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Claymore
Scenes
Teresa deflects attack

Original title

Claymore

Written by

Norihiro Yagi

Illustrated by

Norihiro Yagi

Genre

Shōnen. Alternatively, a synthesis of Sword and Sorcery, Superhero, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Demographic

Mature

Original publisher

Monthly Shōnen Jump

Manga start issue

July 2001

Original anime producer

Madhouse Studios/avex mode/NTV/VAP

First anime broadcast

3 April 2007–25 September 2007

  • Manga link Manga scenes
  • Anime link Anime scenes

Etymology[]

English title[]

Contrary to most reference websites, Claymore, not クレイモア (Kureimoa), is the official and original title to the manga series. クレイモア is not found on the copyright page of any Shueisha tankōbon volume, only Claymore. The copyrighted title is stylized in all capital letters (CLAYMORE).[1]

History[]

Claymore is atypical in that its title is not a translation (meaning for meaning), transliteration (letter for letter) or transcription (sound for sound) of a Japanese title, such as Berserk (ベルセルク Beruseruku).

Claymore is an English word and is neither rōmaji nor a transliteration of クレイモア, which serves only as the superscripted part of the Claymore logo for the Japan and US editions. The rōmaji for クレイモア is Kureimoa.

Historically, "claymore" itself is an anglicized transcription of the Scottish Gaelic claidheamh mor (great sword).[2]

[]

Several Celtic rock groups named "Claymore" use a variety of Gothic-like fonts for their "Claymore" logo, resulting in similar designs to those used for various language editions of Claymore.

Description[]

A manga series drawn and written by Norihiro Yagi.

Anime series is based on the manga. Anime begins diverging from the manga from Anime Scene 20 onward. Last two anime episodes have an original storyline not found in the manga.

In both the manga and anime series, chapters and episodes are called "scenes." Most manga scenes and all anime scenes begin with a cold open or teaser. Yagi began the use of the cold open with his first one-shot manga, Undeadman, which also had an original English title and presages Claymore, where the cold open and an English language title appears a decade later.[3]

Genre[]

Usually described as Shounen and sometimes Shōjo. Actually a synthesis of Sword and Sorcery, Superhero, Science Fiction and Dark Fantasy. Often criticized or praised as being "un-manga"-like.

Premise[]

On a cross-shaped island, a mysterious Organization, seeking weapons of mass destruction for use on the mainland, experiments with monsters called Yoma, who prey on humans.[4]

To finance their activities, the Organization runs a protection scheme, where female half-Yoma warriors, called "Claymores" by the public, suppress Yoma for a fee.

Series starts with warrior No. 47, Clare, who saves a young boy, Raki, from a Yoma in Doga village.[5] Series climaxes with a Claymore Rebellion at Organization Headquarters.[6]

The dilemma of Teresa, Clare and other Claymores is similar to Arthur's in T.H. White's The Once and Future King (1958): "The central theme is an exploration of human nature regarding power and justice, as the boy Arthur becomes king and attempts to quell the prevalent "might makes right" attitude with his idea of chivalry. But in the end, even chivalry comes undone since its justice is maintained by force."[7]

Literary origins[]

See Literary origins.

Additional details[]

  • "Norihiro Yagi" can be translated as "Christopher Capricorn" in English

References[]

Tankōbon Claymore volumes cited are VIZ Media (en-us) editions, unless otherwise noted. Manga scenes (chapters) not yet translated cite Shueisha tankōbon (ja) editions. Manga scenes not yet published in tankōbon form cite Jump SQ (ja) editions. Fragments of Silver Omnibus (総集編 銀の断章 Gin no Danshou) 1–3, Shueisha, are only available in Japanese. Anime scenes (episodes) cited are FUNimation (en-us) editions, unless otherwise noted.

  1. Claymore 1, copyright page, p. 189
  2. Online Etymology Dictionary on "claymore"
  3. Jump Comics Deluxe, September 1990, Undeadman
  4. Claymore 15, Scene 79Scene 80, pp. 52–77
  5. Claymore 1, Scene 1, p. 42
  6. Claymore 20, Scene 113, p. 185
  7. The Once and Future King, Wikipedia

All items (201)

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