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Hybrid Child Boys-Love Anime's Winter Promo Streamed

Media Factory began streaming a winter promotional video for the anime adaptation of Shungiku Nakamura's Hybrid Child boys-love manga on Sunday. The video features Annabel's theme song, "syncretism."

Kotarō: In a way, it is a mirror. Not a machine, not a doll.
Seya: Well, OK, then... Let's make it half-and-half.
Yuzu: Love... Half-and-half.
Kuroda: No... This isn't what I want to say... What I wanted to say if we met was...
Text: A sad and beloved story that writes the feelings of someone who loves only one person.
Tsukishima: Hybrid Child's Blu-ray and DVD series is currently on sale with rave reviews.

The manga is inspiring a four-episode original video anime. The first volume contains the first episode and shipped on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on October 29. The second volume released on November 26, the third shipped on December 24, and the fourth will do the same on January 28, 2015.

The limited first pressing of each volume will include: a three-sided box with art and a special manga booklet by Nakamura, a "character fragrance card," and a metal-plate bookmark. The first, second, third, and fourth volumes will also bundle a shantung-style wrapping cloth, purse, hand towel, and animation art book, respectively.

Michio Fukuda (Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan: Demon Capital, Hyakko) is directing the series at Studio DEEN. Takahiro Kishida (Madoka Magica, Haikyu!!) is designing the characters and Aki Itami (Mushi-Shi, The Comic Artist and His Assistants) is writing the scripts.

The cast includes:

• Nobuhiko Okamoto as Kotarō Izumi
• Daisuke Hirakawa as Hazuki
• Ryōhei Kimura as Ichi Seya
• Tsubasa Yonaga as Yuzu
• Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Tsukishima
• Yūki Ono as Kuroda

Digital Manga Publishing describes the short stories in the Hybrid Child manga:

The Hybrid Child is an amazing android that can grow if it is lavished with enough love and care from its owner. Neither fully machine nor fully human, the various Hybrid Child models develop strong emotional bonds with their owners.

This volume contains several short stories of love, sacrifice, and drama: Young Kotaro learns the importance of responsibility when his Hybrid Child's lifespan runs out. The tragic swordsman Seya learns to love again with the help of his Hybrid Child, Yuzu. The final tale tells the story of Kuroda, the creator of the Hybrid Child designs, and how his lost love inspired their creation.

Seiji Biblos originally serialized the manga in Be x Boy Gold magazine from 2003 to 2004, and Kadokawa Shoten later published the one-volume manga in 2008. Digital Manga Publishing released the manga in North America. The manga already inspired a drama CD adaptation with a different cast from the anime.