Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Anime / RahXephon

Go To

1[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_14617933202.jpg]]
2
3''[=RahXephon=]'' is a science-fiction anime series directed by franchise creator Creator/YutakaIzubuchi and produced by Creator/StudioBONES. It aired on Creator/FujiTV from January 21 to September 11, 2002.
4
5It's 2015, and OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Ayato Kamina lives in a sharply delimited world. Three years earlier, something happened that enclosed Tokyo in an impenetrable shell called "Tokyo Jupiter"(because that's where it is and what it resembles). As far as Ayato and the other inhabitants of the city are concerned, the rest of the world simply vanished, and they are all that is left. His painting, and getting by day-to-day while his widowed mother spends all her time on her secret job for the government are more important to him. At least, until mysterious invaders pass through the barrier and attack Tokyo with advanced fighters while strange, sculpture-like war machines protect the city.
6
7In the midst of that attack, two women enter his life. The first, Haruka Shitow, claims to be there to "rescue" him and take him ''out'' of walled-in Tokyo. The second is Reika Mishima, a strange girl who looks like she just stepped out of the most recent painting Ayato has been working on. Reika approaches the boy and sets him on his way to discovering [=RahXephon=], a giant robot as sculptural as the weapons defending the skies above, encased in a giant "egg" deep below the city. But when Ayato awakens and bonds with [=RahXephon=], his life will never be the same again.
8
9Inspired by the 1970s mecha show ''Anime/{{Raideen}}'' and heavily influenced by [[http://www.wattpad.com/121643 science fiction literature]] (''Literature/TheDandelionGirl''), most Western audiences will compare it to ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''. Where ''Evangelion'' is about dysfunction and despair cloaked in Kaballah and Judeo-Christian imagery, ''[=RahXephon=]'' is about transcendence and revelation; blending music, gorgeous imagery and Mayan lore to produce a result that is thematically the total opposite of ''Evangelion'''s bleakness. Despite the two series having plot points which are [[FollowTheLeader suspiciously similar]], ''[=RahXephon=]'' stands in its own right as a SuperRobot series.
10
11See also ''Anime/EurekaSeven'' and ''Anime/StarDriver'', other mecha productions by BONES (the latter of which takes quite a few cues from ''[=RahXephon=]'').
12
13----
14!!This show provides examples of:
15
16* AdaptationDistillation: TheMovie version, ''Pluralitas Concentio'', to varying degrees of effectiveness. Plot threads that were easy to lose over the course of the series are now easier to grasp, but many are cut, a few are changed and some double up on themselves, partly as a result of using both new and old material. As an example of the last, at one point there is new material where [[spoiler:Ayato and Haruka have sex]]. One scene later, in series material, he's asking Megumi if Haruka currently has a boyfriend. In addition, several characters (including Quan) are DemotedToExtra, a few get expanded/altered backstories, and some are removed entirely.
17* AgeGapRomance: After a certain point, it ''seems'' like this for [[spoiler: Ayato and Haruka]], who are 17 and 29 respectively. Turns out to be ''much'' more complicated. [[spoiler:They were originally of the same age and met when both were 13 years old. Haruka aged much more than Ayato in the outside world due to Tokyo Jupiter's time dilation effect.]]
18* AGodAmI:
19** [[spoiler:Ayato, when he merges with the [=RahXephon=]]].
20** [[spoiler:Bähbem]] considers himself a god by way of creating [[spoiler:the [=RahXephon=] system.]]
21*** Played for irony when [[spoiler:Futagami]] shoots him in the back right before the tuning.
22* AlienBlood: Mulians have blue blood after a "Mu phase" in their genes activates. It's used for symbolism, "blue blood" being a metaphor indicating royal or noble status.
23* AllThereInTheManual: The only Dolem actually named during the anime itself are Allegretto (repeatedly) and Fortissimo and Falsetto (once each).
24* AlternateContinuity: Manga, TV, movie and a game with 40 alternative endings; there is also a print novel series based on the TV version.
25* AMechByAnyOtherName: "Dolems", "Xephon", "Vermillions".
26** Though the only true mechs appear to the advanced jet aircraft present in the show. The others have squishy organic parts, or are made of clay. [[spoiler: The Dolems in particular seem to share health pools with a Mulian "pilot".]] And even the Vermillions are eventually revealed to be mass-produced Dolems that have been outfitted with suits of mech-like armor to allow normal humans to pilot them.
27* AmericansAreCowboys: Cathy.
28* AncientConspiracy: The Mu and Bähbem have been planning for millennia.
29* AnyoneCanDie: By the time the tuning occurs, the only main cast members still alive are [[spoiler:Futagami, Rikudoh, Megumi, Watari, Quon, and Ayato. Maya and Haruka]] are technically alive, but are both physically dead.
30* ArcWords: "The world is saturated with sound."
31* TheAtoner: Kunugi's motivation for joining TERRA.
32* BabiesEverAfter: In the epilogue sequence.
33* BattleButler: Episode 15 features one wielding what appears to be an [=MP5=].
34* BeachEpisode: one subverted, one played straight.
35* BeamSpam: Kuki's massive (2.6 '''km''' long) Dolem "Largo." Used to maximum effect to shoot down a MacrossMissileMassacre, where it literally just ''rains'' down beams non-stop for a half-second.
36* BeehiveBarrier: The [=RahXephon=]'s shields and the visuals from the cockpit appear as hexagonal grids.
37* BelligerentSexualTension: Played with. Megumi and Ayato show signs of this from basically the fourth episode, including most of the cliched signs, but while Megumi seems to actually be interested about midway through, she can't catch a break (see below). Played with for a less jerkass Ayato (who becomes so through CharacterDevelopment) and a far more deredere Haruka.
38* BigBad: Ernst von Bähbem
39* BitchInSheepsClothing: A metric ton of them, but [[{{Anvilicious}} the most prominent one]] is Mamoru.
40* BookEnds: Ayato's painting. It also takes it a step further and, after the ending credits, shows the original inspiration for the painting that kicked-off the whole show.
41* BreathWeapon: '''RRRRRAAAAAAAAH!!!''', courtesy of the [=RahXephon=] itself.
42* BridgeBunnies:
43** Subverted by an even gender mix, and individuals have whole episodes dedicated to them.
44** Deconstructed. The reason Megumi and Kim signed up with TERRA despite being so young is because the former is implied to have severe problems with school and eventually dropped out, and the latter [[spoiler: is looking for revenge against the Mu due to losing her parents in one of their attacks]].
45** {{Lampshaded}} by the line, "Whoa, check out the sweet new bridge bunny."
46* ButtMonkey: Megumi Shitow can ''not'' catch a break in love. [[spoiler:Fellow coworker Souichi? Too bad, taken by coworker Kim. Ayato? Your sister's got you by a 15-year lead.]]
47* {{Catfight}}: A brief one between Elvy and Cathy over who Ayato's going to sketch next. But, really, they were just having a fun day at the beach.
48* CastOfSnowflakes: The only character that has a reused face is [[spoiler: Isshiki's]], and that's justified because [[spoiler: he's part of a mass-produced clone series]].
49* CherryBlossoms: The "death" mythos is played with; one conversation jokingly mentions that if a human buried under the tree turns the petals red, would a Mulian (who have blue blood) turn the petals blue? This becomes somewhat of a BrickJoke near the end.
50* TheChosenOne: The instrumentalist that will bring about the tuning the world.
51%%* CityInABottle: Tokyo Jupiter
52* ColorCodedForYourConvenience:
53** Humans are red, Mulians are blue.
54** Also, Elvy's squadron: her plane is vermilion, her wingmates are green. This carries over when they get their MidSeasonUpgrade mechs.
55* ComboPlatterPowers: The Obligatto, in addition to the standard Dolem MagicMusic, also has a Disc-Dolem to carry it around, SuperSpeed extensible claws, and a third arm.
56* ContemplateOurNavels: With in-story relevance [[spoiler: as Ayato achieves Yolteotl]].
57* CoolPlane: The Vermillions seem to straddle the line between this and mecha. The Seishin definitely count and can be equipped with rather bulky MechaExpansionPack.
58* CompilationMovie: With series and new footage.
59* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: From his first appearance it was clear that Jouji Futagami was more than just a nosy photo journalist. He goes on to solidify his badassness in the finale when he, of all people, [[spoiler:kills BigBad Ernst von Bähbem]].
60* CrapsaccharineWorld: Tokyo Jupiter, as becomes very clear in episodes 17 and 18.
61* CrypticConversation: Quon speaks like this most of the time, and the Bähbem foundation isn't much better. Heck, everyone other than the protagonist has a bad habit of doing this until the plot threads start untangling (at which point ''he'' starts doing it from all the revelations coming his way).
62* CurbStompBattle: Pretty much every single fight between the [=RahXephon=] and a Dolem ends in only a few seconds, not including fights where Ayato is being {{Mind Rape}}d. This goes double whenever [=RahXephon=] goes berserk.
63* Dangerous16thBirthday: "Instrumentalists" gain the ability to pilot a Dolem at a certain age.
64* DeclarationOfProtection: A major theme, especially towards the end.
65* DerangedAnimation: Allegretto in particular is generally drawn against extremely realistic backgrounds that make it look incredibly eerie.
66* DeusEstMachina: [[spoiler:Both the Ayato and Quon![=RahXephons=]]].
67* DeusExMachina: DeusEstMachina Literally[[note]]As in if you take the literal ''translation''[[/note]], and the episode is even named "Deus ex Machina". It avoids being an AssPull and works fairly well, though, bucking the trope.
68* DoItYourselfThemeTune: Creator/MaayaSakamoto, Reika Mishima's actress, sings the opening theme.
69* DramaticIrony: Played with in regards to [[spoiler: Asahina's fate]].
70* DramaticWind
71* DreamingOfAWhiteChristmas: ...with an energy-absorbing Dolem invoked to justify it.
72* EarnYourHappyEnding: And how!
73* EldritchAbomination: The Dolems and the titular mecha.
74* EndOfTheWorldSpecial: [[spoiler:Ayato]] essentially remakes the universe through the tuning. As noted directly above, [[EarnYourHappyEnding this is a very good thing]].
75* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: Tied in with a 2012 explanation, even!
76* EroticDream: The surreal fantasy that Ayato gets trapped in. He has a minor FreakOut when dream!Haruka starts making advances on him.
77* UsefulNotes/EsperantoTheUniversalLanguage: TERRA is supposed to be an Esperanto acronym: "Tereno Empireo Rapidmova Reakcii Armeo", which allegedly means "Earth Empire Rapid Response Army", but [[MyHovercraftIsFullOfEels "Armeo" is the only correct word in that phrase]]; the rest is Esperanto-sounding gibberish. If it was accurate, it would be "Tero Imperio Rapida Respondo Armeo", which gets you TIRRA.
78* TheEveryman: Ayato.
79* EveryoneIsRelated: Roughly the whole cast, at any rate.
80* EvolvingCredits: The [=RahXephon=] itself was shown as a silhouette with glowing eyes in the opening until a few episodes in. Later on the members of the Bähbem Foundation and the Vermillion pilots work their way into the credits too.
81* {{Expy}}: Several characters have a definite resemblance to those of ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' with fewer mental problems. In particular, Haruka is a lot like Misato, being similarly a competent military official with some ManChild mannerisms, although Haruka isn't really a HardDrinkingPartyGirl- her best friend is. Said friend also happens to wear the same cross necklace Misato has. See the Analysis tab for further details.
82* EyepatchOfPower: Shirow Watari has a rather unique one.
83* EyesAlwaysShut: Jouji Futagami.
84* FaceFault
85* FallingIntoTheCockpit: Subverted; Ayato was guided to the [=RahXephon=], and before that, was being groomed to be its pilot. He just didn't know he was being led there.
86* FantasticRomance: Probably one of the best-kept secrets of the show until half way through the series.
87* {{Fanservice}}: The entire last half of Chapter 3 of the manga shows three female characters wearing nothing but bikinis. It even goes as far as to show Haruka Shitow and Sayako Nanamori stripping right in front of Ayato. The anime has two beach episodes and a female cast who tend to show a lot of leg.
88* FirstChurchOfMecha: The Mu, fully justified since the [=RahXephon=] ''is'' a god.
89* FirstGirlWins: In an odd way, as Haruka was Ayato's sweetheart several years back, but he was given amnesia and due to the time dilation, she ended up several years older than him- but they still end up together; Asahina, the seeming "first girl" doesn't end up with Ayato.
90* FloatingContinent: The Mu's flying cities.
91* FreezeSneeze
92* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Elvy to Haruka.
93* GhostButler: the shrine in episode nine.
94* {{Golem}}: Most of the mechas in the show are made of clay, and the enemy ones are even called "Dolems".
95* GrandTheftMe: This is how Bähbem manages to stay alive for so long.
96* [[GratuitousForeignLanguage Gratuitous Nahuatl]]: ...particularly in terminology relating to the [=RahXephon=].
97** As noted elsewhere, there's a bit of Italian (the Dolem names, [[ThemeNaming being musical terms]]) and [[UsefulNotes/EsperantoTheUniversalLanguage Esperanto]] as well.
98* HaremSeries: While not a ''traditional'' harem anime per se, ''[=RahXephon=]'' does feature a fair number of female characters who show interest in Ayato, live with him, and/or act jealous when [[NotWhatItLooksLike they see him with other girls.]]
99* TheHeavy: While [[spoiler:[[BigBad Lord Bähbem]] and his AncientConspiracy are behind most of the things that drive the plot]], the Mu are the primary antagonists fought throughout the series.
100* HeroicBSOD: Ayato has one after [[spoiler:he learns about Asahina's death.]] We aren't shown what happens, but it's noted that he was found with her body, "in a state of extreme emotional distress", and had to be physically restrained by the TERRA personnel sent to recover him.
101* HumongousMecha: Goes without saying.
102* IKnowMortalKombat: Inverted; Ayato does well in a dogfight game because he has learned to fly with the [=RahXephon=].
103** Of course, the seasoned fighter pilot still kicks his butt in said game.
104*** Which is the same inverted trope.
105* IncestSubtext: Quon and Itsuki are shown to be quite close. On top of that, Quon has ''absolutely'' [[ShamelessFanserviceGirl no problem exposing herself in front of Itsuki]], as evidenced when she [[ToplessnessFromTheBack partially stripped off her outfit]] so that he could comb her hair.
106* InnocentInnuendo: An early episode has Megumi in bed kind of shaking and laughing in bed telling someone that if they "go down there" they will have to take responsibility for it- turns out she's talking to the cat.
107* IntertwinedFingers: Haruka and Ayato, once in the anime, twice in the movie.
108* IntimateHealing: In the movie, Ayato is shown in a TERRA brig after attacking the team sent to recover him after [[spoiler:Asahina's death]]; see HeroicBSOD. Haruka comes to talk to him... and the conversation leads to something else.
109* InvincibleHero: In twenty-six episodes, only once does the Rah Xephon suffer more than a scratch, and even then, the fight is barely more than a few seconds. That said, neither side is really trying to win via force of arms...
110* {{Irony}}: Tons of it. There's the above HilariousInHindsight, Mamoru means "to protect" in Japanese this is something Ayato does, and what Mamoru himself fails at because of his extreme {{Jerkass}}ery.
111** [[spoiler:The biggest one is probably Hayato saying that he doesn't like older women. Not only does he end up together with Haruko (chronologically 12 years older at that point), but he very happily has sex with her in the movie.]]
112* JapaneseRanguage: The Vermilion is spelled "Vermirion" in it's first episode. It's corrected by next time, though.
113* JigsawPuzzlePlot: ...of the good variety, not the AssPull variety.
114* KillTheCutie: [[spoiler:Asahina.]]
115* KudzuPlot: Suffers a wee bit from this. The nature of the Mulians, the secret conspiracy, the nature of the world, why the main character is TheChosenOne and exactly what the chosen one does aren't particularly well-explained. TheMovie helps tidy up a few things, though it's an AlternateContinuity.
116* LargeHam: Masayoshi Kuki. It's debatable whether he destroys more scenery by chewing or by BeamSpam.
117* LatexSpaceSuit: Ayato's pilot suit.
118* {{Leitmotif}}: The soundtrack uses a few songs with variations. Also, the way Reika shows up (almost always in a higher place than Ayato) can be a visual form of this.
119* LimitedWardrobe: justified with the work and military uniforms, not so much with Megumi's favorite tube-top and shorts ensemble.
120** Played with hilariously with Ayato's borrowed "winter" clothing, a green ensemble that resembles stock elf clothing, and ''is'' women's clothing.
121* LoveTriangle: Several of them; if you include non-romantic love it becomes a LoveDodecahedron.
122* LukeIAmYourFather: Nearly ''everyone'' is related to each other by blood or adoption.
123* LuminescentBlush: Megumi, and others from time to time.
124* MagicMusic: Used by Dolems and the Xephon to send messages or attack.
125* MainCharacterFinalBoss: Ayato Kamina ends up [[spoiler:becoming the final boss of the show after he merges with Ixtli and becomes the True [=RahXephon=]. During this time, his song ends up killing off several characters and when Quon appears to him in her own ascended form, its so they can merge together, allowing Ayato to rewrite reality so that the Mulian threat never existed and all Mulians could live normal lives as humans.]]
126* TheMenInBlack: The generic Mulian agents in Tokyo Jupiter.
127* MidSeasonUpgrade: The [=RahXephon=] gains access to a vast array of new weapons and abilities and Elvy's squadron's planes are replaced with Vermillions, human-made mechas designed to imitate Dolems.
128* MindScrew:
129** If you don't pay attention, you'll probably end up feeling this way about the GrandFinale, [[[spoiler:which is largly a long conversation between Ayato and Quon about his motivation]]. It's even worse in the movie version, which cut most of the context for time.
130** Any dream sequences can get a touch [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic symbolic]]. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools In a good way]].
131** The OAV "Her and Herself" is a conversation between two Quons about what Quon desires. [[[spoiler:The two Quon's accept one another, but the world crumbles anyway and then Quon wakes up from her dream and Itsuki explains that she fainted for seeemingly no reason.]]
132* MonogenderMonsters: The Dolems are all feminine except for two, and have women instrumentalists.
133* MonsterOfTheWeek: Though most of them make repeat appearances.
134* MotionCaptureMecha
135* MultilingualSong: "The Garden of Everything" is a duet between English singer Steve Conte and Japanese singer Creator/MaayaSakamoto. The later portions of the song features both of them singing off each other in their own languages.
136* MultinationalTeam: TERRA
137* MyGrandsonMyself: An interesting take on this; technically the "new" [[spoiler:Bähbems]] are descendants of the original, but he overwrites their personality with his own when his current body gets too old. When his latest intended host, Isshiki, turned out to be a dud, he {{Body Surf}}ed into his OppositeSexClone, Helena.
138* NaiveNewcomer: Ayato
139* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: The [=RahXephon=].
140* NotADate: Ayato and Megumi, but they're aware of what it looks like and get very flustered when asked.
141* NotWhatItLooksLike: Ayato has some explaining to do when Megumi sees him coming home with Quon.
142* NuclearWeaponsTaboo: Averted. A hydrogen bomb was used in the first Mu-Human war.
143* ObfuscatingStupidity: [[spoiler: Jouji Futagami]]
144* OhCrap: [[spoiler:Isshiki]] gets one when he brings down the Tokyo Jupiter barrier, only to find things...not going to plan. Well, his plan anyway.
145* TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness: Two of them.
146* OracularUrchin: Quon
147* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent: Anyone in the cast under twenty. Literally. The only exception is during the flashback episode.
148* ParentalAbandonment
149* PerpetualMolt: One of the series's dominant images is a storm of feathers every time the [=RahXephon=] unfurls its wings.
150* PhenotypeStereotype: Cathy, the hot-tempered, non-spiritual, rock-and-roll playing American with blue eyes, blonde hair, freckles, a cowboy hat and [[ForeignFanservice the biggest bust in the cast.]]
151* PoseOfSupplication: The [=RahXephon=] in episode 3. Justified somewhat in that it's on a large ship at sea, which would make standing a bit of an issue.
152* PowerCrystal: And how! Just about any Dolem of importance has a few on it. One whole episode revolves around one and what it can do in the wrong hands.
153* RefusalOfTheCall: Ayato refusing to pilot the [=RahXephon=] in episode 5 and telling [[spoiler:Ixtli]] to go shove it when she later tells him about his role in the tuning. He comes around both times though.
154* ReplacementGoldfish: After losing Ayato to Tokyo Jupiter, Haruka beings dating Itsuki because [[spoiler:he's actually Ayato's clone and looks exactly like him]]. Their relationship implodes because, well, he's not Ayato.
155** Ayato does the same thing (inadvertently) with Ixtli, [[AFormYouAreComfortableWith who takes on]] [[spoiler:Haruka's]] appearance in order to guide Ayato to the [=RahXephon=] and to protect him once he starts piloting it.
156** Probably also [[spoiler: Mamoru]] with Megumi since he notes her similarity to his old love [[spoiler: Asahina]] and pretty much throws himself at her.
157* ResetButtonEnding: [[spoiler:Ayato]] remakes the world, repairing the dimensional split and modifying history so he ends up with [[spoiler: Haruka]].
158* RetGone: [[spoiler:Ayato erases Bähbem and the Mu from existence, allowing everyone who otherwise went through Mu Phase (Mamoru, Itsuki, Asahina, Maya, Quon, himself, et al.) to live normal lives as humans]].
159* SayMyName: Haruka shouts "Ayato!" quite a bit.
160%% * ScaryShinyGlasses
161%% * SinisterShades
162%% * SecondEpisodeMorning
163* SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: The ultimate purpose of the [=RahXephon=]
164* ShesAllGrownUp: Haruka, though the exact implications of the situation don't make their full impact until the end of the series.
165* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Megumi and Ayato.
166* ShoutOut: To Japanese science fiction movies, and at least one each to ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' and ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''.
167** Haruka Shitow is a [[Anime/SailorMoon defender of love and justice]]!
168** There's a reason some people call this show "''[[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Evangelion]]'' without the angst". You can basically count at least one obligatory reference per episode. To say nothing of how the characters are less angsty versions of Evangelion characters, or at least aspects of these characters.
169* ShowerOfAngst: Elvy, after [[spoiler:Donny]] gets sliced to pieces by Obbligato.
170* SoundtrackDissonance: A sweet, romantic tune plays in episode 19 while Ayoto curbstomps a Dolem and unknowingly brutally kills [[spoiler:his friend Asahina]], who is connected to the Dolem.
171* SmugSnake: Makoto Isshiki, who is actually referred to as a snake.
172** Haruka even doodled a snake-Isshiki picture that briefly got her fired.
173* SpannerInTheWorks: Haruka Shitow to Maya's plans.
174* SpellMyNameWithAnS:
175** The Mexican Spanish version of the manga adaptation spells ''[=RahXephon=]'' as ''Raazefon''.
176** The Kanji for Quon would normally be transliterated into English as Kuon, since Q doesn't exist in Japanese. Also, Shitow and Shirow are properly spelled with a U, not a W.
177* SpiritualSuccessor: To the 70's SuperRobot series ''Anime/BraveRaideen''.
178* StandingInTheHall: Kisaragi jokingly threatens Ayato and Kim with this when they're bickering like school children.
179* StrangerInAFamiliarLand:
180** Ayato has this happen to him several times.
181** [[spoiler: Asahina has this happen to her when she begins to notice how strange everything is in Tokyo Jupiter]]
182* {{Synchronization}}: Definitely the case with the Dolems; seems to be the case with the Xephon, though it's not clear.
183** To be more specific, the Dolems are synchronized with their instrumentalists but also with humans who effectively "anchor" them into the human world. This is rather horribly demonstrated in episode 19, when Ayato kills [[spoiler:Asahina]] while trying to protect her from the Dolem linked to her. [[TearJerker As if that wasn't bad enough, we get shots of her desperately trying to finish a goodbye note to him, while receiving the same injuries he's inflicting on the Dolem.]]
184* TakeFive
185* TangledFamilyTree: Just trying to diagram [[spoiler:Ayato's family tree]] is sure to induce a headache. It's made even worse by the whole YearInsideHourOutside effect. And it completely changes with each iteration (series, manga, and movie).
186* ThemeNaming: Almost all Dolems are named after music terms and many minor characters also have NumericalThemeNaming.
187* {{Theotech}}: The show has the lost continent of Mu as the main antagonist, and Rah Xephon was an attempt to create an artificial god.
188* ThrowAwayGuns: After futilely emptying a magazine into an apparition of Ayato, Kim Hotal does this at it and then breaks down crying in the penultimate episode. Just to rub it in, the gun doesn't even reach it.
189* TimeTravel: Sorta...
190* TomatoInTheMirror: No less than three of them, including Ayato himself.
191* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Weird one with Haruka (girly girl) and Megumi ({{Tsundere}}), who're siblings [[spoiler:and both have feelings for Ayato: Megumi has a crush while Haruka has deeper feelings that have endured despite more than a decade of separation]]. Megumi mildly pouts this fact. Haruka has her ActionGirl moments, and Megumi is still pretty girly.
192* TyrantTakesTheHelm: Makoto Isshiki
193* TrippyFinaleSyndrome
194* UniverseCompendium: ''[=RahXephon=] Bible'', although it only covers the first half of the series.
195* UnwittingPawn: [[spoiler:Isshiki's]] need to prove himself turns him into one of these.
196* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Isshiki]] gets one towards the end after one of his plans backfires spectacularly.
197* WaifProphet: Quon. And freaking how.
198* WeirdnessCensor: The whole city of Tokyo Jupiter late in the series; {{justified|Trope}} by Mulian mind control.
199* WingedHumanoid: The [=RahXephon=] is meant to invoke this. Subversion is that the wings on are its ''head.'' [[spoiler:Played straighter with the "God" [=RahXephons=].]]
200* WhatTheHellHero: [[spoiler:Near the end of the series, Ayato accidentally kills Souichi and Elvy in a moment of PowerIncontinence as the new [=RahXephon=]. Elvy goes mostly unmentioned, but Kim is not happy at ''all'' about Souichi. Not that she can do anything about it.]]
201* WorldHealingWave: [[spoiler:At the series finale, Ayato's choice creates one.]]
202* YearInsideHourOutside: Time passes six times faster in the outside world than it does inside Tokyo Jupiter.
203* ZipMeUp: Done between Ayato and Quon in the fourth episode.
204
205----
206

Top