Japanese: ベック
English: BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad
Type: Manga
Volumes: 34
Chapters: 103
Status: Completed
Published: Feb 17, 2000 to Jun 5, 2008
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance, Shounen, Slice of Life
Mangaka: Sakuishi Harold (Story & Art)
Serialization: Shounen Magazine (Monthly)
Synopsis: For the first 14 years of his life, Yukio Tanaka has been one heck of a boring guy. He has no hobbies, weak taste in music, and only a small vestige of a personality. He yearns for an exciting life, but his shy, and somewhat neurotic personality makes him his own worst enemy. Little does he know that his life will be forever changed when he meets Ryusuke Minami, a wild and unpredictable 16-year old fresh from America, who happens to be in a rock-and-roll band named after his Frankenstein-like patched dog--Beck.
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| Sakuishi Harold, Baka updates |
Background
Beck won the 26th Kodansha Manga Award in a tie alongside Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou for Best Shounen Manga in 2002.
The series was published in English as BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad. Due to their license expiring, Tokyopop only published 12 volumes from July 12, 2005 to June 10, 2008.
15, 2002.
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| Under the Bridge |
A live-action film adaptation directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi was released nationwide in theaters on September 10, 2010. The film received the Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Music.
Mangaka has also written a oneshot "Under the Bridge" that explains why he started creating BECK manga.
Anime Start/End Chapter
Ends at vol 11
Groups Scanlating
Flux
MCS
MangaONE
Mangascreener
Mongolian Chop Scans
Phase 3
rendezvous22
Source: MAL Manga info, Baka updates
Side notes: It's probably unnecessary to mention that I saw the anime first and it's still on my favorite anime's top then list. And I'm tempted to start watching the anime even now although I should be talking about the manga.XDD The manga is something that I try to read if I got enough time for it 'cause as it is about one of my favorite animes I'd love to read it without any hurry. Also the series is quite long 34 volumes so there is lots to cover in one go. From these scare words you can fast gather that I'm just slowly getting my reading done.T.T
At first the art isn't something that I'm liking a lot though I got over it pretty soon as the story itself made me go forward. My musical knowledge isn't much to say but I like music themed mangas and animes for some reason. I'm not liking so much about real life accounts but those go if the story is good enough. And BECK surely has a good vibe going on... although it's not real life story, it still has some reality feel to back on.
Main characters
Yukio Tanaka (田中 幸雄)/ Koyuki
The main character. The series follows his rapid development from living an average life to becoming an outstanding guitarist. Being a weak individual lacking an authoritative presence, he cannot help but let others push him around, a possible metaphoric stereotype on the very proper and manner conscious Japanese society. Recruited as the last member of BECK, he serves as the second guitarist and vocalist, and has a very beautiful voice that is mostly used for Beck's slower songs. He owns a Fender Telecaster.
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| Anime version |
Maho Minami (南 真帆)
Ryuusuke's 14-year-old sister who is a talented singer with a strange relationship with Koyuki. At times she seems attracted to him; at others she brushes him off with little regard to his often ignored feelings.
Ryuusuke Minami (南 竜介)
A Japanese character with a long history in America. He speaks fluent English and frequently uses both Japanese and English in his conversations. He lives alone in a shack by the fishing pond. His skills and taste in music inspire Koyuki to take up the guitar. The band's creator, Ryusuke is BECK's lead guitarist. A once-younger Ryusuke and Eddie Lee stole the Lucille from the trunk of Syke's vehicle.
Tsunemi Chiba (千葉 恒美)
Main vocalist for BECK, he is the key member that Ryusuke needed to bring Taira into the band. His attitude, style, and appearance was based on Zack De La Rocha from Rage Against The Machine and compared to Koyuki, his voice is more punk and rock oriented, like the majority of the band's songs. He also named the band "Beck" after staring at Ryusuke's dog for a few moments. He also tends to pick his nose.
Yoshiyuki Taira (平 義行)
The first recruited member of BECK, Taira is the bassist, and the most talented band member next to Ryusuke. He plays a Music Man StingRay bass. His attitude may sometimes come off as uncaring. He has been seen working as a traffic officer. As the story progresses, we learn that his father was a jazz musician that left him and his mother when he was young.
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| Anime version |
Yuuji Sakurai (桜井 裕志)
The fourth member to join. He was Koyuki's first good friend, sticking with him even when the school bully and his gang beat him up for breaking the silent treatment on Koyuki. He is the drummer, inspired by his brother, and replaces the original drummer of BECK who followed Ryusuke from his original band, Serial Mama.
Supporting
Kenichi Saitou (斉藤研一)
Koyuki's guitar and swimming teacher, Saitou once swam in the Olympics but was unable to achieve his dream of winning so has turned his life to teaching others how to swim better. Saitou is loud and demanding in public, and especially strict when it comes to swimming. But when he is out of the water he is much more open, even turning to Koyuki for advice on his attractions to Momo. Saitou is a fan of British rock and his favorite band in the anime is the fictional Rocket Boys.
Anime promotional video/ Opening
English dub
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