inside an airplane jet engine.

Maeno family

Kouki Maeno (前埜 光輝, Maeno Kōki^?)

Voiced by: Nobuyuki Hiyama (Japanese), Robert McCollum (English)

A young man with distorted memory whom Rin accidentally saves in episode one. He is, in fact, a clone created by Aoyama Pharmaceutical company. The original Kouki Maeno died during an experiment that involved his vivisection. His memory lacks realism, as it is actually the memory of the original Kouki written into the clone's brain by artificial means. After discovering the truth, he chooses to keep on living and began working at Asogi Consulting, where he spends the next twenty-one years. Sometime between episodes two and three, he marries Yuki Shimazaki and has a son named Teruki with her.

In episode three, he is shot by Sayara while rescuing Rin, and has to consume Shogo Shimazaki's time spore in order to survive as an angel. After saving Rin and having one last tender moment with her, he returns to consume Sayara, but is killed (unlike that of immortals, the death of an angel is permanent regardless the time spore) by Apos before he can finish. Kouki's time spore is lost in the sea but is inexplicably found by Rin while she regenerates in the ocean between episodes four and five. His granddaughter Mishio acquires it after Rin's body is destroyed in episode five, unwittingly brings it to Apos' castle in episode six, and passes it to Rin as the latter is consumed by Yggdrasil. Kouki's spirit then helps Rin to break free.

Yuki Maeno (前埜 有紀, Maeno Yuki^?) née Shimazaki (島崎, Shimazaki^?)

Voiced by: Yoshino Takamori (Japanese), Cherami Leigh (English)

Kouki's wife, whom he meets in episode two. During Kouki's involvement in the case of her brother Shogo, the two grow fond of each other and marry some time between episodes two and three. In episode three, they have a son named Teruki. After Kouki's death, Yuki continued to raise Teruki alone.

Shogo Shimazaki (島崎 省吾, Shimazaki Shōgo^?)

Voiced by: Hideo Ishikawa (Japanese), Ian Sinclair (English)

Yuki's older brother, who becomes an angel prior to episode two. Although most angels succumb to their primal desires quickly, Shogo's exceptional willpower allows him to retain consciousness for a very long time, which he uses to exact revenge upon people who previously maltreated him. After he finally loses his consciousness and attacks Rin, she has to kill him by impaling him with a tree branch. Apos expresses desire to obtain Shogo's time spore but Rin instead gives it to Maeno, who eventually uses it to become an angel himself, saving Rin from Sayara. After Maeno is killed by Apos, his time spore falls into the ocean and is lost until episode five.

Teruki Maeno (前埜 輝紀, Maeno Teruki^?)

Voiced by: Emiri Katō (Young), Daisuke Hirakawa (Old) (Japanese), Brina Palencia (Young), Patrick W. Reid (Old) (English)

Kouki and Yuki's only son, who first appears as a child in episode three and becomes the male lead in episode four. Some time between episodes three and four, Rin saves his life in a car accident, and he states that he has felt watched over and protected by her ever since. Their formal introduction takes place in episode four, when Tamotsu brings him to Asogi Consulting due to his involvement in the Ruon case. He appears again in episode five, now the CEO of Maeno Holding Group company, with a teenage daughter named Mishio.

Mishio Maeno (前埜 美汐, Maeno Mishio^?)

Voiced by: Kaori Nazuka (Japanese), Luci Christian (English)

Teruki Maeno's only daughter and Kouki's granddaughter, first appearing as a teenager in episode five. Finding Teruki's old video of Rin, she starts investigating her, frequently comparing herself to Sherlock Holmes. Upon the first meeting, they quickly grow fond of each other, and Mishio sticks with Rin and Mimi for the rest of the series. In episode six, Rin explains that Mishio is the youngest of Tajimamori's descendants.

Other

Tamotsu Yanagihara (柳沢 保, Yanagihara Tamotsu^?)^[4]

Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto (Japanese), Christopher Bevins (English)

A police investigator and a close acquaintance of Rin, first introduced in episode one. He enjoys Rin's company and provides her with useful information. He is killed by a military sniper following AI Ruon's orders in episode four. Immediately before his death, he reminisces about what may have been an intimate moment with Rin. He is affectionately referred to as "Tamo" by Rin, and despite his constant (bad) attempts to keep their meetings low-key during the first two episodes, he does not object to being called by that name.

Genta (源太^?)

Rin and Mimi's female dog who lives at their office.^[4] As an immortal, she does not age throughout the series and survives being shot on multiple occasions without any visible lasting injuries. Mimi takes her with her after the Asogi Consulting office is demolished in episode four. Genta is killed in episode five, leaving only ashes behind, just like human immortals whose time spores are removed.

Informants

Voiced by: Rumi Kasahara (Japanese), Wendy Powell (English) (first)

Voiced by: Emi Nakashima (Japanese), Terri Doty (English) (second)

Voiced by: Kiyoko Nagaki (third)

A group or organization of women who provide Rin and Mimi with crucial information in regards to their investigations throughout the series and whose names have never been revealed. The first informant is introduced in episode two and is mentioned to have died prior to episode four. The second informant is introduced as an assistant of the first one in episode three and inherits her position in the next episode. In return for their services, both demand lesbian sex with either Rin or Mimi. Mimi is extremely uncomfortable and unnerved by this at first but seems to have entered into some sort of relationship with the second informant by episode four. In episode six, the second informant is apparently dead as well, replaced by a third one, with whom Mimi keeps a strictly professional relationship.

Ihika (いひか^?)

Voiced by: Rikiya Koyama (Japanese), J. Michael Tatum (English)

Rin's mortal lover after she loses her memories in episode five. He proposes to her twice in the episode but is killed by Laura soon after Rin accepts his second proposal. In episode six, Ihika is revived by Apos in his castle as an angel and chained next to Rin to torment her. Rin, seeing him in a berserk frenzy and about to break free, is then forced to kill him in self-defense, realizing his identity only as he turns into ashes. His time spore is lost when Laura throws it out of the window.

Tajimamori (多遲摩毛理^?)

Voiced by: Unknown (Japanese), John Swasey (English)

Finally identified in episode six, Tajimamori is the previous Guardian of Yggdrasil and the father of Apos. According to a legend told in episode five, he was once tasked by an emperor to find a Fruit of Time for him but when he discovered it, the emperor already died. The legend is based upon Shinto myths.^[5] As a Guardian of Yggdrassil, he doesn't age but isn't invulnerable like the immortals. He can grow angelic wings like Apos and his presence has the same effect on Mimi as an angel's, but he doesn't exhibit the primal savageness of regular angels. He is seen talking to Rin on the phone throughout the series, often in an intimate or fatherly manner. In episode six, it is revealed that he and Rin fell in love with each other over a thousand years ago, but he chose to distance himself from her. He is also revealed to be the progenitor of the Maeno line which tied all his descendants' fate to Rin's. Shortly before his death at Apos' hands in episode six, Tajimamori fathers a child with Rin.

Media

Light novels

A light novel adaptation titled Mnemosyne no Musumetachi 2008 was serialized in Hobby Japan's light novel magazine Charano! between the January and September 2008 issues. The light novel is written by the writer of the anime, Hiroshi Ōnogi, and illustrated by Chūō Higashiguchi. A single volume containing five chapters was released on April 1, 2009.

Anime

Main article: List of Mnemosyne episodes

Mnemosyne started as a television series directed by Shigeru Ueda and written by Hiroshi Ōnogi. The animation is handled by Xebec but planning and production is shared with Genco, that also had a part in the original concept creation. Original character design is by Chūō Higashiguchi, and was used as a template by the character designer for the anime version, Mitsuru Ishihara. Music direction is headed by Takayuki Negishi. The series' opening theme is "Alsatia" and the ending theme is "Cause Disarray"; both songs are written by Yama-B, composed by Syu, and performed by Galneryus. Funimation Entertainment licensed Mnemosyne in February 2009 for a North American release under the title RIN ~Daughters of Mnemosyne~.^[6] Manga Entertainment will release all six episodes on two discs in the UK on September 13, 2010.^{[citation needed]}

Manga

A manga adaptation illustrated by Miss Black serialized two chapters in Kill Time Communication's male-oriented manga magazine Comic Valkyrie on May 27, 2008 and July 26, 2008.^[7][8]

References

1. ^ Hess, Adrianne (February 28, 2008). "Mnemosyne no Musume-tachi (Volume 1) Review". Mania.com. http://www.mania.com/mnemosyne-musumetachi_article_57566.html. Retrieved July 19, 2009. "The series is full of female nudity, violence and yuri scenes which go from gentle fondling to full blown S&M torture." 
2. ^ "Mnemosyne at AT-X" (in Japanese). AT-X. http://www.at-x.com/program_detail/index.html/2208/top. Retrieved April 23, 2008. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Mnemosyne Character Designs Part 1". Xebec. February 2, 2008. http://www.xebec-inc.co.jp/anime/mnemosyne/design01.html. Retrieved November 14, 2009. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Mnemosyne Character Designs Part 3". Xebec. February 5, 2008. http://www.xebec-inc.co.jp/anime/mnemosyne/design03.html. Retrieved August 24, 2008. 
5. ^ Kazuo, Matsumura (March 31, 2007). "View of the other world (takaikan)". Encyclopedia of Shinto. http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=1443. Retrieved July 26, 2008. "In the Nihon shoki [sic] record of Emperor Suinin that world was said to be the 'Land of No Aging and No Death', and the emperor is said to have dispatched a certain Tajimamori there with the order of bringing back that land's aromatic fruit of immortality (actually a mandarin orange)." 
6. ^ "Funimation Licenses RIN: Daughters of Mnemosyne". Anime News Network. February 20, 2009. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-20/funimation-licenses-rin/daughters-of-mnemosyne. Retrieved February 20, 2009. 
7. ^ "コミックヴァルキリー　公式サイト - バックナンバー »Vol.12 [Comic Valkyrie Official Site - Back Number »Vol. 12]" (in Japanese). Kill Time Communication. http://www.comic-valkyrie.com/modules/valkyrie/vol12.html. Retrieved August 5, 2011. 
8. ^ "コミックヴァルキリー　公式サイト - バックナンバー »Vol.13 [Comic Valkyrie Official Site - Back Number »Vol. 13]" (in Japanese). Kill Time Communication. http://www.comic-valkyrie.com/modules/valkyrie/vol13.html. Retrieved August 5, 2011. 

External links

• Official website (Japanese)
• Funimation's official Rin ~Daughters of Mnemosyne~ website
• Xebec's official Mnemosyne website (Japanese)
• Comic Valkyrie's official Mnemosyne manga website (Japanese)
• Mnemosyne (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Mnemosyne at the Internet Movie Database