History Anime / Kiznaiver

---> '''Tenga:''' ''Hahahahahaha''—this goes ''beyond'' [[spoiler: gaining a little weight]]! So you "debuted" in high school, huh? Hahaha!
---> '''Yuta:''' Is there a problem?!

** As for Honoka's case, she claims to have [[spoiler: killed someone in the past]], but as soon as she says it, she takes it back and brushes it off as a joke. It is later revealed in Episodes 6 and 7 that her self-introduction is actually only [[spoiler: MetaphoricallyTrue]]; or at least, to Honoka it is. Honoka's true secret is that [[spoiler: she was best friends with a terminally-ill girl named Ruru back in middle school, and shortly before the latter's inevitable death, Honoka distanced herself from Ruru completely, fearing that if they'd gotten any closer and their relationship escalated into a romantic one, Ruru's death would have been unbearable for her.]]
** Hisomu

** As for Honoka's case, she claims to have [[spoiler: killed someone in the past]], but soon after she says it, she takes it back and brushes it off as a joke. It is later revealed in Episodes 6 and 7 that her self-introduction is actually only [[spoiler: MetaphoricallyTrue]], or at least, to ''Honoka'' it is. Honoka's true secret is that [[spoiler: she was best friends with a terminally-ill girl named Ruru in middle school, and before their platonic relationship could turn into a romantic one, she rejected Ruru's feelings as well as her own and distanced herself from Ruru completely, fearing that if she had fallen in love with her,

before their platonic relationship could turn into a romantic one Honoka stopped it and distanced herself from Ruru completely, leaving the latter to finish the last chapter of the manga they'd created together alone, shortly before she died.

** Chidori [[spoiler: harbors feelings for Katsuhira.]]

** As for Katsuhira, both of the "self-introductions" he made (the first being about [[spoiler: his being "different" from the other Kiznaivers]] and the second being about [[spoiler: Chidori's feelings for him and how he realized that being a Kiznaiver wasn't a bad thing]]) were apparently "a bit off", as stated by Sonozaki but that "it couldn't be helped"; she also mentions to herself that it's because Katsuhira has [[spoiler: "forgotten the secret itself"]], which implies that Katsuhira's true "self-introduction" is that he [[spoiler: participated in the first Kizna experiment that took place twelve years ago, along with Sonozaki and seventeen other children.]]
** Honoka

** Katsuhira's design is similar to [[Manga/WorldTrigger Yūma Kuga]], despite his voice being [[Creator/YukiKaji Osamu Mikumo]].

* GroinAttack: Yuta to [[spoiler: Honoka and Ruru's editor]] in Episode 6 and Urushii to Yaamada in Episode 9.

*** Although she [[spoiler: confessed her feelings to Katsuhira]] in the past tense, it is obvious that she still does at present.
** Katsuhira [[spoiler: participated in the first Kizna experiment that took place twelve years ago, along with Sonozaki and seventeen other children.]], although he did not say

** Chidori [[spoiler: used to have feelings for Katsuhira (although it is evident that she still does).]]

---> '''Tenga:''' ''Hahahahahaha''—this goes beyond [[spoiler: gaining a little weight!]] So you "debuted" in high school, huh? ''Hahaha''!

---> '''Nico:''' [[spoiler: I don't believe in fairies!]]

---> '''Tenga:''' [[spoiler: I-I'm... afraid of dogs!]]

** Katsuhira [[spoiler: participated in the first Kizna experiment that took place twelve years ago, along with Sonozaki and seventeen other children.]]
*** Katsuhira's self-introduction

** Yuta is also this to an extent, as shown in some of his interactions with Honoka.

** Tenga [[spoiler: has cynophobia (fear of dogs).]]
** Nico [[spoiler: actually doesn't believe in fairies, and presents herself as an eccentric headcase as to not be singled out for her being cute and rich.]]
** Yuta [[spoiler: used to be severely overweight just until the end of middle school.]]
** Chidori [[spoiler: is in love with Katsuhira.]]
** Honoka [[spoiler: feels guilty about breaking her dying friend's heart, and believes she "killed her" because of that.]]
** Katsuhira's true secret [[spoiler: participated in the first Kizna experiment, along with Sonozaki and seventeen other children.]]
** Hisomu was not part of the mission, and therefore did not reveal any secret.

** Tenga also has his moments, particularly when he is seen running away from [[spoiler: dogs]].
** Yuta is also this to an extent, as shown in his interactions with Honoka.
* AdultFear: [[spoiler: You buy into the possibility of world peace that the Kizna System is promising to achieve, and happily support it as a benefactor, going so far as to allow your child to take part in it as a test subject. When your child returns to you, they're a little more than emotionless shells of their former selves who have been subjected to so much physical and emotional agony that they can ''no longer feel any pain whatsoever''—that is, if said child is in a stable-enough condition to be returned at all.]]
** It gets worse. [[spoiler: One of the children who was part of the failed experiment—Sonozaki—ended up taking on the pain of ''all nineteen test subjects'', and has continued to do so for ''well over a decade''. This completely destroyed her psyche over time, and she has become convinced that taking on the pain of others—being "connected" to them—is ultimately the only way that she can achieve happiness.]]

** Katsuhira thinks over what Sonozaki said to him in the first episode about once every episode.

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: [[spoiler: "Why do we need to share our wounds?" finally breaks through Sonozaki's CircularReasoning regarding the necessity of the Kizna System to be able to form connections with others.]]

* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Physical pain, emotional pain and [[spoiler: thoughts]] shared between the Kiznaivers are represented with their Kizna marks glowing and a static-like effect on the screen, both colors of which depend on what is shared between them. It goes as follows: physical pain is represented by the color blue, emotional pain is represented with the color yellow, and [[spoiler: thoughts]] are represented with the color red.

** Nico [[spoiler: actually doesn't believe in fairies, and presents herself as an eccentric headcase as to not be singled out for being cute and rich.]]

** Although Katsuhira "introduced himself" as [[spoiler: being "different" from the other Kiznaivers]] because of him having forgotten what he didn't want anyone finding out about, his true secret is that he [[spoiler: participated in the first Kizna experiment, along with Sonozaki and seventeen other children.]]

* DarkSecret: The first mission that Sonozaki appoints to the Kiznaivers is entitled, "Mission: Self-introductions".

The first mission that Sonozaki gives to the Kiznaivers is to get to know each other better. It takes a while for them to finally realize "getting to know each other better" actually means sharing with each other certain things they wouldn't share with anyone else, which would be:
** Chidori [[spoiler: is in love with Katsuhira.]]

** Katsuhira [[spoiler: participated in the first Kizna experiment, along with Sonozaki and seventeen other children.]]

* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Physical pain, emotional pain and [spoiler: thoughts]] shared between the Kiznaivers are represented with their Kizna marks glowing and a static-like effect on the screen, both colors of which depend on what is shared between them. It goes as follows: physical pain is represented by the color blue, emotional pain is represented with the color yellow, and [[spoiler: thoughts]] are represented with the color red.

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: [[spoiler: "Why do we need to share our wounds?" finally breaks through Sonozaki's CircularReasoning regarding the necessity of the Kizna System to be able to create connections with others.]]

* CallBack: Katsuhira and Sonozaki's conversation in Episode 11 is a callback to the two's meeting ten episodes prior, ironically taking place in the same location and making use of the same camera angles.

* ChildhoodFriends: Katsuhira and Chidori. [[spoiler: As revealed in later episodes, Katsuhira and Sonozaki were also childhood friends, along with the rest of the children who were part of the failed experiment that took place twelve years prior to the show]]. [[spoiler: Honoka and Ruru]] can also be considered childhood friends.

* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Physical pain shared between the Kiznaivers is represented by a static-like blue effect on the screen, with the Kiznaivers' Kizna marks glowing blue. The same goes for emotional pain, which is represented by the color yellow, and [[spoiler: the sharing of thoughts, which is represented by the color red]].

** Yuta is also this to an extent, particularly in his interactions with Honoka.

* ArcSymbol: Xs appear all over Sugomori City, from the school uniforms to the unusual moveable bridge all the way to how buildings are arranged in the city
* ArcWords: ''"One for all, all for one"'' is mentioned twice in the first episode.
** Sonozaki believes that the "real phrase" should be ''"One for all, all for victory."''
** Katsuhira reviews what Sonozaki said to him in the first episode about once every episode.

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: [[spoiler: "Why do we need to share our wounds?" finally breaks through Sonozaki's CircularReasoning regarding the necessity of the Kizna System to be able to create bonds with others.]]

* BettyAndVeronica: Katsuhira is the Archie for Chidori's Betty and Sonozaki's Veronica.
* CallBack: Katsuhira and Sonozaki's conversation in Episode 11 is a call back to their meeting in the first episode, being in the same location as well as making use of the same camera angles.

* ChekhovsGag: The statue Nico vandalizes in the first episode shows up again in the eighth episode... [[spoiler: ''where it falls over and nearly crushes Sonozaki'']].
* ChildhoodFriends: Katsuhira and Chidori. [[spoiler: As revealed in later episodes, Katsuhira and Sonozaki were also childhood friends, along with the rest of the children who were part of the failed experiment that took place twelve years prior to the show]]. [[spoiler: Honoka and Ruru]] can also be considered as childhood friends.
* CicadianRhythm: Heard in the background in all outdoor scenes. It's summertime in a Japanese city, after all.

** Chidori - Magenta
** Nico - Orange

* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Physical pain shared between the Kiznaivers is represented by a blue static-like effect on the screen, as well as the Kiznaivers' Kizna marks glowing blue. Same goes for emotional pain, which is represented by the color yellow, and [[spoiler: the sharing of thoughts, which is represented by the color red]].

* DarkSecret: The first mission that Sonozaki gives to the Kiznaivers is to get to know each other better. It takes a while for them to finally realize "getting to know each other better" actually means sharing with each other certain things they wouldn't share with anyone else, which would be:

* {{Adorkable}}: Nico, particularly. Tenga also has his moments when running away from dogs, as well as Yuta in a few of his attempts to get closer to Honoka and/or when he is around Honoka.
* AdultFear: [[spoiler: You buy into the possibility of world peace that the Kizna System is promising to achieve, and happily support it as a benefactor, going so far as to allow your child to take part in it as a test subject. When your child returns to you, they're a little more than emotionless shells of their former selves who have been subjected to so much physical and emotional agony that they can ''no longer feel any pain at all''—that is, if they're in a stable enough condition to be returned to you at all.]]
** It gets worse. [[spoiler: One of the children who was part of the failed experiment—Sonozaki—ended up taking on the pain of ''all nineteen test subjects'', and has continued to do so for well over a decade. This completely destroyed her psyche over time, and she has become convinced that taking on the pain of others is ultimately the only way that she can truly be happy.]]
* AllLoveIsUnrequited: As it turns out, [[spoiler: Nico has feelings for Tenga who has feelings for Chidori who has feelings for Katsuhira who has feelings for Sonozaki, who, believe it or not, may or may not feel the same way. Not only that, but Yuta has feelings for Honoka, who still has lingering feelings for her [[TheLostLenore lost childhood friend]]]].
* AlwaysInClassOne: All the Kiznaivers, as well as Sonozaki, are in class [[SecondYearProtagonist 2]]-A.

* ArcWords: "One for all, all for one" is mentioned twice in the first episode.
** Sonozaki believes that the real phrase should be "One for all, all for victory."

** Katsuhira - ''White''
** Sonozaki - ''Blue''
** Tenga - ''Yellow''
** Honoka - ''Brown''
** Chidori - ''Magenta''
** Nico - ''Orange''
** Yuta - ''Teal''
** Hisomu - ''Purple''

** Nico [[spoiler: actually doesn't believe in fairies, and presents herself as an eccentric headcase so she won't be singled out for being cute and rich.]]

** Noriko Sonozaki is a diluted [[Anime/KillLaKill Satsuki Kiryuin]] with her sadistic qualities intact.

** Also Agata's design is similar to [[Manga/WorldTrigger Yūma Kuga]], despite his voice being [[Creator/YukiKaji Osamu Mikumo]].

* GroinAttack: Urushii to Yaamada in Episode 9.
* HappyRain: Happens in episode 7.
* KnightTemplar: [[spoiler: Pretty much everyone involved in the Kizuna project can be considered one. They are willing to do ''anything'' which could lead them one step closer to achieving world peace, even if it means '''experimenting on their own children''' and causing them such severe physical and emotional duress that they can no longer feel pain or empathy at all.]]

* LongTitle: The names of each episode are entire sentences.
** IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: They also hide the episode number in the Japanese reading of the titles.

** [[spoiler:Chidori]] realizes that [[spoiler:Sonozaki]] can change [[spoiler:Katsuhira's]] life for the better more than she ever could, and decides to support their relationship.

* LoveDodecahedron: Episodes 8 and 9 reveal there is one between the Kiznaivers and Noriko Sonozaki. The breakdown is [[spoiler: both Chidori and Sonozaki like Katsuhira but he's not sure if he likes either of them due to being emotionless since childhood. Tenga likes Chidori while Nico likes Tenga. Yuta likes Honoka but she's still hung up on her friend Ruru.]] In comparison Hisomu is free from this mess.

* ChekhovsGag: The statue Nico vandalizes in the first episode shows up again in the eighth episode... [[spoiler: ''when it falls over and nearly crushes Sonozaki'']].

** Katsuhira - '''White'''
** Sonozaki - '''Blue'''
** Tenga - '''Yellow'''
** Honoka - '''Brown'''
** Chidori - '''Magenta'''
** Nico - '''Orange'''
** Yuta - '''Teal'''
** Hisomu - '''Purple'''
* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Physical pain shared between the Kiznaivers is represented by a blue static-like effect on the screen, as well as their Kizna marks glowing blue. Same goes for emotional pain, which is represented by the color yellow, and [[spoiler: their thoughts]], which are represented by the color red.

* DarkSecret: The first mission that Sonozaki gives to the Kiznaivers are to get to know each other better. It takes a while for them to finally realize that it means to share with each other things they wouldn't share with anyone else, which would be:
** Chidori [[spoiler: in love with Katsuhira.]]
** Tenga [[spoiler: has a crippling fear of dogs.]]
** Nico [[spoiler: doesn't believe in fairies, and presents herself as an eccentric headcase so she won't be singled out for being cute and rich.]]
** Yuta [[spoiler: was fat when he was a kid.]]
** Honoka [[spoiler: feels guilty about breaking her dying friend's heart.]]
** Katsuhira [[spoiler: participated in the first Kizna experiment along with Sonozaki and 17 other children.]]
** Hisomu [[spoiler: outright says he doesn't have any big secrets, he's just naturally weird.]]
* DarkerAndEdgier: Definitely the case in comparison to ''Anime/KillLaKill'' and other Trigger series, opting for a psychoanalytical route instead of another WidgetSeries.

* CliffHanger: Episode 2 ends with Honoka telling the group her WhamLine secret.[[spoiler: It's MetaphoricallyTrue]].

** Katsuhira - White
** Sonozaki - Blue
** Tenga - Yellow
** Honoka - Brown
** Chidori - Magenta
** Nico - Orange
** Yuta - Teal
** Hisomu - Purple
* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Physical pain shared through the Kizuna System is represented by a blue static-like effect on the screen, while strong emotional sensations are represented by yellow. [[spoiler: The Kiznaiver's thoughts are red.]]

* CliffHanger: Episode 2 ends with Honoka telling the group her WhamLine secret: [[spoiler: MetaphoricallyTrue I've killed someone before]].

* ChildhoodFriends: Katsuhira and Chidori. [[spoiler: As revealed in later episodes, Katsuhira and Sonozaki were also childhood friends, along with the rest of the children who were part of the failed experiment that took place twelve years prior to the show.]] [[spoiler: Honoka and Ruru]] can also be considered as childhood friends.

* CliffHanger: Episode 2 ends with Honoka telling the group her WhamLine secret. [[spoiler: It's MetaphoricallyTrue]].

* ChildhoodFriends: Katsuhira and Chidori. [[spoiler: Honoka and Ruru]], too, to an extent.

* ChildhoodFriends: Katsuhira and Chidori. [[spoiler:

* CallBack: Katsuhira and Noriko's conversation in episode 11 is a call back to their meeting in the first episode, being in the same location and even the same camera angles being used.

* ChekhovsGag: The statue Nico vandalizes in episode 1 shows up again in episode 8 [[spoiler: when it falls over and nearly crushes Sonozaki]].
* ChildhoodFriends: Katsuhira and Chidori.

** It gets worse. [[spoiler: One of the children who was part of the failed experiment—Sonozaki—ended up taking on the pain of ''all nineteen test subjects'', and has continued to do so for well over a decade. This completely destroyed her psyche over time, and she has become convinced that taking on the pain of others is ultimately the only way that she can truly "connect to them".]]
* AllLoveIsUnrequited: As it turns out, [[spoiler: Nico has feelings for Tenga who has feelings for Chidori who has feelings for Katsuhira who has feelings for Sonozaki, who, believe it or not, may or may not feel the same way. Not only that, but Yuta has feelings for Honoka, who still has lingering feelings for her [[TheLostLenore lost childhood friend, Ruru]]]].
* AlwaysInClassOne: All the Kiznaivers and Sonozaki are in class [[SecondYearProtagonist 2]]-A.
* ArcSymbol: Xs appear all over Sugomori City, from the school uniforms to the unusual moveable bridge all the way to how buildings are arranged on the land.
* ArcWords: "One for All, All for One" is mentioned twice in the first episode.
** Sonozaki points out that the real phrase should be "One for All, All for Victory."
** Katsuhira reviews Sonozaki's words from the first episode about once per episode.

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: [[spoiler: "Why do we need to share our wounds?" finally breaks through Sonozaki's CircularReasoning regarding people needing the Kizna system.]]
* ArmorPiercingSlap: Nico to Tenga, then Chidori to Tenga, then Chidori to Katsuhira. [[UpToEleven Several times over.]] Felt by ''all'' the Kiznaivers, thanks to their pain being synchronized.

* AdultFear: [[spoiler: You buy into the possibility of world peace that the Kizna System is promising to achieve, and happily support it as a benefactor, even allowing your child to take part as a research subject. When they return, they're little more than emotionless shells of their former selves who have been subjected to so much emotional and physical agony that they can ''no longer feel any pain at all''—that is, if they're in a stable enough condition to return at all.]]
** It gets worse. [[spoiler: One of the children - Sonozaki - ended up taking on the pain of all nineteen test subjects, and has been doing so for well over a decade. This completely destroyed her psyche over time, and she has become convinced that taking on other's pain is ultimately the only way she can be happy.]]
* AllLoveIsUnrequited: As it turns out, [[spoiler: Nico has feelings for Tenga who has feelings for Chidori who has feelings for Katsuhira who has feelings for Sonozaki, who may or may not feel the same way. Not only that, but Yuta has feelings for Honoka, who still has lingering feelings over her [[TheLostLenore lost childhood friend]]]].

* {{Adorkable}}: Nico, particularly. Tenga also has his moments when running away from dogs, as well as Yuta in a few of his attempts to get
closer to Honoka and/or around Honoka.