History Anime / Kuromukuro

* BlandNameProduct: Episode 10 had an ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighter Ecchu Fighter X]]'' machine in an arcade.

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

* ThemeTuneCameo: At the SchoolFestival during Episode 13, a high school band can be seen playing "Distopia" on stage.

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

** To wit: ''Hagakure'' was written in the entirely peaceful period as a moralistic reminder that WeHaveBecomeComplacent, and displayed a heavily idealized version of what its author ''believed'' the true ''bushi'' should be. It had very little to do with the real samurai both from the UsefulNotes/SengokuJidai era and the times it was written, and was promptly forgotten, only being dug out during the "Kurai Tanima"[[note]]"Dark Valley"[[/note]] period of militaristic frenzy of Taisho and early Showa eras.

** To wit: ''Hagakure'' was written in the entirely peaceful period as a moralistic reminder that WeHaveBecomeComplacent, and displayed a heavily idealized version of what its author ''believed'' the true ''bushi'' should be. It had very little to do with the real samurai both from the SengokuJidai era and the times it was written, and was promptly forgotten, only being dug out during the "Kurai Tanima"[[note]]"Dark Valley"[[/note]] period of militaristic frenzy of Taisho and early Showa eras.

* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent: Yukina is a quite rare female example.

* HypocriticalHumor: "Those bathing suits are very revealing!" claims Ken, who comes into class wearing a fundoshi and his bare bottom sticking out.

* TimeSkip: The finale skips 5 years.

* WhamEpisode: Ep. 21, where [[spoiler:Efidolg finally land in force, [[CurbStompBattle easily routing the UN defences]], resulting in Sebastian's HeroicSacrifice, destroying the Institute, and subjecting the captured personnel to the MindControl]].

* AndThenWhat: Episode 7 has Yukina ask what Ken planned on doing after he killed all of the Efidolg. At the end of it, he says that he doesn't have anything much left to love for in this era,
so all he can do at that point is [[NothingLeftToDoButDie rejoin the princess]].

* KickTheSonOfABitch: When Ken killed [[spoiler: [[JerkAss Fusnarnie]]]], there was much rejoicing

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 [[SceneryPorn by the hills and rivers around Kurobe]]. One day, when she goes 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 a river of green goo and a naked man.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: For all his asshattery, Tom Borden is the most vocal proponent of the mission [[spoiler:[[NoOneGetsLeftBehind to rescue Yukina from Efidolg]]]].

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 [[SceneryPorn 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 Kennnosuke Tokisada, is a samurai who once fought the invaders, referring to them as Oni or "demons", during the feudal era. He kidnaps Yukina, mistaking her for Yukihime or "Princess" he was tasked with guarding in his times. After coming into conflict with the personnel 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, descend 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.

* {{Defictionalization}}: P.A. Works commissioned the guys from ''WebVideo/ManAtArms'' to make a real version of Kennosuke's sword.

* CloningBlues: [[spoiler:In Episode 20 Yukina encounters a partially "assembled" head identical to her own (as well as Muetta and Yukihime) in a strange machine aboard the Efidolg ship, to her great distress. This implies that their is actually a standard pattern of mass-produced Efidolg warriors.]]

* AlienInvasion: [[spoiler:In episode 21 Efidolg land in force around the research institute at Kurobe Dam]]