Infinite Ryvius

Infinite Ryvius (Japanese: 無限のリヴァイアス, Hepburn: Mugen no Rivaiasu) is a 26-episode science fiction drama anime series produced by Sunrise.

Infinite Ryvius
Infinite Ryvius anime series logo
無限のリヴァイアス (Mugen no Ryvius)
Genre	Science fiction, Psychodrama
Anime television series
Directed by	Gorō Taniguchi
Written by	Yōsuke Kuroda
Music by	Katsuhisa Hattori M.I.D.
Studio	Sunrise
Licensed by	NA: Sentai Filmworks
Original network	TV Tokyo
Original run	October 6, 1999 – March 23, 2000
Episodes	26 (List of episodes)
Manga
Written by	Yōsuke Kuroda
Illustrated by	Shinsuke Kurihashi
Published by	MediaWorks
English publisher	ComicsOne (volume 1) DrMaster (volume 2)
Magazine	Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	December 18, 1999 – September 18, 2000
Volumes	2
Original net animation
Infinite Ryvius: Illusion
Studio	Sunrise
Released	June 30, 2000
Runtime	5–7 minutes
Episodes	6

The character and mecha designs in Ryvius were created by Hisashi Hirai, who later went on to design characters for Gundam SEED.

The series is noted for its music, which blends Western R&B/hip-hop with J-pop vocals, including its title song "dis–", performed by bilingual Japanese-American singer Mika Arisaka. Most of the songs were composed by M.I.D., while background instrumentals were created by Katsuhisa Hattori.

The anime was originally licensed by Bandai Entertainment in North America until it went out of print in 2012. Following the closure of Bandai Entertainment, Sunrise announced at Otakon 2013 that Sentai Filmworks had rescued Infinite Ryvius, along with a handful of other former BEI titles.^[1]

A two-volume manga adaptation was released concurrently with the series in 1999–2000, which was then published in English in 2004. A parody spin-off original net animation (ONA) series, Infinite Ryvius: Illusion, was released in 2000.^[2]

Plot

See also: List of Infinite Ryvius characters

In the year AD 2225, mankind has expanded from Earth to inhabit nearly all the planets and nearby moons in colonies and settlements. Space travel has advanced to the point of being commonplace; for the inhabitants of the Solar System, becoming an astronaut is a realistic career path. One of the schools established to train future space voyagers is the Liebe Delta, a space station positioned in Earth's orbit. This progress exists despite the Geduld, a mysterious sea of plasma that erupted from the sun along Earth's orbital plane in AD 2137. Stretching from the sun to the edge of the solar system, this phenomenon of high temperatures and gravity pressures remains unexplained.

Kouji Aiba, a sixteen-year-old boy, leaves his home on Earth to attend the Liebe Delta and train for his Level 2 piloting license, traveling alongside his childhood friend, Aoi Housen, who unexpectedly reveals her enrollment in the station's flight attendant program and informs him that his younger brother, Yuki, will also be joining the same flight class.

The students and teaching staff on the Liebe Delta lead normal lives, focused on their studies and daily routines. They even have a vacation period, called the Dive Break, during which the space station approaches the Geduld for system maintenance. Out of approximately 1,000 students, about 500 remain onboard during the break. Unknown to everyone, the space station is sabotaged by a gas attack during a routine dive, leaving most of the staff unconscious. The Liebe Delta begins free falling into the depths of the Geduld Sea, where the intense gravitational pressures threaten to crush the station and kill everyone aboard. The remaining instructors sacrifice their lives to save the students, but their efforts fail. Just as the station teeters on the edge of collapse, a hidden ship called the RYVIUS activates and surfaces from the Geduld Sea, rescuing the surviving students aboard the Liebe Delta.

Now stranded in space and abandoned by humanity's governments, the students aboard the RYVIUS must navigate their new reality. As anger, fear, and tension grow among the crew, Kouji struggles to maintain order and unity. He faces personal challenges (including clashes with his brother Yuki), his complicated feelings for the Uranian aristocrat Fina S. Shinozaki, the task of avoiding Aoi, and the mysterious appearance of a girl in pink wandering the halls. As the situation worsens, Kouji must determine whether he can guide the RYVIUS to safety or if he will lose everything he holds dear.

Vaia ships

The Vaia ships are said to be crucial to mankind's survival, despite their effect on those exposed to them for long enough, which results in a major mental breakdown as seen with the Blue Impulse's captain after losing the battle with the Ryvius. It was mentioned that there were six Vaia ships, which took several hundred thousand trained astronauts entering into the Geduld to capture, formulate, and secure Vaia for the ships. This was done to protect humanity from another Geduld phenomenon, as the Vital Guarders' gravitational warping effects could block the advancing Geduld phenomenon.

• Black Ryvius (Referred to as the "Brattica" by those who seek to take it.) The primary setting of the rest of the series after the destruction of the Liebe Delta, and the target of the Orbital Security Bureau. The Ryvius is one of two Vaia ships whose Sphixs have been manifested, but it is also the only one with a humanized one, Neya. The other ship is stripped of any humanity but the desire to kill Neya. Vital Guarder - Einvalt, a giant humanoid-like mecha deployed from the lift ship housed in the front of the Ryvius, has the power to control gravitational forces, similar to the others, but has much stronger localized control of the gravity waves it creates (mainly from its hands).
• Blue Impulse The first Vaia ship to be a technical casualty to the Ryvius. Vital Guarder - Vertical Drill, a powerful Vital Guarder capable of plowing through large masses using a robust gravitational field projected around the main drill arm, which spins with tremendous force.
• Crimson Dicastia Crewed exclusively by women. The Dicastia boasts the most significant output of gravitational force, using smaller pods wired together. Vital Guarder - Eysfina, the pod chain system, is used to generate an entrapping gravity field.
• Grey Gespenst Conrad Vicuss's Vaia ship, most akin to the Ryvius. Vital Guarder - Geist, a humanoid body-fixed Vital Guarder with tremendous gravitational force power.

After an intensely fierce battle and the loss of his Vital Guarder, Conrad Vicuss took his own life, marking the end of the war between the Orbital Security Bureau and the crew of the Ryvius.

Themes and Symbols

Infinite Ryvius explores complex themes and symbolism:

• **Responsibility:** With the absence of adult guidance, the children are forced to take responsibility for difficult decisions.
• **Loss of Innocence:** The burden of responsibility and adult situations lead to a premature loss of innocence for the children.
• **Politics:** The shifting political power structure aboard the ship reflects real-world politics.

Episodes

Note: (注, Chū, The titles given by Bandai Entertainment sometimes differ from literal translations; the Bandai-given titles appear in parentheses.)

Episode List

Episode	Title
1	A Time That Should Come (きたるべきとき, Kitarubeki Toki)
2	Unnecessary Things (よけいなこと, Yokei na Koto)
3	Crossing the Ocean (うなばらをこえて, Unabara o Koete) (Beyond the Vast Sea)
4	Ring Of Ryvius (リヴァイアスのわ, Rivaiasu no Wa)
5	A Small Settlement (ちいさなまとまり, Chiisana Matomari) (A Little Harmony)
6	My Moment (ぼくのせつな, Boku no Setsuna)
7	The Changing Times (かわりゆくとき, Kawari-Yuku Toki)
8	We Didn't Know Anything (なにもしらなかった, Nanimo Shiranakatta)
9	Vital Guarder (ヴァイタル・ガーダー, Vaitaru Gādā)
10	Even if it's Unbelievable (しんじられなくても, Shinjirarenakutemo, or Even If You Can't Believe)
11	After the Festival (まつりのあと, Matsuri no Ato, or When the Party's Over)
12	Whereabouts of the Future (みらいのありか, Mirai no Arika)
13	We Can Only Touch Each Other (ふれあうことしか, Fureau Koto Shika, or If Only to Meet)
14	Overly Conscious (いしきしすぎ, Ishiki Shisugi, or To Be Too Conscious)
15	As if We Were Set Adrift (ながされるままに, Nagasareru Mama ni, or Swept Away)
16	Distorted World (ゆがむせかい, Yugamu Sekai, or Deforming World)
17	Free Order (じゆうのちつじょ, Jiyū no Chitsujo)
18	We Didn't Understand (わかりあえない, Wakariaenai, or Incomprehensible)
19	Smiling With You (えがおできみと, Egao de Kimi to)
20	Things You Can't Give Up (ゆずれないもの, Yuzurenai Mono)
21	We Don't Need Tomorrow (あしたなんかいらない, Ashita Nanka Iranai)
22	For the Sake of Surviving (いきのこるために, Ikinokoru Tame ni, or In Order To Survive)
23	The Torn-Off Past (ちぎれたかこ, Chigireta Kako)
24	Kōji Aiba (あいばこうじ, Aiba Kōji)
25	For the Sake Of Being Myself (おれであるために, Ore de Aru Tame ni, or In Order To Be Me)
26	Tomorrow (あした, Ashita)

Manga

A companion manga was released in Japan in 1999–2000. Created by Shinsuke Kurihashi and published by MediaWorks Publishing, the manga details the voyage of the Ryvius from the character viewpoints of Aoi Housen, and to a lesser extent, her roommates Kozue Izumi and Reiko Ichikawa. This is in contrast to the anime, which is seen through the eyes of the Aiba brothers, Ikumi Oze, and other mostly male characters. As such, the manga does not follow the anime "to the letter" but provides episodes and plotlines previously unseen.

The English-language rights to the Ryvius manga were acquired by ComicsOne, and the first volume of the English version, covering anime episodes 1–13, was released in October 2004. The second and final volume, covering the remainder of the series, was expected to be released in January 2005. After ComicsOne was taken over by DrMaster, Volume 2 of the Infinite Ryvius manga was delayed. It was finally released under the new DrMaster label in May 2005.

Soundtracks

Infinite Ryvius Original Soundtrack 1

• VICL-60485
• Release Date: December 16, 1999

1. "Dis (Club Mix version)" by Mika Arisaka
2. "Nani mo Shiranakutemo" (なにもしらなくても, "Unaware of Anything")
3. "Boku no Setsuna" (ぼくのせつな, "My Moment")
4. "Revise Us"
5. "Nowhere"
6. "Mishiranu Mono" (みしらぬもの, "The Unknown")
7. "Kokoro no Sukima" (こころのすきま, "Void in the Heart")
8. "Kuzureyuku Mono" (くずれゆくもの, "What is Decaying")
9. "Easy Living"
10. "Kobore Ochite" (こぼれおちて, "Dropping Out")
11. "Yume o Sugitemo (Remix version)" (夢を過ぎても, "Even After Dreaming") by Mika Arisaka
12. "Communication"
13. "Almost Blue"
14. "Ikinobiru Kanata" (いきのびるかなた, "Beyond Survival")
15. "Faint Hope"
16. "Maemuki ni" (まえむきに, "In A Positive Mood")
17. "Cool!"
18. "Dis (English version)" by Mika Arisaka
19. "Yume o Sugitemo" (夢を過ぎても, "Even After Dreaming") by Mika Arisaka
20. "Dis" (Instrumental)
21. "Yume o Sugitemo" (夢を過ぎても, "Even After Dreaming") (Instrumental)

Infinite Ryvius Original Soundtrack 2

Infinite RYVIUS Original Soundtrack 2

• VICL-60486
• Release Date: 1 March 2000

1. "Harakunaru Sasayaki" (はるかなるささやき, "Distancing Whisper")
2. "Nani mo Shiranakutemo" (なにもしらなくても, "Unaware of Anything")
3. "Toge" (棘(トゲ), "Thorn"); performed by Mika Arisaka
4. "Mukai Aumono" (むかいあうもの, "Face To Face")
5. "Genjitsuto no Haza made" (げんじつとのはざまで, "Until Reality Shows Its Face")
6. "Kokoro no Kakera" (こころのかけら, "Fragments of the Heart")
7. "Itoshi sa no Nakade" (いとしさのなかで, "Into Beauty")
8. "Hayaru Kokoro" (はやるこころ, "Thriving Heart")
9. "Utsutsu Narumono" (うつつなるもの, "Taking Revenge")
10. "Tawamurete" (たわむれて, "Flirting")
11. "Mitsumete" (みつめて, "Watching")
12. "Shinjirarerumono wa" (しんじられるものは, "Of Disbelief")
13. "Yume o Sugitemo" (ゆめをすぎても, "Even After Dreaming")
14. "Mirai e no Ippo" (みらいへのいっぽ, "A Step Towards the Future")
15. "Aragaenumama" (あらがえぬまま)
16. "Sasurai Tsuzukete" (さすらいつづけて, "Continued Wandering")
17. "Tsumugareta Fuan" (つむがれたふあん, "Spun Anxiety")
18. "Ketsui to Koudou to" (けついとこうどうと, "Decision and Action")
19. "Todoketai Kokoro" (とどけたいこころ, "Undeliverable Heart")
20. "Shinkirou no You ni" (しんきろうのように, "Like A Mirage")
21. "Ashita ga Arukara" (あしたがあるから, "Because There Will Be Tomorrow")
22. "Yamikara no Hohoemi" (やみからのほほえみ, "Smile From The Shadows")
23. "Shiritakattakoto" (しりたかったこと, "Things I Wanted to Know")
24. "Yume o Sugimoto" (夢を過ぎても, "Even After Dreaming"); performed by Mika Arisaka
25. "Todoketai Kokoro" (とどけたいこころ, "Undeliverable Heart"); Reggae Phil Mix
26. H (Mega Mix)

Infinite Ryvius Original Soundtrack 3

• VICL-60487
• Release Date: 23 March 2000

1. M.I.D. ANTHEM
2. DIS~ (Song Bird Mix; performed by Mika Arisaka)
3. BLUE WRECKAGE (performed by Noriko)
4. CODE-026
5. aoi tori no yukue (performed by Mika Arisaka)
6. menterae
7. GOING (performed by Kaori)
8. JUST (Interlude)
9. THE NEPHILIMS (performed by Afrika Bambaataa)
10. kanashiki hyouryuu (performed by DJ MA$A)
11. SEE THE LIGHT (performed by Smooth Bee and his family)
12. tobira (performed by DJ MA$A)
13. GENERATION WAR
14. ENVIOUS
15. DIS~ (Terra Mix; performed by Mika Arisaka)

Reception

In 2000, Infinite Ryvius won an award for Best TV Animation at the fifth Animation Kobe.^[3]

References

1. "Sentai Filmworks Adds Sacred Seven, The Big O, Kurokami, More". Anime News Network. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
2. "リヴァイアスイリュージョン その". Infinite Ryvius (Official Site) (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
3. "ANIME NEWS SERVICE – NOVEMBER 29 – DECEMBER 1 ANIME NEWS". 2000-12-01. Archived from the original on 2007-02-05. Retrieved 2020-01-02.

External links

• Sunrise's Official Infinite Ryvius Page (in Japanese)
• Future Without Limits: Infinite Ryvius: The most comprehensive English-language IR website.
• Infinite Ryvius (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia