Xam'd: Lost Memories

Xam'd: Lost Memories (亡念のザムド) is an anime series, conceptualized by Bones and co-developed by Sony Computer Entertainment, Aniplex and Bones, which made its debut on Sony's inaugural launch of the PlayStation Network (PSN) video download service at E3 in the United States on July 16, 2008, in Japan on September 24, 2008.

The series received its television premiere across Japan on MBS, CBC, Tokyo MX and other Japanese broadcast networks from April 2009, featuring new opening and ending theme sequences. Xam'd: Lost Memories spanned a total of 26 episodes. On its launch week, its pilot episode was the most downloaded video on the PlayStation Network at E3. On June 24, 2010, anime distributor Section23 Films announced that Sentai Filmworks has acquired the series and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray September 21, 2010.

Plot
Sentan Island exists in a state of dreamlike tranquility; a small island, surrounded by the Yuden Sea, cut off from the war between the Northern Government and the Southern Continent Free Zone. Akiyuki Takehara lives on Sentan Island along with his mother Fusa. Despite his mother's strained relationship with his father, Ryuzo, the town doctor, the bond between father and son remains strong. One day the island's tranquility is shattered, when Akiyuki, along with his best friends Haru and Furuichi, are caught up in an explosion on a school bus. The explosion produces a mysterious light which enters Akiyuki's arm. With no time to understand what has happened, Akiyuki is transformed into a creature called Xam'd. Akiyuki rampages through the city, only to be stopped by a mysterious girl who offers him a choice: come with her and live, or stay and turn to a stone. Accepting her offer, Akiyuki embarks on a journey of discovery that will take him to new lands, and help him understand the connection between himself and the world of Xam'd.

Characters

 * Akiyuki Takehara (竹原 アキユキ)
 * One of the protagonists of the series, Akiyuki is an enthusiastic high school student who lives on Sentan Island. A chance encounter with a Ruikon girl catapults him into the world of Xam'd.
 * One of the protagonists of the series, Akiyuki is an enthusiastic high school student who lives on Sentan Island. A chance encounter with a Ruikon girl catapults him into the world of Xam'd.


 * Nakiami (ナキアミ)
 * One of the protagonists of the series, Nakiami lives on Zanbani, a postal ship commanded by Ishuu Benikawa. She knows a great deal of the world of Xam'd, and assists Akiyuki in controlling his powers. She wishes for a world bereft of conflict.
 * One of the protagonists of the series, Nakiami lives on Zanbani, a postal ship commanded by Ishuu Benikawa. She knows a great deal of the world of Xam'd, and assists Akiyuki in controlling his powers. She wishes for a world bereft of conflict.


 * Haru Nishimura (西村 ハル)
 * Haru is a high school student on Sentan Island, and a childhood friend of Akiyuki's. She made a promise with Akiyuki's mother that she would look after him. After Akiyuki embarks on his journey into the world of Xam'd, she joins the military in hopes of seeing him once again.
 * Haru is a high school student on Sentan Island, and a childhood friend of Akiyuki's. She made a promise with Akiyuki's mother that she would look after him. After Akiyuki embarks on his journey into the world of Xam'd, she joins the military in hopes of seeing him once again.

Production

 * Director: Masayuki Miyaji
 * Animation director: Masashi Okumura
 * Character design: Ayumi Kurashima
 * Xam'd mechanical design: Seiichi Hashimoto
 * Mechanical design: Kimitoshi Yamane
 * Humanoid weapons mechanical design: Kenji Mizuhata
 * Music: Michiru Ōshima
 * Music production: Aniplex
 * Art director: Takashi Aoi
 * Color settings: Hiroko Umesaki
 * Photography directors: Yōhei Miyahara, Tōru Fukushi
 * Editing: Kumiko Sakamoto
 * Animation production: Bones
 * Production: Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc., Aniplex, Bones

Music
The score to the series is composed by Michiru Ōshima, known for her work on the Godzilla movie franchise and the Fullmetal Alchemist anime series. The theme songs of the series are provided by the Japanese electronic rock band Boom Boom Satellites, who perform the opening themes, and newcomer Kylee, who performs the ending themes. The original opening theme, used in both the series' PSN release and select episodes of the television broadcast, was "Shut Up And Explode" from the Boom Boom Satellites' latest album Exposed, while the original ending theme was Kylee's debut single "Vacancy". In addition to the original theme songs, the television broadcast featured new opening and ending theme sequences: the title track from the Boom Boom Satellites' newest single "Back On My Feet", and Kylee's "Just Breathe" and "Over U", from latest EP Kylee meets Bounen no Zamned. Different animation sequences are used for each song and different combinations of the opening and ending themes are used for each episode on its television broadcast.

Manga
The manga adaptation of the series, written by Masahiro Kawanabe, began serialization in Ace Assault and Shōnen Ace since December 9, 2008, after it began release on PSN Japan.