Chameleon

Chameleon is a Japanese manga property written and illustrated by Atsushi Kase. It began serialization in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine in April 1990 and ran until February 2000, making it a long-running title within the magazine's shōnen catalog. The story centers on Eisaku Yazawa, a tenth-grade student whose ambition is to become part of the bōsōzoku, the motorcycle-gang subculture associated with rebellious youth in Japan. Rather than presenting a conventional heroic journey, the series is built around Yazawa's antics, improvisation, deception, and attempts to navigate school life and delinquent culture. Kodansha compiled the serialized chapters into 47 tankōbon volumes, published between August 1990 and March 2000. The scale of the collected edition and the manga's reported circulation of more than 30 million copies indicate substantial domestic popularity. In 1999, the series received the 23rd Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category, an important recognition within Japan's manga industry. The property expanded beyond print during its original serialization. Studio Egg produced a six-episode original video animation series released between August 1992 and March 1996. The first episode later received a North American release from ADV Films in February 1999 under the localized title Bite Me! Chameleon; the release used Japanese audio with English subtitles. A direct-to-video live-action film produced by Nihon Eizō followed in February 1996. The franchise also received a 2008 one-shot remake illustrated by Hiro Mashima as part of Weekly Shōnen Magazine's 50th-anniversary projects and a pachinko adaptation, CR Chameleon, produced by Taiyo Elec in 2012. The manga property was revisited in the 2010s. A commemorative one-shot, Chameleon Seven Years After, appeared in Monthly Shōnen Magazine in November 2014. A related sequel manga, Kuro Ageha, began serialization in the same magazine in December 2014 and concluded in December 2022. Kodansha collected Kuro Ageha in 20 volumes, with the final volume released in February 2023. These later works extended the fictional universe rather than representing a conventional continuation of the original title's serial run. Chameleon is therefore best understood not as a consumer-goods company or standalone corporate brand, but as a Japanese entertainment intellectual property associated primarily with manga publishing. Its commercial identity rests on serialized and collected manga, licensed audiovisual adaptations, derivative print works, and game-related exploitation. The available reference material does not identify a current corporate operating entity, standalone website, current owner separate from the publishing and licensing arrangements, or present-day release program. The franchise's current active status should consequently be treated as uncertain, although its sequel manga concluded in 2022 and a Blu-ray release of the OVA was announced for 2024.

Chameleon was created by manga artist Atsushi Kase and first appeared in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine on April 11, 1990. Its central character is Eisaku Yazawa, a tenth-grade student determined to become a member of the bōsōzoku. The series uses this ambition as the basis for comic episodes involving school life, delinquent identity, social maneuvering, and Yazawa's often opportunistic behavior. The original serialization continued until February 2, 2000. Kodansha subsequently collected the chapters in 47 tankōbon volumes, issued from August 17, 1990, through March 16, 2000. The title became a significant commercial success, with reported circulation exceeding 30 million copies. Its recognition was reinforced in 1999 when it won the 23rd Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category. Chameleon developed a multimedia presence during the 1990s. Studio Egg produced a six-part original video animation series. The OVA was released between August 16, 1992, and March 22, 1996, and a direct-to-video live-action film produced by Nihon Eizō was released on February 23, 1996. The first OVA episode was later licensed in North America by ADV Films and released on February 23, 1999, with Japanese dialogue and English subtitles under the title Bite Me! Chameleon. The property also generated later derivative works. Hiro Mashima illustrated a one-shot remake for Weekly Shōnen Magazine's 50th anniversary in 2008. Taiyo Elec developed a pachinko game titled CR Chameleon in 2012. In November 2014, Monthly Shōnen Magazine published Chameleon Seven Years After, a one-shot revisiting the property. A related sequel, Kuro Ageha, began serialization in the same magazine on December 6, 2014. It concluded on December 6, 2022, and Kodansha released the sequel's 20 collected volumes between May 16, 2014, and February 16, 2023. A Blu-ray release of the original video animation was announced for April 24, 2024. The available reference material does not establish whether the broader Chameleon franchise currently has an active publishing or licensing program. It also does not identify a standalone company, current executive team, or separate corporate owner. The subject is consequently an entertainment intellectual property rather than a conventional consumer brand.

• 2024

  OVA Blu-ray release announced

  [1]Chameleon (manga)en.wikipedia.org

  A Blu-ray edition of the original video animation is announced for release in April.

• 2022

  Kuro Ageha concludes

  [1]Chameleon (manga)en.wikipedia.org

  The related sequel manga completes its serialization in December.

• 2014

  Sequel-era projects begin

  [1]Chameleon (manga)en.wikipedia.org

  Monthly Shōnen Magazine publishes Chameleon Seven Years After and begins the related Kuro Ageha sequel.

• 2012

  Pachinko adaptation

  [1]Chameleon (manga)en.wikipedia.org

  Taiyo Elec produces the pachinko game CR Chameleon.

• 2008

  Anniversary remake one-shot

  [1]Chameleon (manga)en.wikipedia.org

  Hiro Mashima illustrates a one-shot remake for the 50th anniversary of Weekly Shōnen Magazine.

• 1999

  Kodansha Manga Award recognition

  [1]Chameleon (manga)en.wikipedia.org

  Chameleon wins the shōnen category of the 23rd Kodansha Manga Award.

• 1996

  Original manga serialization concludes

  [1]Chameleon (manga)en.wikipedia.org

  The serialized run ends in February, while the final OVA episode and a direct-to-video live-action film are released during the year.

• 1992

  OVA adaptation launches

  [1]Chameleon (manga)en.wikipedia.org

  Studio Egg releases the first installment of a six-episode original video animation adaptation.

• 1990

  Weekly serialization begins

  [1]Chameleon (manga)en.wikipedia.org

  Chameleon begins serialization in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine.

A Japanese shōnen entertainment property combining delinquent-school comedy, bōsōzoku subculture, and episodic misadventure, with extensions across manga, animation, live action, and gaming.

• Manga series · 1990

  Chameleon

  The original manga by Atsushi Kase follows tenth-grade student Eisaku Yazawa as he pursues recognition within the bōsōzoku world. Its serialized run lasted from 1990 to 2000 and was collected by Kodansha in 47 tankōbon volumes. The title's mix of delinquent-subculture setting, school comedy, and protagonist-driven schemes forms the core of the property.

• Original video animation · 1992

  Chameleon original video animation

  Studio Egg's six-episode OVA adaptation translates the manga into a direct-to-video animated format. The episodes were released between 1992 and 1996. The first episode later received a North American release from ADV Films under the localized title Bite Me! Chameleon, in Japanese with English subtitles.

• Live-action film · 1996

  Chameleon live-action film

  Produced by Nihon Eizō, this direct-to-video live-action adaptation was released in February 1996. It represents one of the franchise's attempts to move the story and characters from manga into filmed entertainment.

• Sequel manga · 2014

  Kuro Ageha

  Kuro Ageha is a related sequel manga that began in Monthly Shōnen Magazine in December 2014 after the publication of the Chameleon Seven Years After one-shot. Its serialization concluded in December 2022, and Kodansha collected it in 20 volumes, with the final volume issued in February 2023.

• Pachinko game · 2012

  CR Chameleon

  CR Chameleon is a pachinko adaptation produced by Taiyo Elec and released in 2012. The game extended the property into Japan's commercial gaming and amusement-machine market.

• 2024

  Blu-ray edition of the OVA announcedProduct launch

  Background

  The original video animation remained part of the property's home-video catalog after its 1990s release.

  Action taken

  A Blu-ray release of the six-episode OVA was announced for April 24, 2024.

  Source

• 2014

  Launch of the Kuro Ageha sequelGeneration change

  Background

  After the original manga had ended and a commemorative one-shot was published, the property was revisited through a new related serialization in Monthly Shōnen Magazine.

  Action taken

  Kodansha began publishing Kuro Ageha in December 2014.

  Aftermath

  The sequel continued until December 2022 and was collected in 20 tankōbon volumes.

  Source

1. 1Chameleon (manga)en.wikipedia.org