The Severing Crime Edge


The Severing Crime Edge is a Japanese manga series, written and illustrated by Tatsuhiko Hikagi. KADOKAWA began releasing the digital English volumes on BookWalker on December 10, 2014. An anime television series adaptation by Studio Gokumi premiered on Tokyo MX and other networks on April 4, 2013.

Plot

Kiri Haimura is a seemingly ordinary boy with one slight problem: he is obsessed with cutting other people's hair. One day, he meets Iwai Mushanokōji, the "Hair Queen" who cannot cut her hair because of an inherited curse. Kiri finds out that his scissors, "The Severing Crime Edge" is the only thing that can cut them. The scissors were a killing tool that belonged to his ancestor, Norma Grayland, the most infamous serial killer in history. But little did Kiri know that his meeting with Iwai sparked the start of an old murder game to kill the "Hair Queen" using the cursed killing tools, the "Killing Goods". It is said whoever assassinates the Hair Queen will have a wish granted. Can Kiri protect Iwai from the Killing Goods Owners, known as 'Authors', associates of the illegitimate Gossip organization? Let the game begin!

Characters

;Kiri Haimura
;Iwai Mushanokouji
;Yamane Byouinzaka
;Houko Byouinzaka
;Kanae Sumeragi
;Emily Redhands

Schoolmates

;Kashiko Misumi
;Kotarō Naruto
;Nigi Ubuzato

Authors and Insteads

;Ruka Shihōdō
;Romio Zaiga
;Seigi Nakajima
;Hitomi Karuko
;Houichi Koizumi
;Keiichirou Jin
;Fritz Maillold
;Ewer Sullivan
;Helen Viniar
;The Man with the Hammer

Other characters

;Lady Violet Witchy
;Kozakura Zenigata
;Hari Haimura

Media

Manga

Anime

The anime television series adaptation is directed by Yūji Yamaguchi and produced by Studio Gokumi with music by Yasuharu Takanashi. It started airing on Tokyo MX on April 4, 2013. It was streamed by Crunchyroll with subtitles in English. Sentai Filmworks licensed the series for home video release in North America. The opening theme was "Unmei no Ori" by Aimi Terakawa and the ending theme was "Kimi to Futari" by Yuri*Kari.
No.TitleOriginal airdate

Reception

Carl Kimlinger of Anime News Network published a positive review covering the first half of the anime series. While expressing criticism towards its "messy" transitions into different genres, Kimlinger praised it for its direction in atmosphere and action, funny humor and viewing the perverse Author/Instead relationships in a "redemptive" light. Kimlinger wrote that the subject matter of the first half will not be to everyone's liking. Richard Eisenbeis of Kotaku talked about the complete anime series, expressing interest in the world and its cast of diverse characters but felt that it was bogged down by its constant genre jumping and unsatisfying ending. Aiden Foote, writing for THEM Anime Reviews, gave praise to the show's two main leads and supporting cast for their quirks and aesthetics being "interesting and varied" but found it overall to be "a limp Future Diary clone" with poor pacing and an unfinished plot. While not giving it a recommendation, Foote said that: "t remains perfectly watchable - don't get me wrong - but never anything more than that."