introduction
The Fable: The legendary hitman returns in anime form!
Hello everyone!
The Fable, also known as Fable: The Killer Who Doesn’t Kill.
In April 2024, this legendary hitman will finally be adapted into an anime!
Fable is a man who tries to leave behind his life as a hitman and live a normal life.
However, his past doesn’t let him go that easily.
Action, comedy, and romance.
The Fable is a roller coaster ride of a story that has it all.
You’re sure to be drawn into Fable’s turbulent life!
New to The Fable?
Don’t worry, this blog post will tell you everything you need to know.
From information about the original manga to the highlights of the anime and the charm of Fable.
Welcome to the world of The Fable!
Let’s enjoy Fable’s new journey together!
Official website and official X
Broadcast Information
- TV.
- From April 6, 2024 (Sat.) at 24:55,
- Nationwide broadcast on Nippon Television Network Corporation
- Distribution Information
- All episodes available on Disney Plus Exclusive
What is The Fable?
“The Fable” is a Japanese manga series written by Katsuhisa Minami. It began serialization in “Weekly Young Magazine” in 2014 and has since been compiled into several volumes.
The story blends action and comedy, revolving around the life of a legendary hitman known as “The Fable.”
This hitman, under unusual circumstances, is tasked with the nearly impossible mission of living an ordinary life for a year without killing anyone.
The synopsis
The protagonist is a professional assassin who, due to certain circumstances, is given the mission to “live an ordinary life without killing anyone for one year.”
His name as a hitman is “The Fable.” For this mission, he assumes the fake identity of “Akira Sato” and starts living in Osaka with Yoko (who is actually his partner) as his sister.
Despite their efforts to lead a normal life, their past and abilities as assassins gradually attract various troubles.
The story depicts Akira (The Fable)’s interactions with the people he meets in his new life, his inner conflicts, and his inevitable confrontations with the world of violence.
This journey showcases his personal growth and the deepening of his humanity. While the action scenes are thrilling,
the series also incorporates comical elements and a warm human drama, offering readers a diverse array of charms.
“The Fable” is acclaimed for transcending the typical action manga genre, presenting a tale of the protagonist’s and his acquaintances’ growth, along with a universal human drama. The unique sense of humor is also a significant feature of the series.
introductions to the main characters
Akira Satō (佐藤 明, Satō Akira)
The protagonist of the story, a legendary assassin. Due to a specific mission, he starts living an ordinary life under the alias “Akira Sato.”
He’s calm and composed, capable of handling any situation without panicking but is somewhat naive about normal social life.
Yōko Satō (佐藤 洋子, Satō Yōko)
Akira’s partner, also a professional assassin. Unlike Akira, she adapts more easily to social life, though her impulsive nature sometimes leads to trouble. She acts as Akira’s “sister” in their undercover life.
Misaki Shimizu (清水 岬, Shimizu Misaki)
A neighbor of Akira and Yoko in their apartment complex, who becomes friends with them. She’s an ordinary person, unaware of their true identities, and interacts with them without knowing their secrets.
Boss (ボス, Bosu)
The head of the organization to which Akira and Yoko belong. He assigned Akira the mission to “live an ordinary life.” His true intentions are shrouded in mystery.
These characters add color to the story, intertwining action, comedy, and human drama. The backgrounds of each character and the various challenges they face bring depth and appeal to the narrative.
highlights
“The Fable” offers a wide array of highlights, but here are some key points to look out for:
- The Thrill and Comedy of a Double Life: The unique premise of a legendary hitman attempting to lead a normal life masterfully blends thrilling action scenes with comical troubles in daily life. The humor arising from interactions with ordinary people and the challenges of adapting to societal norms provide fresh laughs for the readers.
- Character Development and Relationships: The internal conflicts and growth of characters, including the protagonist, are deeply portrayed, offering a human drama that transcends mere action manga. The relationships between Akira, Yoko, and the people they interact with captivate readers throughout the story.
- Tense Action Sequences: “The Fable” is renowned for its gripping action scenes, showcasing the characters’ complex pasts intertwined with their present and displaying their advanced combat skills and strategies vividly.
- Mystery and Suspense: The narrative is peppered with mysteries, such as the intentions behind the organization’s mission for Akira to lead a “normal life” and the hidden pasts of the characters. The gradual unveiling of these mysteries creates a strong sense of suspense that draws readers in.
- A Satirical View of Society: At times, “The Fable” offers sharp satire on the difficulties of living an ordinary life and the complexities of human relationships within society. This perspective adds depth to the story and provides thought-provoking elements for the readers.
By combining these elements, “The Fable” transcends mere entertainment, offering readers a multifaceted appeal that enriches the reading experience.
Style and Theme
The style and themes of “The Fable” can be characterized as follows:
Style
- Fusion of Action and Comedy: “The Fable” masterfully blends tense action scenes with light-hearted comedic elements. The story of a protagonist with exceptional skills as an assassin attempting to live an ordinary life interweaves serious situations with humorous everyday moments.
- Detailed Character Portrayal: The drama created by the characters, each with their unique personalities, delves deeply into their pasts, motivations, and internal conflicts, encouraging readers to empathize with them.
Themes
- Identity and Self-Exploration: A significant theme is the protagonist’s search for identity and a way of life while attempting to live as an “ordinary person.” The fluctuation between his identity as an assassin and as a member of society generates a profound human drama.
- Engagement with Society: Through the protagonists’ quest for a normal life, the story explores an individual’s place and relationships within society and the universal issues of human connections. The warmth and conflicts arising from connections with others are portrayed throughout the narrative.
- Justice and Morality: The protagonists’ efforts to live like ordinary people, despite their socially unacceptable roles as assassins, raise questions about justice and morality. Their actions and choices prompt readers to consider the meanings behind them and where the lines between right and wrong are drawn.
“The Fable” weaves these styles and themes together skillfully, elevating it beyond mere entertainment to a work of depth and complexity that is highly regarded.
Domestic Evaluation
The manga “The Fable” has been serialized in Kodansha’s seinen manga magazine “Young Magazine” since 2014, and has sold over 8.5 million copies, making it a popular work.
It has received very high evaluation in Japan, and has won the following awards:
- 2017: 62nd Shogakukan Manga Award, General Category
- 2018: 42nd Kodansha Manga Award, Shonen Category
- 2019: Takarajimasha “This Manga is Amazing!” 2019 Men’s Edition 1st Place
It has also received very positive feedback from readers, with many of the following opinions:
- Story:
- The story is well-developed and unpredictable, making it interesting.
- The action scenes are full impact.
- It is also funny, with many comedic scenes despite being about a hitman.
- Characters:
- The characters are all very unique and charming, especially the protagonist Fable.
- The past and struggles of each character are carefully depicted.
- Art:
- The art is stylish and cool.
- The action scenes are easy to follow.
Here are some specific comments from readers:
- “It’s so interesting! The story, characters, and art are all perfect.”
- “I like that it has a lot of heartwarming scenes even though it’s about a hitman.”
- “I felt a sense of empathy with Fable’s way of life. I want to be strong like him.”
As you can see, the manga “The Fable” is a highly acclaimed work in Japan.
If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it!
Staff and Cast
The Fable Anime Cast
- Akira Sato: Kazuyuki Okitsu
- Yoko Sato: Miyuki Sawashiro
- Misaki Shimizu: Kana Hanazawa
- Goishi Ebihara: Akio Otsuka
- Kenji Kojima: Kenjiro Tsuda
- Boss: Tetsuo Kanao
- Jackal Tomioka: Jun Fukushima
- Hiroshi Hamada: Koji Ishii
- Ryo Kuroshio: Ryota Iwasaki
- Katsuya Takahashi: Yudai Mino
- Soichi Sunakawa: Kojiro Takahashi
- Matsu: Kiyomitsu Mizuuchi
- Kenjiro Tatata: Takeharu Onishi
- Etsuji Bainuma: Takumi Asahina
- Master: Kazuya Ichijo
- Yuuki Kawai: Yuki Kaji
The Fable Anime Staff
- Original Work: Katsuhisa Minami “The Fable” (Published in Kodansha’s “Young Magazine”)
- Director: Ryosuke Takahashi
- Series Composition: Yuya Takahashi
- Script: Yuya Takahashi, Mayumi Morita
- Character Design: Hisama Oshita, Saki Hasegawa, Junichi Hayama
- Animation Production: Tezuka Productions
Conclusion
What did you think?
The Fable is a roller coaster ride of a story that combines action, comedy, and drama.
With its unique characters, unpredictable plot twists, and exciting action scenes, you won’t be able to put it down once you start reading!
If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend picking it up now.
You’re sure to become a fan of Fable!
I’m also looking forward to the anime adaptation of The Fable!
I think it will be a work filled with different charms from the manga.
I can’t wait for it to start broadcasting!
Finally, I hope this blog post has been helpful to you in some way.
Thank you for reading!
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