Corrector Yui
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Corrector Yui | |
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| コレクターユイ (Corrector Yui) |
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| Genre | Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comedy, Magical girl |
| TV anime | |
| Directed by | Yuji Mutoh |
| Studio | Nippon Animation |
| Network |  NHK Cartoon Network |
| Original run | 2 April 1999 – 6 October 2000 |
| No. of episodes | 52 |
Corrector Yui is a magical girl anime and manga, it was created by Kia Asamiya and written and drawn by Keiko Okamoto. The manga was published in Japan in 1999 and released in English by TOKYOPOP in 2002. The anime was produced by Nippon Animation (co-producers of Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds fame) and broadcast on NHK in 1999, it has been released in the United States by Viz Media after it was licensed by Shopro Entertainment. This series has been exhibited on Cartoon Network.
This series follows a basic magical-girl progression, and falls into many of the magical girl tropes common in the late nineties. The series is innovative amongst magical girl series in that Yui's powers all derive from not just the technology she uses, but are incorporated entirely into her on-line avatar, with no real powers granted outside of the network.
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[edit] Plot
It is the year 2020 and computers have become an integral part of daily life for most people. However, the teenage girl Yui Kasuga is one of the few who cannot use computers at all, despite the fact that her father is a software developer. An evil computer called Grosser wants to take over the ComNet (what the Internet is called in Yui's time) and as the programs that have been developed to stop it (called "correctors") need her help, she is sucked into the ComNet where she is recruited by a corrector called I.R. who gives her downloadable element suits that allow her to become the ComNet Fairy Corrector Yui who can fight Grosser's computer viruses.
On the first season, the series revolve about the war against Grosser, and reveals the mysteries who surround the correctors, their seemingly missed creator, and the relationship that this one have had with the corrupted computer.
In the second season, Yui and the correctors must fight with a mysterious virus who menaces the ComNet, and, also, cope with the mysterious Corrector Ai, a Corrector who tends to work in her own and seems to have her own agenda. The key to the misteries seems to be a strange little girl who seems lost and may be related with the devastating virus appearances.
[edit] Characters
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
[edit] The Real World
- Yui Kasuga: A high-school student of dubious academic skill, Yui has shown skill and growth over the series, as she assumes the secret, on-line identity of "Corrector Yui". While utterly incompetent when physically interfacing with computers, Yui in the virtual world is a tremendously powerful actor, able to quickly undo damage and easily battle the strongest of Grosser's henchmen. Her optimistic view and her ability to cheer up others even at worst moment (tough sometimes she can be quite perky) was one of her greatest strength, make her easily likeable by her peers and Corrector programs. She also has empathetic personalities, that helps her understand the nature of A.I programs she met on the net. Has quite good singing skill. She had aspiration to become manga author and/or anime dubber.
- Haruna Kisaragi: Yui's best friend. Has polite, calm, and caring and personalities. Her intelligence and innate ability with computer makes her a perfect candidate for Corrector, as expected by Dr. Inukai. From the beginning she was supposed to be a corrector but I.R. confused her with Yui, thanks to Grosser's intervention. When Dr. Inukai passing Corrector task and abilities to her, she got manipulated by Grosser, which turned her into Dark Angel Haruna, but she finally saved by Yui. in 2nd season, she again return as Corrector to assist Yui, first when Yui got petrified by infected insects, later, she helps Yui until the end of 2nd season. Curiously, she could use Element Suits more effective than Yui.
- Prof. Inukai (Mototsugu Inukai): Creator of Correctors and Grosser. Attempted to stops Grosser by sending Correctors, but intercepted by Grosser, causing him to getting accident. Now his body is laying unconscious in hospital, while his uncomplete, amnesiac mind wandering on Net, seeking for help and evading Grosser's Henchmens. When his memory restored, he decided to pass over Corrector ability and task to Haruna, whom he preferred over the ditz, not-so-competent Yui, but later events force him to reconsider his decision. Later, he finally accepted Yui as Corrector, and helping her by repairing and build new Element Suit, and providing operation base for Correctors.
- Takashi Fuji: Haruna's love interest. His contrast demeanor with Haruna often making him a joke target by Yui and her peers, though he is a nice boy at heart.
- Shun Tojo: A engineering/medical students, also Yui's love interest (which he is unaware of). Very skillful with computers and net, often helping Yui (albeit indirectly) in her task as Corrector. Later in the end of season one, he was abducted by Grosser, as a bait to lure Yui and other Correctors to battle him in his lair.
- Shinozaki Ai: A dark and mysterious girl who becomes a Corrector in her own in 2nd season. Her bitter experience in the past, seems to be the reason of her cold, apathic demeanor as a mask to protect herself. While at most times she done her job by mostly cold, no-nonsense efficiency, Yui's action sometimes force her coinscience to help Yui. She became Correctors, searching for the "little girl", believe that she might be connected with her mother's coma. While at first she rather despised Yui, consider her a little more than a nuisance, in the end she admires her optimistic view for life, and her ability to cheer up others.
- Shinichi Kasuga: Yui's father. A computer programmer. He loves Yui very much, and always at distress when he saw Yui with another man (Shun).
- Sakura Kasuga: Yui's mother. An excellent cook, whose work highly favored by Yui and her father.
- Akiko Yanagi: Yui's best friend.
- Reiko Kanozaki: Yui's best friend.
- Ichitaro Ishikawa: Yui's friend.
- Hidetoshi Kobayashi: Yui's friend.
- Miss Manami Sayama: Yui's teacher. Though she's actually a good, supporting teacher, her childish, crybaby personality sometimes creates troubles.
- Shintaro Shinozaki: Ai's father. Deceased 10 years ago, he was originally belong to the team who create ComNet. His death triggered Ai's attempt to masking her heart, at first to make her mother less worried.
- Azusa Shinozaki: Ai's mother. A motherly figure which Ai's love very much, now she's in comatose, thanks to accident that severe connection between her mind and body. Her mind imprisoned by Ryo Kurokawa, after her attempt to release "missing little girl", resulted in an accident that kills Ryo, and release the girl to ComNet.
[edit] Correctors
Corrector software was developed in order to maintain and police the ComNet structure. As such, each piece of software concentrates on a specific task, and Yui must learn to integrate their skillsets in order to defeat Grosser's minions, and eventually, Grosser itself.
- Ante: Corrector Software #3, The Predictor. Yui meets her on a love fortune-telling site. Has ability to foresee the future. Her vision, though most of time is true, but sometimes can deviate, especilly when she doesn't have enough data/knowledge about the subject (like when Yui hug her, when her vision shows Yui shakes her hand, when they first meet, and when she trapped in Rapunzel's tower on fairytale simulation). Has wise, maternal personality. Her power enables Yui to access Wind Element Suit and enables Yui to predict enemies movement and attacks. She often became subject for Control's flirting, but thanks to her ability, she could evade most of it (leaving Control at distress).
- Control: Corrector Software #1, The Regulator. Yui meets him in a space adventure site (not unlike a MMORPG). Has ability to practically stops time for limited time, enable him to move with light-speed velocity. His power in Wind Element Suit makes Yui can stops time for about 30 seconds, and if other corrector (IR) borrowing its power, the time can be strengthened to 15 seconds. Has "hero-guy" type personality, which makes Yui, at first, tends to dislike him, and sometimes make him at odds with other Correctors, though he is actually a nice guy. (treats Yui likes damsell in distress, said he didn't need woman helps, always try to going first without everyone concern, trying to steal spotlight every time, has some narcisstic streak, etc).
- Eco: Corrector Software #4, The System Maintainer. Yui meets her on rainforest-lake simulation. Has ability to control nature elements, like water and plants. His power makes Yui can access Water Element Suit, and can control element natures at will, using it as defensive, recovering, or offensive tools. Has rebellious, childish personality, and dislikes anyone who desecrated the nature, to the point of kidnapping everyone who littering on the rainforest simulation. When Yui meets him, at first he hates Dr. Inukai, whom he believed had left him, but he finally learns that Dr. Inukai actually loves him, just like the other Correctors, and left him there for his own safety.
- Follow: Corrector Software #7, The Compiler. Yui first meet him, along with Peace, at secluded area, separated from main domain of marine adventure simulation created by her father's company. A fat guy with playful, sweet, almost childish demeanor. Likes Yui at first sight, because "she is cute". Has ability to mimic practically anything, and copying some ability from the one he is mimicking. He is also the one with biggest memory power from all Correctors, and when he lend his power to Yui, Yui's power on her Basic Element Suit also change greatly (and also her weight), and also can activated her Earth Element Suit. He's Peace good friend. His ability to mimicking others sometimes can be quite a nuisance for others, like when he teases Freeze by mimicking Rescue.
- Peace: Corrector Software #6, The Archiver. A pacifist old man, exclaimed himself as "Peace Defender", which ironically has knack for building most destructive weapons. At first dislike Yui for destroying solitude he gained at remote area he inhabitated, but later help her drove away Grosser's Corruptors, by lending his power. His power enable Yui to access Fire Element Suit, with "Flame Bomber" projectile attack. A wise person, he always speaks what he feels right, even if it makes conflict with another Correctors. In 2nd season, from his data, the villain cloned him to wreak havoc on ComNet, giving distraction they need to perform their plan.
- IR: Corrector Software #8, The Installer. The first Corrector Software Yui meets. IR always nags Yui about her duty as corrector, sometimes makes Yui annoyed to the end. Has tendency to end his sentences with "Thank you". IR made Basic Element Suit for Yui from princess costume stored in amusement park, where her Dad works. I.R also can access Earth Element Suit, giving Yui large physical power boost, makes her on par with Jaggy.
- Rescue: Corrector Software #5, The Repairer. Has ability to heals damage, including Element Suits damage, and when she lend her power to Yui, Yui could perform barrier in Water Element Suit, that can knockbacks attacks. Has sweet, rather naive (to the point of perky), and polite personality. While she is not prone to fighting, her fighting style including applying non-lethal force as much as possible (like using "tickler machine" and bug spray), and also using vast array of traps and gadgets (she notoriously known among other correctors for this, she even dubbed herself as "Trap Princess"). All her antics and naivety especially disturbes Freeze, whom Rescue seems (somehow) interested. In 2nd season, she fight using bandages from her halo, anti-Beagles spray, and can also detect virus source by using radar on her halo.
- Synchro: Corrector Software #2, The Synchronizer. Few is known about this corrector, since he was lost at the beginning of the series. At the end of the first season is revealed that he was corrupted and become the corruptor program War Wolf. His ability is similar with Wolf (using fire burst as weapons), and one of correctors that has excellent fighting abilities on his own. His power of fire can be bestowed to other Correctors, to let them access fire Element Suit. Has emotional personality, he is the one that oppose Dr. Inukai decision to transfer Corrector power from Yui to Haruna. Beagle infections force him to stays in WarWolf form for most of 2nd seasons, reminds him of his bad deeds in the past, causing him become rather explosive, and Yui's attitude doesn't help either (she always call her "Doggy" out of habit, which annoy him).
[edit] Villains/Corruptors
- Grosser: Leader of Corruptors. At first, he is a "good" program, created by Dr. Inukai to managing and maintain the vast-growing ComNet. His contact with Yui make him want to "live", and later, to create the world where he could "live". Dr. Inukai, who saw the change of Grosser, decide to create the Correctors, to restore him to his current status. When Dr. Inukai chooses Haruna as Corrector, Grosser, who fascinated (arguably "loved") with Yui from beginning, manipulating IR and set Dr. Inukai in accident, so that Yui will be the Corrector instead of Haruna. He even go as far as turned Haruna into Dark Angel Haruna. In last episode of 1st season, he finally meets Yui, and in form of Shun, he tries to convince Yui to let him use her body, in order to experience "true life". Yui could see through the disguise, and instead, she convinces him that he actually a living being itself, capable to feel happiness, pain, and sadness, and also others AI programs and Corruptors over the Net. She also stated that for the sake of others who love her, she can't just quit to become herself, though sometimes is bitter and sad. Grossers, who finally see the error in his ways, deleting himself along with the whole ComNet, sparing pretty much devastated Yui. But at last, with moral support from Haruna, she could gain her power, and reinitialize the whole ComNet back again, along with all Correctors programs, Grossers, and Corruptors, which were grateful for her. Has weakness of sound with specific frequency, traits that Yui, Haruna, and Fina (the baby whale on marine simulation) shares together, that somehow could force him to return to his "normal" state.
- Freeze: The only female Software on Grosser's team (up until Evil Haruna appears), she is probably the most ruthless and competent of all Grosser's henchmen. Has ability to freeze anything. In second season, after failing in many side-jobs, she finally accept a job from a mysterious man to search for a little girl, who "always presented everywhere she's near". Later it was revealed that she has innate ability to detect virus presence (whom she didn't realize), and later was used by this mysterious man to search for the "missing little girl". It is noted that she got big personality change in 2nd season, from cold, no-nonsense villain in 1st season into ditz, a much more cheerful and girly attitude in 2nd season. In the series finale, she even got her own Corrector suit (dubbed "Corrector Freeze" by some fans).
- Jaggy: Despite his bulk size and his strength, Jaggy is (arguably) the most knowledgeable (not the most talented) of all Grosser's henchmen. Most of his tactics including manipulating environmet to his biddings (tough most of it didn't do so well). Love to read books. In 2nd season, he became library administrator, and seems to have some feelings with Freeze.
- War Wolf: Resembles a werewolf, he is one of Grosser's henchmen which prefer actual combat. Fight by using lightsaber, and has ability to control fire. Yui called him "Doggy", much to his dismay. Has somehow honorable demeanor. He is, in fact, the lost corrector program Synchro, but this is unknown to him until near the end of the first season. Beagle infection in 2nd season beginning has forced Synchro to stays in this form for the rest of the season.
- Virus: Armed with primarily lightsaber and computer viruses, he (arguably) having most intelligence comparing with his other's teammate. Though he isn't prone to actual combat, he is prefer to using more scheming methods. His computer viruses can be used to corrupt another program, make them do his biddings. In 2nd season, he works as virus computer researcher, whom with Yui and Haruna's help, finally identifying the source of Beagles Virus.
- Dark Angel Haruna: the evil "corrector", in fact is Haruna after being corrupted by Grosser, by manipulating her hidden ambition. However, Yui manages to make her back as a good Corrector.
- Mysterious Man: This mysterious man is working in a site, in fairytale simulation, as performer for a "Sun, Wind and Traveller" story drama, as the traveller. He asking Freeze to search for the "missing little girl", claimed want to return her home, with one condition that she shouldn't talk about it with anyone. Behind his friendly demeanor, he was not about using cruel and dirty tactics to ensure his job done (like cloning Peace at a point, or using modified version of Beagle Virus). He promised large sum of reward for Freeze, stopping the miserable Freeze from asking too much about the job. In the end, it is revealed he just a mere pawn, controlled by another mastermind. In the end of series, he helps Freeze to release the "missing little girl", distracts Ryo, giving the Correctors a chance to reinitialize her (though failed).
- "Missing Little Girl": This red-haired little girl, with her teddy bear, always presents when the Beagles Virus attack appears. While seems innocent and bear no harm, when emotionally pressured, and shed tears, her tears becoming core for the Beagles virus. She always search for "sunflowers". Her picture was found within story book that belongs to Ai Shinozaki. Originally, she was created by Shintaro Ishikawa as messenger for his daughter. Ryo tooks her, experimenting on her with lots of computer viruses (not unlike Lisa Trevor), and thus Beagles Virus created with her as host. Her name is "Ai", same with Shinozaki Ai. Teddy Bear she carried act as her protector and backup, he is the one who stole Yui's newest ComCon and give it to Ai instead. This little girl can feel emotions of others, this feat causing Ai to always lost her track, due to her heart's closure to others (which at first, she blame it to the ComCon, using logical deduction).
- Ryo Kurokawa: Dubbed himself as "the most despised man by ComNet and Shintaro Shinozaki", he is the true mastermind behind the Beagles Virus creation, whom he planned to use to destroy ComNet, and form new ComNet. He saw AI programs as a tools, thus making him at odds with Inukai and Shinozaki, causing him to retire from the group. When Azusa Shinozaki doing attempt to release "Ai", he was killed by accident happened in his place, but his mind keep intact in ComNet, interact with Beagles Virus. He didn't realize it until Prof. Inukai shows him the truth. In the end, Yui's finally reinitialize him in her Final Element Suit, and his last word was "At least... I could leave my hatred to humanity".
[edit] Miscellaneous
- ComCon: This bracelet is used by every Corrector, as access, communication, transformation, radar, transmitter and receiver device. Even without VR units, every Correctors can enter ComNet easily by this. While entering Comnet, for people outside they would be seen as sleeping, so other's wouldn't notice.
- ComNet: This virtual world is the form of Internet in Yui's world. Everyone can access and experience worlds inside it, using VR unit. Time go faster in ComNet 256 times than in real world (means, one second in real word approximately the same as 256 seconds (4 minutes, 16 seconds) in ComNet). However, being too long in ComNet can cause problems, because of fatigued body, causing symptoms which dubbed as "ComNet Fever". That's why in regular VR units, there are failsafe programs that ejects people automatically after 10 hours a day in ComNet. ComCon bracelet didn't have this feature, once causing Ai to get "ComNet Fever" when she stays too long in the Net.
[edit] Trivia
- Mispronouncation of the title, "Corrector Yui", often drive fans thinks that this series has same theme with Cardcaptor Sakura, which is untrue (the latter is about collecting cards and utilize it, Corrector Yui is about correcting, repairing programs and virtual environment).
- 2 of 3 correctors gain their power in rather illegitimate way, IR confusing Yui with Haruna, when Ai got her ComCon from stolen ComCon which originally belongs to Yui.
