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Angelic Layer/Angelic Layer

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Angelic Layer is a popular game invented in Japan in the near-future. Using a mental control system, custom-built dolls called "Angels" are made to fight on a special surface known as a Layer.

Contents

Setting Up

Misaki Suzuhara customizing her Angel, Hikaru

Angelic Layer equipment is sold in exclusive Piffle Princess shops, and other locations like department stores. The potential Deus (player) must purchase an Angel Egg, a special custom laptop, and a shaping platform topped with rings (more equipment may exist but is not seen in the anime).

The instructions state to open the Angel Egg near a bathtub. This is due to the shock-absorbent liquid inside that cushions the Angel. Once the Angel is taken out of the Egg, they must be placed in the shaper device (the platform), which should be attached to the laptop. A program on the laptop allows the player to set the attributes of their Angel, such as speed and strength. Once decided, these attributes will be permanently programmed into the Angel. The program then allows the player to specify a name.

The laptops will later be used for maintenance and repair.

Players may customize their Angel further, deciding on hairstyles, clothing, and accessories. Special clothing must be purchased for the Angels.

Battling

Battle between Angels Vasquez and Hikaru

In a typical battle of Angelic Layer, both players (Deuses) take a seat on opposite sides of the Layer. In smaller battles these will simply be chairs next to the Layer table, in the larger arena they are seated in pods that hover above the Layer. The announcer will call Entry Angel, at which the players throw their Angels into the field. Custom dictates that they have a saying to accompany this, and official rules state that the saying must include the Angel's name.

Once both Angels have settled on the Layer, the announcer calls, "Angelic Fight!" The Angels are then free to engage each other in a ten minute battle. They may use any technique of hand-to-hand combat against their opponent to defeat them. Some Deuses develop special techniques that go beyond punching and kicking, like throwing wind. However, actual weapons are expressly forbidden.

The battle continues until:

  • One of the opponents has their hit points completely depleted
  • One of the opponents is pushed or knocked out of the Layer
  • Ten minutes passes

If the battle goes all the way to the end, the Angel with the most hit points is the winner.

Tournaments

Angel Card

From its release, Angelic Layer has had a widespread and competitive system set up for its devoted players. All players who wish to play competively must have an Angel Card. This card includes their vital information, as well as their Angel Points. Angel Points are earned by winning tournaments.

Players compete at four different levels: local, prefecture, region, and national. Local events are held at Piffle Princess stores around the nation. Players do not need an Angel Card to compete in a local event. Some of these events may be qualifiers for the prefecture games.

Prefecture games are held in an arena, complete with announcer and cheering crowd. Hit points and other vital information will be displayed on a screen above the center. Prefecture games are not single-elimination. Because of the large pool of contestants, players will have to play ten battles and win at least nine of them to advance. Only four players are sent forward to the Regionals.

The rules and format of the Regionals are mostly identical to the Prefecture games, except that it is single-elimination. The champion and first runner-up will be sent forward to the Nationals.

The National games are played by rounds. Three minutes of fighting are followed by two minutes of rest and repair. All players are required to choose a "second" who will advise the Deus and provide maintenance for the Angel.

Company

Angelic Layer store display

Angelic Layer is manufactured by the Piffle Princess corporation, a company created solely for the purpose of selling Angelic Layer dolls and accessories. The project started as medical research into improving the lives of people who could not move their limbs normally, such as multiple sclerosis sufferers. The project ran out of money before completion, so the technology was funneled into the Angelic Layer system. All proceeds from the sale of Angelic Layer product go to support further research.

Piffle Princess operates company stores, which sell Angelic Layer dolls and accessories, rent out Layers for player use, and run tournaments. The company also fully manages the tournament system, organizing the events and maintaining the high-tech arenas that host all major battles.

Notable Staff

Ichiro Mihara
  • Ichiro Mihara: "Father of Angelic Layer"
    • Angel: Ogatacchi
  • Masaharu Ogata: Ichiro's assistant
  • Hiromi Fujimori: Development team
  • Shuji Inada: Development team
  • Yuko Inada: Development team
  • Shuko Suzuhara: Worked with Ichiro from the beginning
    • Angel: Athena
  • Ohjiro Mihara: Helps with testing
    • Angel: Wizard

Players

Hatoko Kobayashi and her Angel, Suzuka

Because of its relative newness in Japan, Angelic Layer is mostly a youth activity. Some exceptions exist, most notably the reigning champion Shuko Suzahara. The majority of players are female, though some male players do exist. The gender disparity is probably due to the fact that Angels are essentially dolls.

Economically, the players are more likely to be from higher-income groups, due to various factors:

  • Buying the initial equipment (Angel Egg, laptop, clothing)
  • Maintainence
  • Renting time to practice on the Layer


Notable Players

Kaede Saito and Sai Jounouchi
  • Misaki Suzuhara: "The Miracle Rookie"
    • Angel: Hikaru
  • Hatoko Kobayashi: "The Miracle Kindergartener"
    • Angel: Suzuka ("Lightspeed Suzuka")
  • Sai Jounouchi: "The Ice Machine"
    • Angel: Shirahime
  • Kaede Saito: Kind girl with a first-generation angel
    • Angel: Blanche (can enter "Hyper Mode")
  • Ringo Seto: Pop idol
    • Angel: Ranga
  • Madoka Fujisaki: Half of a sister team
    • Angel: Mao
  • Shuko Suzuhara: The Champion, helped develop the Angelic Layer system
    • Angel: Athena
  • Ohjiro Mihara: "The Prince of the Layer"
    • Angel: Wizard

Technology

Shuko Suzuhara working with an early prototype
Layer in a Piffle Princess store

Angelic Layer originated from a medical project meant to help paraplegics and quadriplegics move their limbs again using the power of their thoughts. The project has not yet succeeded, but data from Angelic Layer battles is used to refine the system.

Each player wears a headset that communicates their will to the Angel on the Layer wirelessly. Angels can only move on the Layer itself, which is covered by an energy field. The headsets have a display that allows the Deus to view the damage to their Angel. The signal between the Deus and their Angel can be interfered with by unauthorized devices.

Angels are small dolls, roughly a foot in height. The faces are human-like and highly expressive according to the emotions of their Deus. The rest of the body is less organic, and obvious mechanical joints may show. It is possible to read the programmed traits of an Angel from looking at their body.

The models of Angel have become more refined over time, and newer models should move more fluidly than older models. However, an experienced Deus can overcome this limitation. Additionally, first-generation production models have a glitch in the system that allows them to go into "Hyper Mode" when they receive more than 50% damage. Hyper Mode is faster and more powerful, but can burn out the Angel if used for too long in a battle.

The Layers themselves are mostly plain, flat surfaces. For the most recent Kanto prefecture games, a new system was introduced with terrain. Terrains included mountains, plains and ocean.

Terminology

Angel Egg
  • Angel: an Angelic Layer doll
  • Deus: the person who controls an Angel, a player
  • Layer: the surface on which a battle is fought
  • Angel Egg: the special container that an Angel is packaged in at purchase
  • Angel Card: a special card registered with Piffle Princess that holds the vital data of the Deus and their Angel. Points earned from competing are stored on this card, and can be redeemed for Layer rental at Piffle Princess shops, or for food served at official events.