Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Manga / ChronoCrusade

Go To

1%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=17100131670.96691900
2%% Previous thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1560873284002339200
3%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.
4%%
5[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chrono_crusade_1.png]]
6%%
7->''"My name is Chrono. I'm what you humans call a demon."''
8-->-- '''Chrono'''
9
10''Chrono Crusade'' is a {{manga}} by Creator/DaisukeMoriyama that ran in ''Monthly Dragon Age'' from 1998 until 2003. Studio Creator/{{Gonzo}} made an [[Anime/ChronoCrusade animated adaptation]] of the series towards the end of the manga's run.
11
12The story takes place in America during the [[TheRoaringTwenties 1920s]] and follows Rosette Christopher, a "[[ChurchMilitant gun-toting nun]]" and exorcist who works for the Magadalan Order, and her assistant Chrono, [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld a cute, chipper boy]] who is really a [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demon]] himself. Together, the pair aim to stop demons that would harm innocent people while searching for Rosette's missing brother Joshua, who was kidnapped by [[WhiteHairBlackHeart Aion]], a demon with ties to Chrono's past. Along the way they pick up MysteriousWaif Azmaria and CoolBigSis Satella and slowly begin to unravel the mysteries behind the powers of the children known as Apostles, and the plans Aion has for Joshua.
13
14This series is known, regrettably, for confusion among Western otaku over how the title should be spelled. Originally titled ''"Chrno Crusade"'' in Japan, even though the katakana indicates "Chrono", this name carried over amongst people who watched the anime via {{fansub}}s. Those same people were unhappy when the series's Western publisher "corrected" the title, refusing to acknowledge it. Years later, a reissue of the manga restored the missing "O" ([[https://web.archive.org/web/20180228105726/miamaha.tumblr.com/post/63230787295/chrono-crusade-2010-manga-reprint-covers which was highlighted by a flame]] [[LampshadeHanging just so you know it's there]]).
15
16Both the manga and the anime were licensed in North America by Creator/{{ADV|Films}} via their various publishing arms. The manga fell out of print when ADV shuttered their comics division in 2007 and is currently unlicensed, [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes so if you want to read this series legit and see any volumes for sale anywhere, snatch them up]]. Creator/{{Funimation}} picked up the rights to the anime in 2010 and has released it in a single set containing all 24 episodes. It has also aired on American television, first on The Anime Network (created by ADV), then on Showtime Beyond, before Creator/{{Manga|Entertainment}} picked up the broadcast rights and aired it on Creator/{{Syfy}}'s now-defunct anime block.
17
18[[JustForFun/IThoughtThatWas Has nothing to do with the Square games]] ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' and ''VideoGame/ChronoCross''. [[TrendCovers Not even if the original Japanese logo with overlapping "C"s bears a striking resemblance to the aforementioned games']], and if ''Crusade'' sounds like the next in the series after ''Trigger'', ''Cross'', and ''Break''.
19
20For character-related tropes, please see the [[Characters/ChronoCrusade character page]].
21
22'''This page deals with Creator/DaisukeMoriyama's original manga. For tropes on the anime adaptation, please see ''Anime.ChronoCrusade''.'''
23----
24!!''Chrono Crusade'' provides examples of:
25* ActionFilmQuietDramaScene: Several, although they're often interrupted by the villains. Considering how much the relationships between the characters are used to highlight the themes of the series, these scenes pop up frequently and are very important overall.
26* ActionPrologue: The series begins with Rosette and Chrono being called in to help in a demon attack, and save most of the exposition for the second chapter/episode.
27%%* AdvancedAncientAcropolis: Pandaemonium.
28* AfterlifeExpress: Transports souls to the afterlife. [[spoiler:Rosette]] takes a ride on it [[spoiler:when her contract with Chrono weakens her soul]], but decides to jump off and revive before the end of the trip.
29* AgeAppropriateAngst: Many of the younger characters were deeply affected by the loss of family members, while one of the older characters is more concerned with the loss of a love interest.
30* AlasPoorVillain:
31** Aion somewhat has this in the manga – he and Chrono have a heart-to-heart chat before their final battle. His motivations are still portrayed as twisted, but at the same time many readers sympathize with his reasons.
32** Rizelle – Mildly, she laments her unrequited love for Aion as she dies, making her death scene somewhat sympathetic.
33** In the manga Genai's dying words indicate he's going to the afterlife to meet with Rizelle again.
34* AlliterativeTitle: Even more obvious in the original Japanese.
35* AlternateHistory: [[spoiler:There's obviously no ring orbiting our planet and New York City has not been wiped out by a freak tsunami in 1924 by an enormous flying fish city-thing.]]
36* AndYourLittleDogToo: Chrono had plenty of reason to dislike Aion, but it wasn't until he kidnapped Joshua that he and Rosette started getting involved in his plans.
37* AngstComa: Chrono goes into one [[spoiler:after volume 5]]. It takes a JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind to get him out of it.
38* ApeShallNeverKillApe: Killing another demon is a major taboo for law-abiding demons... unless the other demon is a Sinner.
39* AppliedPhlebotinum: The "holy" or possibly Astral-based technology behind the Order's weaponry - some of the more powerful bullets are explicitly based on bound and captured demons. Which leads into [[spoiler:the demons' legion cells, which compose them and the entirety of their Organic Technology. Father Remington is even infected with legion cells to make him a more powerful combatant, but they've been slowly growing more numerous.]]
40* ArcWords:
41** "Mary Magdalene" – so important that the words are in ''the logo of the series''.
42** Chrono's "Someday, I'll have to tell you a story about something that happened a long time ago..." may qualify.
43* ArtEvolution: Subtle within the series, but comparing art earlier in the series to towards the end makes it obvious that Moriyama improved as an artist while working on the series. And then the brand-new reprint covers were released, and his art style has changed so much it almost looks like a different artist altogether drew the cover.
44* ArtShift: Volume 1 has some English [[WrittenSoundEffect sound effects]] and Rosette often mixes in English words in the Japanese version. But her use of English words is seen less often in the later volumes and English sound effects are never seen again after the 1st volume.
45* ArtisticLicenseGeography:
46** The party's journey from NYC to San Fransisco takes them from New York to the Seventh Bell Orphanage (in Michigan), to Washington DC, to Chicago, and from there to San Fransisco. This route is about 1500 miles longer than it needs to be, especially given how important this mission is to Rosette. Particularly {{JustForFun/egregious}} given the absence of interstate highways, which wouldn't exist for roughly another 30 years. Either Moriyama didn't know better, or Rosette is totally incapable of cross-country navigation. For the record, the ''logical'' path would have been to go from NYC, to Seventh Bell, and then San Francisco. There was no stated plot reason why they had to go to DC at all, and the sole reason they went to Chicago is because that's where the train they were on was going (After wrecking the car in DC).
47** The manga locates the Seventh Bell Orphanage in Michigan. The problem with that is that (1) Rosette is easily able to get there by car, which is unlikely to have been the case in 1924, in addition to it being hundreds of miles away from New York City; and (2) it's near a lovely mountain lake, but Michigan is pretty flat as far as US states go – ~1400' separate its lowest and highest elevations. The anime fixes both of these problems by putting Seventh Bell vaguely in Upstate New York, probably in the Catskills or Adirondacks. The anime fixes both of these problems by putting Seventh Bell vaguely in Upstate New York, probably in the Catskills or Adirondacks.
48** As mentioned above, Chapter 3 has Rosette and Chrono pick up Azmaria in Las Vegas, which is over 2500 miles from the Order's headquarters in New York. That a several-day trip by 1920's-era train, and would probably have been impossible by car due to the lack of reliable highways over the Rockies at the time.
49* ArtisticLicenseHistory: The manga has Rosette and Chrono go on a mission to a casino on the UsefulNotes/LasVegas Strip... even though Nevada didn't legalize gambling until 1931 (7 years after the story is set) and Vegas didn't have much of a reputation for casinos until after World War II.
50* AnAssKickingChristmas: The GrandFinale takes place during Christmas Eve and Christmas.
51* AudioAdaptation: The series spawned at least one Drama CD, with one being set in a HighSchoolAU.
52* BackStory: Almost all of the characters have them, and many of them connect to other character's pasts – particularly Aion and Chrono.
53* BadassBoast: Rosette delivers one in the first chapter when dealing with the Nepalese/Indian idol going on a rampage.
54-->"Send peace to those who are lost!\
55"Send rest to those who threatens others!\
56"And send death to the demon!\
57"'''GOSPEL!'''"
58%%* BarbieDollAnatomy: Noticeable in the various shower scenes and {{Out Of Clothes Experience}}s.
59%%* BattleCouple: Chrono and Rosette.
60%%* BeastAndBeauty: Chrono and Rosette, sort of. They ''look'' like this, but she definitely doesn't match the typical personality.
61%%* BelligerentSexualTension: Chrono and Rosette.
62* BerserkerTears: Happens occasionally. For example, this is Joshua's reaction when he finds out about Chrono and Rosette's contract.
63%%* BigDamnHeroes: Several moments of this.
64* BittersweetEnding: [[ForegoneConclusion Rosette dies]]. Beyond that, [[spoiler:Satella is revived, but decades have passed and almost everyone she knew is gone – Azmaria having died only one year beforehand.]]
65* BizarreAlienBiology: Demon biology is very different from human. They're composed of "legion" cells which have integrated magic (astral) power into their metabolism, giving them incredible regenerative ability and effective immortality. They're so resilient that even if they take a wound so horrible they ''can't'' regenerate from it no matter how much astral they draw on, they can still take grafts and prosthetic limbs very well. Their horns are basically collection organs for ambient astral energy [[spoiler:and antennae for connecting to the Pandaemonium hive mind]]. Also, [[spoiler:in the manga the demons are literally aliens, hive workers in service to a queen/mothership]].
66%%* BlankWhiteEyes: Several characters get this at different times.
67* BloodFromTheMouth: Used often to show when someone's injured badly. Thanks to Chrono's tendency to throw himself in harm's way, it happens a ''lot'' with him.
68* BodyHorror: Too much to list, although Chrono's horns breaking through the skin on Joshua's head is particularly memorable and bloody.
69* BodyToJewel: Rosette's timepiece contains her life-force, which Chrono sponges off of whenever he needs a power boost to fight.
70* ABoyAndHisX: A girl and her demon.
71* BoyMeetsGirl: Besides the fact that Chrono's a demon, you ''could'' explain the plot similarly to this trope – demon meets girl, [[spoiler:demon loses first girl, meets another girl,]] demon slowly kills girl but falls in love with girl at the same time.
72* BoyMeetsGhoul: Girl meets demon.
73* CanonForeigner: Father Joel from the Drama [=CDs=] and Slim from the Novel.
74* CatapultNightmare: Several times in both versions after nightmares. In the manga, both Rosette ''and'' Chrono come ''out of a coma'' with one of these.
75%%* {{Catfight}}: Especially Rosette and Satella.
76* CentralTheme: According to WordOfGod, "the idea of time running out".
77* ChildhoodFriendRomance: A variation. Chrono and Rosette met when she was young, but he only ''looks'' around her age.
78* ClockOfPower: The pocket watch could be considered to be a very untraditional TransformationTrinket. When Chrono opens the watch, it allows him to turn into his true form but the watch is what keeps him looking like a young normally. It doesn't make him transform so much as it removes the seal on his powers.
79%%* ClothingDamage: Often, but a particularly good example is "Marionette Train".
80%%* ColorFailure: Both the manga and the anime uses this gag at least once.
81%%* ComingOfAgeStory: For Rosette in the manga
82* CompleteImmortality: The demons age very slowly (if at all after they mature), and have regenerative powers to boot – as long as they have their horns or another source of astral energy, anyway.
83* CrashingDreams: Chrono experiences this when he has a nightmare where he almost agrees to follow Aion again, but is stopped by a ghostly woman.
84* CrucifiedHeroShot: After Chrono [[spoiler:destroys most of San Francisco]] and goes comatose, he's shown bound to a cross.
85* CueTheSun: In the ending, Rosette looks out over a rising sun and says "There's plenty for us to do!"
86* DarkenedBuildingShootout: A variation, when Rosette and co get chased into a warehouse by some Pursuers.
87* DarkestHour: After the disastrous battle with Aion midway through the series.
88%%* DarkIsNotEvil: Chrono and Shader definitely count.
89* DeadPersonConversation: [[spoiler:Mary Magdalene]]'s spirit speaks to Rosette.
90* DebutQueue: Chrono and Rosette are introduced in the first episode/chapter, then Azmaria is in the first main plot arc. The following set of chapters/episodes concern flashbacks setting up Aion and Joshua, and the next arc introduces Satella.
91* DestinationDefenestration: In one scene, Chrono becomes so frustrated when Rosette won't wake up in the morning that he actually throws ''Rosette'' out the window.
92* DevilButNoGod: In the manga, the demons are [[spoiler:actually aliens]] and there doesn't seem to be any proof that God really exists.
93%%* DiedInYourArmsTonight: [[spoiler:Rosette, in Chrono's arms. ''Twice''.]]
94* DistantDuet: Joshua and Rosette are both shown singing ''Israfel''.
95* DistantFinale: The manga has an unusually-structured one – the epilogue jumps 70+ years after the main story where we learn what happened to many of the characters… then it flashes ''back'' to 1932 (eight years after the story) where we see Rosette's death.
96* DoingInTheWizard: [[spoiler:Demons are really aliens.]]
97%%* DontSaySuchStupidThings: Rosette gives Chrono this speech after his HeroicBSOD.
98* DontSplitUsUp: In the backstory, Rosette was very upset at the idea of Joshua going by himself to the Magdalene Order. Joshua was much more complacent about the idea.
99* DoomedHometown: Seventh Bell Orphanage, where Joshua and Rosette grew up. Everyone at the orphanage were frozen in stone when the power from Chrono's horns overwhelmed Joshua.
100* DreamSequence: Chrono has one that foreshadows later revelations about his backstory.
101* DueToTheDead: Considering how much the series deals with themes of death, how the bodies of the dead are treated comes up quite often in the series. (Not to mention in FanFic)
102* DysfunctionJunction: Pretty much everyone has some sort of tragic past or present. In the manga, this includes Aion and the Sinners.
103* EarnYourHappyEnding: Although some characters have more traditionally happy endings and others are more bittersweet.
104* EngagingConversation: Shader tells Fiore "I want you to be my wife!" after Fi makes everyone a delicious meal. She's ''probably'' joking, but [[LesYay it's hard to tell with Shader sometimes]].
105* EpilogueLetter: The manga uses a videotaped message from Azmaria to Satella as a framing device for a flashback that covers what happened to the characters in the months leading up to [[spoiler:Rosette's death]].
106* EveryCarIsAPinto: During an extra at the end of volume 7, Rosette shoots a car that immediately explodes on contact.
107* EvilIsNotAToy: Repeated theme throughout. Particularly noticeable with some New York mobsters who wanted demons [[TooDumbToLive to use as enforcers]].
108* EyeAwaken: Chrono and Rosette defeat a demon by the skin of their teeth. As soon as they begin to relax, the demon jumps out of the rubble – and is promptly finished off by backup arriving just in time.
109* FalseCrucible: [[spoiler:Remington challenges Chrono to a duel to the death when he's ordered to execute him, but in reality he's testing to see if Chrono can learn to control his rage. He succeeds, and Remington gives them supplies before setting them on the path to their final battle with Aion.]]
110* {{Fanservice}}: Shower scenes, clothing damage, and quite a few promotional drawings of Rosette in a skimpy outfit. An interview somewhere states that there would've been more fanservice, but the mangaka's family was reading the manga so he decided against it. He seems to have made up for it [[Manga/WorldEmbryo in his latest series]].
111%%* FloatingContinent: Eden.
112* FictionalDocument: Mary Magdalene's book of prophecies and Azmaria's memoir.
113* FirstEpisodeTwist: Chrono being a demon isn't revealed until the second chapter/episode.
114* FlashbackNightmare: Used in both versions, although mostly just to tease and foreshadow the actual flashbacks that cropped up later in the story.
115* FirstLawOfTragicomedies: The story start off fairly lighthearted, but gets DarkerAndEdgier as the series goes on.
116* ForegoneConclusion: We learn ''very'' early in the story that Rosette is destined to not live long due to her lifespan being the thing that powers Chrono's OneWingedAngel form. And indeed, she doesn't.
117* ForeignLanguageTitle: Considering Chrono Crusade is from Japan.
118* ForeseeingMyDeath: [[spoiler:Mary Magdalene knew from birth that she would die as a result of her then-future contract with Chrono]].
119* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler:Most particularly, that bit where Rosette's soul is leaked out of her body through the watch is important.]]
120* FreudianExcuse: Most everyone has a tragic background that explains some of their quirks.
121* GainaxEnding: The end of the manga is strange, somewhat open-ended, and rather rushed and abrupt, causing the ending to come off as pretty weird. To make matters worse, the original published ending was VERY open-ended, with a lot of loose strings not tied up until the final collected volume was released several months later with an additional epilogue added onto the end. (And even THAT ending has some questions that are never answered, and raises new ones on top of it!)
122* GoThroughMe:
123** Chrono throws himself between Aion and [[spoiler:Mary Magdalene. Aion, knowing full well Chrono will heal, actually does just go through him.]]
124** [[HistoryRepeats Repeated]] later when he attempts to save [[spoiler:Rosette. It works, thanks to a spot of "luck".]]
125%%* GreenRocks: Legion
126* GenericistGovernment: It's not really clear if Pandaemonium is even ''conscious'', much less how much power the Queen actually has. Not to mention what roles the Elders have, what "ranks" are, how Pursuers work...
127* GoodMorningCrono: Although the trope is named after the [[VideoGame/ChronoTrigger other Crono]], both versions of this series open with the main characters sleeping in their car and being woken up by a phone call.
128* GrandFinale: The series ends things with a bang.
129* GratuitousEnglish: In the Japanese vol.1, Rosette says "Dam!"... probably a misspelling of "damn".
130* GreatOffscreenWar: UsefulNotes/WorldWarI is briefly mentioned at some points – in fact, [[AllThereInTheManual extras made for the anime]] discuss how the war affected the time period of the setting.
131* HalfHumanHybrid: [[spoiler:Father Remington was infected with demon cells to make him a more powerful combatant and effectively part-demon. When Rosette (and readers) learn about this near the end of the series, his body mass is already 40% legion, and it's shown to have only gotten worse in the epilogue. Aion and Chrono are as well, because their mother was a human who was pregnant when she was taken to be the new host for Pandaemonium, infecting them with legion cells before they were born.]]
132* HappyFlashback: Any time Rosette thinks about her days in Seventh Bell… at least before it all went to hell.
133* HappyPlace: Rosette has a lake near the Order that she takes Azmaria to when she's having a bad moment; other characters mention that she goes there often. [[spoiler:It's destroyed near the end of the first volume, possibly the first sign that the cast is heading into danger.]]
134* HeavenlyBlue: Priests and nuns wear blue habits.
135* HistoricalFantasy: This series likes to mix actual historic events in with the demons and witches and fictitious religious orders.
136* HistoryRepeats: [[spoiler:Mary was possessed by Pandaemonium, which led to Aion wanting her dead and Chrono making a contract with her. Later, when Pandaemonium is killed by Aion, she seeks out a new body: and decides on Rosette.]] Aion can't help but [[LampshadeHanging point out]] that "It's just like we're reliving what happened 50 years ago!"
137* HiveMind: [[spoiler:The demon race is technically a hive in service to Pandaemonium, who is both queen and mothership, though many of the more powerful demons still have their own individual personalities as well - individual enough for some to rebel before they can be forced into compliance, even.]]
138* HolyWater: [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Demons]] are weak to holy water. The [[DepletedPhlebotinumShells bullets]] in Rosette's guns use holy water instead of an explosive charge.
139* HomeSweetHome: [[spoiler:After her adventures, Rosette returns back to the orphanage she grew up in and becomes a caretaker there.]]
140* HordeOfAlienLocusts: [[spoiler:Aion plans to use the corrupted legion in this way to destroy the world and rebuild it.]]
141* HugeGuyTinyGirl: Chrono and Rosette, when Chrono is in his true form.
142* IAmNotLeftHanded: When Aion fights Duke Daffau, he purposely loses the battle, before [[spoiler:revealing his plan to weaken the demons that still have horns, and that his sword has a device built into it to enhance his own powers]].
143%%* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight
144%%** Satella VS [[spoiler:her sister, Florette/Fiore. It doesn't work]].
145%%** Rosette VS Joshua in the manga.
146%%* ImColdSoCold: [[spoiler:Rosette during her final moments in March 1932.]]
147* ImNotHungry: When kidnapped by Aion, [[spoiler:Azmaria]] refuses to eat. Shader convinces her to eat by telling her that "food isn't good or evil."
148* ImplausibleDeniability: Joshua tells Rosette "You're not Rosette. My sister was nice."
149%%* ImpossiblyCoolClothes: Satella, certainly. Pretty much the entire Magdalene Order if you like their uniforms.
150* InelegantBlubbering: Rosette, towards the end of the manga [[spoiler:when she realizes she's died]].
151* IntangibleTimeTravel: Rosette dives into Chrono's soul to relive his memories in this way.
152* InterspeciesRomance: Chrono (demon) and Rosette (human) are themain couple of the series.
153* IronicEcho: "If you had to pretend to be a big shot, you should never have come to the front lines."
154* IShallTauntYou: One of the most effective tactics against Chrono, thanks to his insecurities, emotional personality, and overprotective nature towards Rosette.
155%%* IShouldWriteABookAboutThis
156* ItAlwaysRainsAtFunerals:
157** Azmaria has a flashback of being at a raining funeral, possibly her parents'.
158** In a manga flashback, we see that it snowed at the funeral for Rosette and Joshua's parents.
159* IWasHavingSuchANiceDream: Parodied in the first chapter. Instead of asking for five minutes, Chrono asks Rosette if he can sleep for ''ten hours''. Of course, Rosette doesn't agree to it.
160* IWillWaitForYou: In the end of the manga, Chrono promises Rosette that he'll come back to her right before he leaves to fight Aion in their final battle. [[spoiler:He either takes 8 years to finally return for some unexplained reason, or was killed in his final battle and comes back to her as a ghost. Either way, he returns to her just as she takes her final breaths.]]
161* JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind: There's a machine that allows the exorcists of the Order to "dive" into a person's soul.
162%%* KissingDiscretionShot: Whenever Chrono and Rosette kiss.
163* KnowWhenToFoldEm: At one point, Chrono tries to convince Rosette to retreat. She argues with him, which only gives their enemy an opening to seriously wound Chrono.
164* LeaveTheTwoLoveBirdsAlone: Azmaria arranges for Chrono and Rosette to be alone at the Carnival.
165%%* TheLifestream: Astral Line.
166* LoveDodecahedron: Both Chrono and Joshua seem to have amassed a harem around themselves, which is only the start of how complicated things get.
167* MacGuffinSuperPerson: Azmaria is a young choir singer. She's sought after by the bad guys because she's an Apostle; a human with holy power. In her case it's healing power.
168%%* MagicContractRomance: Chrono and Rosette.
169* MarketBasedTitle: ''Chrno Crusade'' became ''Chrono Crusade'' for the US release. The Japanese reprint of the manga went with the 'Chrono' spelling as well.
170* MarshmallowHell: Twice in the manga. Once with Chrono and Satella, and one with Azmaria and Rosette.
171* MasculineGirlFeminineBoy: Chrono and Rosette, particularly when it comes to housework. This tends to be exaggerated even more in fanfic.
172* MayflyDecemberRomance: Chrono and Rosette. She'd be the mayfly even if she hadn't made that contract. As it is, [[spoiler:she and Chrono die in each other's arms in both versions of the story.]]
173%%* MegatonPunch: Satella delivers one to Chrono after he passes out on her boobs.
174* MentalWorld: Shown when a character "dives" into the soul of another. Azmaria's shows her mourning over the graves of those that have died for her in the past, Chrono's appears to be the grave that Rosette found him sleeping in.
175* MercyKill: Fiore offers this to Satella after she's badly wounded in battle. Satella has other plans.
176* MindScrew: [[spoiler:Demons are actually just SufficientlyAdvancedAliens and Hell is their SpaceWhale buried under the Atlantic Ocean.]]
177* MoralityKitchenSink: Most of the Order and Rosette's companions are on the white side of the scale (with some sliding), the Sinners are mostly on the blackish side of gray, and the other demons are usually black (but occasionally sympathetic).
178* TheMountainsOfIllinois: Some of the background shots around Seventh Bell show jagged mountains. Problem is, you won't find that sort of scenery in Michigan – no point in the state is higher than 2000'. For this and logistical reasons, the anime moved Seventh Bell's location to somewhere in Upstate New York, a much more fitting setting.
179* MultipleDemographicAppeal: A shonen series with a heavy focus on relationships in general, and in particular the central tragic romance, plus lots of pretty girls ''and'' boys, and a dash of a lot of different genres (including supernatural thriller, fantasy, comedy, drama, and in the manga, sci-fi).
180%%* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Chrono, volume 5.
181* NearDeathClairvoyance: [[spoiler:Rosette]] is able to watch a battle over her body after she dies.
182%%* NightmareSequence: Rosette has one. Chrono has a few himself.
183* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Joshua gives Chrono a brief one of these when he finds out about his contract with Rosette.
184* NonIndicativeFirstEpisode: The first episode/chapter is just Chrono and Rosette fighting a demon on a ship, with next to no indication that anything is up with either of them.
185* OhNoNotAgain: When Rosette causes massive property damage during a mission in the beginning of the series, she wails "Why does this sort of thing always happen to me?!" (The rest of the series gives the answer: because she's incredibly HotBlooded.)
186* OfficialCouple: Chrono and Rosette's romance is central to the plot.
187* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome:
188** A large group of demons attack the beach house where Joshua and Fiore are staying. Joshua calmly asks Fiore to go back inside and make him some coffee. By the time she returns with the coffee, Joshua has slaughtered all of them, taking only a minor injury to his hand in return.
189** [[spoiler:The true final battle between Chrono and Aion is never shown; all we have is a page of them charging at each other that then cuts away to follow Rosette. We know Chrono probably won, but not much else.]]
190%%* OminousMultipleScreens: Used to show who Pandaemonium plans to use as a host-[[spoiler:Rosette.]]
191%%* OminousPipeOrgan: Joshua plays one of these to channel his powers.
192%%* OppositesAttract: Chrono and Rosette.
193* OrganicTechnology: [[spoiler:Anything to do with the demons. It's all based on their "legion" cells. Aion's grand scheme involves poisoning the living demon mothership, Pandaemonium.]]
194* OrphansOrdeal: Most of the orphans in the series waffle between this and ConvenientlyAnOrphan. It certainly frees them all up to be running around the country, but most of them have character flaws that are (at least partially) explained by the trauma caused by their parents' deaths.
195%%* OrphanageOfLove: Seventh Bell, before Joshua destroyed it.
196* OurHeroIsDead: [[spoiler:Rosette actually ''does'' die, but is later revived.]]
197%%* OutOfClothesExperience: When Rosette dives into Azmaria's soul.
198* ParentalAbandonment: Features heavily in the backstories of pretty much everyone. [[spoiler:Including Chrono and Aion in the manga.]]
199* PastExperienceNightmare:
200** Chrono is shown occasionally having a bad dream, mostly to hint at bits of his backstory before they're fully revealed.
201** Rosette also has one in the manga after the battle in [[spoiler:volume 5]], showing how traumatized she is after it.
202* PeopleJars:
203** A young Rosette warns Joshua that this will happen to him if he joins the Order.
204** The Apostles are held in these when Aion captures them.
205** Ricardo keeps the soulless body of his wife in one.
206* PhenotypeStereotype: Yes, this series takes place in the United States. Yes, Rosette, Joshua, Remington, and Mary are blond. However, there are plenty of brunettes in the series too. Plus, Satella is a redhead and Azmaria seems to have albinism.
207* PlotBasedVoiceCancellation: In the manga, a promise Joshua made to Rosette when they were children is scribbled out in the text bubble, and revealed later on.
208* PostVictoryCollapse: Rosette collapses right in front of Chrono when [[spoiler:she shoots the horns off of Joshua's head. And then she dies in his arms.]] ''Ouch''. [[note]] She actually survives that and lives for another eight years.[[/note]]
209* PoweredByAForsakenChild: Demon contracts consume the human's soul. Azmaria's foster father used a great machine with her at the center to channel the Astral Line [[spoiler:which was hijacked by his own contracted demon]]. Much later, [[spoiler:Aion has been doing the same thing with all the Apostles, including Azmaria and Joshua now that he has them]]. And finally, we learn that [[spoiler:Pandaemonium's living core died nearly 10,000 years ago when the ship crashed on Earth, and the demons have been capturing suitable human women and plugging them into the ship to act as a series of temporary cores just to keep their species alive. And the last Pandaemonium was pregnant with Chrono and Aion when she was taken, infecting them with legion cells ''in utero'' as a result.]]
210* PowerIncontinence: How Aion created the corrupted legion – by feeding them more power than they can handle.
211* ThePowerOfBlood: Blood is exchanged when a demon makes a contract with a human.
212* ThePowerOfLove: Far, far too many examples to list, but notably it's what [[spoiler:brings Rosette back to life]] in the manga.
213* ThePromise: There's ''several'' promises made from one character to another that later come into play.
214* ProphecyTwist: Mary Magdalene's prophetic dreams that [[spoiler:Chrono]] would be the one to "take" her life is deceptively worded. Mary figures it out once things begin to fall into place. [[spoiler:In the manga, Chrono doesn't realize Mary's lived on in his watch until the end.]]
215%%* PyrrhicVictory
216* RedOniBlueOni:
217** Inverted. Rosette is hotblooded, but wears blue. Chrono is the calm voice of reason, but wears red.
218** Played straighter with Chrono and Aion. Chrono is emotional, bad with demonic technology and cares about people over everything else. Aion is coldly logical, shown playing chess, and sacrifices people he cares about for the success of his plan.
219* RestrainingBolt: The geas spells used to control demons.
220* TheRoaringTwenties: Takes place during this period.
221* RubberFace: Appears occasionally in the manga as well, normally when Rosette is fighting with someone.
222* RunningGag:
223** Rosette hitting Chrono, usually to get out her aggression over a problem that may or may not be his fault.
224** Joshua's hatred of veggies, particularly carrots.
225** Satella flirting with Chrono (which upsets Rosette and {{squick}}s Chrono).
226* SayMyName:
227** At one point in the manga, Joshua [[MadnessMantra repeats over and over]] the word "Sis."
228** Also shows up constantly in romantic moments, dramatic moments, angry moments... pretty much every moment you can think of.
229* SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou: The manga has several scenes where Joshua points a gun outside of the frame and off towards the page.
230%%* SecretTest
231* ShoutOut: The manga has a shout-out to ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' (and other mon shows) when Rosette briefly tries to order a confused Chrono around similarly to how trainers command their monsters.
232* ShowerOfAwkward: Rosette chases the Elder out of the shower... naked. Chrono, of course, is standing right outside, and gets to see Rosette in her full glory. He then gets blamed for the incident and is [[RunningGag punched by Rosette]].
233* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Chrono Crusade is interesting, since there's conflict between these both in the story and OUTSIDE of it. In the story, Rosette tends to represent a very idealistic way of thinking, which contrasts with Aion's very, very cynical beliefs. Break outside the fourth wall, and the conflict exists in the two different versions of the story – The manga tends to show Rosette as often (but not always) in the right, and ends on a fairy idealistic note.
234%%* SpeedEchoes
235%%* StandardBleedingSpots: Chrono in particular, although Rosette isn't immune.
236%%* StarCrossedLovers: Chrono and Rosette.
237* StormingTheCastle: The manga ends with two stormings in rapid succession.
238* SurrogateSoliloquy: The ending has a character talking to [[spoiler:Rosette's grave]].
239* TearsOfBlood:
240** Joshua cries blood after getting Chrono's horns.
241%%** The Sinners experience this when a Geas is cast on them.
242%%** The Apostles also have them during the oratorio in the manga.
243* ThematicRoguesGallery: Naturally, the only enemies Chrono and Rosette fight are demons or supernatural beasts.
244* ThereAreNoTherapists: The Sinners in general could use some good group therapy, not to mention all of the orphans. But are there therapists? No – a few good talks with the local priest, but no therapy sessions. Possibly {{justified|Trope}}, considering the time period.
245%%* TheyWouldCutYouUp: Rosette tells Joshua this to convince him not to join the Order.
246* ThisIsUnforgivable: Chrono and Rosette's reaction when they discover the full extent of Aion's plans.
247* ThrowingDownTheGauntlet: Aion challenges Chrono to "Get up! Kill me now!" when he's [[spoiler:"killed" by Joshua at the carnival]].
248* TransformationTrauma: When Joshua gets Chrono's horns, they grow out of his skull and break through the skin on his head with enough force to spray blood over the walls of his room and his clothing.
249* TransformationTrinket: In a sense the pocket watch is this.
250%%* TrippyFinaleSyndrome
251* TrueCompanions: Made all the more poignant since most of the main characters are orphans. [[spoiler:The Sinners are also shown to be like this as well in the manga, which serves to show how ruthless and committed to his goals Aion is when he sacrifices them without outward remorse.]]
252* UnresolvedSexualTension: Chrono and Rosette are the most obvious, but a lot of other pairings have this between them, too. One of the funniest moments related to [=UST=] in the manga is probably a scene when Chrono walks in on [[spoiler:Mary Magdalene]] washing her clothes in a river in nothing but her underwear. While Chrono flails around behind her, she tells him "You missed me bathing earlier. Too bad!"
253* UnstoppableRage: Chrono, in Volume 5. A main part of his character development is him learning to control [[FatalFlaw his rage]].
254* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: Nobody seems to find Chrono's appearance particularly odd despite the fact that, even in disguise, he has purple hair, pointed ears, red eyes, and fangs.
255* UrbanFantasy: The vast majority of the story takes place in either New York City or San Francisco.
256* VillainsOutShopping: The very first time Aion is actually shown in the flesh, he's coming back home from a shopping trip for Fiore. In the manga, it's the first of several scenes showing the Sinners as somewhat of a dysfunctional, but caring, [[TrueCompanions family unit]].
257* VivaLasVegas: In Chapter 3, Rosette and Chrono are sent to Vegas to save Azmaria from her casino magnate "father", and Rosette can't resist playing the slots.
258* WasItReallyWorthIt: Both the anime and manga bring up this question in reference to Rosette and Chrono's contract – Chrono himself even questions if there wasn't another way they could have done it in the manga.
259* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: The final volume contains a bonus chapter that's one of these.
260* WhereItAllBegan: Chrono and Aion's final battle takes place in Pandaemonium the very place Chrono first joined Aion over half a century ago. [[spoiler:Not to mention that their battle starts and ends with the corpse of their mother nearby...]]
261* WhereIWasBornAndRazed:
262** As mentioned in DoomedHometown, Joshua was responsible for freezing everyone in Seventh Bell into stone.
263** Also, in the manga, [[spoiler:Aion's ultimate goal is the destruction of Pandaemonium and "remaking" Earth by using its legion. He succeeds in the first, but not the second.]]
264* YouAreWithMe: Used at least twice...
265** "...like each light is its own life."
266** "The place Chrono could go back to was decided four years ago!"
267* YourFavorite: A variation – Fiore cooks someone [[spoiler:her sister's]] favorite food, because one reminds her of the other.
268* YourSoulIsMine: Sort of the contracts, although more a case of DealWithTheDevil since both of Chrono's contracts are willing. However, in the manga Aion makes contracts with [[spoiler:kidnapped, or possibly murdered, victims that the Sinners round up for him. Fiore then somehow turns them into jewels, which Aion uses to power himself up during fights.]]
269* YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo: Azmaria promises to go with Larajie if he doesn't hurt Rosette and Chrono. Of course, he goes back on his deal as soon as she's within arm's length.

Top