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DetroitMetalCity.jpg
Genre Comedy[1]
Manga
Published by Hakusensha
English publisher
NA
Viz Media
Demographic Seinen
Volumes 10
Studio Studio 4C
Licensed by
NA
Sentai Filmworks
Runtime 13 minutes
Episodes 12
Live-action film
Directed by Toshio Lee
Studio Toho
Contents [hide]
1 Plot
2 Characters
3 Media
3.1 Manga
3.2 OVA
3.3 Film
3.4 Music
4 References
5 External links
Plot[edit]
Soichi Negishi is a shy young musician who dreams of a career in pop. Dreams don't pay the bills, so
he's ended up as the lead singer and guitarist of a blackened death metal band, "Detroit Metal City."
In stage costume he is Johannes Krauser II, rumored to be a terrorist demon from hell, to have killed
and raped his parents, to wield his giant death penis with abandon, and other menacing tales being
said about him after each public performance. The songs of DMC often encourage the audience to
engage in immoral and illegal behavior, such as rape or murder, or tell of Krauser's exploits with
similar actions, in a parody of the genre.
Negishi despises DMC and all that it stands for, but he can't walk away as he has a talent to play the
psychotic frontman of the band. Negishi is under his meager exterior a rageaholic and also is very
skilled in his guitar play. Further, he feels obligation to the rest of the band and his label and even if
he manages to escape, he is invariably roped back in by the manager of the band's label. The Krauser
persona also functions as an outlet to vent his frustration over his failing personal career, which has
not advanced beyond him being a street musician. Playing his music in the street earns him nothing
but the disapproval of bystanders over his cheesy pop songs.
Negishi is envious of the popularity DMC and his Krauser persona enjoy in contrast to the music he
actually wants to play being ridiculed, which in turn leads to his Krauser persona coming out more
often, which leads to Krauser's popularity growing. The series explores the futile attempts of Negishi
to break this vicious circle, escape his DMC persona and become a successful pop musician.
Characters[edit]
Soichi Negishi ( Negishi Sichi): The main protagonist. A calm and peaceful musician from
Inukai, ita, he is a fan of Swedish pop and Shibuya-kei who is the exact opposite of his alter-ego
Johannes Krauser II (II Yohane Kurauz Nisei), leader of the Visual death
metal band DMC (short for Detroit Metal City). Ashamed of his true job, Negishi must cope with
DMC's rising fame while keeping it a secret from friends and family. Even though Negishi despises
Krauser so much, he can never resist the temptation of invoking his demonic ego every time he feels
irritated or in trouble. While performing as Krauser, Negishi proves to be a skilled guitarist, able to
play just with his teeth.
In the OVA, Daisuke Kishio voices Negishi, while Yuji Ueda voices Krauser. In the film, Kenichi
Matsuyama portrays both roles.
Yuri Aikawa ( Aikawa Yuri): Negishi's friend from his college times and his main love
interest. She loves Negishi's calm nature and songs, but dislikes DMC's music and its vocalist Krauser,
unaware that they are the same person.
Voiced by Masami Nagasawa in the OVA, and portrayed by Rosa Kato in the live-action movie.
Voiced by Makoto Yasumura in the OVA, and portrayed by Ryuji Akiyama in the live-action movie.
Voiced by Yuto Nakano in the OVA, and portrayed by Yoshihiko Hosoda in the live-action movie.
Voiced by Ai Kobayashi in the OVA, and portrayed by Yasuko Matsuyuki in the live-action movie.
Keisuke Nashimoto ( Nashimoto Keisuke): A masochistic middle-aged man hired to
perform during DMC's concerts as the "Capitalist Pig" ( Shihonshugi no Buta), whose
role is to let himself be abused by Krauser. He works part-time at a convenience store.
Jack ill Dark ( Jakku iru Dku): Also known as "The Emperor", he is a
legendary Black metal guitarist from the United States who chose to crush DMC during his farewell
concert in Japan. But after inadvertently bringing out Negishi's anger, he ends up being upstaged by
Krauser, and thus entrusts him his trademark guitar and title.
Voiced by Riki Takeuchi and Eugene Nomura in the OVA, and portrayed by Gene Simmons of Kiss in
the live-action movie.
Media[edit]
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Manga[edit]
The manga was originally serialized in of the Japanese manga magazine Young Animal published by
Hakusensha from September 2005 to April 2010. Hakusensha has compiled the 113 chapters into 10
volumes from May 29, 2006[2] to July 29, 2010 under its Jets Comics imprint.[3] Viz Media licensed
the manga in North America[4] and published it from June 9, 2009[5] to September 13, 2011.[6] The
manga has sold at least 2 million copies.[7]
OVA[edit]
A DVD box set was released of a series of 12 OVA episodes for D.M.C.
1-A PV
2-B SATAN
3-A PIG
3-B DRUG
4-A FRUSTRATION
5-A MASOCHIST
5-B FAMILY
6-A PUNK.1
6-B PUNK.2
7-A TOWER
7-B CONFESSION
8-A PROMISE
8-B ALTERNATION
9-A CINEMA.1
9-B CINEMA.2
10-A FAKE
10-B DETROIT-MOE-CITY
11-A HIP-HOP.1
11-B HIP-HOP.2
12-A EMPEROR.1
12-B EMPEROR.2
Film[edit]
The live action film adaptation of the series, directed by Toshio Lee and written by Mika mori, was
released on August 23, 2008 by Toho. It features performances by Kenichi Matsuyama, Rosa Kato,
Kazuma Suzuki, Rumi Hiiragi, Yasuko Matsuyuki and a cameo appearance by Gene Simmons. It has
been watched by more than 1 million people. d-rights, Dentsu, Hakusensha, Horipro, Nippon
Shuppan Hanbai, Inc., Parco, Stardust Pictures, Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Toho (which also
distributed the film), Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co., Tsutaya and Yahoo! Japan were involved in the
production of the film.[citation needed] The film was licensed in North America by Viz Pictures in
July 2010[8] and released in November 2010.[9] It has been reported that several offers have been
made from United States and Hong Kong based companies to remake the film.[7] Detroit Metal City
was selected as a part of the 33rd Annual Toronto International Film Festival's Midnight Madness
Program on September 5, 2008. It was also shown for the first time in the United Kingdom on
November 2008 in Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds. It was also shown as part of the 13th Japanese
Film Festival in November and December in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia in 2009. The toy
company Banpresto created a set of four plush dolls based on the characters and figurine company
Kaiyodo created action figures for the North American market.[10]
Music[edit]
Prior to the theatrical release and the OVA release, an album titled Detroit Metal City: Tribute to
Krauser II the metal mix (
MIX Detoroito Metaru Shiti: Toribyto Arubamu ~Ikenie Metaru MIX~, Detroit Metal City Tribute
Album: Sacrifice Metal Mix) was released featuring many popular Japanese recording artists covering
their own songs in a metal style. The album has songs by:
Beat Crusaders
Kaela Kimura
Midori
YUKI
monobright
Tommy February6
Mucc
King Giddra
ANA
Kahimi Karie
As a fictional band, Detroit Metal City has released several real records for both the film and the OVA
series. Singles titled "SATSUGAI/Amai Koibito ~for the movie~" (SATSUGAI/for the movie
, "MURDER/Sweet Lover ~for the movie~") were released for the film (subtitled "for the movie"),
sung by Tetsuya Kanmuri as Johannes Krauser II and Hideki Kaji as Soichi Negishi. Another single
titled "Maoh/Raspberry Kiss ~for the movie~" (/for the movie
Ma/Razuber Kissu ~for the movie~) was released with Kanmuri and Kaji in character on vocals for
their respective songs. The film's D.M.C also released an album titled Makai Ygi ~for the movie~ (
for the movie, Hell Game ~for the movie~) featuring "SATSUGAI", "Maoh", and other
songs featured in the film and manga sung by Kanmuri.[11]
Singles were also released for the fictional bands depicted in the movie:
"From New York City ~for the movie~" (NYfor the movie Furomu NY Shiti ~for the
movie~) by rapper MC KIVA (MC Emu Sh Kiba)
"Sally my Love ~for the movie~" (for the movie Sar Mai Rabu ~for the movie~)
by T