Etymology[]
English title[]
Contrary to most reference websites, Claymore, not クレイモア (Kureimoa), is the official and original title to the manga series. クレイモア is not found on the copyright page of any Shueisha tankōbon volume, only Claymore. The copyrighted title is stylized in all capital letters (CLAYMORE).[1]
History[]
Claymore is atypical in that its title is not a translation (meaning for meaning), transliteration (letter for letter) or transcription (sound for sound) of a Japanese title, such as Berserk (ベルセルク Beruseruku).
Claymore is an English word and is neither rōmaji nor a transliteration of クレイモア, which serves only as the superscripted part of the Claymore logo for the Japan and US editions. The rōmaji for クレイモア is Kureimoa.
Historically, "claymore" itself is an anglicized transcription of the Scottish Gaelic claidheamh mor (great sword).[2]
Claymore logo[]
Several Celtic rock groups named "Claymore" use a variety of Gothic-like fonts for their "Claymore" logo, resulting in similar designs to those used for various language editions of Claymore.
Description[]
A manga series drawn and written by Norihiro Yagi.
Anime series is based on the manga. Anime begins diverging from the manga from Anime Scene 20 onward. Last two anime episodes have an original storyline not found in the manga.
In both the manga and anime series, chapters and episodes are called "scenes." Most manga scenes and all anime scenes begin with a cold open or teaser. Yagi began the use of the cold open with his first one-shot manga, Undeadman, which also had an original English title and presages Claymore, where the cold open and an English language title appears a decade later.[3]
Genre[]
Usually described as Shounen and sometimes Shōjo. Actually a synthesis of Sword and Sorcery, Superhero, Science Fiction and Dark Fantasy. Often criticized or praised as being "un-manga"-like.
Premise[]
On a cross-shaped island, a mysterious Organization, seeking weapons of mass destruction for use on the mainland, experiments with monsters called Yoma, who prey on humans.[4]
To finance their activities, the Organization runs a protection scheme, where female half-Yoma warriors, called "Claymores" by the public, suppress Yoma for a fee.
Series starts with warrior No. 47, Clare, who saves a young boy, Raki, from a Yoma in Doga village.[5] Series climaxes with a Claymore Rebellion at Organization Headquarters.[6]
The dilemma of Teresa, Clare and other Claymores is similar to Arthur's in T.H. White's The Once and Future King (1958): "The central theme is an exploration of human nature regarding power and justice, as the boy Arthur becomes king and attempts to quell the prevalent "might makes right" attitude with his idea of chivalry. But in the end, even chivalry comes undone since its justice is maintained by force."[7]
Literary origins[]
See Literary origins.
Additional details[]
- "Norihiro Yagi" can be translated as "Christopher Capricorn" in English
References[]
Tankōbon Claymore volumes cited are VIZ Media (en-us) editions, unless otherwise noted. Manga scenes (chapters) not yet translated cite Shueisha tankōbon (ja) editions. Manga scenes not yet published in tankōbon form cite Jump SQ (ja) editions. Fragments of Silver Omnibus (総集編 銀の断章 Gin no Danshou) 1–3, Shueisha, are only available in Japanese. Anime scenes (episodes) cited are FUNimation (en-us) editions, unless otherwise noted.
All items (201)
-
- Anime Scene 1
- Anime Scene 10
- Anime Scene 11
- Anime Scene 12
- Anime Scene 13
- Anime Scene 14
- Anime Scene 15
- Anime Scene 16
- Anime Scene 17
- Anime Scene 18
- Anime Scene 19
- Anime Scene 2
- Anime Scene 20
- Anime Scene 21
- Anime Scene 22
- Anime Scene 23
- Anime Scene 24
- Anime Scene 25
- Anime Scene 26
- Anime Scene 3
- Anime Scene 4
- Anime Scene 5
- Anime Scene 6
- Anime Scene 7
- Anime Scene 8
- Anime Scene 9
- Scene 1
- Scene 10
- Scene 100
- Scene 101
- Scene 102
- Scene 103
- Scene 104
- Scene 105
- Scene 106
- Scene 107
- Scene 108
- Scene 109
- Scene 11
- Scene 110
- Scene 111
- Scene 112
- Scene 113
- Scene 114
- Scene 115
- Scene 116
- Scene 117
- Scene 118
- Scene 119
- Scene 12
- Scene 120
- Scene 121
- Scene 122
- Scene 123
- Scene 124
- Scene 125
- Scene 126
- Scene 127
- Scene 128
- Scene 129
- Scene 13
- Scene 130
- Scene 131
- Scene 132
- Scene 133
- Scene 134
- Scene 135
- Scene 136
- Scene 137
- Scene 138
- Scene 139
- Scene 14
- Scene 140
- Scene 15
- Scene 16
- Scene 17
- Scene 18
- Scene 19
- Scene 2
- Scene 20
- Scene 21
- Scene 22
- Scene 23
- Scene 24
- Scene 25
- Scene 26
- Scene 27
- Scene 28
- Scene 29
- Scene 3
- Scene 30
- Scene 32
- Scene 33
- Scene 34
- Scene 35
- Scene 36
- Scene 37
- Scene 38
- Scene 39
- Scene 4
- Scene 40
- Scene 41
- Scene 42
- Scene 43
- Scene 44
- Scene 45
- Scene 46
- Scene 47
- Scene 48
- Scene 49
- Scene 5
- Scene 50
- Scene 51
- Scene 52
- Scene 53
- Scene 54
- Scene 55
- Scene 56
- Scene 57
- Scene 58
- Scene 59
- Scene 6
- Scene 60
- Scene 61
- Scene 62
- Scene 63
- Scene 64
- Scene 65
- Scene 66
- Scene 67
- Scene 68
- Scene 69
- Scene 7
- Scene 70
- Scene 71
- Scene 72
- Scene 73
- Scene 74
- Scene 75
- Scene 76
- Scene 77
- Scene 78
- Scene 79
- Scene 8
- Scene 80
- Scene 81
- Scene 82
- Scene 83
- Scene 84
- Scene 85
- Scene 86
- Scene 87
- Scene 88
- Scene 89
- Scene 9
- Scene 90
- Scene 91
- Scene 92
- Scene 93
- Scene 94
- Scene 95
- Scene 96
- Scene 97
- Scene 98
- Scene 99
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- Special Scene