X

It's the year of destiny and 15 year old Kamui Shirō, a powerful psychic, has returned to Toyko after a 6 year absence. He returns to protect his childhood friends, Fūma, and Fūma's younger sister, Kotori. But destiny and fate are haunting Kamui and pulling in himself and his loved ones. It is his destiny to decide the fate of the world and mankind, no matter if he wants the role or not.

X (2001-2002) is a Japanese animated dark fantasy series produced by Madhouse and broadcast on WOWOW Prime, adapted from the manga of the same name. Fifteen-year-old psychic Kamui Shirō (voiced by Kenichi Suzumura) returns to Tokyo after a six-year absence, determined to protect his childhood friends Fūma Monō (Junichi Suwabe) and Fūma's younger sister Kotori Monō (Mamiko Noto). His engine is simple and painful: he wants to keep the people he loves out of the forces closing around him, but destiny keeps pulling him and his loved ones deeper into a supernatural struggle over the fate of the world and mankind. Each episode builds on the psychic conflicts and loyalties of a young cast whose friendships are stretched by power and fate. The single season of twenty-four episodes is a continuous, serialized story rather than a case-of-the-week format. Set in contemporary Tokyo, the series blends everyday school-age life with hidden clan rivalries and mounting cosmic stakes. Its tone is brooding, intense and melancholic, with a bromance-tinged bond at its center and a heavy, dualistic atmosphere. Viewers who enjoy Tokyo Ghoul, Fullmetal Alchemist or Psycho-Pass will find resonance in its fated heroes and shadowed city streets.

Audience reception is positive, with viewers appreciating the dark fantasy atmosphere and the bond between its central characters.

• Tokyo Ghoulshared apocalyptic supernatural destiny, clan-driven psychic battles, dark fantasy tone
• Fullmetal Alchemistshared shonen-adjacent dark fantasy, fated chosen one, bromance-tinged rivalry, madhouse-era anime aesthetics
• Psycho-Passshared supernatural destiny, psychic power struggles, bleak fate-driven mood

Release Date

2001-10-03

Episode runtime

25 min

Rating

7.4 / 10 (120)

What is X about?

A powerful psychic returns to Tokyo after six years to protect his childhood friends as destiny drags him into deciding the fate of the world.

What is X like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of X as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.

Is X violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in X as moderate.

What did critics think of X?

Audience reception is positive, with viewers appreciating the dark fantasy atmosphere and the bond between its central characters.

Which shows are like X?

Shows with a similar feel include Tokyo Ghoul, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Psycho-Pass.

How long is X?

X: 1 season, 24 episodes.

Is X still running?

No, X has ended.

Where can I watch X?

In United States, X streams on Crunchyroll.