Freezing

Freezing (Japanese: フリージング Hepburn: Furījingu^?) is a Japanese manga written by Dall-Young Lim and illustrated by Kwang-Hyun Kim.^[4] The former is the author of Black God, Unbalance Unbalance, Zero, and Aflame Inferno (which the latter had illustrated). The series revolves around the invasion of Earth by an extraterrestrial force called the Nova, and a special force of genetically engineered young women called Pandoras, and their male partners, called Limiters, who are created to combat them. It centers on Kazuya Aoi, a Limiter whose late sister was a Pandora, and Satellizer el Bridget, a Pandora with a cold personality who is known as the "Untouchable Queen" due to her intense aphephobia. Both enrolled at West Genetics Academy, a training school for Pandoras and Limiters.
Freezing began serialization in Kill Time Communication's seinen manga magazine Comic Valkyrie in its March 2007 issue.^[5] The first collected volume was released on October 17, 2010, with a total of seventeen volumes sold in Japan as of January 29, 2013 under its Valkyrie Comics imprint. On August 12, 2010, an anime adaptation produced by A.C.G.T was announced,^[6] and aired twelve episodes in Japan between January and April 2011 on AT-X and other channels. The anime is licensed in North America by Funimation Entertainment, who released the series in August 2012. A second anime season titled Freezing Vibration (フリージング ヴァイブレーション Furījingu Vaiburēshon^?) premiered on October 4, 2013.^[3]
There are currently three spin-off series based on the world of Freezing being published. The first spin-off, called Freezing: First Chronicle (フリージング　ファーストクロニクル Furījingu: Fāsuto Kuronikuru^?),^[7] was serialized in Comic Valkyrie from the November 2011 issue to the March 2012 issue. The second spinoff, called Freezing: Zero (フリージングZERO Furījingu: Zero^?), began serialization in the May 2012 issue of Comic Valkyrie. A third spinoff, called Freezing Pair Love Stories (フリージング　ペアラブストーリーズ^?), began serialization in the April 2013 issue of Comic Valkyrie.^[8]

Synopsis

See also: List of Freezing characters

Set in a slightly futuristic world, Earth has been invaded and is at war with aliens from another dimension called the Nova. In order to counter them, Pandoras and Limiters, genetically modified girls with super fighting skills and their male partners who use special "freezing" powers to limit their opponent's mobility, are made to fight against the Nova. The series focuses on Kazuya Aoi, a Limiter whose late sister was a Pandora, and Satellizer el Bridget, a powerful Pandora with a cold personality, both who are enrolled at the West Genetics Academy, one of the many academies where Pandoras and Limiters are trained. In spite of the warnings of all his friends about Satellizer, who has intense aphephobia, Kazuya decides to be her friend and Limiter. They are later joined by Rana Linchen, a Pandora from Tibet in search for her Limiter who believes Kazuya to be her "soulmate", sparking a rivalry with Satellizer. The story follows Kazuya's relationship with Satellizer, the students of the Academy, and Earth's war against the Nova.

Media

Manga

Main article: List of Freezing chapters

Written by Korean manhwa author Dall-Young Lim and illustrated by Kwang-Hyun Kim, Freezing began serialization in Kill Time Communications' male-oriented Japanese manga magazine Comic Valkyrie in its March 2007 issue.^[5] The first collected bound volume was released in October 26, 2007,^[9] with a total of sixteen volumes sold in Japan as of November 2, 2012 under its Valkryie Comics imprint.^[10] Freezing is currently split into two parts: Part 1 which ran from Volume 1 to Volume 14, spanning 96 chapters; and Part 2, going from Volume 15 onwards and currently ongoing in Comic Valkyrie. Outside of Japan, Freezing is published in South Korea by Haksan Culture Company^[11] and serialized in Booking;^[12] in France by Bamboo Edition under their Doki-Doki manga imprint;^[13] and in Taiwan by Tong Li Publishing.^[14]
A spinoff manga, called Freezing: First Chronicle (フリージング　ファーストクロニクル Furījingu: Fāsuto Kuronikuru^?), illustrated by Jae-Ho Yoon (the illustrator of Lim's light novel-based manhwa The Phantom King), began serialization in the November 2011 issue of Comic Valkyrie (released on September 27, 2011),^[7][15] and ran four chapters until the March 2011 issue (released January 27, 2012).^[16] A prequel to the original series, the story centers on Chiffon Fairchild and Ticy Phenyl's first year at West Genetics prior to them becoming Student Council President and Vice President, and also explains the origin of Chiffon's title, "The Unmatched Smiling Monster". First Chronicle was later released as a tankōbon volume on February 29, 2012.^[17]
A second spinoff manga, called Freezing: Zero (フリージングZERO Furījingu: Zero^?), illustrated by Soo-Cheol Jeong (the illustrator of Lim's novel-based manhwa The Legend of Maian), began serialization in the May 2012 issue of Comic Valkyrie (published on March 27, 2012).^[18] Like First Chronicle before it, Zero is also a prequel to the original series, chronicling the back stories of many Pandoras prior to them attending Genetics. The first bound volume of Zero, centering on Kazuha Aoi's second year at West Genetics alongside Yumi and Elize, was released on August 29, 2012.^[19]
A third spinoff manga, called Freezing Pair Love Stories (フリージング　ペアラブストーリーズ^?), illustrated by So-Hee Kim, began serialization in the April 2013 issue of Comic Valkyrie.^[8]

Anime

See also: List of Freezing episodes

An anime adaptation produced by A.C.G.T aired on AT-X between January 8, 2011 and April 2, 2011. The show aired uncensored in 4:3 format on AT-X, while the airing on Tokyo MX (which began on January 9, 2011) and other channels were in 16:9 widescreen format, albeit heavily censored. Episodes 11 and 12 were pushed back due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.^[2] Six DVD and Blu-ray volumes were released by Media Factory between March 23, 2011 and August 24, 2011, each volume containing two episodes and an original video animation called It'll Explode! Heart-Pounding Trouble♥Freezing (はじけちゃう!ドキドキトラブル♥フリージング Hajikechau! Dokidoki Toraburu♥Furījingu^?), as well as other bonus material.^[20] The anime is licensed in North America by Funimation Entertainment for simulcasting (in its 16:9 censored format prior to the Elite subscription) on their video portal,^[21] Funimation later gained additional licensing rights to the series, and released the series on August 28, 2012 on DVD and Blu-ray.^[22][23] A second anime season, titled Freezing Vibration (フリージング ヴァイブレーション^?),^[24] premiered on October 4, 2013,^[3] with a promotional video being featured at the 2013 Anime Contents Expo and the show's official website.^[24] Funimation will also simulcast Vibration on their website.^[25]
The opening theme for the series is "Color" by MARiA, a cover of a song that was originally sung by the Vocaloid Hatsune Miku,^[26] while the ending theme is "To Protect You" (君を守りたい Kimi o Mamoritai^?) by Aika Kobayashi. A CD single containing the two songs was released by Media Factory on February 23, 2011.^[27] For the second season, the opening theme is "AVENGE WORLD" and the ending theme is "Embracing the world wound" (世界は疵を抱きしめる Sekai wa Kizu o Dakishimeru^?), both are performed by Konomi Suzuki.

Internet

An internet radio show called Izumi Kitta and Aya Uchida of Freezing: West Middlefield Genetics Academy!! (橘田いずみと内田彩のフリージング ウエストミドルフィールド ゼネティックス学園分校!!^?) aired six episodes on HiBiKi Radio Station between December 10, 2010 and May 13, 2011. The show is hosted by Izumi Kitta and Aya Uchida, the respective voices for Cleo Brand and Ticy Phenyl. Each radio episode features guest voices from the anime series.
An internet video show called Freezing: Genetics TV (フリージング ゼネティックスTV Furījingu Zenetikkusu Terebi^?) aired on Media Factory's official YouTube account. The show is hosted by Mamiko Noto and Kana Hanazawa, the respective voices of Satellizer el Bridget and Rana Linchen, and ran eight episodes from December 10, 2010 to March 10, 2011.

Terminology

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General

Pandora (パンドラ^?)

Girls who have been genetically modified to be able to utilize Stigmata, which endow them with incredible speed and strength. They are capable of materializing their own unique weapons called Volt Weapons (ボルトウェポン Boruto Wepon^?), made with a special material called Volt Texture (ボルトテクスチャー Boruto Tekusuchā^?) which is activated through their Stigmata. The Volt Texture heightens and improves a Pandora's senses such as hearing and eyesight, and allows them to make quick clothing changes or repair any damaged clothes. They also have the ability to regenerate lost limbs, though this shortens their lifespan due to rapid cell growth.

Limiter (リミッター Rimittā^?)

The male partner of a Pandora, whose primary role is to neutralize the freezing field emitted by a Nova so that their Pandora may attack them. Limiters also have the secondary ability to generate their own Freezing field which can be used to restrain other targets, including low-level Novas. In order to use these abilities, Limiters must be implanted with one of their Pandora's stigmata, allowing them to synchronize their senses. In order to ensure better compatibility and synchronization between Limiters and Pandoras, a Limiter is always younger in age.

Stigmata (聖痕 Seikon^?)

A special tissue created by reverse-engineering from Nova cell cultures, which gives superhuman powers to Pandoras and Limiters.^{[volume & issue needed]} Usually these tissues are implanted into the user's back, but some individuals, like the Aoi siblings, possess a high quantity of Stigmata tissue inside their bodies, giving them special abilities beyond the norm. This is known as a Stigmata Body (聖痕体 Seikontai^?). Due to the fact that Stigmata came from the Nova, there is a chance it can take over its user and turn them into a Nova as well.

Baptism (洗礼^?)

A ceremony in which a Pandora officially acknowledges a Limiter as her partner, giving him her Stigmata to be implanted and creating the bond known as an Ereinbar Set. This is usually done in the form of a First Room Invitation (初部屋入り Hatsu Heya-iri^?), where a Pandora invites her chosen Limiter to her room to perform it.

Ereinbar Set (イレインバーセット Ireinbā Setto^?)

When a Pandora and Limiter synchronize their brain waves to allow the Limiter to use his Freezing abilities and ultimately, increase their fighting strength. This can only be achieved if the pair performs a baptism.

NOVA (異次元体ノヴァ Ijigentei Nova^?, lit. "Different Dimension Form Nova", Stylized as N.O.V.A.)

Inter-dimensional aliens that are invading Earth. Usually they have attacked Earth in intervals of around eight years, but the most recent attacks have been more frequent. NOVAs appear as standard, resolver, and supreme types. They have the ability to "freeze" anything within its radius of roughly a hundred meters and only by attacking the core (which must be exposed first) can they be defeated. Novas are armed with extensible spear-like tendrils, energy shockwaves from their face, and their core can fire an extremely powerful energy beam.

Evolution Pandora (エボリューション・パンドラ Eboryūshon Pandora^?)

Also known as 'E-Pandoras, the Evolution Pandoras are candidates from the E-Pandora Project, an experimental project formulated to expand the Pandora program to people with limited Stigmata compatibility. The E-Pandoras are quite different from regular Pandoras in terms of background, being orphans, homeless girls, or child-slaves, all placed into the program as expendable subjects. After an embarrassing exhibition match involving the regular and E-Pandoras showcased the vast difference in power, the controlling administrators authorized drugging the E-Pandoras to get immediate results. The drugs raise their capabilities to normal Pandora levels, at the cost of rapidly losing control of their Stigmata, making them at best suicide soldiers.

Valkyries (ヴァルキリー Varukirī^?)

The Valkyries are second-generation Pandoras introduced in Part 2 of the manga. They are the results from the Valkyrie Project, a successor to the now-defunct E-Pandora Project who utilize artificial Stigma called Injection Stigmata, which gives them the abilities of the original Pandoras but without the dangerous side effects found on the original and E-Pandoras, such as corrosion. The Valkyries consist of Lucy Renault from France, Franka Porsche from Germany, Christine Evora from England, and Theatines Ferrari from Italy. Their leader is Ouka Tenjouin, Kazuya's maternal cousin and fiancée who goes by the alias of Honda. The Valkyries' last names are taken from their country's respective automotive manufacturers: Renault, Porsche, Lotus (in Christine's case, the Lotus Evora), Ferrari, and Honda.

Injection Stigmata

An artificial version of the Stigmata introduced in Part 2 of the manga that allows people with low compatibility rates to become Pandora. Injection Stigma can also be safely disposed of without the user suffering any side effects, thus making it easier to safely insert more of them when they run out. This, in turn, also acts as a fail-safe against corrosion, a common problem among the original Pandora that turns them into Nova Forms.

Skills and abilities

Pandora Mode (パンドラモード Pandora Mōdo^?)

A powered-up form used by higher-ranking Pandoras. In the manga, Pandora Mode takes form of a powered armored suit while in the anime, the Pandora have physical changes (silvery-white hair, yellow eyes, and blue rings around their wrists and ankles). Despite the visual differences, in both versions Pandoras in Pandora Mode gain increased strength and power as well as having the ability to move in the opponents' Freezing grid without aid from a Limiter. The Pandora's Volt Weapon also gains an upgrade while in this state, turning it into a Nova Weapon (ノヴァウェポン Nova Weapon^?) that is powerful enough to defeat low-level Novas. Also, it has been stated that Pandoras are forbidden to use Pandora Mode other than in actual combat with a Nova. Despite its advantages, the downside of Pandora Mode is that Pandoras can only maintain it for three minutes and once the time limit is over, the Pandora will return to her normal but in a severely weakened state, which leaves her vulnerable to attacks.

Accel Turn (アクセルターン Akuseru Tān^?)

One of the two High-End Skills (ハイエンドスキル Hai Endo Sukiru^?) developed by Kazuha Aoi which increases a Pandora's speed, allowing for quick evasive maneuvers and high-speed attacks. Variations include Double Accel (ダブルアクセル Daburu Akuseru^?) (with and without intervals), Triple Accel (トリプルアクセル Toripuru Akuseru^?), and Quadruple Accel (クワトロフルアクセル Kuwatorofuru Akuseru^?), which are used by higher-ranking Pandoras. Some weaknesses for the Accel Turn is that the Pandora is left open for counterattack if she is not quick enough and the lag time between turns; if a Pandora's lag time between turns is too long, she can easily be stopped by a Pandora of greater skill. Satellizer, Arnett, and Cassie are well-known users of this technique, with Cassie being the most skilled. Satellizer displayed the ability to use Quintuple Accel, a variation of the Accel Turn that far surpasses Cassie's Quadruple Accel, being able to make Tempest Turn-like copies of herself through sheer velocity. However, it is not considered a High-End Skill since she can only use it while in Nova Form. The Valkyries possess their own lagless version of Accel Turn called "Tachyon Accel".

Tempest Turn (テンペストターン Tenpesuto Tān^?)

A High-End Skill which allows a Pandora to create four copies of herself and attack simultaneously from all angles. Cleo and Ingrid, as well as Rana and Charles, are proficient users of this technique with Charles being the most advanced, being able to create up to ten copies of herself with this technique.

Illusion Turn (イリュージョンターン Iryūjon Tān^?)

A High-End Skill which increases a Pandora's speed further than Accel Turn, giving the impression that she instantly teleports from one point to another. Used by the Student Council President Chiffon Fairchild and her successor, Ticy Phenyl.

Wings of Light (光の翼 Hikari no Tsubasa^?)

A rare power displayed by very few Pandora that enhances the Pandora's abilities. By unlocking the "Holy Gates" (聖門 Seimon^?) in their Stigmata, they draw out more of their potential increasing their healing rate, and also can be used to heal others. However, as noted by Rana, it is a double-edged sword to the user's body. So far, the only known users of this skill are Rana and Satellizer.

Nova Form (ノヴァフォーム Nova Fōmu^?)

Nova Forms are Pandora/Nova human hybrids as a result of a Pandora's Stigmata going berserk, infecting and turning its host into one, or if a Pandora is assimilated by a Nova and infected with a Nova Stigmata. Nova Forms are dangerous foes due to the fact the Pandoras have no control over their bodies and are acting on their Nova instincts. Not only do they possess both skills of Pandoras and Novas (Nova-like armor, the ability to perform Freezing, and using High-End Skills), but also new skills like turning their arms into weapons and the ability to fire a high-powered energy beam. Nova Forms are the reason why there is a limit on how many Stigmatas can be implanted into a Pandora to reduce the risk of going berserk. Their existences was a highly-kept secret at Genetics until the 10th Nova Clash when the Nova assimilated a group of Pandoras and infected them with their own Stigmatas. While Nova Forms that were infected by the Nova can be returned to normal by destroying their Nova Stigmatas, those who turn into Nova Form as a result of their Stigmata going berserk are not so lucky, as they can never revert to their original form (Kazuha Aoi, for example, during the 8th Nova Clash). However, the only exception is Satellizer and Rana are the only known Pandora to have turned into a Nova Form and returned back to normal thanks to Kazuya.

Genetics and Chevalier

Genetics (ゼネティックス Zenetikkusu^?)

Special schools that train Pandoras and Limiters to combat the Nova. There are multiple Genetics branches all over the world, including two in Japan: East Genetics and West Genetics, the former being the setting of the manga and anime.

Chevalier (シュヴァリエ Shuvarie^?)

Elite Pandoras and Limiters who serve under the military. A Pandora with exceptional skills can join the Chevalier after graduating from Genetics. Their headquarters are located at the Grand Canyon, and was led by Marks Spencer. Following the 11th Nova Clash and Marks' imprisonment, he was succeeded by Howard el Bridget, Satellizer's father.

Carnival (カーニバル Kānibaru^?)

A monitored all-out battle royale event to determine Pandora ranking. Any battles conducted outside the Carnival does not count towards a Pandora's rank.

E-Pandora Project (Eパンドラ計画 Ī Pandora Keikaku^?, "E" standing for "Evolution", as in Evolution Pandora)

A project developed by Dr. Scarlett Ohara to create a new generation of Pandoras without the need to be genetically compatible to have a Stigmata implanted. The project was approved by the Chevaliers following the 10th Nova Clash and the need for more Pandoras for future Nova Clashes. However, the project is not without controversy, as throughout the globe the project is seen as human experimentation with questions on whether the process of turning a normal person into a Pandora is safe or not. It was later revealed that the E-Pandora Project was a front for Dr. Ohara's real project, which was the creation of numerous Maria Lancelot clones. The E-Pandora Project was later terminated following the events of the 11th Nova Clash at the end of Part 1 with Dr. Ohara and Marks Spencer, the then-leader of the Chevalier, imprisoned. It was later succeeded by Project Valkyrie at the beginning of Part 2 of the manga.

Project Valkyrie

A project founded by Dr. Gengo Aoi in Part 2 that serves the same purpose as the E-Pandora Project, which was to create a new generation of Pandoras without the need to be genetically compatible to have a Stigmata implanted. Unlike Dr. Ohara's project which uses inhumane methods such as the injection of performance-enhancing drugs to enhance Stigmata compatibility, the Valkyrie Project uses artificial versions of Stigmata called "Injection Stigma" (also known as the I.S. System) to produce Volt Weapons safely. Injection Stigma can also be safely disposed of without the user suffering any side effects, thus making it easier to safely insert more of them when they run out.

This project was Gengo Aoi's original project, one of six he proposed to Howard el Bridget twenty years ago, and one of two, the other being Pandora, that were supposedly the best available. Aoi originally recommended this project over Pandora, citing the dangers of the Pandora project, but el Bridget favored the Pandora Project over Project Valkyrie.