Ueki/The Law of Ueki
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| The Law of Ueki | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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The Law of Uekiうえきの法則Ueki no Hōsoku | |||
| Genre | Shōnen, Comedy, Action | ||
| Anime series | |||
| Directed by |
Hiroshi Watanabe | ||
| Studio |
Studio Deen | ||
| Network | |||
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| Original run |
April 4, 2005 — March 27, 2006 | ||
| No. of episodes |
51 | ||
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Manga Series: The Law of Ueki | |||
| Authored by |
Tsubasa Fukuchi | ||
| Publisher | |||
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| Serialized in | |||
| Original run |
2002 – 2004 | ||
| No. of volumes |
16 | ||
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Manga Series: The Law of Ueki PLUS | |||
| Authored by |
Tsubasa Fukuchi | ||
| Publisher | |||
| Serialized in | |||
| Original run |
2005 – 2007 | ||
| No. of volumes |
5 | ||
The Law of Ueki (うえきの法則, Ueki no Hōsoku) is a Japanese manga series by Tsubasa Fukuchi with a anime adaptation first broadcasted on TV Tokyo on April 4, 2005, ended with 51 episodes on March 27, 2006. It was produced by Studio Deen.
The anime adaptation was licensed by Geneon. ImaginAsian TV broadcasted the anime series to the American audience starting early 2007.
Contents |
Summary
The story starts out with the Battle of the Supernatural Powers, a tournament to decide who will be the next God of Heaven (rendered as Kami (天界人) in the Japanese version).
Each candidate (100 in total) is required to choose a junior high school student (middle school) to act as their fighter. Each student is given a unique power and the winning God Candidate will become The New God of Heaven and the winning student will receive the Blank Zai (or talent), a talent that can be anything they choose.
While this leads many students to thoughts of greed and selfishness, Kosuke Ueki has decided to take it upon himself to win this tournament to keep that power away from those that would abuse such a gift.
Characters
Main article: Characters
Tournament
Initially, fights in the tournament consist of a battle between two power users - one wins by knocking the other opponent out.
When a knock-out is obtained, the loser will lose their power and the winner will gain a talent Zai (才), which is a talent of some sort (e.g. "talent of running," "talent of studying," and so on). A power user who has lost a fight and their power is labeled "retired."
The rules for the combatants of the tournament revolve around the talents:
- Power users are not allowed to use their powers against non-power users, or they lose one talent for each hit.
- If the power user loses all their talents, then they will disappear.
- Every time a power user knocks out another power user, the one who knocks out the other will gain another talent, senseless or not.
- If, for any reason, both contestants become unconscious at the same time, the round is a draw: no talents will be gained, and no powers are lost. The contestants must be knocked out within 5 seconds of each other, or the last contestant wins.
There are also rules which apply to the King of the Celestial World Candidates / God Candidates. The punishment for breaking them is that the King of the Celestial World Candidate / God Candidate is sent to Hell.
- King of the Celestial World Candidates / God Candidates are not allowed to interfere with their power user's fight. This means that they are not allowed to provide their power users with more supplies to use their power (this may only apply to during a fight), or even save them from dying.
- King of the Celestial World Candidates / God Candidates are only allowed to grant a power to one individual. However, it is possible for two King of the Celestial World Candidates / God Candidates to give a power each to one person; if found out, though, it will lead to a disqualification of both King of the Celestial World Candidates / God Candidates.
Near the end of the tournament, power users are allowed to form groups of five for "battle royale"-style fighting. Knock-outs during this stage do not result in losing powers. Each team is given a penalty if it loses, such as having all of the members die or losing their hair in addition to losing their powers.
To decide who receives the Blank Talent among the winning team, a device is used to measure the growth in power that each participant has shown from the beginning to the end of the tournament. To decide who is to become King of the Celestial World / God, the winning team votes which of the King of the Celestial World Candidates / God Candidates is given that honor.
Level 2 powers may be obtained by the power users. The requirements are a total mastery of their original power and the powerful desire to become stronger.
Sacred treasures
All heavenly beings have the potential to master a total of ten attacks which correspond with different levels of their growth. These attacks are called Jingi, or "sacred treasures". Higher level sacred treasures have a higher damage capability than lower ones. If a heavenly being is a power-user (having received a power from a God Candidate), their power is merge with their sacred treasures. In the case of Ueki, he manifests these abilities through his talent of tree growth. A heavenly being's sacred treasures with no special powers will take the form of stone. In the Battle Game, there are only six heavenly beings: Ueki, Robert, Kilnorton, Diegostar, Balo and Ban Dicoot, but only Ueki and Robert have level two sacred treasures.
List of sacred treasures
Kurogane-Iron (nomenclature: iron; The barrel of the weapon.)
- The 1-star sacred treasure, gained through consciousness/realization of the fact that the user is a heavenly being. It is a large cannon grown out from the user's arm that fires a large ball at the opponent. For Ueki, a large cannon grows out from a tree and fires a large ball of wooden strands at the opponent. It is first seen in the battle between Ueki and Alessio Iuliano.
Fudo-commanding (nomenclature: immobile; Fudo cannot be moved.)
- The 2-star sacred treasure, gained through perseverance. It is a giant arm grown out of the ground to protect the user from attacks, but it can also be used offensively by striking at enemies. It is first seen when Ueki was defending himself from Tenko.
Ranma-Fast Sword (nomenclature: chaos; A blade from an arm is really chaotic!)
- The 3-star sacred treasure gained through firmness. Ranma is a gigantic knife grown from the arm of the user. Ueki's Ranma grows out from a tree to strike the opponent. It is first seen in the battle where Ueki uses it to retire Oni. The shape of the blade varies from user to user. It is also called Ranma Sword.
Masshu-I'm the only one (nomenclature: crush; Seriously, just look at what Masshu does.)
- The 4-star sacred treasure gained through body and strength. Mash is a cube-like big mouth that chomps the opponent. It can jump out of the ground towards the opponent. Ueki's Mash is a big mouth with tree legs that comes from the ground to chomp the opponent. It is first seen in the second battle between Ueki and Don. Mash can be used to defend against attacks as well by chomping on Kurogane, Ranma and Pick.
Ressen/Pick-Piku night cruise (nomenclature: pick; A large stick.)
- The 5-star sacred treasure, gained through centralization. Pick is a large column that shoots out very fast from the arm of the user towards the opponent. It can be pointed downwards to propel the user upwards or it can be detached from the arm and used as a ramp. Ueki's Pick grows from a tree and has yellow and black stripes. Each heavenly beings Pick are made from differing matter and have different markings on them, but Robert Haydn's pick is the shape of a corkscrew and Balo's pick is also pointed at the end. Pick is first seen in the battle between Ueki and Yunpao in the Dogura Mansion.
Raika-Raika Blitz (nomenclature: flash of lightning; This weapon lets you travel really fast!)
- The 6-star sacred treasure, gained through anticipation. Raika is a pair of rollerblade-like attachments on the user's feet allowing them rapid movement on the ground. However, the user cannot jump when using these. It is first seen in the battle between Ueki and Karl Paccho.
Galiper-Passenger (nomenclature: a big box; This weapon not to let your enemy go)
- The 7-star sacred treasure, gained through speed. A grid of light appears on the ground, followed by a boxed wall that is shot up from anywhere on the grid to capture the opponent. Any attempts to attack while inside the box are futile and can be directed back at the captured. The opponent only has half a second to avoid imprisonment. It is first seen in the battle between Ueki and Caption.
Namihana-Bowa (nomenclature: wavy plant; See namihana's features.)
- The 8-star sacred treasure, gained through an unknown test. The appearance is that of a massive whip. It is a highly flexible weapon which can be turned in any direction desired by the user. It is first seen in the match between Ueki and Gitar.
Seikū-Natural scenery (nomenclature: mastery of air; Wings offer lots of air capabilities.)
- The 9-star sacred treasure, gained through balance. A pair of wings will appear on the user's back, granting them flying capabilities. It is first seen in the second opening theme of the series, although it was first used in a fight between Ueki and Anon. The color of the wings varies from user to user.
- Maoh-Devil King
- The 10-star sacred treasure, gained through will. Summons a creature that varies from heavenly being to heavenly being. Maoh is a formless weapon. The power of the summon is based on the desires of the fighter, which in Ueki's case was to protect his friends. Ueki's Maoh takes the form of Kobayashi and is relatively weak compared to Anon's Maoh due to his low will power. But due to an increase in Ueki's wishes to save his friends, his Maoh's strength increased and he gained control over it.
- Robert's Maoh is an extremely hideous black skeletal ram and is the embodiment of his hatred for humanity. It is used by Anon after Anon absorbs Robert. Maoh can only be used only six times in a lifetime. First mentioned in the ending scenes of the battle between Robert Haydn and Ueki. First appearance in the last battle between Ueki and Anon, although it was attempted by Robert in the Dogura Mansion where he was prevented by Kobasen along with the ending of round 1.
- This level is attained only by Robert Haydn, Kosuke Ueki, God and Margarette (Robert's God Candidate).
- Demi-weapon - Tenso
- The unknown sacred treasure that changes the geography of any place. Only God has this power, but since Anon can absorb powers from whom he devours, he wielded it and created the pathway, where the last battle took place.
Talents
Every middle school student have talents that help them in battle or in life. An important rule in the tournament to prevent power users from attacking anyone they please is that the power user will lose a talent if they attack a non-power user, but they can gain a random talent by knocking out another power user. If the power user loses all their talents, they will vanish.
Ueki starts the series with eleven talents: Girl charisma, ability to study, ability to run, accuracy, sarcasm, ability to dance, lottery, animal charisma, ability to swim, ability to dodge, and the ability to imitate.
Symbolism
Robert Haydn's name and personality is a reference to the African American poet Robert Hayden (1913 - 1980). His entire childhood was fraught with traumatic events and parental abuse. One of his more famous poems "The Whipping" was about a child who was being beaten by his grandmother, with underlying symbolism of slavery.
Episodes
Main article: Episodes
Theme songs
Opening themes
- Falco by Hitomi Shimatani (Episodes 1-32)
- Lyricist: BOUNCEBACK
- Composer: Kazunori Watanabe (渡辺和則, Watanabe Kazunori)
- Arranged by: Yasuaki Maejima (前島泰明, Maejima Yasuaki)
- No Regret by Kumi Koda (Episodes 33-51)
- Lyricist: Tōru Watanabe (渡辺徹, Watanabe Tōru)
- Composer and arranger: h-wonder
Ending themes
- Kokoro no Wakusei ~Little planets~ (こころの惑星～Little planets～) by Aiko Kayo (Episodes 1-15)
- Lyricist: Kenn Kato
- Composer: Kei Suzuki (鈴木計, Suzuki Kei)
- Arranged by: Keiichiro Nomura (野村敬一郎, Nomura Keiichirō) and Kei Suzuki
- Chorus arranged by: Yas Kitajima (北島安, Kitajima Yasu)
- Earthship ～Uchūsen Chikyūgō～ (Earthship ～宇宙船地球号～) by SweetS (Episodes 16-32)
- Lyricist: rom△ntic high
- Composer and arranger: Greenwich Fields
- Kono Machi de wa Dare Mo ga Mina Jibun Igai no Nani Ka ni Narita garu (この街では誰もがみな自分以外の何かになりたがる) by The Ivory Brothers (Episodes 33-42)
- Bokutachi ni Aru Mono (ボクたちにあるもの) by Romi Paku (Episodes 43-50)
- True Blue by Hitomi Shimatani (Episode 51)
References in other media
Ueki appeared briefly in the episode Saving Face of Kappa Mikey as a portrait in the background of Dr. Takashi Katashi's office. He also appeared in background and crowded scenes of the show.
External links
- Geneon on The Law of Ueki DVD
- Web Sunday on Law of Ueki Plus (Japanese)
- Avex Mode on The Law of Ueki (Japanese)
- TV Tokyo on The Law of Ueki (Japanese)
- Ueki/The Law of Ueki at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia.
| Genre | Shōnen +, Comedy +, and Action + |
| Series name | The Law of Ueki + |
