- For the sequel, see xxxHOLiC Rei.
xxxHOLiC | |
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The first volume of xxxHOLiC, published in Japan by Kodansha on July 25, 2003 | |
xxxホリック (xxxHorikku) | |
Genre | Supernatural, Comedy, Psychological, Fantasy |
Manga | |
Written by | CLAMP |
Published by | Kodansha |
English publisher | Del Rey Manga (North America) Tanoshimi (United Kingdom) Kodansha USA (North America) |
Magazine | Young Magazine (2003–2009, 2013–present) Bessatsu Shonen Magazine (2009–2011) |
Original run | July 25, 2003 – March 9, 2011 |
Volumes | 19 (List of volumes) |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Tsutomu Mizushima |
Produced by | Toru Kawaguchi Shuichi Machida Junji Seki Tetsuya Watanabe Tsuyoshi Yoshida Nanase Ohkawa |
Written by | CLAMP Michiko Yokote |
Music by | S.E.N.S. |
Studio | Production I.G |
Licensed by | Funimation (North America; first season) Madman Entertainment (Australia) Manga Entertainment (United Kingdom) |
Network | TBS |
English network | Funimation Channel (North America) Animax (Southeast Asia) |
Original run | April 6, 2006 – June 26, 2008 |
Episodes | 24 (xxxHOLiC) 13 (Kei) 2 (Shunmuki) 1 (Rou) (List of episodes) |
Movies | |
xxxHOLiC The Movie: A Midsummer Night's Dream XxxHOLiC (film) |
xxxHOLiC (xxxホリック, Horikku) is a seinen manga written and illustrated by the manga group CLAMP.
Premise[]
Watanuki Kimihiro is a schoolboy cursed with the ability to sense and see spirits. One day, as Watanuki is being chased by them, his visions are dispelled as he touches the fence of a strange store. Inside, he finds Yūko Ichihara, who claims their meeting was a matter of hitsuzen (inevitability). When Watanuki finds that he can wish for Yūko to rid of his ability to see spirits, she promises to grant his wish in exchange for working part-time as her store to pay the price. It is through completing many house chores and helping Yūko with her work that Watanuki begins to meet many individuals, human and spirit alike. Occasionally Watanuki's rival, Shizuka Dōmeki, and his love interest, Himawari Kunogi, join him in his work as per Yūko's request; the three become increasingly close despite Watanuki's annoyance with Dōmeki.
Publishing[]
- Main article: List of xxxHOLiC chapters
xxxHOLiC was published by Kodansha and serialized in Weekly Young Magazine since 2003. It was published in 19 volumes under the KC Deluxe label. The individual chapters were collected and released in tankōbon format by Kodansha. It was published in the United States by Del Rey Manga and the first nine volumes were published in the United Kingdom by Tanoshimi.
Installments[]
- Main article: List of xxxHOLiC episodes
The xxxHOLiC anime was first broadcasted on April 6, 2006 on TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System). The first season ended on September 28 and ran for 24 episodes. The second season aired on April 3, 2008, in Japan and it has the title xxxHOLiC♦KEI; 13 episodes were produced. Both the movie and TV series have been licensed by Funimation for the USA. Two OVAs titled xxxHOLiC Shunmuki and xxxHOLiC Rou were made later on.
In 2013, a live action TV miniseries for xxxHOLiC was announced on September 7, 2012. It began airing on February 24, 2013, on WOWOW. It was directed by Keisuke Toyoshima and ran for eight episodes. A live action film directed by Mika Ninagawa was later made in 2022.
Development[]
CLAMP created xxxHOLiC and by extension Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE because they wanted to make two series that were related to one another. [1] Though xxxHOLiC was thought of somewhat earlier, both series were basically made the same time. [1]
All the females characters in xxxHOLiC, such as Yūko, Himawari, or the shop customers, are drawn by Mokona. [2] The male characters, yōkai, and non-human characters are drawn by Nekoi. [2] Both members draw the volume and chapter covers together. [2] Ohkawa decides the cover art, as well as the story and worldview. When the script is revised, Satsuki, Mokona and Nekoi draw parts of the manga on their own. [2] The group made the choice to not use screentones in the manga. [2]
Title[]
When thinking of a title, CLAMP wanted something related to "addicted" or "addiction," [1] but since the term was very general, they used "holic,"[1] a suffix used to refer to addictions regarding an object or activity (e.g., workaholic, alcoholic, etc.) In Japanese, "xxx" is used as another way of saying, "fill in the blank." This makes the title pronounced as just "-holic" and encapsulates the series themes regarding people and their addictions. In xxxHOLiC: A Midsummer Nights Dream, the word "holic" is used to refer to the fanatic collectors in the film.
Characters[]
For a full overview of characters in xxxHOLiC, please refer to the category page.
Name | Information |
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Kimihiro Watanuki (四月一日君尋, Watanuki Kimihiro) is the protagonist of xxxHOLiC. He is a typical high school student who lives on his own. He is down-to-earth and selfless, but also very irritable, especially when it comes to Yūko's lavish demands and Dōmeki's stoic attitude. Watanuki begins working for Yūko in exchange for the fulfillment of his wish to never see spirits again. Apart from Dōmeki and Himawari, Watanuki does not seem to have any friends at school; in fact, Yūko teases him about being unpopular. | |
Yūko Ichihara (壱原 侑子, Ichihara Yūko) is a very powerful witch and owner of the wish shop, mostly known for her ability to send people to other dimensions and times (sometimes called "The Dimensional Witch"), and for her ability to grant any wish in exchange for an equal cost. Despite her seemingly immature and free-spirited attitude, Yūko is also sage-like and serious when the time calls for it. | |
Shizuka Dōmeki (百目鬼 静, Dōmeki Shizuka) is Watanuki's classmate and one-sided rival. He is part of the school's archery club and often participates in school competitions. He lives in a shrine owned by his late grandfather. He is calm, sarcastic, and has the ability to rid evil spirits and is immune to most curses; this is mostly due to his ancestry and his upbringing in his grandfather's temple. | |
Himawari Kunogi (九軒 ひまわり, Kunogi Himawari) is Watanuki's love interest. She is a kind and caring girl who is often passive to Watanuki's profession of love for her. | |
Maru and Moro are beings who were created by Yūko. They have a young appearance and a playful attitude. Both of them are bound to the shop and unable to step outside because they are soulless. | |
Mokona Modoki is a black rabbit-like creature. There are two Mokonas; Larg is the black Mokona who is a secondary character in xxxHolic. Soel is the white Mokona who is a secondary character in Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE. Both Mokonas were created by Yūko and Clow Reed. | |
Haruka is Shizuka Dōmeki's deceased grandfather. While living, he was a priest that could see spirits and other supernatural beings. He died in old age but through strange events, Haruka has been able to visit Kimihiro Watanuki in dreams and give him good advice. He looks exactly like his grandson, Shizuka. | |
Kohane is a nine year old girl (when she first appears), though she ages throughout the series. Like Kimihiro Watanuki, she has the ability to see spirits and exorcise them. Over time, Kohane has become like a sister to Watanuki and a grand part of everyone's life. She is caring and sympathetic even if those people do not show her the same sympathy. |
Crossovers with Other CLAMP Works[]
xxxHOLiC is directly connected to several other CLAMP works through dimensional traveling, as stated by Yūko. The series is directly connected to Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE. Series such as Cardcaptor Sakura, Legal Drug, and Magic Knight Rayearth are also referenced. It was originally expected to end at the same time as Tsubasa, however this point in the continuity was crossed and lead to a new arc; xxxHOLiC Rei.
Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE[]
- xxxHOLiC and Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE are two crossed over series. The thirteenth chapter of the manga, as well as several others, is related to Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, sharing the same scene from the viewpoints of the characters of each series.
- In chapter 11, the energy that captures the black Mokona is sent to Syaoran to the Kingdom of Koryo when they fight a sorcerer who uses a magic called Hijitsu.
- The movie, Tsubasa Chronicle: The Princess in the Country of Birdcages (劇場 版 ツバサ クロニクル 鳥 カゴ の 国 の 姫君, Tsubasa Gekijōban Kuronikuru Torikago Himegumi no Kuni no?), crosses over with the movie of × × × HOLiC, Yūko gets a message from Syaoran from the Birdcage Kingdom, in which he asks for help to open a cage. She sends a key and receives in return a bell of Princess Tomoyo, symbol of the lineage of her kingdom. This meeting takes approximately 30 seconds.
- In Volume 6 of the manga, Watanuki has to deliver some birds whose wings refer to Clover. In that same volume, the gentleman whom he delivers the birds has several badges similar to those of Fei Wong from Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle.
- Tsubasa Volume 26-27 reveals the peculiar bond with Watanuki is Syaoran and the characters in Cardcaptor Sakura.
Chobits[]
- When Yūko and Watanuki are requested to uncover the hunted school by the request of Himawari, Watanuki wears the headphones from Chobits to talk with Yūko while at the school.
- The tale "City with no People" from Chobits appears in the series in Volume 3, Chapter 2 (part 1).
Drug & Drop[]
- In chapter 5, Watanuki goes to the pharmacy of the protagonists of Legal Drug to get medicine for Yūko.
Various[]
- Watanuki, Syaoran, and Sakura (Cardcaptor Sakura, xxxHOLiC and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle) have their birthdays on April 1.
- Yūko says the same phrase as Tōya Kinomoto and Kaho Mizuki from Cardcaptor Sakura, being that "coincidences do not exist, only the inevitable."
- In a chapter of the manga, places such as the bakery from Duklyon: Clamp School Defenders and the company Piffle Princess from Angelic Layer can be found.
- Yūko makes mention of Subaru Sumeragi from Tokyo Babylon.
- Yūko makes an appearance in one of the final chapters of Kobato..
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