K

K, also known as K Project, is a Japanese anime-led multimedia franchise created by the animation studio GoHands and GoRA, a collective of seven anonymous authors. The franchise combines supernatural action, school-life settings, ensemble drama, and a distinctive color-coded mythology. Its central premise imagines a technologically advanced Japan governed in secret by seven powerful Kings, each associated with a psychic clan and a color. The story follows Yashiro Isana, an apparently ordinary student at Ashinaka High School whose life changes after the murder of Tatara Totsuka, a member of the Red Clan organization HOMRA. Yashiro is accused because the suspected killer resembles him, forcing him to flee while investigating his own identity. He is joined by Kuroh Yatogami, a highly skilled swordsman, and Neko, a Strain with sensory-distortion abilities. The original television anime began airing in Japan on MBS on October 5, 2012. GoHands produced the animation, while Shingo Suzuki directed the series and served as character designer. The initial series established the franchise's principal factions, including the Red Clan HOMRA and the Blue Clan Scepter 4, and built its narrative around the political and personal consequences of the Kings' powers. The visual identity of K is closely tied to its use of color, urban technology, stylized action, and detailed character design. K expanded quickly beyond its first television season. Kodansha-published manga projects explored the histories and perspectives of characters and clans, including K: Memory of Red, K: Stray Dog Story, K: Days of Blue, K: Countdown, and K: Missing Kings. Additional manga included The First, Gakuen K, K: Lost small world, K: Dream of Green, K: Return of Kings, and other character-focused or adaptation-based works. The franchise also received light novels, including K Side: Blue, K Side: Red, K Side: Black and white, and K - Lost small world. These publications broadened the setting by presenting prequel stories, alternate viewpoints, adaptations, and comedic or character-driven spin-offs. The first major screen continuation was the feature film K: Missing Kings, released in Japan on July 12, 2014. Set one year after the television series, it continued the story and introduced the character Mishakuji Yukari. A second television anime, K: Return of Kings, aired from October 3 through December 26, 2015, providing a further continuation and conclusion to the principal anime storyline. In 2017, a six-part film project titled K: Seven Stories was announced. The films were released between July 7 and December 1, 2018, and continued the franchise's practice of combining original material with character- and faction-centered storytelling. K has also been adapted into a visual novel developed by Otomate and released in 2014. The game targeted a female audience and introduced an original heroine, Saya Konohana, whose interactions with established characters form the basis of the game's route structure. Internationally, the anime and related screen works were licensed by Viz Media in North America and by Madman Entertainment in Australia. K is therefore best understood not as a conventional consumer-goods brand, but as an anime and entertainment property whose brand expression spans television, films, publishing, music, and interactive media.

K, also called K Project, originated as a collaboration between GoHands and GoRA. GoRA is a collective of seven anonymous writers: Kōhei Azano, Tatsuki Miyazawa, Yukako Kabei, Yashichiro Takahashi, Hideyuki Furuhashi, Suzu Suzuki, and Rei Rairaku. The project was conceived as an original anime property rather than as an adaptation of an existing manga or novel. GoHands handled animation production, and Shingo Suzuki directed the series while also designing its characters. The first television anime premiered in Japan on MBS on October 5, 2012. Its narrative centers on Yashiro Isana, a student at Ashinaka High School in the technologically advanced city of Shizume. Although Yashiro appears ordinary, he becomes the target of the Red Clan HOMRA and the Blue Clan Scepter 4 after the murder of HOMRA member Tatara Totsuka. A video appears to show a man resembling Yashiro committing the killing. Pursued by competing factions, Yashiro attempts to establish the truth about the murder and recover the facts of his own identity. Kuroh Yatogami, a powerful swordsman, and Neko, a Strain capable of sensory interference, become important companions in this journey. The setting is governed by seven Kings, each linked to a psychic clan and a designated color. The Red, Blue, and other clans embody different political and ethical approaches to power, order, freedom, and loyalty. This structure gives the franchise a broader conflict than a simple hero-versus-villain story. Clan relationships, personal allegiance, and the danger posed by supernatural power are recurring themes. The combination of urban technology, school environments, stylized combat, and elaborate character design became a defining feature of the property. Publishing projects expanded the original story before and after the television series. K: Memory of Red, illustrated by Yui Kuroe, focused on HOMRA and events preceding the anime. K: Stray Dog Story explored Kuroh Yatogami's background, while K: Days of Blue examined Scepter 4 before the television narrative. Later titles included K: Countdown, K: Missing Kings, K: The First, Gakuen K, K: Lost small world, K: Dream of Green, and K: Return of Kings. These projects included prequels, retellings, comedy treatments, character histories, and adaptations of screen productions. Several were serialized in Kodansha publications, while other installments appeared through Square Enix's Monthly GFantasy. The franchise's prose publishing line included the light novels K Side: Blue and K Side: Red, released in late 2012, followed by K Side: Black and white in 2013 and K - Lost small world in 2014. The novels provided additional character and setting material alongside the manga program. A visual novel developed by Otomate was released in 2014. Rather than simply retelling the anime, it placed the player in the role of Saya Konohana, an original female protagonist, and used the school setting for relationship-focused routes involving established characters. A sequel film, K: Missing Kings, was announced in 2013 and released in Japan on July 12, 2014. Set during the summer one year after the television series, it continued the unresolved narrative and introduced Mishakuji Yukari. Viz Media licensed the film for North American distribution. The second television series, K: Return of Kings, aired from October 3 through December 26, 2015. It continued the conflict among the clans and served as the ending of the principal television arc. In April 2017, a new six-part animated film project titled K: Seven Stories was announced. GoHands and Shingo Suzuki returned to the production, with GoRA supplying the original story material. The films were released between July 7 and December 1, 2018, further expanding the franchise through multiple stories rather than a single conventional sequel. International licensing included Viz Media in North America and Madman Entertainment in Australia. The available reference material does not establish a current corporate owner, headquarters, financial profile, or a more recent release schedule, so those fields remain unspecified.

• 2018

  K: Seven Stories released

  [1]K (TV series)en.wikipedia.org

  The six-film K: Seven Stories project is released between July 7 and December 1.

• 2015

  K: Return of Kings airs

  [1]K (TV series)en.wikipedia.org

  The second television anime runs from October 3 through December 26 and completes the main television storyline.

• 2014

  K: Missing Kings released

  [1]K (TV series)en.wikipedia.org

  The first sequel film reaches Japanese theaters on July 12 and continues the story one year after the original anime.

• 2014

  Visual novel adaptation released

  [1]K (TV series)en.wikipedia.org

  Otomate releases a female-audience-oriented visual novel featuring the original heroine Saya Konohana.

• 2012

  Original television series premieres

  [1]K (TV series)en.wikipedia.org

  The K anime begins broadcasting on MBS in Japan on October 5, introducing the Seven Clans of Color and the identity mystery surrounding Yashiro Isana.

• 2012

  Early manga and light-novel expansion

  [1]K (TV series)en.wikipedia.org

  K: Memory of Red and K: Stray Dog Story begin expanding the setting, while K Side: Blue and K Side: Red are released as companion novels.

A stylized Japanese supernatural-action anime franchise built around color-coded psychic clans, political conflict among seven Kings, ensemble characters, and cross-media storytelling.

• Television anime · 2012

  K

  The original television anime introduces Yashiro Isana, Kuroh Yatogami, Neko, HOMRA, Scepter 4, and the wider system of seven psychic Kings and color-based clans. It establishes the franchise's supernatural mystery and urban-action format.

• Animated feature film · 2014

  K: Missing Kings

  A sequel film set one year after the first television series. It continues the characters' search for answers and introduces Mishakuji Yukari while expanding the conflict among the clans.

• Television anime · 2015

  K: Return of Kings

  The second television anime season continues the principal narrative and brings the original television storyline to its stated conclusion. It aired in Japan during late 2015.

• Animated film series · 2018

  K: Seven Stories

  A six-part animated film project developed by GoHands and GoRA with Shingo Suzuki returning as director. The project uses several stories to broaden the franchise's characters and mythology.

• Manga · 2012

  K: Memory of Red

  A prequel manga illustrated by Yui Kuroe and written by Rei Rairaku that focuses on HOMRA and events before the original television series.

• Manga · 2012

  K: Stray Dog Story

  A prequel manga illustrated by Saki Minato and written by Tatsuki Miyazawa that examines the background of Kuroh Yatogami.

• Manga · 2013

  K: Days of Blue

  A prequel manga illustrated by Yui Kuroe and written by Rei Rairaku, centered on Scepter 4 and the Blue Clan before the events of the television anime.

• Light novels · 2012

  K Side: Blue and K Side: Red

  Companion novels released in 2012 that provide additional prose perspectives on the franchise's Blue and Red factions and their characters.

• Visual novel · 2014

  K visual novel

  An Otomate-developed interactive adaptation aimed at a female audience. Players take the role of Saya Konohana, an original heroine whose relationships with established characters drive the game's story routes.

• 2017

  Green-lighting of K: Seven StoriesProduct launch

  Background

  After the original television series, its sequel film, and K: Return of Kings, the franchise announced a new project based on an original story from GoRA and GoHands.

  Action taken

  GoHands and Shingo Suzuki returned to produce and direct a six-part animated film project titled K: Seven Stories.

  Aftermath

  The six films were released between July 7 and December 1, 2018, extending the franchise through a multi-film format.

  Source

• 2014

  Expansion into interactive fictionStrategy

  Background

  The franchise had already expanded from television into manga, light novels, and film.

  Action taken

  Otomate developed and released a visual novel that introduced an original heroine and relationship-centered gameplay.

  Aftermath

  The property gained an interactive format designed for a female audience, although the available reference does not provide sales or reception figures.

  Source

1. 1K (TV series)en.wikipedia.org