Collar x Malice, better known as CxM by the fans, is a visual novel video game developed by Idea Factory under their Otomate Brand.
There are various anime based on Otome games like Diabolik Lovers, Brothers Conflict, and Amnesia.
These are cater to women in a similar way the bishoujo ones are towards men like Kanon and When They Cry.
An anime adaptation of CxM was announced last year.
1. Release Date
An anime adaptation of Collar x Malice was announced at the Otomate Party 2019.
The official Twitter account also revealed some updates on this announcement.
[Thank you]
Otomate Party 2019, Sunday afternoon performance has ended. Thank you for your support.
★ The second stage production is decided!
★ Porting decision to Nintendo Switch!
★ Animation plan started!
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the fans who support us on a regular basis. Stay tuned for more information! #カラマリ
English Translation, Twitter Translate
The information regarding what anime format it would be, TV series, OVA, movie, or OAD, is not yet revealed. We will update this information once it is out.
The anime would most probably be out in 2021, but it would also depend on the schedule of the studio taking up the project.
But let’s see what is causing such delay in the anime production, as its been a year since the announcement!
2. Cause of Delay
The second stage play debut in Spring 2020. The Switch version of the CxM franchise was bundled together in March 2020.
With the Covid-19 pandemic crisis going on and the cancellation of the Otomate Party 2020, the anime is most probably not the priority for the company.
The company is focusing more on its main products i.e., the stage play, which has already gotten recognition and thus could get a successful sequel.
The other is the Nintendo Switch version of the CxM and CxM Unlimited games for 2020.
Thus, the anime would only be on their radar in their less busy years of 2021, if not later.
Is it a big deal that an anime is being made on a video game? Will it succeed? Let’s analyze this in detail.
3. Theory Section
This is not the first time an anime would be based on a visual novel. Though successful anime of this genre are rare.
Let’s get into this article to see what influences the making of ‘Collar x Malice.’
I. Popularity of the Franchise
CxM was released for PlayStation in 2016 in Japan and by Aksys Games for the US and Europe in 2017.
A Nintendo Switch port was released earlier this year, and currently, it has sold around more than 16,000 copies. It was reported to be the eleventh best selling game in its debut week.
CxM Unlimited is a fandisc released in 2018 and used other merchandise like audio dramas to promote the game. The game is available both physically and digitally for the fans.
Too happy that my favorite Collar x Malice is animated
Thank you very much~°(°’ω`°)°. Calamari is a villain, there are no characters who are not good at including the heroine, and the story is a game I love too much, so I’m really looking forward to it
(Transmitted) I look forward to more details in the future. #カラマリアニメ化
English Translation, Twitter Translate
How is the fandom taking the news?
III. Fan Reactions
Fans of the visual novel are in love with this game. The face-cons are more than happy with the designs, but it’s the plot of the game that is highly interesting.
Most anime based on visual games like Clannad, Danganronpa, and When They Cry have dark undertones.
No wonder the audience likes them and wants more seasons, and coincidentally, a When They Cry (2020) reboot is coming this year.
CxM is a high-quality drama with characters having depth and the mystery intriguing the player as they get ahead. Of course, the characters are the main highlight of the series, as you have to select which route to play.
Each character has a childhood trauma which makes them abusive, having trust issues, proverbial haters. Well, then it’s up to the protagonist to whip them into shape!
Though it’s a pretty cliched setup of a ‘young innocent girl trying to better a bad man with love,’ it works! The MC isn’t a damsel in distress, but the plot says so otherwise.
Fans love this way of exploring the darkness within oneself. Though medically and clinically, it is not proven to help someone via love, the speeches from the MC help give inspiration to the other leads of the game.
So, then what is the story about?
4. Plot
A dangerous shadow organization launches a campaign of fear and violence in Shinjuku, pushing society to the brink of chaos.
As a young police officer tasked with restoring order, Ichika Hoshino becomes the target of an attack and has a poisonous collar attached to her neck.
With the situation spiraling out of control and time running out, five mysterious strangers appear to aid her in her quest for the truth.
Who can she trust? Will she be able to save herself and the soul of Shinjuku from the clutches of oblivion?
Let’s see a quick teaser of the upcoming show.
5. Visuals & Trailers
The official Twitter account hasn’t uploaded any key visuals for the upcoming anime yet. But since it’s based on the visual novel, we can get a quick look at how the characters may look like.
The above images are from the Visual Novel and not from the new anime. Once we get character designs made especially for the anime, we will upload them.
Let’s look into the animation production of the show.
6. Music and Animation
I. Animation Quality
Currently, there is no news on the studio taking charge of the animation of CxM. Although, Idea Factory, the developer of CxM, has animated anime of its own too!
Anime like Hakouki, Generation of Chaos, and Hiiro no Kakera fall under it.
The visual novel’s animation art style looks decent, and we can expect some good animation for the action sequences and the emotional scenes.
II. Theme Songs
There is no news on who will composing the music for the anime.
The OST for the visual novel suits the atmosphere, and it doesn’t take the attention away from the suspense in the game, which is notable.
Let’s see how the anime will turn this to their advantage.
7. Fan Expectations
Gamer fans are excited to see their beloved idols on the solver screen instead of just a phone screen!
Most of them love the original Yanagi route from the game, but others wonder if the show would split routes and give other leads a chance too, like in Amnesia.
CxM has multiple routes to flesh out and slowly develop the mystery for a reason, and giving each lead minimum of two episodes seems proper for an adaptation.
Fans think that the adaptation could be a 12-episode one, which gives ample time for the mystery to branch out into all routes.
Others just hope the adaptation to be better than the other otome game adaptations, which didn’t do well according to them, with exceptions like Hakouki.
8. Cast & Staff
The visual novel’s following cast might return as the cast and staff members for Collar x Malice:
I. Staff
| Position | Staff | Famous Works |
| Character Design | Idea Factory and Design Factory | Amnesia |
| Studio (Visual Novel) | Idea Factory | Diabolik Lovers, Brothers Conflict |
II. Cast
| Character | Voice Actor | Famous Works |
| Yanagi | Masakazu Morita | Ichigo (Bleach), Marco (One Piece) |
| Okazaki | Yuki Kaji | Eren (Attack on Titan), Kenma (Haikyu) |
| Mineo | Souma Saitou | Yamaguchi (Haikyu), Rem (Dance with Devils) |
| Sasazuka | Namikawa Daisuke | Oikawa Tooru (Haikyu), Hisoka (Hunter x Hunter) |
| Shiraishi | Ryouhei Kimura | Bokuto Koutarou (Haikyu), Kise Ryouta (Kuroko’s Basketball) |
9. About Collar x Malice
The story follows policewoman Ichika Hoshino who was patrolling Shinjuku, Tokyo.
When she was suddenly attacked, and a collar containing poison was placed around her neck.
Following this, she becomes involved with the ‘X-Day Incident,’ which was being investigated by five former police officers with suspicious backgrounds.
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