Miss Kuroitsu from the Monster Development Department

Miss Kuroitsu from the Monster Development Department (怪人開発部の黒井津さん, Kaijin Kaihatsubu no Kuroitsu-san, "Kuroitsu-san in the Superhuman Research & Development Department") is a Japanese comedy manga series written and illustrated by Hiroaki Mizusaki. It has been serialized online via Flex Comix's Comic Meteor website since April 2019 and has been collected in ten tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation by Quad aired from January to April 2022 on ABC and TV Asahi's Animazing!!! programming block.

Plot

Throughout Japan, there are both evil secret organizations that seek to conquer the world, and superheroes who rise up to challenge them. One such evil organization, Agastia, operates out of a base hidden underneath a front company headquartered somewhere in Tokyo. Agastia's attempts to conquer the world are often thwarted by the superhero Divine Swordsman Blader. This story focuses on Miss Kuroitsu, an assistant in Agastia's Monster Development Department, responsible for creating a monster powerful enough to defeat Blader once and for all. However, this organization operates like any large corporation, as Kuroitsu and her Department are forced to fight for resources and funding with other Departments in the organization, make proposals to the board to justify their costs, or deal with their leader's whims forcing them to redo their designs at the last minute.

Characters

Tōka Kuroitsu (黒井津 燈香, Kuroitsu Tōka)

The titular Miss Kuroitsu, an assistant for the evil secret society Agastia's Monster Development Department, who finds herself forced to balance the outrageous and sometimes contradictory demands of her superiors as she tries to create monsters to fight against Agastia's enemies.

Doctor Hajime Sadamaki (佐田巻博士, Sadamaki Hakase)

Kuroitsu's superior, an intelligent professor who usually wears a high-tech visor over his eyes. However, his laid-back demeanor often interferes with his work, forcing Kuroitsu to fix issues that arise. It is later revealed that Hajime is the older brother of Kenji, but neither one knows about the other's secret identity.

Wolf Bete (ウルフ・ベート, Urufu Bēto)

A wolfman whose body was abruptly changed to a feminine form before completion after Akashic demanded Bete be "cuter". Bete still identifies as male despite the confusion this causes with coworkers. After surviving his initial battle with Blader, Bete was transferred into the Monster Development Department as another assistant.

Megistus (メギストス, Megisutosu)

The Chief of Staff for Agastia whose menacing appearance hides a pragmatic temperament. He often works overtime to keep Agastia running smoothly, and is not afraid to go against Akashic when necessary.

Akashic (アカシック, Akashikku)

The leader of Agastia, a small girl with a flighty personality who secretly wields immense strength.

Kenji Sadamaki (佐田巻 健司, Sadamaki Kenji)

A 22-year-old convenience store worker who is secretly the superhero Divine Swordsman Blader that Agastia is fighting against. He has a crush on Kuroitsu, as she is a frequent guest at his shop, but is unaware of her real job. Later revealed to be the younger brother of Doctor Sadamaki, but neither sibling is aware of the other's secret identity.

Immortal Camula (カミュラ, Kamyura)

A seemingly-immortal vampire lady known as the "Pluripotent Cellular Executive" of Agastia. She takes pride in her work and ability to audit the departments underneath her. Outside of work, she is a secretly a big fan of a certain idol group.

Cannon Thunderbird (カノン・サンダーバード, Kanon Sandābādo)

^[2]

Conceptualized by Kuroitsu as a giant bird-themed mech with railguns and thunder-strike abilities, the organization's various departments scaled down his design until he finally released as a large, rotund yellow bird with a robotic visor over one eye. He works as a mascot at an amusement park that serves as an Agastia front, but retains his skill with firearms and the ability to summon lightning storms.

Hydra (ヒュドラ, Hyudora)

Originally designed as a monster with regenerating abilities and eight extra heads that spit venom, time and budget restraints resulted in a blue-haired humanoid girl with four heads sprouting from her back that she refers to as her sisters. In addition, each head has a separate personality and they often bicker with each other.

Karen Mizuki (水木香恋, Mizuki Karen)

A contract worker from a rural part of Japan who moved to Tokyo for work, she accidentally becomes a low-level henchman for different villains under Matsuyama.

Heiki Matsuyama (松山平気, Matsuyama Heiki)

^[3]

A foreman for the "Death Staff Temp Agency" who supplies different evil organizations in Japan with low-level henchmen.

Reo Shikishima (式島怜央, Shikishima Reo) / Magia Rose (マギアローゼ, Magia Rōze)

^[4]

One half of the licensed Magical Girls: Pilia Magia duo. An incredibly short-tempered middle-school girl.

Yūto Higatani (賀谷雄杜, Higatani Yūto) / Magia Zwart (マギアズワルト, Magia Zuwaruto)

One half of the licensed Magical Girls: Pilia Magia duo. A taller boy who is Reo's classmate, his Magical Girl body is that of a slightly shorter girl but with larger breasts than Reo, making her jealous.

Koharu Hōen (峰円小春, Hōen Koharu)

(English)

Sadamaki's former classmate who runs the Monster Development Department for Black Lore.

Elbakki (エルバッキー, Erubakkī)

Hoen's assistant who enjoys teasing Wolf Bete whenever they meet.

Melty (メルティ, Meruti)

A monster composed of homemade chocolate in hopes of creating a Valentine's Day themed monster to fight Blader, but was abruptly cancelled when her source material was subject to a recall. However, the Monster Development Department kept Melty's design and brings her out on various occasions.

Red Mantle General (赤マント将軍, Aka Manto Shōgun)

^[5]

A middle-manager working for Black Lore, carrying out his leader's wishes. After being hit by Bull Head's psychic attack, he immediately quit the company.

Great Leader Kaiser Lore (総帥カイザーロアじる, Sōsui Kaizā Roajiru)

^[5]

The leader of the evil organization Black Lore

Media

Manga

Miss Kuroitsu from the Monster Development Department is written and illustrated by Hiroaki Mizusaki. A one-shot was first published on Flex Comix's Comic Meteor website on April 17, 2019.^[6] A full serialization began on the same platform on October 7, 2020.^[7]

Anime

In July 2021, an anime adaptation was announced by Flex Comix.^[1] It was later revealed to be a television series produced by Quad and directed by Hisashi Saitō, with Katsuhiko Takayama overseeing the series' scripts, Kazuya Morimae designing the characters, and manzo composing the music.^[8] It aired from January 9 to April 3, 2022, on ABC and TV Asahi's Animazing!!! programming block.^[a] AXXX1S performed the opening theme song "Special force", while Maybe Me performed the ending theme songs "Aimai Identity" and "Destiny".^[9][10] Crunchyroll licensed the series outside of Asia.^[11] Medialink licensed the series in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Oceania minus Australia and New Zealand.^[12]

Each episode features appearances by one or more local heroes alongside narration provided by a tokusatsu actor.

Notes

1. ^ ABC lists the series premiere at 26:00 on January 8, 2022, which is effectively 2:00 a.m. JST on January 9.

References

1. ^ "Kaijin Kaihatsubu no Kuroitsu-san Villain Comedy Manga Gets Anime". Anime News Network. July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
2. ^ "Miss Kuroitsu From the Monster Development Department Anime Reveals Cast, Insert Song, 1st Promo Video". Anime News Network. December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
3. ^ "Miss Kuroitsu From the Monster Development Department Anime Reveals Cast for Original Characters, Narrator for Episode 2". Anime News Network. January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
4. ^ "Miss Kuroitsu From the Monster Development Department Anime Casts Yukari Tamura, Yui Horie". Anime News Network. January 26, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
5. ^ "Miss Kuroitsu From the Monster Development Department Anime Reveals 3 Cast Members". Anime News Network. February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
6. ^ "正義と悪の戦いの裏で奔走…悪の組織で怪人開発する女性のお仕事コメディ" (in Japanese). Natalie. April 17, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
7. ^ "悪の組織で怪人開発に奮闘する企業戦士のコメディ「怪人開発部の黒井津さん」" (in Japanese). Natalie. October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
8. ^ "アニメ「怪人開発部の黒井津さん」佐田巻博士役に梅原裕一郎、キービジュアルも" (in Japanese). Natalie. November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
9. ^ "Miss Kuroitsu From the Monster Development Department Anime's Teaser Reveals Cast, Staff, January 8 TV Debut". Anime News Network. October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
10. ^ "Miss Kuroitsu From the Monster Development Department Anime Adds Yuichiro Umehara to Cast". Anime News Network. November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
11. ^ Cardine, Kyle (December 21, 2021). "Crunchyroll Announces Winter 2022 Lineup!". Crunchyroll. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
12. ^ "📍 Medialink January Line-Up Simulcast on Ani-One 😈《Miss KUROITSU from the Monster Development Department》is coming to Ani-One!". Facebook. December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.

External links

• Manga official website (in Japanese)
• Anime official website (in Japanese)