History Anime / Kuromukuro

* 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 century'', and who was born at least 200 years before it was written) doesn't care for its values '''at all'''.

* ArmoredCoffins: Efidolg robots, aside from ''Kuromukuro/Black Grongur''[[note]]Which mounts the peculiar "horse"[=/=]ejectable cockpit contraption[[/note]], don't have ejection system. Being prototypes, GAUS 1 and 2 don't equip ejection system either. Subverted by GAUS 3 as it is a military grade production type and has an ejection seat, and Lefil's commander unit, which features basically the same cockpit system as Kuromukuro, suggesting that it is also a commander-type mecha.[[note]][[spoiler:Probably, [[HeelFaceTurn Zeringer's]] own, as he appears to be a former Efidolg commander himself.]][[/note]]

''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 being simulcast on Creator/{{Netflix}} in Japan, with a worldwide release of its first season (eps 1-13) on July 4, 2016 with its second season (eps 14-26) to follow on October 10, 2016.

* RammingAlwaysWork: The best thing [[spoiler:the "demon" resistance fighters]] could think of to stop [[spoiler:the Efidolg [[PortalNetwork Hinge]]]] from activating is to ram it with their stolen ship. This is why its pieces get scattered all over the Earth.

* ThatManIsDead: [[spoiler:Yukina's savior vehemently insists that [[DisappearedDad Dr. Takehito Shirahane]] is dead and he's a different person altogether. Whether this is true was initially left open, but eventually proven true. In Episode 20, he claims that he's a member of one of the races conquered by Efidolg, and in the next episode he says that Dr. Shirahane was his friend, again implying that he's dead, and his watch is just a memento.]]

* TimeSkip: A 5 year old happens in the finale.

''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 being simulcast on Creator/{{Netflix}} in Japan, with a worldwide release of its first season (eps 1-13) on July 4, 2016 with its second season (eps 13-26) to follow on October 10, 2016.

* ArmoredCoffins: Efidolg robots and ''Kuromukuro/Black Grongur''[[note]]The whole "horse"[=/=]ejectable cockpit contraption aside[[/note]] don't have ejection system. Being prototype, GAUS 1 and 2 don't equip ejection system, either. Subverted by GAUS 3 as it is a military grade production type and has an ejection seat.

* BadassBeard: Sebastian [[spoiler:after his failed HeroicSacrifice and sticking to guerilla tactics]], grew quite the impressive one.

* MindControl: Efidolg utilize special miniature spider-like drones inserted into a person's ear to turn them into obedient slaves. [[spoiler:Zeringer, being apparently an Efidolg turncoat himself, uses one to interrogate wouded Lefil in the finale]].

* NotSoOmniscientCouncilOfBickering: The Efidolg council in the remains of the ISS. They spend their time in the endless bickering about what's to do and who's to blame.

* TimeyWimeyBall: Something is definitely going on with the space-time in this series, as some plot points are absolutely inexplicable without some time travel shenanigans.

* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: [[spoiler: Fusnarnie on Kennosuke's katana in Episode 11. Kennosuke on Muetta's sword in Episode 12.]]

* MysteriousBenefactor: "The Demon", a strange, hulking figure in a demonic-looking armor and riding what looks like the prototype of an Efidolg ''Cactus'' mecha, who frequently aids the heroes, as in saving Yukina numerous times, giving the crypric advice both to her and to Kennosuke, and even offering direct support during their fight with the "Blue Bird" geoframe in Episode 17. [[TimeyWimeyBall It's implied]] that he's ''both'' the same person as Kennosuke's archnemesis during the Sengoku Jidai, ''and'' a Yukina's DisappearedDad.
** In Episode 20 he contacts Sophie directly and claims [[spoiler:that he's a member of one of the races, conquered by Efidolg, and that he helps Earthlings to exact {{revenge}} for his fallen comrades]]. As usual in the series, [[UnreliableExpositor the veracity of his words]] is up to the viewer to believe, though Yukina later finds the proof [[spoiler:while accessing the Efidolg database on their ship]].

** Heavily wounded and in a barely functioning mecha, [[spoiler:Sebastian]] clinches the ''Spider'', and uses his unit's SelfDestructMechanism to take Mirasa with him.

* ThatManIsDead: [[spoiler:Yukina's savior vehemently insists that [[DisappearedDad Dr. Takehito Shirahane]] is dead and he's a different person altogether. Whether this is true is left open so far, but it's heavily hinted that he's lying ([[UnreliableNarrator Or not]]). In Episode 20, he claims that he's a member of one of the races conquered by Efidolg, and in the next episode he says that Dr. Shirahane was his friend, again implyinng that he's dead, and his watch is just a memento.]]

* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler:Gezon-Reco squad landing their ship on the KRI. Despite being down to only three active pilots (with Hedo and Fusnarnie dead and Muetta defecting), they simply overwhelm the UN defences with dozens of Headless and literally ''hundreds'' of Cacti; even [[TakingYouWithMe Sebastian's]] HeroicSacrifice did not destroy Mirasa's geoframe]]. That said, GAUS team was stomping Headless right and left, but there were [[ZergRush just too many of them]].

* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler:Gezon-Reco squad landing their ship on the KRI. Despite being down to only three active pilots (with Hedo and Fusnarnie dead and Muetta defecting), they simply overwhelm the UN defences with dozens of Headless and literally ''hundreds'' of Cacti, and the GAUS team's only confirmed kill, Mirasa, [[TakingYouWithMe was only due to Sebastian's]] HeroicSacrifice. That said, GAUS team was stomping Headless right and left, but there were [[ZergRush just too many of them]].]]

** In fact, if equipped with the alien-made weapon, even just a competent swordsman, such as Kennosuke or [[spoiler: Shirahane's dad]], usually makes a short work of them.

* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: Averted. When [[spoiler: Yukihime]] try to escape, Sophie and UN troops managed to shot her several times, but she wears bullet-proof armor.

* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: [[spoiler: Fusnarnie on Kennosuke's katana in Episode 11. Kennosuke on Yukihime's sword in Episode 12.]]

* KnowWhenToFoldEm: Muetta/[[spoiler:Yukihime]] is unusual among the [[HonorBeforeReason Efidolg fighters]] in that she's actually quite a master of this tactic.

''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 being simulcast on {{Netflix}} in Japan, with a worldwide release of its first season (eps 1-13) on July 4, 2016.

** In the same episode [[DeflectorShields one of the shield generators]] that Efidolg launch to cover their landing [[https://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/54787/189408266.712/0_161e94_5e5c554_orig.jpg smashes right through]] the [[Creator/PAWorks PAW's]] [[https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--t_k-pMd4--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/vbbcyfwp7kedhuzrh3vl.jpg newly-built studio building]], so that they even post them a bill of repairs in a [[https://twitter.com/nobukiku/status/769592061620137985/photo/1 recent humorous twit]].

* ArmoredCoffins: Efidolg robots and ''Kuromukuro/Black Grongur'' don't have ejection system. Being prototype, GAUS 1 and 2 don't equip ejection system, either. Subverted by GAUS 3 as it is a military grade production type and has ejection seat.

* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler:Gezon-Reco squad landing their ship on the KRI. Despite being down to only three active pilots (with Hedo and Fusnarnie dead and Muetta defecting), they simply overwhelm the UN defences with dozens of Headless and literally ''hundreds'' of Cacti, and the GAUS team's only confirmed kill, Mirasa, [[TakingYouWithMe was only due to Sebastian's]] HeroicSacrifice. GAUS team also stomp Headless in this battle.]]

* ArmoredCoffins: Efidolg robots and ''Kuromukuro/Black Grongur'' don't have ejection system. Being prototype, GAUS 1 and 2 don't equip ejection system, either. Subverted by GAUS 3 as it is military grade production type.

* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler:Gezon-Reco squad landing their ship on the KRI. Despite being down to only three active pilots (with Hedo and Fusnarnie dead and Muetta defecting), they simply overwhelm the UN defences with dozens of Headless and literally ''hundreds'' of Cacti, and the GAUS team's only confirmed kill, Mirasa, [[TakingYouWithMe was only due to Sebastian's]] HeroicSacrifice.]]

** In Episode 20 he contacts Sophie directly and claims [[spoiler:that he's a member of one of the races, conquered by Efidolg, and that he helps Earthlings to exact {{revenge}} for his fallen comrades]]. As usual in the series, [[UnreliableExpositor the veracity of his words]] is up to the viewer to believe, though Yukina later finds [[the proof while accessing the Efidolg database on their ship]].

* TheBusCameBack: [[spoiler:Shirahane-papa (or, rather, a MysteriousBenefactor figure heavily hinted to be him) apparently returns in Episode 9 just in time to save his daughter from being kidnapped by the aliens]]. And then the few days later [[spoiler:the secret base Yukina remembers [[CommutingOnABus turns into a hole in the ground]].]] In Episode 12 and 13 [[spoiler: Yukihime]] returns, as [[spoiler: a pilot of Efidolg]].

* DrillSergeantNasty: Deconstructed with [[JerkAss Tom Borden]] during the training camp in the Episode 12, when he was doing his best Sergeant Hartman imitation. Which only ended by him shocking ''everyone'' (including himself) when he went too liberal with Kennosuke's shock collar during wading training.

** Tom Borden, for all of his many shortcoming, will never abandon a comrade and is willing to go great lengths to [[spoiler:rescue Yukina from Efidold]].

* HumanAliens: [[spoiler:The pilots of Efidolg have the same biological makeup as humans.]] Exaggerated to body horror level, as [[spoiler: Kennosuke recognizes Fusnarnie as his old comrade, and Yukihime returns as a pilot of Efidolg. Either they are captured and brainwashed, or Kennosuke himself is an alien with fake memories all along.In Episode 20 it is confirmed that Efidolg pilots and Yukihime are actually standard patterns of mass-produced Efidolg warriors.]]
* IconicItem: Dr. Shirahane's watch, which is a centerpiece of Yukina's memories of her dad. [[spoiler:[[MysteriousBenefactor A someone]] who [[TheCavalry saved her from being captured]] by a ''Cactus'' in Episode 9 was wearing the very same watch.]]

* InexplicablyIdenticalIndividuals: The main heroine, Yukina Shirahane, is, down to a haircut, absolutely identical to Kennosuke's original liege, Yukihime, and an Efidolg warrior Muetta. Whether the latter two women (who are even more indistinguishable) are one and the same, is left to the viewer to decide.

** In Episode 20 he contacts Sophie directly and claims [[spoiler:that he's a member of one of the races, conquered by Efidolg, and that he helps Earthlings to exact {{revenge}} for his fallen comrades]]. As usual in the series, [[UnreliableExpositor the veracity of his words]] is up to the viewer to believe.

* TakingYouWithMe: After losing a fight to Kennosuke, [[spoiler:Hedo, the pilot of the "Yellow Crab" mecha,]] uses its self-destruct mechanism in a defiant attempt to kill his defeater.

* ThatManIsDead: [[spoiler:Yukina's savior vehemently insists that [[DisappearedDad Dr. Takehito Shirahane]] is dead and he's a different person altogether. Whether this is true is left open so far, but it's heavily implied that he's lying ([[UnreliableNarrator Or not]]). In Episode 20, he claims that he's a member of one of the races conquered by Efidolg]]

* TomatoInTheMirror: A curiously extended one for Kennosuke, when [[spoiler: first the UN agents started to doubt his story, and then Fusnarnie pretty much plainly accused him of being an Efidolg turncoat with FakeMemories.]] Not helped by the fact that his memories of the time before his hybernation indeed being extremely hazy.

* AlienBlood: The invading robots spew purple "blood".

* HumanAliens: [[spoiler:The pilots of Efidolg have the same biological makeup as humans.]] Exaggerated to body horror level, as [[spoiler: Kennosuke recognizes Fusnarnie as his old comrade, and Yukihime returns as a pilot of Efidolg. Either they are captured and brainwashed, or Kennosuke himself is an alien with fake memories all along.]]

* ThatManIsDead: [[spoiler:Yukina's savior vehemently insists that [[DisappearedDad Dr. Takehito Shirahane]] is dead and he's a different person altogether. Whether this is true is left open so far, but it's heavily implied that he's lying ([[UnreliableNarrator Or not]]).]]

* HerrDoktor: Dr. Hausen, the Kurobe Research Institute chief biologist, is a stereotyopical German scientist [[PhenotypeStereotype with blonde hair, grey eyes]], and ''heavy'' MadScientist bend.

* HotBlade: The blades used by Efidolg and Kennosuke.

* MacGuffin: The Hinge Stones, mysterious objects that Efidolg try to collect.

** Kuromukuro itself, or, as Efidolg call it, Black Grongur, is apparently a prototype of units used by the aliens, because it still uses a number of features archaic for them, like requiring two pilots, but still powerful enough to do a short work of most of them.

* ThatManIsDead: [[spoiler:Yukina's savior vehemently insists that [[DisappearedDad Dr. Takehito Shirahane]] is dead and he's a different person altogether. Whether this is true is left open so far, but it's heavily implied that he's lying.]]

** Carlos, whose whole point in the story seems to be to fail amusingly.