Tokyo Babylon EZ Resources Post
Sep. 14th, 2023 05:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ukoku
Hi nerds, it's Eugene.😎 Since I've been dragging my feet on finishing up Sakurazukamori.org, I've decided to infodump a stripped down version, all on one page as a links resource.🤷 I'm 100% sure I have forgotten things, and very likely have big mistakes here. I promise I'll be doing a very detailed double-check for the final website, but I apologize if anything is misleading here. Thanks for your patience in the meantime. Tokyo Babylon (東京BABYLON) is a series by mangaka group CLAMP. You probably know that if you're here. The website will have synopsis stuff for newbies later, but it's pretty certain most of you readers don't need it. There are still a few explanatory descriptions below just in case.
🌸 Spoiler Warning: If you are new to the series, it is strongly suggested you avoid the fandom until after completing both TB and X. The series is old that oftentimes non-fans already know some of the major spoilers and fans tend to be pretty blasé about it (especially in jokes). However, being spoiled shouldn't ruin the story impact for you, according to many new readers, so give it a try. But either way, don't worry, you can read this page without being spoiled.
Tokyo Babylon has releases in various media formats:
• The Tokyo Babylon manga is the main canon.
• There are 2 anime OVAs which are technically in the manga canon.
• There are 2 anime OVAs which are technically in the manga canon.
• The manga X (X/1999) continues (and ends?) the story, though Subaru is not the main protagonist. Besides the X manga, there was a film, and anime, and a game, which all offer slightly different AU canons.
• There is a live-action movie (confusingly) called Tokyo Babylon 1999, along with both manga and audio promo materials, which is not considered canon.
• Several short audio dramas exist for both TB and X, but some are less than canon. These are listed below with the OVA, the live action, and the section on X. There are also 2 TB soundtracks.
• Shoten (stylized SHöTEN) was a self-published doujinshi magazine by CLAMP which includes the original TB concept stories. It is its own AU.
• There are some fun side materials, such as drabbles from CLAMP's Twitter, or comments they made in interviews, which aren't quite canon but might add to the "idea" of the story.
• Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle has crossover with both TB and X, where different "versions" of characters exist in other AU universes. Subaru/Seishirou is considered one of CLAMP's "soul pairs", meaning the two characters are linked together in every universe.
• There were artbooks and other types of merch materials, of course. Some early materials from CLAMP's newsletter and other sources are technically canon with the manga.
• Shoten (stylized SHöTEN) was a self-published doujinshi magazine by CLAMP which includes the original TB concept stories. It is its own AU.
• There are some fun side materials, such as drabbles from CLAMP's Twitter, or comments they made in interviews, which aren't quite canon but might add to the "idea" of the story.
• Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle has crossover with both TB and X, where different "versions" of characters exist in other AU universes. Subaru/Seishirou is considered one of CLAMP's "soul pairs", meaning the two characters are linked together in every universe.
• There were artbooks and other types of merch materials, of course. Some early materials from CLAMP's newsletter and other sources are technically canon with the manga.
• A reboot anime called Tokyo Babylon 2021 was in development, but canceled due to controversy. Clearly was it's own AU.
🌸 Links to available versions or translations will be included below, along with more detailed descriptions.
Fandom Terms and Concepts
The TBX fandom is still considerably active and dedicated for such an old, lesser-known series. Fanfiction and fanart are quite regular, and fanworks of almost every flavor exist. Some members (like myself) have been around for decades, and some of them have done all the major hard work you'll see below. It's maybe also worth noting the fandom often has a very paradoxical comedic vibe; you can expect quite a bit of dark-but-silly humor. Like any fandom, internal slang gets used, especially in a fandom so old, but most of it should be obvious.
• TBX means the entire manga canon, or the fandoms for these in general.
• Sometimes important events are referred to by their locations, such as "Rainbow Bridge", to help mask spoilers of the actual events.
• "Sub" "Sei" "Hoku" etcetera are shortened names. "SeiSub" is the Seishirou/Subaru ship pairing and is arguably the juggernaut ship even in X. You'll see other pairings mostly including X characters, such as "SubKam" for Subaru/Kamui.
• "The Big Four" refers to SeiSub plus Kamui and Fuuma and their prominence in the fandom.
• Fanon still plays a part in fics, especially in the sexy category (and parodies/jokes). Some notorious offenders include assumptions about "The Tree", or the method of how the Sakurazukamori position is inherited. Maybe the biggest current flanderization is that Subaru is the most sexually frustrated man on the planet.🤭 In the past, Seishirou as an exaggerated sly sadistic mastermind manipulator was common. On the other hand, long-term fans have lots of really excellent and reasonable interpretations for background canon details. Often these are played with for fun in fics/jokes. Just be careful not to take fanon by rote.
• "The Big Four" refers to SeiSub plus Kamui and Fuuma and their prominence in the fandom.
• Fanon still plays a part in fics, especially in the sexy category (and parodies/jokes). Some notorious offenders include assumptions about "The Tree", or the method of how the Sakurazukamori position is inherited. Maybe the biggest current flanderization is that Subaru is the most sexually frustrated man on the planet.🤭 In the past, Seishirou as an exaggerated sly sadistic mastermind manipulator was common. On the other hand, long-term fans have lots of really excellent and reasonable interpretations for background canon details. Often these are played with for fun in fics/jokes. Just be careful not to take fanon by rote.
🌸 Please note: it is 2023, folks, there are no "shipping wars" here any more, it’s all fine, don't try to resurrect them as zombies. Please.
Tokyo Babylon Manga
Tokyo Babylon Manga
The manga originally ran in shoujo manga magazine South, and then Wings, from 1990 to 1993, released quarterly. The surface premise is about a teenage onmyouji (sort of an exorcist) named Subaru, his domineering fashionista twin sister Hokuto, and handsome older love interest veterinarian Seishirou (who may or may not be a dangerous rival assassin). However, the "real plot" has something else going on, as Subaru wades through a modernized world which is often apathetic and cruel. Themes include the "occult pop culture boom" of the 80s/90s, major social issues relevant in Japan at the time related to the Bubble Economy, as well as exploring the relationships between the main trio and their views on life.The collected manga was published by Kadokawa and released in Japan in three versions: the original 7 volumes (tankoubon), a 90s rerelease of 5 volumes, and recently with new cover art as part of CLAMP's 30th anniversary "Clamp Premium Collection" as 7 vols. These last should still be available in stores. TB also saw releases in French, Spanish, and Italian, as well as in China/Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia, and possibly elsewhere I'm missing. Online, fan scalations of TB were shared by fans in the early internet years. An official English license by TokyoPop was released in 2004-2005 which you can sometimes find used. Thankfully Yen Press has recently acquired the CPC license for 2023, and the first volume is available for preorder to be released in October.
CLAMP has said they consider Tokyo Babylon to be their first original manga, since while RG Vega began serialization prior to TB, it is derivative of existing legends. Also note that the original magazine release for the end of TB overlapped with X, which provides some interesting insight to the plot reveals.
TB is sometimes described as a BL/shonen-ai, though it isn't reeeally, despite the main romance being between two men. If you are unfamiliar with BL or not a BL fan, you can still enjoy this series. It does contain BL influence, of course, as CLAMP was originally producing BL type doujinshi.
🌸 Japanese CPC current release: https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/NEOBK-2737443
🌸 English (Yen Press): https://yenpress.com/titles/9781975373252-clamp-premium-collection-tokyo-babylon-vol-1
🌸 There are unofficial fan translations floating around, both text and scanlations, if you’re impatient.
Timeline Note: There are differences between the original magazine run of TB compared to what was published in the tankoubon, especially in the early chapters. Of note, there was a Tokyo Babylon CD + Comic collection of the first two stories, which also came with a CD that included an audio dramatized version. For this special release, CLAMP additionally wrote the extra chapter "VOL 1.5 DESTINY", but there are plot differences between the CD + Comic version compared to the one later released with the official Volume 1 tankoubon. The changes might have caused a timeline hiccup...it’s not noticeable or important to most readers, but food-for-thought for super nerds.
🌸 CD Info: https://vgmdb.net/album/44190
🌸 Drama Partial Translation: https://jjblue1.livejournal.com/297113.html
🌸 Listen: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Dt411C76m/
🌸 There used to be scans floating around of the differences between the DESTINY drafts, but of course I'm not sure where they are right now....
X (X/1999) series
The main story of X is its own separate plot and so isn't really a "sequel" to TB, however it takes place in the same universe as TB and continues (and technically finishes) Subaru's plotline. X was published as "X/1999" for clarity in English (smarter than Angry Bluebird Man), and is still sometimes called that especially in hashtags (#X1999) or other useful places.
X is about a teen named Kamui who is "destined" to make the final decision about whether human beings should survive the apocalypse in 1999. Unfortunately he shares his "fate" with his childhood friend Fuuma with tragic consequences. They fight on two “teams” comprised of other fated individuals with magic powers, one side for human survival (at the cost of environmental destruction), the other for humanity's collapse (thus allowing nature to heal). The story is infamous for its beautiful art which often depicts rather shocking scenes of violence, pushing the limits for shoujo at the time. Subaru and Seishirou enter the plot as enemies on opposite "teams". An important piece of the plot includes Kamui and Subaru's relationship development, as well as continuing (and arguably ending) the SeiSub plot.
However, also infamously, X was put on indefinite hiatus after 2003 and its true ending is still unknown. The film, anime, and game were each given unique alternative endings of their own. There are 18 volumes of X, plus several remaining chapters not collected into a volume known as "18.5". X is currently (2023) being released with new CPC covers in Japan; it is possible that a license renewal will pick these up in English just like TB, but no word yet. The VIZ 3-in-1 is available digital, but is missing the important part 18.5. The series was also available in many other languages (sometimes with questionable translation quality).
🌸 CPC (Kadokawa): https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/NEOBK-2825698
🌸 English (VIZ): https://www.viz.com/x
🌸 ANN film info: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=95
🌸 ANN anime info: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=464
🌸 Game info: https://psxdatacenter.com/games/J/T/SLPS-03459.html
The SeiSub Tidbits: Besides the main plot, each character in X gets their own side-story which fills in some of their personal background. Subaru’s side story shows him on an exorcism; Seishirou's goes much farther back to his adolescence. These are published along with the manga proper. Additionally, each character has a brief audio drama called a "Character File", which expands on these same side-story themes. These can be considered basically canonical. (Also, Subaru's background music is a masterpiece imo.)
🌸 Subaru's Character File: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_nmKHagzFg
🌸 Eng Translation: https://jjblue1.tumblr.com/post/99750047670/x-character-file-3-satsuki-subaru
🌸 Seishirou's Character File: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hog9fNugxs
🌸 Eng Translation: https://jjblue1.tumblr.com/post/99750452055/x-character-file-6-yuuto-seishiro
🌸 Sub's BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT1PWPR8WV4
🌸 Sei's BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH4o2sGqER4
Tokyo Babylon in Shoten
CLAMP was originally a doujinshi circle, a group of artists self-publishing their works. SHöTEN was one major work they produced from 1988 to 1990, which featured mostly BL-flavored illustrated stories. Most stories were set in an overlapping universe known as “Clamp Academy”, with most characters (or their modern reincarnations) attending the school or working there. There were 6 volumes, and the first versions of Tokyo Babylon were in 5 and 6, entitled "Japan Ghost Pilgrimage Group". For the most part the plot setup is the same, with a couple notable differences, the most important being a major shift in Seishirou's characterization and background. A more minor point is that Subaru and Hokuto have cutesy animal "shiki" mascot pets (a penguin named Leone, and a monkey Minami) which still show up sometimes in official art.
CLAMP has said they consider Tokyo Babylon to be their first original manga, since while RG Vega began serialization prior to TB, it is derivative of existing legends. Also note that the original magazine release for the end of TB overlapped with X, which provides some interesting insight to the plot reveals.
TB is sometimes described as a BL/shonen-ai, though it isn't reeeally, despite the main romance being between two men. If you are unfamiliar with BL or not a BL fan, you can still enjoy this series. It does contain BL influence, of course, as CLAMP was originally producing BL type doujinshi.
🌸 Japanese CPC current release: https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/NEOBK-2737443
🌸 English (Yen Press): https://yenpress.com/titles/9781975373252-clamp-premium-collection-tokyo-babylon-vol-1
🌸 There are unofficial fan translations floating around, both text and scanlations, if you’re impatient.
Timeline Note: There are differences between the original magazine run of TB compared to what was published in the tankoubon, especially in the early chapters. Of note, there was a Tokyo Babylon CD + Comic collection of the first two stories, which also came with a CD that included an audio dramatized version. For this special release, CLAMP additionally wrote the extra chapter "VOL 1.5 DESTINY", but there are plot differences between the CD + Comic version compared to the one later released with the official Volume 1 tankoubon. The changes might have caused a timeline hiccup...it’s not noticeable or important to most readers, but food-for-thought for super nerds.
🌸 CD Info: https://vgmdb.net/album/44190
🌸 Drama Partial Translation: https://jjblue1.livejournal.com/297113.html
🌸 Listen: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Dt411C76m/
🌸 There used to be scans floating around of the differences between the DESTINY drafts, but of course I'm not sure where they are right now....
X (X/1999) series
The main story of X is its own separate plot and so isn't really a "sequel" to TB, however it takes place in the same universe as TB and continues (and technically finishes) Subaru's plotline. X was published as "X/1999" for clarity in English (X is about a teen named Kamui who is "destined" to make the final decision about whether human beings should survive the apocalypse in 1999. Unfortunately he shares his "fate" with his childhood friend Fuuma with tragic consequences. They fight on two “teams” comprised of other fated individuals with magic powers, one side for human survival (at the cost of environmental destruction), the other for humanity's collapse (thus allowing nature to heal). The story is infamous for its beautiful art which often depicts rather shocking scenes of violence, pushing the limits for shoujo at the time. Subaru and Seishirou enter the plot as enemies on opposite "teams". An important piece of the plot includes Kamui and Subaru's relationship development, as well as continuing (and arguably ending) the SeiSub plot.
However, also infamously, X was put on indefinite hiatus after 2003 and its true ending is still unknown. The film, anime, and game were each given unique alternative endings of their own. There are 18 volumes of X, plus several remaining chapters not collected into a volume known as "18.5". X is currently (2023) being released with new CPC covers in Japan; it is possible that a license renewal will pick these up in English just like TB, but no word yet. The VIZ 3-in-1 is available digital, but is missing the important part 18.5. The series was also available in many other languages (sometimes with questionable translation quality).
🌸 CPC (Kadokawa): https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/NEOBK-2825698
🌸 English (VIZ): https://www.viz.com/x
🌸 ANN film info: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=95
🌸 ANN anime info: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=464
🌸 Game info: https://psxdatacenter.com/games/J/T/SLPS-03459.html
The SeiSub Tidbits: Besides the main plot, each character in X gets their own side-story which fills in some of their personal background. Subaru’s side story shows him on an exorcism; Seishirou's goes much farther back to his adolescence. These are published along with the manga proper. Additionally, each character has a brief audio drama called a "Character File", which expands on these same side-story themes. These can be considered basically canonical. (Also, Subaru's background music is a masterpiece imo.)
🌸 Subaru's Character File: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_nmKHagzFg
🌸 Eng Translation: https://jjblue1.tumblr.com/post/99750047670/x-character-file-3-satsuki-subaru
🌸 Seishirou's Character File: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hog9fNugxs
🌸 Eng Translation: https://jjblue1.tumblr.com/post/99750452055/x-character-file-6-yuuto-seishiro
🌸 Sub's BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT1PWPR8WV4
🌸 Sei's BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH4o2sGqER4
Tokyo Babylon in Shoten
CLAMP was originally a doujinshi circle, a group of artists self-publishing their works. SHöTEN was one major work they produced from 1988 to 1990, which featured mostly BL-flavored illustrated stories. Most stories were set in an overlapping universe known as “Clamp Academy”, with most characters (or their modern reincarnations) attending the school or working there. There were 6 volumes, and the first versions of Tokyo Babylon were in 5 and 6, entitled "Japan Ghost Pilgrimage Group". For the most part the plot setup is the same, with a couple notable differences, the most important being a major shift in Seishirou's characterization and background. A more minor point is that Subaru and Hokuto have cutesy animal "shiki" mascot pets (a penguin named Leone, and a monkey Minami) which still show up sometimes in official art.
Summary of Shoten 5: Like the manga, Seishirou sees Subaru chasing a flying shiki through a crowded subway platform. Subaru trips and falls on his face and Seishirou helps him up. Later, Seishirou's mother is pressuring him to take his place as the head of the Sakurazuka clan and get married, but Seishirou only wants to be a veterinarian -- and has decided he's in love with the mystery boy Subaru. Subaru and Hokuto discuss this chance meeting and Subaru's love at first sight. They accidentally meet again when Subaru brings his sick penguin shiki to the vet and is surprised to find someone with the power to see it. Later they go on a date to an amusement park, including Hokuto, and despite Seishirou's obvious connection to the rival Sakurazuka clan, the trio becomes firmly attached.
Summary of Shoten 6: Hokuto teases Subaru about Seishirou, until Sub receives a call from him and is invited over to the vet clinic. They ponder whether Sei is the Sakurazukamori, a somewhat legendary figure who acts as the Sakurazuka clan's assassin. When Subaru visits Seishirou, he is uncomfortably reminded of the Sakurazukamori when Sei changes the topic in response to personal questions. But Seishirou gives him dessert and a surprise gift of an "engagement" ring, to which Subaru is of course cutely dumbstruck. Some day he will be a beautiful blushing bride(?). (This volume of Shoten is all about weddings, but since Subaru is underage and their “relationship” is not technically official, Sub and Sei are depicted as being "groomsmen" to the other weddings.)
Summary of Shoten 6: Hokuto teases Subaru about Seishirou, until Sub receives a call from him and is invited over to the vet clinic. They ponder whether Sei is the Sakurazukamori, a somewhat legendary figure who acts as the Sakurazuka clan's assassin. When Subaru visits Seishirou, he is uncomfortably reminded of the Sakurazukamori when Sei changes the topic in response to personal questions. But Seishirou gives him dessert and a surprise gift of an "engagement" ring, to which Subaru is of course cutely dumbstruck. Some day he will be a beautiful blushing bride(?). (This volume of Shoten is all about weddings, but since Subaru is underage and their “relationship” is not technically official, Sub and Sei are depicted as being "groomsmen" to the other weddings.)
🌸 BW Images for 5 and 6 here: https://hellyeahclamp.tumblr.com/post/97503246530
🌸 Color Images for 5 here: https://www.oocities.org/tokyo/shrine/1777/shoten2.html (I can't find them both at the same time now for some reason)
🌸 Translation of 5: https://web.archive.org/web/20090615071940/http://www.sakanagi.net/night-owl/trans/shoten/shoten5tb.html (courtesy of Jeldi)
🌸 Translation of 6: https://jjblue1.tumblr.com/post/167810939955/as-it-seems-the-picture-and-the-translations-for (courtesy of iamsocool12345) Images included here also.
Tokyo Babylon Anime OVA
Two anime OVA (straight to video) releases animated by Madhouse came out in 1992 and 1994, on VHS and Laserdisc and later DVD. They have been both subbed and dubbed into English. (I'm not sure about other languages, though I believe Spanish exists.) I'm not sure if these are streaming anywhere, or if the license is currently held by anyone. They are floating around the internet (I think on YT too). The episodes take place around the middle of the manga plot, and if I recall correctly are considered more or less canonical. There was also a brief promo comic (and other promo materials), as well as a short audio drama about Hokuto. The main voice actors are Kappei Yamaguchi (Subaru), Takehito Koyasu (Seishirou), and Miki Itō (Hokuto). You can find all the voices and production stuff on the ANN below.
🌸 Translation of 5: https://web.archive.org/web/20090615071940/http://www.sakanagi.net/night-owl/trans/shoten/shoten5tb.html (courtesy of Jeldi)
🌸 Translation of 6: https://jjblue1.tumblr.com/post/167810939955/as-it-seems-the-picture-and-the-translations-for (courtesy of iamsocool12345) Images included here also.
Tokyo Babylon Anime OVA
Two anime OVA (straight to video) releases animated by Madhouse came out in 1992 and 1994, on VHS and Laserdisc and later DVD. They have been both subbed and dubbed into English. (I'm not sure about other languages, though I believe Spanish exists.) I'm not sure if these are streaming anywhere, or if the license is currently held by anyone. They are floating around the internet (I think on YT too). The episodes take place around the middle of the manga plot, and if I recall correctly are considered more or less canonical. There was also a brief promo comic (and other promo materials), as well as a short audio drama about Hokuto. The main voice actors are Kappei Yamaguchi (Subaru), Takehito Koyasu (Seishirou), and Miki Itō (Hokuto). You can find all the voices and production stuff on the ANN below. Episode 1 Summary: Subaru investigates a haunted construction site, where a greedy businessman uses dark powers. Seishirou gets involved, of course.
Episode 2 Summary: Subaru witnesses a subway murder. He must help a women who has the power to see the past through touch, before she becomes the next victim. Seishirou and Hokuto help out.
Episode 2 Summary: Subaru witnesses a subway murder. He must help a women who has the power to see the past through touch, before she becomes the next victim. Seishirou and Hokuto help out.
🌸 ANN info OVA 1: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=761
🌸 ANN info OVA 2: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=762
🌸 Script for OVA 1: https://jjblue1.livejournal.com/299199.html
🌸 Script for OVA 2: https://jjblue1.livejournal.com/300685.html
The OVA audio drama is focused on Hokuto, and while it features some themes from the manga, it has its own story. It was released along with the premium LD. It probably fits with the canon (unless it annoys you with the derivative parts lol).
🌸 Translation: https://ukokunet.tumblr.com/post/724208198719029248/tokyo-babylon-drama-cd-hokutos-tea-party (courtesy of diamondsfurcoatchampagne)
🌸 Listen: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Ws411T7ov/
Additionally, there is one "rare" animation for a music video that was included as a bonus release on the premium laserdisc released in 1992. It is for "VISION" by Hideaki Matsuoka, who also did the theme songs for the OVAs. (I love it and this LD is definitely on my wishlist, hint.)
🌸 Watch here: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1np411d79N/
Tokyo Babylon Soundtracks
There are two OSTs called "Image Soundtrack" and "Image Soundtrack 2", as well as a trio set of singles. The first OST is meant to "feel like" the first part of TB, and the second more like the darker/dramatic second half of the plot. Both are very much products of their era. Most of these songs are available on YouTube, though sometimes copyright issues happen; I don't use Spotify but they might be on there? I've tried to link them here but they may break.
🌸 1 and 2 Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGVeJcbs06NiMPiiTRnktZlZiCnPCDsUI
🌸 Image Soundtrack 1 Info: https://vgmdb.net/album/44188
🌸 Image Soundtrack 2 Info: https://vgmdb.net/album/44194
🌸 Triple Single: https://vgmdb.net/album/44192
Soundtrack 2 also had a B-side audio drama of the [CALL] episode of the manga.
🌸 Listen: https://www.bilibili.com/video/av48849572/
🌸 Partial Translation: https://jjblue1.livejournal.com/298408.html
Also, the TB trio of course make appearances in the two official Clamp In Wonderland AMVs. The first has Subaru confront the Sakurazukamori (with an assist from Hokuto). The second features a very Shoten-esque visit by the Mokonas to the veterinarian clinic.
🌸 AMV1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXAn5RySlko
🌸 AMV2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5eL7KcgSzc
Tokyo Babylon 1999 Live Action
A live action film (with a limited theater release iirc) came out in 1993, starring Toshihide Tonesaku as Subaru and Wataru Shihodo as Seishirou. The "1999" is misleading and confusing, partly because it implies a false link to the X manga, and partly because the plot takes place in 1995 anyway.🤷 While investigating a case, Subaru meets Seishirou once again, who mysteriously seems to assist him, despite Subaru's conflicted desire for revenge. There were several promo bits from CLAMP, such as art and a short plotty comic as well as a silly comic about the actors. There is also a sequel audio drama.
The movie is a separate AU than the main canon, and the plot is based on ideas from some of the TB manga chapters, and so is derivative. Personal Thoughts: It's not very good lol. Years ago it was sort of a hard-to-find "cult classic" in the fandom. Subaru gives a very different vibe than the manga, and the film is more like a cop drama, but it doesn't quite capture either “feel”. A lot of fans seem to agree Seishirou, while different, is the best part.
🌸 ANN info OVA 2: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=762
🌸 Script for OVA 1: https://jjblue1.livejournal.com/299199.html
🌸 Script for OVA 2: https://jjblue1.livejournal.com/300685.html
The OVA audio drama is focused on Hokuto, and while it features some themes from the manga, it has its own story. It was released along with the premium LD. It probably fits with the canon (unless it annoys you with the derivative parts lol).
🌸 Translation: https://ukokunet.tumblr.com/post/724208198719029248/tokyo-babylon-drama-cd-hokutos-tea-party (courtesy of diamondsfurcoatchampagne)
🌸 Listen: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Ws411T7ov/
Additionally, there is one "rare" animation for a music video that was included as a bonus release on the premium laserdisc released in 1992. It is for "VISION" by Hideaki Matsuoka, who also did the theme songs for the OVAs. (I love it and this LD is definitely on my wishlist, hint.)
🌸 Watch here: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1np411d79N/
Tokyo Babylon Soundtracks
There are two OSTs called "Image Soundtrack" and "Image Soundtrack 2", as well as a trio set of singles. The first OST is meant to "feel like" the first part of TB, and the second more like the darker/dramatic second half of the plot. Both are very much products of their era. Most of these songs are available on YouTube, though sometimes copyright issues happen; I don't use Spotify but they might be on there? I've tried to link them here but they may break.
🌸 1 and 2 Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGVeJcbs06NiMPiiTRnktZlZiCnPCDsUI
🌸 Image Soundtrack 1 Info: https://vgmdb.net/album/44188
🌸 Image Soundtrack 2 Info: https://vgmdb.net/album/44194
🌸 Triple Single: https://vgmdb.net/album/44192
Soundtrack 2 also had a B-side audio drama of the [CALL] episode of the manga.
🌸 Listen: https://www.bilibili.com/video/av48849572/
🌸 Partial Translation: https://jjblue1.livejournal.com/298408.html
Also, the TB trio of course make appearances in the two official Clamp In Wonderland AMVs. The first has Subaru confront the Sakurazukamori (with an assist from Hokuto). The second features a very Shoten-esque visit by the Mokonas to the veterinarian clinic.
🌸 AMV1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXAn5RySlko
🌸 AMV2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5eL7KcgSzc
Tokyo Babylon 1999 Live Action
A live action film (with a limited theater release iirc) came out in 1993, starring Toshihide Tonesaku as Subaru and Wataru Shihodo as Seishirou. The "1999" is misleading and confusing, partly because it implies a false link to the X manga, and partly because the plot takes place in 1995 anyway.🤷 While investigating a case, Subaru meets Seishirou once again, who mysteriously seems to assist him, despite Subaru's conflicted desire for revenge. There were several promo bits from CLAMP, such as art and a short plotty comic as well as a silly comic about the actors. There is also a sequel audio drama.
The movie is a separate AU than the main canon, and the plot is based on ideas from some of the TB manga chapters, and so is derivative. Personal Thoughts: It's not very good lol. Years ago it was sort of a hard-to-find "cult classic" in the fandom. Subaru gives a very different vibe than the manga, and the film is more like a cop drama, but it doesn't quite capture either “feel”. A lot of fans seem to agree Seishirou, while different, is the best part.
Summary: A religious cult leader with a group of teen girl followers is assassinated by Seishirou. The girls decide to use powers found in a book to "punish" people in their lives, but start suffering from spiritual backlash. Subaru investigates but is warned away by Seishirou. Subaru attempts to stop the girls, to both save them from themselves and from Seishirou's threat. There is a final confrontation, but their battle is interrupted (by spoilers) and Subaru's revenge deferred once more.
🌸 The film is floating around on Youtube, but it is not subbed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UERwEC7NITA
🌸 A partial translation is here: https://jjblue1.livejournal.com/327402.html (courtesy sumeragimikoto and jjblue1)
🌸 Most of the related art material can be seen here at the bottom: https://clamp.fandom.com/fr/wiki/Tokyo_Babylon_1999
🌸 ANN's info page: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6514
The audio drama CD takes place a short time after the film. I've read somewhere (but now I forget where) that in some ways the drama fits closer to manga canon than the film, though it should still be technically AU. Subaru comes into contact with a few other individuals who have seen the Sakurazukamori and lived (temporarily) to tell the tale, all of whom have some very strange responses to him. Subaru struggles obsessively with his confused feelings for Seishirou.
🌸 The audio drama: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn6JvZro5g46tDkqxmyUGqkW4fAorKGh0 (includes Spanish subs)
🌸 English Translation: https://clamp2share.livejournal.com/65913.html (courtesy greenapple2004)
🌸 Info link: https://vgmdb.net/album/44193
Also I'd be terribly remiss not to share this very foolish image. At some point in the audio, Seishirou hangs out at a playground with a little girl; this is amazing and hilarious to me. From a promo page obviously referencing this swing-set scene -- however the "little girl" appears to be Ashura from RG Vega?? (She excitedly demands Sei push her higher; Seishirou gives a patient "hai hai", which is the Japanese equivalent of the "yes dear" response you give when indulging hyper children and rambling spouses.)
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle
TRC (and its parallel series xxxHolic) began in 2003, and features alternative versions of many of CLAMP's previous characters. The idea is that different iterations of a person's soul exist throughout different universes. Seishirou plays an antagonist in several chapters and is involved with the hero Syaoran's background; the rest of the Big Four are prominent in the "Acid Tokyo" arc.
The two TRC and Holic series notoriously have a confusing overlap "twist" and both conclude open-ended, as well as displaying a very prominent shift in CLAMP's art style. Also, they were published as shounen/seinen series, not shoujo, and so have a different feel to the writing and plot structure. The sequel/continuation of TRC has been on hiatus for some time, though more xxxHolic has been announced, so it is possible it will resume some day. (CLAMP no longer has the rapid and prodigious output they did in the 90s, alas.)
TRC content has nothing really to do with TBX proper, but might scratch an itch if you want more. I don't know all the related media (dramas etc) and won’t list all the info here, but both the manga and anime should be easily available.
Tokyo Babylon 2021 anime (canceled)
Fans were surprised to learn in 2020 that an anime was in the works, entitled Tokyo Babylon 2021. We don't know much about the plot, but presumably it was a modernized complete reboot. Voice actors were announced and promo images shown, as well as a trailer. However, it was discovered that the studio had plagiarized some of the character designs (as well as some other accusations against the studio kept under wraps), and after a brief kerfuffle the entire project was canceled and went unreleased. Twelve episodes were animated (if not voice recorded?) and I pray some sneaky ex-employee leaks them to the net for posterity. It is worth noting the studio was GoHands, which has a notoriously bad reputation among anime fans, leaving many to scratch their heads at the production choice for such a major group like CLAMP.
CLAMP themselves made a note that they are not usually directly involved with their spinoff releases, unless they have put in a prior request to be so, and so they themselves had nothing to do with TB2021. They mention they requested future involvement if/when a TB anime happens, though there has been no news since then. Let's pray it's just waiting for licensing issues to resolve. (Also they address the fandom's disappointment that Seishirou's shoulders weren't wider lol.)
Thoughts: As excited as we were for an anime, many fans think we dodged a bullet here. The aesthetics were very dramatically changed from the original, and while that alone might have been acceptable, combined with GoHand's terrible reputation and the resulting legal issues most folks presume the anime would have been horribly bad quality and a "stain" on such an amazing series. (They should just let us write it, come on.)
🌸 Chibi Yuuto's coverage: https://chibiyuuto.com/tag/tokyo-babylon-2021-tv-anime/
🌸 Articles about the development on ANN are linked on its page: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=23786
🌸 Trailers have been hidden from "official" view on YT but should be floating around somewhere. Here's one: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1301487150184416
Various TB Side Materials
Eventually I'll have a complete list of every piece of trivia you could possibly ever want, but here are some highlights.
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle
TRC (and its parallel series xxxHolic) began in 2003, and features alternative versions of many of CLAMP's previous characters. The idea is that different iterations of a person's soul exist throughout different universes. Seishirou plays an antagonist in several chapters and is involved with the hero Syaoran's background; the rest of the Big Four are prominent in the "Acid Tokyo" arc.
The two TRC and Holic series notoriously have a confusing overlap "twist" and both conclude open-ended, as well as displaying a very prominent shift in CLAMP's art style. Also, they were published as shounen/seinen series, not shoujo, and so have a different feel to the writing and plot structure. The sequel/continuation of TRC has been on hiatus for some time, though more xxxHolic has been announced, so it is possible it will resume some day. (CLAMP no longer has the rapid and prodigious output they did in the 90s, alas.)
TRC content has nothing really to do with TBX proper, but might scratch an itch if you want more. I don't know all the related media (dramas etc) and won’t list all the info here, but both the manga and anime should be easily available.
Tokyo Babylon 2021 anime (canceled)
Fans were surprised to learn in 2020 that an anime was in the works, entitled Tokyo Babylon 2021. We don't know much about the plot, but presumably it was a modernized complete reboot. Voice actors were announced and promo images shown, as well as a trailer. However, it was discovered that the studio had plagiarized some of the character designs (as well as some other accusations against the studio kept under wraps), and after a brief kerfuffle the entire project was canceled and went unreleased. Twelve episodes were animated (if not voice recorded?) CLAMP themselves made a note that they are not usually directly involved with their spinoff releases, unless they have put in a prior request to be so, and so they themselves had nothing to do with TB2021. They mention they requested future involvement if/when a TB anime happens, though there has been no news since then. Let's pray it's just waiting for licensing issues to resolve. (Also they address the fandom's disappointment that Seishirou's shoulders weren't wider lol.)
Thoughts: As excited as we were for an anime, many fans think we dodged a bullet here. The aesthetics were very dramatically changed from the original, and while that alone might have been acceptable, combined with GoHand's terrible reputation and the resulting legal issues most folks presume the anime would have been horribly bad quality and a "stain" on such an amazing series. (They should just let us write it, come on.)
🌸 Chibi Yuuto's coverage: https://chibiyuuto.com/tag/tokyo-babylon-2021-tv-anime/
🌸 Articles about the development on ANN are linked on its page: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=23786
🌸 Trailers have been hidden from "official" view on YT but should be floating around somewhere. Here's one: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1301487150184416
Various TB Side Materials
Eventually I'll have a complete list of every piece of trivia you could possibly ever want, but here are some highlights.
• There are two TB artbooks, "Photographs" and "Postcards". There are also two X artbooks, called "Zero" and "Infinity".
• Various images float around from CLAMP's newsletters and side publications. Some of these included very detailed background setting information, such as the layout of the twins's apartments, and complete astrological charts for the trio. Links to the Horoscope translations: https://suzparrow.tumblr.com/post/621259933145563136/tokyo-babylon-horoscope
• CLAMP has given various tidbits of info over the years in interviews. Chibi Yuuto has a lot of translations you can paw through. See: https://chibiyuuto.com/
• There are a few short drabbles from Twitter, including one about coffee by Ohkawa-sensei. This probably fits canon. A fan (riotarttherite) illustrated it here: https://riotarttherite.tumblr.com/post/650936516570415104/based-on-nanase-ohkawas-short-story-translation
• There are some joke AUs from CLAMP, such as a plot where SeiSub are rival lawyers. This is foolish. See: https://ukokunet.tumblr.com/post/724137320219066368/back-in-2016-on-41-clamps-official-twitter-was
• "Does Seishirou have to do his own taxes?" See: https://twitter.com/CLAMP_news/status/657180716602535936
• "Clamp Day" is April 1, and is the birthday of many of their characters. It's also Seishirou's fake birthday, and in 2023 CLAMP gave us an "April Fool" picture. Jerks. Link: https://twitter.com/CLAMP_news/status/1642037605935255552
• Technically, Clamp School Detectives is in the same universe as TBX. The three detectives have cameos in X. That would also mean Man of Many Faces is in this universe too. What a weird universe.
• Duklyon originally shared the same Shoten-based universe and is mentioned by Subaru in Shoten 6, but probably isn't really in the manga canon. (A little too weird.)
• Various images float around from CLAMP's newsletters and side publications. Some of these included very detailed background setting information, such as the layout of the twins's apartments, and complete astrological charts for the trio. Links to the Horoscope translations: https://suzparrow.tumblr.com/post/621259933145563136/tokyo-babylon-horoscope
• CLAMP has given various tidbits of info over the years in interviews. Chibi Yuuto has a lot of translations you can paw through. See: https://chibiyuuto.com/
• There are a few short drabbles from Twitter, including one about coffee by Ohkawa-sensei. This probably fits canon. A fan (riotarttherite) illustrated it here: https://riotarttherite.tumblr.com/post/650936516570415104/based-on-nanase-ohkawas-short-story-translation
• There are some joke AUs from CLAMP, such as a plot where SeiSub are rival lawyers. This is foolish. See: https://ukokunet.tumblr.com/post/724137320219066368/back-in-2016-on-41-clamps-official-twitter-was
• "Does Seishirou have to do his own taxes?" See: https://twitter.com/CLAMP_news/status/657180716602535936
• "Clamp Day" is April 1, and is the birthday of many of their characters. It's also Seishirou's fake birthday, and in 2023 CLAMP gave us an "April Fool" picture. Jerks. Link: https://twitter.com/CLAMP_news/status/1642037605935255552
• Technically, Clamp School Detectives is in the same universe as TBX. The three detectives have cameos in X. That would also mean Man of Many Faces is in this universe too. What a weird universe.
• Duklyon originally shared the same Shoten-based universe and is mentioned by Subaru in Shoten 6, but probably isn't really in the manga canon. (A little too weird.)
🌸🌸🌸 There is a METRIC TON MORE information and content related to Tokyo Babylon. Eventually, I'll be extending the site to include a lot of fandom related stuff as well, such as fic recs, all the detailed character stats, lyrics, historical stuff about onmyouji and the cultural settings of TBX, complete timelines for both plot and publishing, and more clear and detailed links to all the content. In the meantime I hope this helps everyone. Say hello to me on Mastodon, Tumblr, Discord, or the angry bluebird…and as always at Ukoku.net.
