title_name=Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure
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デュアル!ぱられルンルン物語
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Dual! Parare Lunlun Monogatari
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Mecha , Comedy , Sci-fi
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Animanga/Anime| Information
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Animanga/OVA| Information
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is a thirteen episode series created in 1999 by
Masaki Kajishima and produced by
AIC , both well-known for the ''
Tenchi Muyo! '' franchise. It is licensed in the US by
Pioneer LDC , later known as
Geneon . In addition to the original run, an OVA special was added to the conclude the series as a de facto "14th episode".
The title refers to the fact that the story takes place in two
Parallel Universes , a concept loosely based on
Multiverse theory.
In Japanese, the English letters "L" and "R" are pronounced and written interchangeably. Parallel is therefore spelled Parare. This also means that Lunlun can be written as Runrun. There are thus two transliterations for the title: Dual! Parare Lunlun Monogatari and Dual! Parare Runrun Monogatari.
''DUAL! Parallel Trouble Adventure'' takes place in two different possible universes. 22 years ago, a huge alien artifact is found under a construction site by a worker named Yotsuga. The foreman orders that the artifact be ignored and broken apart so as to avoid the hassle of work delays (a sadly common practice). As Yotsuga walks towards the rubble dumpsters to disposed of the small piece of the artifact he showed to the foreman, the world splits into two; in one world, Yotsuga tosses away the piece and the artifact is subsequently destroyed; in the other, Yotsuga keeps the artifact, leading to the discovery of an extraterrestrial technology that completely changes the course of history.
In the present, Kazuki Yotsuga (presumably the son of the Yotsuga in the opening scene, though not discussed further in the series)is a high school student who is shunned by other students as an otaku, in part because of his web site, where he describes battles between giant robots that only he can see, but mostly because he is occasionally seen by the other students reacting to their "presence". One day, the most popular girl in school, Mitsuki Sanada, approaches him to tell him that she shares his interest in the stories he writes about. But this turns out to only be a ruse, however, as she proceeds to lure him to her house where her father wishes to study Kazuki for his research on parallel worlds.
After being thrown into the other possible world by Dr. Ken Sanada's devices, Kazuki finds himself to still be in Dr. Sanada's basement, but everything is disused and covered with cobwebs since nobody has apparently been there in years. Kazuki attempts to go back home, but finds that the apartment he and his parents lived in is occupied by another family. After wandering around for a few hours, he is found by Mitsuki (who followed him through to the other world shortly after), and along with a military escort, takes him to the HQ of the Earth Defense Force, a privately financed paramilitary operation led by the other Dr. Ken Sanada. The Dr. Sanada of this world wishes to study Kazuki because his presence confirms his research on parallel worlds, and soon employs him as pilot for his giant robots after discovering that the boy was able to use them.
Over the course of series, Kazuki manages to attract several very different women without even trying, and becomes a hero in countless battles. He is later taken prisoner by Dr. Sanada's arch-rival (a competing scientist), Dr. Rara, who is the father of the Mitsuki from this world. Mitsuki Rara eventually defects, and having nowhere else to go is boarded with Kazuki and her counterpart. Unfortunately, a new type of robot made from the artifact is deployed later on that can cause objects and people to be shifted between the alternate worlds, and during the battle against it Kazuki and Mitsuki (Sanada) are sent back to their original world where they discover that the Dr. Sanada covered up their disappearance by claiming that the two had eloped. As it turns out, the frequent travel between worlds is taking a toll on the universe itself as the barriers separating them begin to break down, which will eventually lead to both worlds vanishing into nothingness. A decision must be made: since Kazuki and the alien technology are exclusive to each world, one must be eliminated to halt the destruction. Obviously, the robots have to go, and when the last one is destroyed, the worlds combine into one, an expression of Kazuki's wish for all his friends to stay together.
The creator of both ''DUAL!'' and ''Tenchi Muyo!'', Masaki Kajishima, confirmed that ''DUAL!'' is in fact an alternate version of the ''Tenchi Muyo!'' universe.
; Kazuki Yotsuga
: The main character of ''DUAL!'', Kazuki is regarded as a pariah by his classmates because he periodically has visions of giant robots battling in the city. After being accidentally sent to the parallel world by Ken and Mitsuki Sanada, Kazuki discovers that he is the only male that can control the mechas. Because of his unbelievable piloting skill, he is commissioned to the Earth Defense Force and becomes the new pilot of the white Core Robot. His cover story at school is that he's Mitsuki's little brother, which gives Kazuki quite a bit of trouble.
: Curiously, there is no alternate version of Kazuki Yotsuga in this world. Later in the series, Kazuki subconsciously awakens one of the original alien mechas, a robot named Zinv. It's revealed that Zinv is Kazuki's counterpart in the parallel world.
: Kazuki is the stereotypical
Harem Anime protagonist: a shy, quiet and awkward everyman possessing incredible fighting power and illogical charisma. As usual, he attracts a bevy of beautiful women.
: When Zinv is destroyed, Kazuki's desire for the group to stay together results in the creation of a third possible world, where elements from the parallel universes are combined.
: Interestingly, in the world of ''Tenchi Muyo!'', Kazuki Yotsuga is the name of Tenchi's great-great-grandfather.
; Mitsuki Sanada
: Mitsuki is the most admired girl in Kazuki's school; young men constantly send her gifts and cards, and Kazuki is nearly lynched for speaking to her. She lures Kazuki to her house for her father's experiments, but is sent to the parallel world along with him.
: Mitsuki is also an exceptional robot pilot, and joins the EDF to end the war, hoping research to send her home can begin afterwards. Unfortunately, Mitsuki is hotheaded and easily manipulated, and is captured by the Rara Army towards the end of the series and coerced into piloting the complete version of Himiko.
: She clearly has an attraction to Kazuki, but covers it up by treating him abrasively. When Kazuki is lost behind enemy lines, Mitsuki is affected most of all.
; D
: D is a bioroid, an artificially constructed biological/mechanical being first introduced in the ''Tenchi Muyo!'' universe. The war between the Earth Defense Force and the Rara Army began when D and at least two mechas were discovered in an artifact of unknown origin. Her original body was damaged, so a bioroid was built to contain her essence (represented by a glowing orb in place of an eye) while her body healed.
: D appears to be as inhuman as the robot she pilots, speaking mechanically and asking many questions about human emotions and behavior. The only one to break through her stony exterior is Kazuki, to the shock of Commander Sanada. D frequently has visions of a horrible creature attacking, and is deathly afraid of Himiko.
: She develops a strong attachment to Kazuki, culminating in her decision to return to her real body at the climax of the series in order to save him. It's revealed that D stole Zinv and fled her world to escape Himiko and Kumu, who claimed the lives of her friends.
: As a robot pilot, D is subpar, often requiring rescue by Kazuki and Mitsuki. However, she redeems herself by removing the limiter placed upon Zinv, allowing its true power to manifest itself.
: When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, D becomes Dee Sanada, taking on the animated personality of a young girl.
: It's debated among fans if she has any relation to the ''Tenchi Muyo!'' villain Z, or any connection to the precursor society that captured and cloned the goddess Washu.
: There is also an apparent resemblance between D and ''
Tenchi Muyo! GXP '' character Neju na Melmas, leading some to believe that she and D may belong to the same race.
; Yayoi Schwael
: Yayoi is the original pilot of the white Core Robot, which Kazuki named "Hartzenen." After suffering a serious head injury in battle, Yayoi experienced a feedback loop, effectively cutting off her connection to robots and ending her career as a pilot. Heroically, Kazuki climbed into Hartzenen and took control, saving Yayoi's life. She refers to Kazuki as "her prince," and falls in love with him.
: Yayoi goes to great lengths to spend time with Kazuki, signing up to be his combat instructor and school teacher, and even moving in next door to the Sanada home and building a door into Kazuki's room.
: When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Yayoi is Kazuki's homeroom teacher.
; Mitsuki Rara
: The Earth Defense Force knows her as "Miss Ra," the Rara Army's spokeswoman/mascot, but when Kazuki is injured and trapped behind enemy lines, it's revealed that she is Mitsuki Sanada's counterpart in the parallel world, the daughter of Hiroshi and Ayuko Rara.
: Mitsuki Rara could very well be Mitsuki Sanada's direct opposite. She's quiet, easily embarrassed and gentle; she personally nurses Kazuki back to health. However, she places herself in a trance to play Miss Ra, becoming a ruthless warrior. When she finds out that Kazuki is an enemy pilot, she launches him away in an escape pod, remembering the time he could have killed Miss Ra, but saved her instead.
: Mitsuki is later brainwashed into piloting Himiko, one of the most powerful robots created. After Kazuki saves her, she resists returning home, eventually becoming a Core Robot pilot for the EDF. She comes the closest to capturing Kazuki's heart; the two almost go out on a date, which is unfortunately cancelled by U.N. officers intent on sending her home.
: When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Mitsuki lives in the Sanada home, even though her parents live right next door.
; Ken Sanada
: Ken has A and B versions: the eccentric scientist from our world, and the parallel world's commander of the Earth Defense Force. Ken is Mitsuki's father in this world, but is childless in the other world; naturally, he's quite confused when our world's Mitsuki calls him "Dad."
: Both Kens share a love for instant ramen, a slightly off-color sense of humor, and an understanding that Kazuki is special. Despite appearing to goof off on the job (antagonizing Rara never gets old), Commander Sanada takes it quite seriously. When the U.N. turns against the EDF, his subordinates remain loyal to him, proving his worth as a leader.
: When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Ken Sanada returns to being a scientist as well as being married to Akane Yamano. In the new world, Mitsuki Sanada is his daughter and Dee Sanada is his adopted daughter. His relation to Kazuki is cause for question. Kazuki calls him "Uncle" but it is debated among fans whether they are actually related in the new world.
; Akane Yamano
: The Earth Defense Force's United Nations advisor. Despite Akane's tendency to work "by the book," Ken and the young pilots often convince her to defy her orders, such as Rara's demand for the EDF to repatriate his daughter. When the EDF is outlawed, she resigns her post and flees with Ken Sanada and the others.
: When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Akane becomes Ken's wife, as well as (unfortunately) Ayuko Rara's little sister.
; Hiroshi Rara
: In our world, Rara is a Nobel Prize winning scientist. In the parallel world, he's become something of a megalomaniac. It was he who began the war in the first place, transforming himself into a messiah-like figure ("You fools have no fear of God!", "the divine power of the Rara Army").
: In the bizarre scene where Kazuki actually has dinner with the Rara family, the General reveals a softer side of himself; he believes that the war is about keeping the alien technology out of the wrong hands. However, it quickly becomes clear that Rara is simply a figurehead, with his wife wielding the real power.
: When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Rara and his wife move in next door to the Sanadas, hoping to corral Kazuki into revealing the secret of his connection to Zinv.
; Ayuko Rara
: Ayuko was both Rara and Sanada's wife in the two worlds, and is the mother of both Mitsukis. In the parallel world, she manipulates events while behind the scenes, posing as Rara's submissive wife. In reality, she controls the Rara Army along with the mysterious alien named Kumu. She exploits Mitsuki Sanada's love of Kazuki to convince Mitsuki to turn against the EDF. Ultimately, both Ayuko and Himiko are defeated by Kazuki and Zinv.
: When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Ayuko attempts to "arrange" her daughter and Kazuki's marriage, with humorous results.
; Zinv
: An incredibly powerful robot found with D. It sat dormant in the EDF's headquarters for years until Kazuki awakened it during Rara's assault.
: Zinv (pronounced JEEN-boo) has many unique abilities revolving around the manipulation of gravimetric forces, including gravitational projectiles, super speed, and crushing enemy mecha. Zinv also comes equipped with a nano-repair system that can fix any damage inflicted. Zinv only responds to Kazuki's Life Sympathy, and sometimes activates itself when Kazuki is not aboard.
: Zinv defeats the lesser version of Himiko quite easily, but Himiko's final form takes the upper hand. When D removes the limiter preventing males from piloting it (Kazuki skirts this by BEING Zinv), Zinv instantly repairs itself and generates Light Hawk Wings. With this newfound power, Kazuki decimates Himiko and creates a black hole, reducing the Rara fortress to nothing.
: With the two worlds dangerously close to oblivion, Zinv and Kazuki agree to destroy Zinv, ensuring that both worlds will live on. However, Zinv survives the explosion that consumes it, regenerating at the bottom of the ocean and returning to Kazuki in the third universe.
: Followers of ''Tenchi Muyo!'' will recognize the Light Hawk Wings, as well as the Zinv look-alike in ''Tenchi Muyo GXP''.
; Himiko
: Zinv's opposite, Himiko carved a swath of ruin across D's world before she escaped. It seems as though only people with negative emotions in their hearts can control Himiko, as evidenced by its initial rejection of Mitsuki Rara, and its violent reaction to Mitsuki Sanada's jealousy. Himiko has some connection to the alien lifeform Kumu.
: Himiko is completely and totally destroyed at the hands of Zinv, compressed down to nothing to prevent it from regenerating.
; The Original
: A mech under the control of the Rara army, it has the power to control the atmosphere as well as some electromagnetic capabilities. It captures Kazuki along with Hartzenen and brings them to Rara's base where it falls off a large cliff, supposedly destroying it beyond repair.
: The Original and Zinv are the only mechs confirmed to be found in The Artifact, although some fans speculate that some form of Himiko was also found.
; Kumu
: The alien that advises Ayuko Rara. It has some relationship to D, and hates men with a passion. Kumu resembles a floating, glowing bell and garland.
: When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Kumu is the name of a puppy that is given to the Sanada family by Ayuko Rara in the hopes of finding out information about Zinv. The name fits: while it loves the girls in the house, Kazuki gets a severe bite whenever he comes near.
; Alice, Mena, and Ryla
: Mitsuki Rara's best friends. While initially teasing Mitsuki for her attraction to Kazuki, they help him escape the Rara base when his identity is revealed. Later, they give Kazuki her diary after a battle, letting him know Mitsuki's still thinking about him. The three later join Mitsuki Rara as pilots for the EDF.
: When Zinv is destroyed and the worlds merge, Alice, Mena and Ryla return to working for the Raras.
; Kaoru Hayase
: A scientist in the employ of the Rara Army. She opposes the plan to force Mitsuki Rara to pilot Himiko, and warns her of her mother's machinations. Hayase later joins the Earth Defense Force and works alongside Ken Sanada.
; Life Sympathy
: A term for the power of a pilot's will to exert control over robots. High Life Sympathy levels can enable a robot to move faster and inflict more damage with melee attacks. For reasons revealed at the end of the series, the robots on Earth only respond to female Life Sympathy, though Kazuki is somehow exempt.
: Because of his overwhelming negative Life Sympathy, Kazuki's robot is capable of feats beyond most other models.
; Core Robots
: Three multicolored bipedal machines built in the image of the original robots. Because they are man-made, the Core Robots are inferior to the originals in every way.
: The Core Robots are used by the Earth Defense Force; Yayoi Schwael (replaced by Kazuki Yotsuga, and later by Mitsuki Rara) pilots the white Unit 1 (nicknamed "Hartzenen/Halcynen" by Kazuki), Mitsuki Sanada controls the red Unit 2, and D (briefly replaced by Alice, Mena, and Ryla) pilots the blue Unit 3.
; Earth Defense Force
: A United Nations-sponsored military organization under the command of Ken Sanada dedicated to foiling the Rara Army's plans for world domination. The EDF employs many soldiers, but relies solely upon the three Core Robots in battle.
: Combat between the two armies is quite different from normal warfare; Rara informs the public where and when an attack will take place, and the combat zone is evacuated. At any time, either side can submit a "callsign," indicating their surrender. Because of these measures, there have been no casualties in the war.
; Rara Army
: Formed by Hiroshi Rara, it intends to unite the world under its banner. Like the EDF, it uses robots in battle rather than conventional weapons, but its machines are exotic and beastly, differing from its rival's humanoid robots. Rara's robots are also remotely operated, unlike the Earth Defense Force's cockpit-equipped models.
: Rara prefers to operate outlandishly, broadcasting attack trailers and boasting of his army's God-given power (often through his mascot, Miss Ra). However, despite General Rara's highly visible status within the organization, another person wields the real authority.
- Since 2001, fans of Dual! ever wondered if there is a sequel in the works. But according to AIC Anime English website , there have been no plans to create another sequel for Dual!
- It has been confirmed by the creator of Tenchi Muyo and Dual! that the two series are related, although the extent of the connection is unknown at this time. A mecha similar to Zinv is found during an episode of Tenchi GXP which is a sequel to the Tenchi OVA series. Both Mitsuki Sanada and Ken Sanada appear in the Tenchi GXP novels as alternate versions of themselves. Sasami and several other Tenchi Muyo characters are featured in inserts found in the Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure laser disks.
Fan Speculation:
- Connection to Tenchi Muyo! GXP:
- ---Seina Yamada and Kazuki are alternate versions of each other (both don't have many friends, liked by "different" women, and the will to protect others). Though this would make little sense as Kazuki has already been established as Zinv's alternate self, making it more reasonable to assume that the Idol is Kazuki's alternate self in GXP. However it is just as likely that Zinv and the Idol are twin mechas from the same universe.
- ---Zinv is an alternate version of The Idol (the mecha powered by a First Generation Juraian Royal Seed). This would explain Kazuki's ability to pilot Zinv and also the similarity between their attacks (Light Hawk Wings and the Black hole attack).
- ---Mitsuki Sanada resembles Kiriko Masaki (in looks and personalities, with some exceptions).
- ---Yayoi Schwael resembles Amane Kaunaq (in looks and personalities, with some exceptions).
- ---Mitsuki Rara resembles Ryoko Balta (in looks and personalities, with some exceptions).
- ---D resembles Neju Na Melmas (in looks and personalities, with some exceptions).
- ---Akane Yamano resembles Airi Masaki (in looks and personalities, with some exceptions).
Though in all cases it is more likely that the similarities stem from the creator's preference for such archetypes; especially since Mitsuki Sanada's GXP self is actually introduced in the novel and clearly is not Kiriko, making these speculations well beyond the realm of reasonability.
- During the 14th & final episode, Kiyone Makibi (a character from several Tenchi series) can be seen carrying a bag of groceries just before Zinv appears. AIC, the company behind Dual!, often has characters from other series make such cameos as easter eggs to fans.
- The monster from D's dreams while Kazuki trapped in Rara territory strongly resembles Himiko from later in the series.
- Zinv can be seen several times before his official appearance, the most predominant of which is while Kazuki is being sent to the alternate world during episode 1.
