History Anime / Kuromukuro

''Kuromukuro'' (クロムクロ, lit. Black Artifact) is a original {{mecha}} anime series produced by Creator/PAWorks, to celebrate the studio's [[MilestoneCelebration 15th anniversary]]. It was directed by Tensai Okamura (''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'', ''Anime/ProjectBlueEarthSOS''), written by Ryou Higaki (''Anime/{{Another}}''), character designs by Yuriko Ishii (''Anime/NagiAsuALullInTheSea'') and music by Hiroaki Tsutsumi (''Manga/DailyLifeWithMonsterGirl''). It premiered in [[Spring2016Anime April 2016]]. The series is available for worldwide streaming on {{Netflix}}.

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Played with in the character of Sophie, an OccidentalOtaku and a great fan of ''Hagakure'', the XVIII century moralistic tract often said to be the "Bible of Bushido". She's greatly perplexed why Kennosuke (who is from ''XVI's century'', and who was born at least 200 years before it was written) doesn't care for its values '''at all'''.

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Played with in the character of Sophie, a WesternOtaku and a great fan of ''Hagakure'', the XVIII century moralistic tract often said to be the "Bible of Bushido". She's greatly perplexed why Kennosuke (who is from ''XVI's century'', and who was born at least 200 years before it was written) doesn't care for its values '''at all'''.

* RedShirtArmy: Averted. The UN forces are [[WithThisHerring often outgunned]], but [[HumansAreSoldiers never outsmarted and rarely outfought]].

* GiantMook: The Dullahan alien mechas. Also quite dangerous to the heroes.

* MiniMecha: ''Cactus'' again, which is barely three meters tall, as well as UN's Dwarves.

* ReportingNames: UN assigns them for the alien mechas as a reference shorthand. The examples are ''Cactus'' for the [[MiniMecha smaller]], more [[AlienAbduction abduction oriented]] drone (named so for a lots of needle-like protrusions dotting its skin), and ''Headless'' for a larger and more combat oriented one (which, naturally, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnThetin lacks the head]]).

* ImpossiblyGracefulGiant: All larger mechas in the show are of this variety, dishing it out with their limbs and swords as if in a JidaiGeki movie, despite [[HumongousMecha being about 20 meters tall and weight in in at the upwards of 300 tons]].

* ImpossiblyGracefulGiant: All larger mechas in the show are of this variety, dishing it out with their limbs and swords as if in a JidaiGeki movie, despite [[HumongousMecha being about 20 meters tall and weighin in at the upwards of 300 tons]].

* MechaMook: Cactus, a smaller alien mecha mainly used for abduction and infiltration, lacks the [[DeflectorShields protective force field]] of its larger brethren, and is thus entirely susceptible to everything the Humanity throws at them. They fall in droves even to the basic heavy machineguns.
* MiniMecha: Cactus again, which is barely three meters tall, as well as UN's Dwarves.

* TanksForNothing: Subverted — while they are indeed more or less useless, nothing is actually more useful against the aliens, except maybe [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum the GAUS]], whose record is also quite shoddy. Only the Kennosuke's Giant can fight them on an equal basis. This, however, refers only to the [[HumongousMecha larger alien mecha]], from the ''Headless'' and up. For the ''[[MechaMook Cacti]]'' anything goes.
** Actually, human managed to knock out an headless with tanks and helicopters, by shooting it again and again until its shield overloaded.

* NoRangeLikePoint-BlankRange: The alien robots possess force field barriers that stop missiles and bullets in their track. The only way to inflict damage on them is by either shooting them at point-blank range or using melee weaponry.

* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: The alien robots possess force field barriers that stop missiles and bullets in their track. The only way to inflict damage on them is by either shooting at them point-blank or using melee weaponry.

** First, most of the mechas used by both sides are MiniMecha - not bigger than a tank, which is the more realistic solution to this problem.
** Second, the actual HumongousMecha utilize gravity manipulation in order to reshift their weight, which allows them to move with the speed a several-stories tall titan made out of metal has no right to be. One of the alien robots even uses this to walk on water and doesn't even cause waves to appear. Obviously, this falls towards the AppliedPhlebotinum ways of explaining why they don't just fall under their own weight.

--->'''Kennosuke''': I have no regrets. Although I do feel bad.

In the 60s, [[AlternateHistory an amazing find was discovered during the construction]] of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurobe_Dam Kurobe Dan]] - a metallic titan, or for the lack of better words - an ancient robot. This find sends shock waves around the scientific community. Intellectuals from all over the world gathered to study the object, codenamed "The Giant", and soon the United Nations Kurobe Research Institute was established. By the year 2016, their efforts gave birth to HumongousMecha known as GAUS, though they are still very much prototypes.

In the 60s, [[AlternateHistory an amazing find was discovered during the construction]] of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurobe_Dam Kurobe Dan]] - a metallic titan, or for the lack of better words - a ancient robot. This find send shock waves around the scientific community. Intellectuals from all over the world gathered to study the object, codenamed "The Giant", and soon the United Nations Kurobe Research Institute was established. By the year 2016, their efforts gave birth to HumongousMecha known as GAUS.

All of this doesn't really matter to Yukina Shirahane, even though her mother is the head of the Institute. Something of a underachiever, she could spent entire days just being amazed by the hills and rivers around Kurobe. One day, when she went to the Institute to return her mom's cellphone, she stumbles on researchers fruitlessly trying to crack the mystery of a huge cube. This is another artifact found around Kurobe Dam just recently, and most likely of the same origin as the Giant. Soon after, several meteorites fall towards Earth, one of them crashing near the dam - or should we say, ''landing'', as the meteors turn out to be giant robots accompanied by small armies of MiniMecha. They immediately start to attack, proving to be a real threat thanks to invisible barriers that render conventional weaponry moot. In the ensuing chaos, Yukina notices a red panel light up on the cube. After instinctively pressing it, the cube opens, releasing amid a river of green goo a naked man.

This man, Ouma Kensnouke Tokisada, is a samurai who once fought the invaders, referring to them as "demons", during the feudal era. He kindaps Yukina, mistaking her for "Princess". After coming into conflict with the personel around the Institute, the cube reveals itself to be the cockpit of the Giant, and Kennosuke as it's master. The samurai, with unwilling Yukina in tow, descent into the bottom of the facility where the object is hidden. The cube attaches itself to the Giant, revealing it's true colors as Kennosuke's personal black Artifact - his Kuromukuro.

* InSpiteOfANail: Despite the discovery of a highly advanced technology, with includes gravity manipulation, the world at large isn't that much different.
* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: The alien robots possess barriers that stop missiles and bullets in their track. The only way to inflict damage on them is by either shooting at them point-blank or using melee weaponry.
* RealPlaceBackground: [[WriteWhatYouKnow P.A.Works is based in Nanto, Toyama]], and the team spares no effort in overwhelming the viewer with the tons of SceneryPorn [[CreatorProvincialism from all over the Toyama prefecture]]. The battle in the second episode happens right in front of the Toyama City Hall, and the tram Kennosuke smashes over his opponent is a real tram [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyama_Chihō_Railway that runs through the city's downtown]].

This man, Ouma Kensuke Tokisada, is a samurai who once fought the invaders, referring to them as "demons", during the feudal era. He kindaps Yukina, mistaking her for "Princess". After coming into conflict with the personel around the Institute, the cube reveals itself to be the cockpit of the Giant, and Kensuke as it's master. The samurai, with unwilling Yukina in tow, descent into the bottom of the facility where the object is hidden. The cube attaches itself to the Giant, revealing it's true colors as Kensuke's personal black Artifact - his Kuromukuro.

* AlternateHistory: Where a giant robot was discovered during the Kurobe Dam construction. Oh, and there where aliens using giant robots to wage war on Earth during the feudal era.
* FishOutOfTemporalWater: Kensuke, a samurai hailing from feudal Japan, awakens in the present day([[AlternateHistory with robots]]). He is astounded when he sees a modern city, describing it as a field of giant tombstones.
* InSpiteOfANail: Despite the discovery of a highly advanced technology, with includes gravity manipulation, the world at large isn't that much different.
* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: The alien robots posses barriers that stop missiles and bullets in their track. The only way to inflict damage on them is by either shooting at them point-blank or using melee weaponry.

* AlternateHistory: Where a giant robot was discovered during the Kurobe Dam construction. Oh, and where aliens used giant robots to wage war on Earth during the feudal era.

* MilestoneCelebration: The entire show serves as one for Creator/PAWorks 15th anniversary.

In the 60s, [[AlternateHistory an amazing find was discovered during the construction]] of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurobe_Dam Kurobe Dan]] - a metallic titan, or for the lack of better words - a ancient robot. This find send shock waves around the scientific community. Intellectuals from all over the world gathered to study the object, codenamed "The Giant", and soon the United Nations Kurobe Research Institute was established. By the year 2016, their efforts gave birth to HumoungusMecha known as GAUS.

''Kuromukuro'' (クロムクロ, lit. Black Artifact) is a original {{mecha}} anime series produced by Creator/PAWorks, to celebrate the studio's [[MilestoneCeleration 15th anniversary]]. It was directed by Tensai Okamura (''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'', ''Anime/ProjectBlueEarthSOS''), written by Ryou Higaki (''Anime/{{Another}}''), character designs by Yuriko Ishii (''Anime/NagiAsuALullInTheSea'') and music by Hiroaki Tsutsumi (''Manga/DailyLifeWithMonsterGirl''). It premiered in [[Spirng2016Anime April 2016]]. The series is available for worldwide streaming on {{Netflix}}.

* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: The alien robots posses barriers that stop missiles and bullets in their track. The only way to inflict damage on them is by either shooting at them point-blank or using melee weaponry.