Engage Kiss

Engage Kiss
	Key visual
Genre	Romantic comedy
Created by	Aniplex
Manga
Written by	Itachi
Published by	Square Enix
Magazine	Manga UP!
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	July 2, 2022 – present
Anime television series
Directed by	Tomoya Tanaka
Written by	Fumiaki Maruto
Music by	Yoshiaki Fujisawa
Studio	A-1 Pictures
Licensed by	Aniplex of America
Original network	Tokyo MX, GYT, GTV, BS11, ABC, Mētele
Original run	July 3, 2022 – September 25, 2022
Episodes	13 (List of episodes)
Game
Engage Kill
Developer	Square Enix
Publisher	Square Enix
Music by	Mirai Kodai Gakudan; Yoshiaki Fujisawa;
Genre	Role-playing game, Action
Platform	Android, iOS

Engage Kiss is a Japanese mixed-media project created by Aniplex. An anime television series produced by A-1 Pictures and written by Fumiaki Maruto, with character designs by Tsunako, which aired from July to September 2022. A mobile game follow-up is developed by Square Enix under the title Engage Kill.

Plot[]

Bayron City, an artificial island located in the Pacific Ocean near Japan, whose economy relies on the extraction of Orgonium, a new energy source, is troubled by the mysterious appearance of demons. To conceal their existence from the public, the city government hires PMCs that combat and neutralize demon-like monsters.

One such PMC called "I&S Office" is ran by the protagonist, Shu Ogata. Differing from other PMCs, Shu's only employee is a demon girl named Kisara. Kisara has the appearance of a young girl despite being hundreds of years old, and her combat strength is highly rated. Though Shu does little work and is constantly in need of money, Kisara seems affectionate for him and toils to support him.

Despite Shu's close ties to Kisara, he frequently contacts his ex-girlfriend Ayano Yugiri for help. Ayano and Shu used to work for the same PMC called "AAA Defender Co." until their breakup and Shu's departure from AAA. Ayano claims that their relationship has ended, yet she still acquiesces to Shu's pleas for help.

Shu appears to be a loser whose livelihood depends on his relationships with two women. However, he has an ambitious goal: to uncover the truth behind a demon-related incident long ago in which his parents and sister went missing.

Characters[]

Engage Kiss[]

Shu Ogata (緒方シュウ, Ogata Shū): Voiced by: Soma Saito^[1] (Japanese); Howard Wang^[2] (English); The protagonist who runs a small private military company. He is usually broke as he cannot handle finances well. He is an orphan, as the rest of his family is presumed to be dead after an incident prior to the events of the series.
Kisara (キサラ): Voiced by: Saya Aizawa^[1] (Japanese); Kayli Mills^[2] (English); A young girl who goes to a high school in Bayron City. She is actually a demon girl who is hundreds of years old. She has the ability to eat the memories of people, including Shu.
Ayano Yugiri (夕桐アヤノ, Yugiri Ayano): Voiced by: Lynn^[1] (Japanese); Suzie Yeung^[2] (English); Shu's first ex-girlfriend. Although she and Shu have broken up, she still has feelings for him. She is also Akino's daughter.
Sharon Holygrail (シャロン・ホーリーグレイル, Sharon Hōrīgureiru): Voiced by: Rumi Okubo^[3] (Japanese); Anairis Quiñones (English); Shu's second ex-girlfriend, who dresses as a nun. She is actually an assassin and a part of an international organization tasked with fight against demon-like monsters.
Kanna Ogata (緒方カンナ, Ogata Kanna): Voiced by: Akari Kitō^[4] (Japanese); Lisa Reimold^[5] (English); Shu's younger sister. She is also part-demon girl.
Akino Yūgiri (夕桐アキノ, Yūgiri Akino): Voiced by: Akeno Watanabe^[4] (Japanese); Dawn M. Bennett (English); Ayano's mother and the chairman of a private military company.
Miles Morgan (マイルズ・モーガン, Mairuzu Mōgan): Voiced by: Kenichirō Matsuda^[4] (Japanese); Bill Butts^[6] (English)
Tetsuya Mikami (三上テツヤ, Mikami Tetsuya): Voiced by: Yoshiaki Hasegawa^[4] (Japanese); Mark Whitten^[5] (English)
Shenhua Hachisuka (蜂須賀莎花, Hachisuka Shenfa): Voiced by: Aya Uchida^[4] (Japanese); Courtney Lin^[5] (English)
Linhua Hachisuka (蜂須賀凛花, Hachisuka Rinfa): Voiced by: Saori Ōnishi^[4] (Japanese); Abby Trott^[5] (English)
Mikhail Hachisuka (蜂須賀ミハイル, Hachisuka Mihairu): Voiced by: Ryōta Ōsaka^[4] (Japanese); Beau Bridgland^[7] (English)

Engage Kill[]

Chloe Tang (クロエ･タン, Kuroe Tan): Voiced by: Arisa Kōri^[3]
Aoi Kotobuki (寿葵, Kotobuki Aoi): Voiced by: Yukiyo Fujii^[8]
Emilio Romero Álvarez (エミリオ・ロメロ・アルバレス, Emirio Romero Arubarezu): Voiced by: Toshiki Masuda^[8]
Noel (ノエル, Noeru): Voiced by: Emiri Iwai^[8]

Media[]

Anime[]

The anime was first labeled as "Project Engage", which listed Fumiaki Maruto (author of Saekano) and Tsunako (Date A Live illustrator) as the main staff.^[9] The details were then announced through the Aniplex booth at the AnimeJapan 2022 event. The series, titled Engage Kiss, is produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Tomoya Tanaka, with Shunsaku Yano in charge of world setting, Shinpei Wada adapting Megumi Katagiri's demon designs for animation, and Yoshiaki Fujisawa composing the music. It aired from July 3 to September 25, 2022, on Tokyo MX and other channels.^[b] The opening theme song, "Everyone, Scramble" (誰彼スクランブル, Dare-kare Sukuranburu), is performed by Halca.^[1]^[3] The ending theme song, "Love-Brain" (恋愛脳, Renai-Nō), is performed by Akari Nanawo.^[4] Crunchyroll licensed the series outside of Asia for an English simulcast and simuldub.^[10]^[11]

Episode list[]

No.	Title ^[12]^[13]	Directed by ^[12]	Written by ^[12]	Storyboarded by ^[12]	Original air date ^[14]^[b]
1	"A Loser and a Demon and a Man and a Woman" Transcription: "Kuzu to Akuma to Otoko to Onna" (Japanese: クズと悪魔と男と女)	Yoshitsugu Kimura	Fumiaki Maruto	Tomoya Tanaka	July 3, 2022 (2022-07-03)
2	"The Island of Desire" Transcription: "Yokubō ni Ukabu Shima" (Japanese: 欲望に浮かぶ島)	Tetsuya Akutsu	Fumiaki Maruto	Tetsuya Akutsu	July 10, 2022 (2022-07-10)
3	"The Slightest Terrible Cost" Transcription: "Honno Wazuka na Hidoi Daishō" (Japanese: ほんの僅かな酷い代償)	Mitsutoshi Satō Tomoya Tanaka	Fumiaki Maruto	Akira Yamada	July 17, 2022 (2022-07-17)
4	"Unobtainable Lingering" Transcription: "Ubai Kirenai Miren" (Japanese: 奪い切れない未練)	Kōta Mori	Fumiaki Maruto	Takao Abo	July 24, 2022 (2022-07-24)
5	"Fleeting Scars" Transcription: "Utakata no Tsumeato" (Japanese: うたかたの爪痕)	Yūsuke Kubo	Fumiaki Maruto	Yūsuke Kubo	July 31, 2022 (2022-07-31)
6	"Third-Party Demon Killer" Transcription: "Akuma-goroshi no Daisansha" (Japanese: 悪魔殺しの第三者)	Masahiko Suzuki	Fumiaki Maruto Ryūichi Ishida	Naomi Nakayama	August 7, 2022 (2022-08-07)
7	"But It's Okay, That's Enough" Transcription: "Dakedo Ii, Sore de Ii" (Japanese: だけどいい、それでいい)	Toshihiro Maeya	Fumiaki Maruto Ryūichi Ishida	Ikuo Morimoto	August 14, 2022 (2022-08-14)
8	"The Unwanted Truth" Transcription: "Nozonde Nakatta Shinjitsu" (Japanese: 望んでなかった真実)	Yoshitsugu Kimura	Fumiaki Maruto	Takuya Asaoka	August 21, 2022 (2022-08-21)
9	"Without Understanding the Tears Shed" Transcription: "Nagasu Namida no Imi o Shirazu ni" (Japanese: 流す涙の意味を知らずに)	Tetsuya Akutsu	Fumiaki Maruto	Tetsuya Akutsu	August 28, 2022 (2022-08-28)
10	"High Hopes for the Worst Case" Transcription: "Machinozonda Saiaku" (Japanese: 待ち望んだ最悪)	Yūya Horiuchi	Fumiaki Maruto	Atsushi Ōtsuki	September 4, 2022 (2022-09-04)
11	"Gentle Foolish Lies" Transcription: "Yasashiku Orokana Uso" (Japanese: 優しく愚かな嘘)	Takashi Sakuma	Fumiaki Maruto	Takashi Sakuma	September 11, 2022 (2022-09-11)
12	"Believe in Him" Transcription: "Kare o Shinjite" (Japanese: 彼を信じて)	Kōta Mori	Fumiaki Maruto	Kōta Mori	September 18, 2022 (2022-09-18)
13	"Unresolved Grand Finale" Transcription: "Mikaiketsu de Daidanen" (Japanese: 未解決で大団円)	Tomoya Tanaka Yūsuke Kubo	Fumiaki Maruto	Tomoya Tanaka	September 25, 2022 (2022-09-25)

Manga[]

A manga adaptation of Engage Kiss by Itachi began serialization in Square Enix's online manga magazine Manga UP! on July 2, 2022.^[4]

Game[]

A mobile game title developed by Square Enix titled Engage Kill was announced on April 24, 2022.^[3]

Notes[]

^ Through Crunchyroll (formerly known as Funimation).
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Tokyo MX lists the series premiere at 24:30 on July 2, 2022, which is effectively 12:30 a.m. JST on July 3.

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 25, 2022). "Aniplex Reveals A-1 Pictures' Engage Kiss Romantic Comedy Anime With Teaser". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 11, 2022). "Crunchyroll Adds English Dubs for Lycoris Recoil, Engage Kiss Later This Month". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Loo, Egan (April 24, 2022). "Engage Kiss Comedy Anime Unveils More Cast & Staff, July 2 Debut, halca's Opening Song, Square Enix Game App in 1st Video". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Loo, Egan (June 4, 2022). "Engage Kiss Comedy Anime Posts 2nd Video, More Cast, Ending Theme Song". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Millsap, Bill [@BillMillsap] (September 26, 2022). "Mikami =@mpwhitten, Kanna =@lisareimold, Mikhail =@BeauVO, Linfa =@AbbyTrott, Shenfa =@thecourtneylin, PMC heads are@gkbowes,@brocktocks,@HenryMasonVoice, and@RicepirateMick(and they all rock!!!)" (Tweet). Retrieved October 3, 2022 – via Twitter.
^ Butts, Bill [@billdozer777] (August 11, 2022). "Welp, cats out the bag. Look forward to hearing yours truly as Miles in Engage Kiss! Huge thanks to @Crunchyroll, @AtlasTalent, @mummynyan, @BillMillsap and @DirectorAkiko for this! Love this brutha. He's a top tier anime dad! Check out the show soon on Crunchyroll!" (Tweet). Retrieved August 15, 2022 – via Twitter.
^ Bridgland, Beau [@BeauVO] (August 28, 2022). "FUN NEWS: You can hear me as Mikhail Hachisuka in the English dub of Engage Kiss on @Crunchyroll. LOOK AT HOW MAGNIFICENT HE IS! He's handsome and the son of the mayor of Bayron City" (Tweet). Retrieved August 28, 2022 – via Twitter.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c 「Engage Kill」に登場する寿葵ら主要キャラクター3名の情報が公開に。イントロダクションも更新. 4gamer.net (in Japanese). August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 23, 2022). "Aniplex Reveals 'Project Engage' With Saekano Writer Fumiaki Maruto, Date A Live Illustrator Tsunako". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
^ "Crunchyroll Reveals Summer 2022 SimulDub Lineup, Including Classroom of the Elite II and More". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
^ Mateo, Alex (June 25, 2022). "Crunchyroll Announces Release Schedule for Summer 2022 Anime Season". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d "Sutōrī | Terebi Anime "Engēji Kisu" Kōshiki Saito" Story | TVアニメ「Engage Kiss」公式サイト [Story | TV Anime "Engage Kiss" Official Website]. engage-kiss.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
^ "Engage Kiss - Watch on Crunchyroll". Crunchyroll. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
^ "On'ea | Terebi Anime "Engēji Kisu" Kōshiki Saito" On air | TVアニメ「Engage Kiss」公式サイト [On Air | TV Anime "Engage Kiss" Official Website]. engage-kiss.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.

External links[]

Project official website (in Japanese)
Anime official website (in Japanese)
Engage Kiss (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

[2] Through Crunchyroll (formerly known as Funimation).

[fn1-11] Jump up to: ^a ^b Tokyo MX lists the series premiere at 24:30 on July 2, 2022, which is effectively 12:30 a.m. JST on July 3.

[ANN1-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 25, 2022). "Aniplex Reveals A-1 Pictures' Engage Kiss Romantic Comedy Anime With Teaser". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 26, 2022.

[Dub-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 11, 2022). "Crunchyroll Adds English Dubs for Lycoris Recoil, Engage Kiss Later This Month". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 15, 2022.

[ANN2-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Loo, Egan (April 24, 2022). "Engage Kiss Comedy Anime Unveils More Cast & Staff, July 2 Debut, halca's Opening Song, Square Enix Game App in 1st Video". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 24, 2022.

[ANN3-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Loo, Egan (June 4, 2022). "Engage Kiss Comedy Anime Posts 2nd Video, More Cast, Ending Theme Song". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 4, 2022.

[Twitter-6] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Millsap, Bill [@BillMillsap] (September 26, 2022). "Mikami =@mpwhitten, Kanna =@lisareimold, Mikhail =@BeauVO, Linfa =@AbbyTrott, Shenfa =@thecourtneylin, PMC heads are@gkbowes,@brocktocks,@HenryMasonVoice, and@RicepirateMick(and they all rock!!!)" (Tweet). Retrieved October 3, 2022 – via Twitter.

[7] Butts, Bill [@billdozer777] (August 11, 2022). "Welp, cats out the bag. Look forward to hearing yours truly as Miles in Engage Kiss! Huge thanks to @Crunchyroll, @AtlasTalent, @mummynyan, @BillMillsap and @DirectorAkiko for this! Love this brutha. He's a top tier anime dad! Check out the show soon on Crunchyroll!" (Tweet). Retrieved August 15, 2022 – via Twitter.

[8] Bridgland, Beau [@BeauVO] (August 28, 2022). "FUN NEWS: You can hear me as Mikhail Hachisuka in the English dub of Engage Kiss on @Crunchyroll. LOOK AT HOW MAGNIFICENT HE IS! He's handsome and the son of the mayor of Bayron City" (Tweet). Retrieved August 28, 2022 – via Twitter.

[4gamer-9] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c 「Engage Kill」に登場する寿葵ら主要キャラクター3名の情報が公開に。イントロダクションも更新. 4gamer.net (in Japanese). August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.

[10] Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 23, 2022). "Aniplex Reveals 'Project Engage' With Saekano Writer Fumiaki Maruto, Date A Live Illustrator Tsunako". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 26, 2022.

[12] "Crunchyroll Reveals Summer 2022 SimulDub Lineup, Including Classroom of the Elite II and More". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.

[13] Mateo, Alex (June 25, 2022). "Crunchyroll Announces Release Schedule for Summer 2022 Anime Season". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 22, 2022.

[story-14] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d "Sutōrī | Terebi Anime "Engēji Kisu" Kōshiki Saito" Story | TVアニメ「Engage Kiss」公式サイト [Story | TV Anime "Engage Kiss" Official Website]. engage-kiss.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.

[15] "Engage Kiss - Watch on Crunchyroll". Crunchyroll. Retrieved July 2, 2022.

[16] "On'ea | Terebi Anime "Engēji Kisu" Kōshiki Saito" On air | TVアニメ「Engage Kiss」公式サイト [On Air | TV Anime "Engage Kiss" Official Website]. engage-kiss.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.

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show v t A-1 Pictures television series
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2011–2015	Fractale (2011) Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (2011) Blue Exorcist (2011) Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love 1000% (2011) The Idolmaster (2011) Working'!! (2011) Space Brothers (2012–2014) Tsuritama (2012) Sword Art Online (2012) From the New World (2012–2013) Chōsoku Henkei Gyrozetter (2012–2013) Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic (2012–2013) Oreshura (2013) Vividred Operation (2013) Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love 2000% (2013) Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai. (2013) Servant × Service (2013) Silver Spoon (2013–2014) Magi: The Kingdom of Magic (2013–2014) Galilei Donna (2013) World Conquest Zvezda Plot (2014) Nanana's Buried Treasure (2014) Sword Art Online II (2014) Aldnoah.Zero (2014–2015) Persona 4: The Golden Animation (2014) Black Butler: Book of Circus (2014) Magic Kaito 1412 (2014–2015) The Seven Deadly Sins (2014–2015) Your Lie in April (2014–2015) Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend (2015) The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls (2015) Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha ViVid (2015) Ultimate Otaku Teacher (2015) Gunslinger Stratos: The Animation (2015) Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love Revolutions (2015) Gate (2015–2016) Working!!! (2015) The Asterisk War (2015–2016) The Perfect Insider (2015)
2016–2020	Erased (2016) Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash (2016) Ace Attorney (2016) B-PROJECT: Kodō＊Ambitious (2016) Qualidea Code (2016) The Seven Deadly Sins: Signs of Holy War (2016) WWW.Working!! (2016) Uta no Prince-sama: Maji Love Legend Star (2016) Occultic;Nine (2016) Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga (2017) Interviews with Monster Girls (2017) Granblue Fantasy The Animation (2017) Eromanga Sensei (2017) Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Flat (2017) Fate/Apocrypha (2017) The Idolmaster SideM (2017) Blend S (2017) Record of Grancrest War (2018) Darling in the Franxx (2018) The Seven Deadly Sins: Revival of The Commandments (2018) Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku (2018) Sword Art Online: Alicization (2018–2020) Kaguya-sama: Love Is War (2019) 22/7 (2020) Kaguya-sama: Love is War? (2020) Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle: Rhyme Anima (2020) Warlords of Sigrdrifa (2020)
2021–present	86 (2021–2022) Visual Prison (2021) Kaguya-sama: Love Is War -Ultra Romantic- (2022) Lycoris Recoil (2022) Engage Kiss (2022) Nier: Automata Ver1.1a (2023) Mashle: Magic and Muscles (2023) Solo Leveling (2023)
Category

show v t Animation works by screenwriter Fumiaki Maruto
Television series	White Album 2 (2013) Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend (2015–2017) Classroom Crisis (2015) Phantom in the Twilight (2018) Engage Kiss (2022)
ONAs	Miru Tights (2019)
Films	Saekano the Movie: Finale (2019)