Tokyo Babylon 1999

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Tokyo Babylon 1999 is a live-action movie that is an adaptation/sequel of the manga Tokyo Babylon by Clamp. It is often confused with the anime adaptation of Tokyo Babylon (both were released in Japan in 1993). Aside from a fleeting reference in Clamp's essay/manga collection The One I Love, the movie is largely unknown in the United States.

The movie stars Tonesaku Toshihide as Subaru Sumeragi and Shihoudou Wataru as Seishirou Sakurazuka. Clamp's Ohkawa Nanase/Ageha is listed as a producer. The director is Iida Jouji.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Despite the title, the movie does not take place in 1999 or involve any of the X/1999 characters or storylines. Instead, the story is meant to be a sequel following about five years after the end of the Tokyo Babylon manga.

The plot is reminiscent of the Tokyo Babylon story "Call.A" in volume 3 of the manga. Subaru Sumeragi (played by Tonesaku Toshihide) is investigating the death of a former enemy of the Sumeragi clan, Kaneyama. Before his death, Kaneyama had undertaken a new project: teaching a group of seven teenage girls how to use dark magic to take revenge on those they deem "guilty," beginning with an abusive teacher. One of the girls, Kurumi, starts to feel remorse; however, she is convinced by the others to continue with their plans. When Subaru attempts to stop them, they declare him to be their enemy and attack him. Subaru learns that his former friend-turned-enemy, assassin Seishirou Sakurazuka (Shihoudou Wataru), was the one who killed Kaneyama, and he has now turned his sights on the girls.

The girls grow increasing sick as a result of using the spells and Subaru tries once more to save them. Seishirou appears, claiming that none of the girls can be saved. Subaru and Seishirou fight, only to ultimately be stopped by the appearance of the ghost of Hokuto Sumeragi, who asks them to stop for her sake. Seishirou leaves, and the fight is unresolved. At the end, Kurumi says that, hopefully, all the other girls will be able to give up their vengeful plans and become good again. Subaru adds finally that he wishes for the same thing.

[edit] Differences between the movie and manga

Despite the apparent involvement of Clamp in the movie, there are some differences between the movie and the original manga. Subaru seems "angrier and less restrained" in his movie incarnation, and his insistent smoking is never shown. He also seems more hypocritical, calling on the girls to stop their vengeance while obsessing over his own vengeful desires against Seishirou. Neither Subaru nor Seishirou are shown using ofuda (paper spells), shikigami (summoned spirits) or drawing pentacles for spells. Seishirou's signature hand-through-the-chest style of killing is dropped in favor of magically strangling his victims, and, perhaps most startlingly, no references to his characteristic cherry blossoms appear. These changes may be simply due to the director's preference or budget constraints.