Element Hunters(エレメントハンター Eremento Hantā?, 엘리먼트 헌터 Elimeonteu Heonteo?) is an anime series that started airing in Japan on the 4th of July and in South Korea on the 14th of November.
The anime is a science-fiction adventure aimed at children to teach chemical elements. The project is a joint production between Japan and Korea for both television and merchandising. Element Hunter's plot focuses on three children, the Earth Team(地球チーム Chikyū Chīmu?, 지구팀 Jigu Tim?), traveling to an alternate dimension called Nega Earth (stands for Negative Earth) to exterminate element monsters (known as QEX) for the purpose of collecting chemicals of the periodic table which have been disappearing from Earth in recent decades. Bandai has released a Nintendo DS game for Element Hunters, it was released on October 22, 2009 in Japan.[1]
Synopsis
In the year 2029, a large scale ground sinkage occurred in the Mediterranean Sea. Chemical elements such as oxygen, carbon, gold, molybdenum, and cobalt disappeared from the Earth's crust suddenly. The human population was decreased by 90% in sixty years. Researchers found out that the disappeared elements were drained into a planet "Nega Earth", located in another dimension. To save the Earth, a special team called the "Element Hunters" is organized. All of the members are under 15 years old, because young and flexible brains are needed to perceive "Nega Earth". As the story progresses we learn that the cause of the element dematerialisation was caused by a child shouting to the heavens "I wish the earth will disappear" this awoken something that was in the 11th dimension which caused all the elements in earth to dematerialise and move to nega earth.
Ren Karas (レン・カラス Ren Karasu?, 렌 카라스 Ren Karaseu?)
An energetic child who seems to be searching for excitement and adventure. He lacks the patience for learning, and prefers to meet challenges head on. Although he sometimes gets into trouble for acting before thinking, his ingenuity has helped his group several times in defeating various QEX. At the end of episode 15, he blushes as he looks at Ally, hinting an attraction. Both Homi and Ren admire Hannah, though Ren still thinks Ally "smells better" than Hannah. In episode 31, Hannah tells Ren that his grandfather's death was connected with Professor Aimee Carr. Upon hearing the truth, Ren still found his way to forgive Professor Aimee Carr because he wants to devote himself to the team as his grandfather once did.
A serious, intelligent girl who is friends with Ren and Homi. She transferred to town three years prior to the first episode, and because of her dedication, hard work, and independence, she plowed her way up to class chairman. Though Ren was voted vice-chairman as a joke, the two became friends. They both met Homi and tried to convince him to come back to school. Regardless of their lack of success, the three were united as friends when they helped each other save Sena, a stray dog. She lives with her father, fulfilling household duties ever since her parents were divorced. Chiara considers herself the leader of the Earth Team, frequently putting her at odds with Ren. Also, it has been hinted that Chiara and Rodney have mutual feelings for each another. This is quickly noticed by Tom and Ren, who state that Chiara and Rodney are like "two peas in a pod." In episode 35, Rodney suddenly confessed to Chiara while he was trying to prevent her from getting endangered. She accepts Rodoney's confession in episode 37.
A bookworm who, up until he meet Ren and Chiara had been by himself. Roughly three years before, he had stopped coming to school after he missed an undefined amount of time due to a chronic illness, and would not return despite Ren and Chiara's visits. He becomes their friend when they joined to save Sena, a stray dog. He lives with his grandmother and used to live with his grandfather until he died. He is generally regarded as the strategist of the team, as he is physically weak. When he meets Hannah, he finds her to have "perfect skin", as well as cute and well-scented. In episode 20 we start to see how weak his body is as he is scene holding his chest after running and saying that he has been like this since he was a child. Later it is hinted in episode 26 that he and Hannah are humans created by the government. It is later revealed that Homi and Hannah are siblings in episode 30, thanks to a DNA test Juno performed. His cardiac disease made him unfit to become an Element Hunter, which led his grandparents into becoming his foster parents.
Ally Connolly (アリー・コナリー Arī Konarī?, 아리 코넬리 Ari Konelri?)
The former leader of the Colony team. Of Egyptian ethnicity. She sends the Earth Team their current "Booster Wear" after acknowledging them as rivals. At the end of episode 13, she was believed to be dead but was revealed to be alive in the following episode. However, because the government issued revealed her supposed death to the entire public, Ally's leadership position is taken away, and she is kept as a prisoner at the colony. Professor Carr aids her escape from the government and had her join the Earth team as Professor Carr's assistant. She is a terrible cook; her first time cooking made Ren faint. At first, she has terrible time making friends with the Earth team because she never had to make any friends. Later, when she apologizes to Chiara for her cold reactions, Chiara buys her clothes as a welcome-to-earth gift. When she entered the Earth team, she and Juno had became very close and was deeply upset when Juno decided to sacrifice herself. Hannah shoots Ally in the back while the Earth and Colony teams are taking part in a plan to send the Earth team to the 11th dimension in episode 37.
Professor Aimee Carr (エイミー・カー博士 Eimī Kā Hakase?, 에이미 카 박사 Eimi Ka Baksa?)
Before her death, Professor Carr had her conscious preserved digitally. Through this way, she continues to exist as an information-based entity. As a hologram, she commands the Earth Team consisting of Ren, Chiara, and Homi. She becomes annoyed when called 'old', usually by Ren, and subsequently electrocutes him afterwards. In episode 31, it is revealed that Ren's grandfathers death had something to do with Professor Aimee Carr. Aimee was also the fundamental cause of element dematerialisation as well, when she was five years old she shouted towards the heaven "i wish the earth will disappear," this message awoke something in the 11th dimension.
An android who serves as the assistant of Carr. She alerts the Earth Team when the presence of a QEX is detected, and works on improving her human-like behaviors towards them. Despite being an android, she is shown to have dreams. Juno later is melted along a vast amount of iron so she can appear in Nega Earth and tell the children how to get out of Nega Earth. We found out that it was because of this reason that the shape shifters are willing to help the earth team to solve the element dematerialisation problem and why they will only appear in front of the earth team. The earth team was able to see the juno as a hologram after they found the last piece from the shape shifters.
Colony Team
The team made up of children who have the ability to go to "Nega Earth". They are taken from Earth early in their lives and trained in the Space Colony to become Element Hunters.
Rodney Ford (ロドニー・フォード Rodonī Fōdo?, 로드니 포드 Rodeuni Podeu?)
A serious and handsome, frequently elitist member of the colony team. He is upset that Hannah has been made their leader after Ally left and does not trust her. On the other hand, Rodney changed his views a bit about Hannah after she saves him, although he questions why she lies to him and Tom. Rodney comes from a rich family and hates it when people speak poorly of his wealth. He also shows a strong desire to not rely on his father to achieve his goals in life. Rodney and Chiara has a growing relationship and has been quickly pointed out by their team mates. In episode 22, Hannah points out that Rodney has recently been thinking a lot about Chiara. They both deny anything happening between them, but their interactions say otherwise. In episode 35 he constanly worries about Chiara and the danger that she is getting herself in and during his usual argument with her, he confesses his love to her.
Tom Benson (トム・ベンソン Tomu Benson?, 톰 벤슨 Tom Benseun?)
An aloof member of the colony team. His optimistic sense of humor is frequently at odds with his teammates, and he is shown to be more amicable than the rest of his team. Despite this, he is still a bit elitist, though he is quicker to accept the Earth Team than the rest of his team. He collects minerals and gems on Nega-Earth as a side hobby. Tom knows everything there is to know about Hannah. He becomes rather upset when Hannah does not acknowledge him, but Tom is quite happy when Chiara gives him her signed autograph. He is also quick to point out the growing attraction between Chiara and Rodney, as shown in episode 26. He says, "Make sure to invite me to the wedding."
Hannah Weber (ハンナ・ウェーバー Hanna Wēbā?, 한나 웨버 Hanna Webeo?)
The new leader of the Colony team. She's a well-known celebrity among the people of Earth. She was the icon star of the popular drink, Mirai Orange. Ren and his friends have referred to her catchphrase, "Smile with Mirai Orange." It is outwardly revealed in episode 26 that the government created her. Though she has kept this as a secret from her team mates, the only person she tells is Homi, during their captivity under the neo-QEX. Hannah points out to Homi that they both have the same-shaped ears, which leads Homi into discovering that they are both siblings. Hannah's adoptive father has a great deal of control over her. He uses Hannah to sabotage efforts to end Earth's element loss, but Hannah eventually rebels.
Others
Dan Karas (ダン・カラス, Dan Karasu)
Ren's father and the owner of the family-run restaurant, Dan Dan. After a head on encounter with elemental deterioration he falls down a hole and breaks both his legs.
Ann Karas (アン・カラス, An Karasu)
Ren's mother. Believes that Ren and Chiara have a mutual attraction towards each other, though they strongly deny it. It is revealed in Episode 7 that Ren's biggest fear is his own mother.
Roberto Ferina (ロベルト・フィリーナ, Roberuto Firīna)
Chiara's dad. He is a carefree man, capable of laughing when he's fired. Despite this (or perhaps because of it), he shows strong moral courage, being honest with himself about the things he enjoys doing. He is frequently seen watching TV episodes of "Element Five," in which his wife plays the leading role. He gives advice to Chiara about love; telling her that upon having arguements with his wife, they still care for one and another. His advice helped Chiara accept Rodney's confession.
Naomi Ferina (奈緒美・フィリーナ, Naomi Firīna)
Chiara's mother. She is an actor in a T.V. show called "Element Five", a Super Sentai series where she plays the leader. She cares deeply for Chiara, and looks kindly upon her husband, despite being separated they still love each other and are not divorced as revealed by chiara in episode 37. In the last episode she is seen to be acting in a new show with Hannah.
July 4, 2009 – March 27, 2010
November 14, 2009 – present
